Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-06-20

twill beseen from the Mexicanic Illumination
below, that Henry A.wise is alive and himself
again. The faseo of the first expedition against
Petersburg, when the brave Kautz penetrated
tfe works and was not supported, has inspired
II. A. W. to achieve one OF his rhetoric efforts
(oy the kind permission OF Beauregard). Not
having been compelled to run away, as he did
at Roanoke Island, he feels good and heroic
and praises his troops and exhorts the "lag
CARDS and skulkers." But why does not thi,
uugallant rebel give n word Of commentator
to the old woman who went out and turned
back Gen. Gilmore with her cock-and. bull
storesl
We doubt but this will be the last time Wise
will illuminate from Petersburg. Neither his
"Pcnlteuts," "convalesceuts," ;" " second-class
militia" nor his fiery rhetoric will avail to
save the "cockade city" from the conqueror
ot-vicksburg.
=, From the Pete shurs Express, June Ia.l
HEAD9UAETEBs FIRsT MILITARY DISTRICT,l
Special Orders No.u;
VII. To the troops of my command for the
defence OF Petersburg, on the south Of the Ap-
ponAttoX, on the 9t1 Instant, have, with the
approval and under the instructions Of the
commanding General, tn offer my grateful &C.
acknowledgements for their gallant conduct, and
my congratulations upon their successful re-
pulse Ofthe enemy,
Approaching with niur regiments Of Infan-
try and cavalry, and at least four pieces of ar.
tllcry, they searched our lines from battery
No, to battery No. 90, o distance of nearly
HN miles. Hoods and Bates battallons, the
10Th regiment Virginia volunteers, and one
compaDy (Capt. Woods company F. of the
23d South Carolina, with Sturdlvant's bait ~.
and a few in nd TaI
cavalry, kept them at bay, and punished them
severely, until they reached the Jerusalem
Plank road, in front of battery go, defended by
Major Archer's corps of reserves, and second
class militia, and by one piece of sturdvant's e
battery, a hOwitZer, under the Temporary com.
mand Of Brigadier General Colston. Then,
with overwhelming numbers, they were twice
repulsed, and succeeded only at last In pene-
traung gap In the line, and In lanking and
gaining the rear Of a mere han dful Of citizen
Soldiers, who stood firmly and fought bravely
as veterans until ordered 10 fall back. Alas,
some OF the noblest Of them fell with their
backs 70 the ground and their front to the foe. F."
consecratlng with their blood the soil OF the
homes they defended.
Tie immediate commanders have reported
the herosm Of them all, the living and the
dead, and now with pride and gratitude | an
nouncc that BeauTegard himself has thanked
Archer and his comrades on the yery spot of
their devotion. If they lost, killed, wounded.
and missing, Go out of less than 100 men tbey
spent their blood dearly 10 the enemy; If stur.
divahts battery lost one gun, better was
captured, and another disabled, and If they lost
half a mile of ground, they gained about A
half hour Of time, and saved their beloved cIty
by holding on long enough for Sturdlyant's
and Graham's and Young's batteries, DemIpp's
cavalry, and the 10th Virginia infantry, with
Woods South Carolina company, a company
OF cOuvalescents, and a company of penitenls
Ia drive back The inEDpnI frDm oh
which their footsteps for ths first time polluted
van the hc,p Of GOd Il shall be the last time.
Win such troops as all have proved them
selves, commanders may well give assurance
with confidence 10 the people OF Petersburg.
people who can thus fight for their affairs
must be aided, supported, guarded by every
arm which can be Outstretched for their de-
ience. Comrades their wives and daughters
arc dAlly nursing our sick and wounded; they
wipe the hot brow, cool the feVered lips, and
tenderly nourlsh and comfort the suIering
soldiers In their hospitals. The angel nurses
aud the stricken patriots Of this patriotic place
shall not fall into the hands of rufIian lnyad.
ers. lls very militia has set an example which
Inspires the confidence that Petersburg Is in.
domita6le, aud which consoles and compen.
bAtee LOT every drop Of blood which has been
splll al Nottaway, at Walthal Junction, and at
rTe"ry's Bluff and HOwlett's Neck, for the dc.
fence Of the old Cockade CITY.
Lev tue reserve and beCOnd.class militia of
.ne surrounding counties now come In prompt
ly one and all, and emulate this bright and
successful eXumple-let il hotly hiss to blood
red shame the lsggards and skuIkgrs from tSe
streets and alleys OF tue city to the lines, and
let Il proclaim aloud that Petersburg is To he
and shall be defended on her outer walls, on
her inner lines, at her corporation bounds. in
every street, and around every temple of God
and altar Of man In her very heart, until the
blood Of that heart is split. Reused by this
spirit 10 the pitch OF resolution, we will 6pht
the enemy at every step, and Petersburg Is
safe. Henry A. WISE, Brig. Gen.
J. Y. PEARcB, A. A. @.