Journal and confederate. [volume] (Camden, S.C.) 1865-1865, 1865-04-24
The Late Battle near Pc
tersburg.

Il
29th of March. We'copy from the Peters.
burg Express the following thrilling account
of that memorable night
Last night, at rre minutes past 10 o'clock,
the enemy opened on our extreme left, near
the Appomaltox with IA fearful artillery fire.
while simultaneous movement WAS made on
the part of their iufantrv, the men charging mp
to our breastworks in great masses.
Our men, under the gallant Gordon, We're
wide awake and received The charge with Il
GOODNESS and precision, which caused the as
saiIants to rccoil with evident diSmay and coli
sternation.
The night was intensely dark, it bci"g im-
possible to see man at Il distance ct more
than twenty PAGES, and We cannot speak pnsl-
lively of the cncnly's losses but they. must
have been immense. They ca,n= in swarns.
supposed to be several lines of h4tie deep,
and AS in no instance did they even get through
our oLstrnciinls, the irresistible Inference Is
that the slaughter was fearful. Our loss, We
are pleased to hear w;s comparatively small.
We witnessed the sccHc from the brow o!
Boliing'S Hill. and never saw one m"re tcar-
fully grand. Etom the river around to the
Wilcox House, for Gisiarcc Of three mics,
the horizon was illuminated with bursting
bombs and explnding she'll, wti;e The line Of
battle Was most clearly defined by thu sheet Of
flame, which literally hlazcI without cessation
from the n,zzle of our small arms.
The entire community was aroused by the
dcutcniug roar ni a,ti!lcrv and irccssau,rol Of
musketry, wiic! shook every dwelling from
rouf to basement. and caused til: inmates t.
shake with agitat:on and alarm
The enemy evidently cAnccted 10 surprise
our troops, but Genl Go:tlon's boys never steep
when danger is near. ami cXtcrdcd To the as
saiants reception which We I'll ink it proJaGIc
they will never forget. tieu' Curiun's in'tto
is "cter'al vigilance is the prize CT liberty"
The gallantny of Our men was displayed in
a most gratifying manner, and their conduct
is the theme of universal praise. The artillery
fire on our side was magnificent. and Com
ing's and bradford batteries in Chesterfield,
were emincmtlv c"nspcuous for rapi;i and az
cura'e firing from the elevation we occupied.
1t is fact especially deserving Of mention,
that during the entire fight, which lasted two
hours, not Il nan WIS observed coming to the
rear.
THURSDAY, One O'clock, 4. M.-We have
just seen all officer from hc front. He saws
the euemy charged up to oul Chcvaux dc>tris,
within ten PAGES Of the mnzzlcs Of our guns
and we're literally moved down.--Thc slangh
ter is known to have been very great, but
morning will alone reveal its extent Our loss
is unprecedcutedly small
ADDITIONAL PARTICULARS.
A letter tsom Petersburg, dated . o'cIoc;
this morning, furnishes the annexed particu
lars:
81 have just sfcturned from Blanlford L
never witnessed a grandcr sight From the
rivar to the Wilcox House. the line Of battle
ragged and roarcd for two hours, with fierce
ness which, to noncombataut, WAS truly ter
rife
The enemy charged in several lines of battle,
coming, in some of their assaults, up to our Oh
structions at the foot of the breastworks, and
our bows literally moved them down.
The los-es on the part of the enemy must
have no donbl been fearful, but it is impossible
to sec what has been done. Daylight will
probably reveal fearful scene of CARRIAGE and