The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1864-07-26
FROM PETERSBURG.
From the Petersburg Express, l9tn'

From the Petersburg Express, l9tn.
The monotony Of our immediate 1foi' Is sun un'
broken. The enemy still occupy DIS trenches
aronnd a portion of the city, and our troops con-
front him everywhere. The heavy boom OF the
snomv's mortars we're heard at intervals from early
dawn until late hour last night, and the invaria-
ble and inevitable picket firing constant. 1t
seems that enough ammunition has been expended
in this way to fight and win half dozen battles.
Both sides are said to suffer considerably from
mortar Smelling and sbarp-shootng, but as nothing
decisive is accomplished by either, we think it
would be a good idea if a truce TO such operations
could be effected.
Yesterday, the chief topic, both in the army and
about the city, was the reported death of Grant
The enemy's pckets, both IN Chesterfield and 10
front of Petersburg say it is SO, aud they all tell
uniform story in regard to it. The statement Is,
that the Generals was shattered by shell
near the shoulder rendering amputation at once
indispensable to save life The patient was at
once put under the influence of chloroform, and
during the operation, so great bad been the shock
to the nervous system, he died. These pickets
further state that Gen. Grant had been long SUBJ
iect to disease of the heart, and that his sudden
demise at any time, would not have been matter
of surprise. We give these statements as part OF
the gossip Of the day. Our readers can believe as
much of them as they please. We do not give
them credence
AanusinQ Inci0ent-Quite ludicrous incident
occurred Oh our Chesterfield front day two
since. One Of the rebel privates, who boasts a
shirt which was once white, subjected 1t to the
washing process, aud after cleaning it to the best
of his ability, hung it on stick, and placed the
stick in the trenches. The Wind was blowing
briskly, aud the shirt soon became sufficiently dry
to utter in the breeze, which it did with no little
display. Presently, couple of Federal officers,
ban adj
to our lines, with white flag hosted. They soon
reached our breastworks, and one, who ranked as
Major, enquired with becoming gravity, "Gentle-
men what is your wish?' Il don't understand
you sir" responded the Copfederate oficer of the
day "You have displayed the white flag" quick
~ rejoincd the Yankee, "and We have come to see
its cause "You are mistaken sir, it's only a
newly washed shirt, hung up to dry" Yankee Of
fcer locked first at the shirt, and then at the Con
federae he addressing, and realizing the truth
as well the righteousness of bis position, his de-
muir ephiz speedily relaxed into broad grin.
Without another word, the couple about faced and
soon found their way back to their own lines
Our boys were greatly amused to think Yankee
could mt tell shirt from flag of truce
Distribution Of Abe's Documenh.-On the
same portion of our lines few evenings since, a
kite was seen to ascend from the Yankee works,
and the parties engaged in the innocent and some
What juvenile pastlme, gave hel otiiuS, uh'i ~
lowered ediately our entertainments.
The cord which bound it then severed, and
down came the kite. The "tai' was found to con-
sst of suudry copies of Old Abe's proclamation of
last December, granting an amnesty to every rebel
who would lay down his arms, and return to the
embrace of the best government the world ever
saw. Crowds of Yanks mounted the breastworks
60 see the effect of the discovery; whereupon our
boys placed themselves in full view of the enemy,
and by "gyration' of the thumb on the nose,
with the digits manipulating rapidly, gave the in
vaders to understand that they would see Old Abe
dead first.
PETERSBURG, July 22-Brisk artillery firing
kept up all last night, also rapid musketry Skin
mishing: This morning it Stacked, and at noon
there is almost perfect quiet along the lines. The
enemy brought some ne" and heavy morsars into
action last night. Our losses were very few from
the whole nights affair.
RICHMOND, July 22.-Nothing additional from
the Valley since Wednesday. 1t is reported that
we captured four guns and 800 prisoners in fight
at Smokers.