East Saginaw courier. (East Saginaw, Mich.) 1859-18??, 1865-04-12

7T-Trr-TT ~ -
about in apprehension and fcar- who
can paint such scenes.
4 q % se.5s r REPULsED. as rr
But the attack was of short dura-
ton. The brave fellows in tho trench
4 90 knew its import. They appreciated
alse, how near they wero to a glori-
Gus victory, and how important that
they should stand their ground with
! out waverihg.l dnAnd faithfully they
! performed n their duty, se1dipgc the
! rsbels back bleeding, disheartened,
discouraged.
i blThen followed senson Of anxious
stillpess. Not sound disturbed the
quiet of that thick, black midnight.
No picket firing. no signal guns, no
\ attacks or indications Of attack-a
4 tarrible, momentous, threatening quiet
which only can be appreciated by
those who have spent n night on n
battlefield Orders were issued to
the pickets TO advance and keep close
4 to the rebel lines. Watch them close
ly; give them no chance to run when
they start go after them; no matter
for rest; sleep comes after the victory.
Vigilance was now all-important.
/ ii9 s'li THE yoHNSIEs GOING.
J.. At 3 o'clock our skirmishers occu-
pied the main lines of the rebel works,
and orders were issued for an imme-
diate advance. NA' - 'H.ioh3' I.
Hatf-rAsr THREE o'cLocL, MONDAY A. NJ.
"a At half.past 3, horses were saddled,
coffee swallowed and away to Peters
burg aIi o1F ~; n
FOUR O'clock = PErEnsDURo OCCUPIED.
At 4 o'clock, Col Ely reported his
brigade in Petersburg. The 1st Mich
igan Sharpshooters, leading the skir-
mishers and pressing hard upon the
rear of rebel forces, were tho first to
enter the long fought for city. With
cheers and shouts Of triumph they
entered but the fighting was done.
Atevery step they picked up rebels
anxious to surrender, but nowhere
any willing to fight Petersburg was
ours-won by hard fighting and do
termined bravery. If there be any
Confederacy left its people may seek
to give the impression that they evac-
uated the city voluntarily. A moro
complete driving out was never ac-
complished. A victory moro signal
and indisputable has not been gained
in this war.
GLORIOUS coIsPs.
The 9th Corps has made roputa-
ton in this grand success sufficient,
had it never before achieved distinc-
ton, to place it among the most gal
liant corps Of the United States army.
Left alone to hold the old lines that
formerly had beon cgarrisoned by the
Army Of the Potomac, if not only
held them securely, but advanced
against the main rebel lines, piercing
them in several places, capturing and
holding several forts and score of
guns, with large number of prison
ers, holding their advantages and con-
tributing to very large extent to the
glorious achievement that has crown
ed the united efforts Of the whole !
army.
THE WORK ACCOMPLISHED ny THE FIRST
DIVISION. H11
The 1st Division alone, under Gen.
Wilcox, in their operations of yester-
day, not only held the extended line
of two miles and over against all at
taoks, but themselves attacked the
strongest positions on the rebel lines,
capturing two forts, nine guns, nearly !
1000 prisoners, several flags, ETC.,
and all with loss to themselves of
but about 200 men. And now they
add to their record tho capture Of the
rest of the rebel lines, guns, tents,
prisoners innumerabls, and finally the
city Of Petersburg. Glory enough |
for one division.
GENERAL WILCOX
was in the field throughout the whole
affair, and directed tho operations of
the division, as the results demon
strates, with great judgement and
ability. His men have behaved with
a gallantry that is seldom equalled.
THE roRTIrIcATIoNs AND INTRENcuMENTs
My route from Fort Amory into
the city of Petersburg was by tho
Baxter road. and led directly across
the fortifications Of both armies. A
more difficult ride it was never my
fortune to attempt-covered ways, RI
fle pits, ehera,u ode.frf~ breastworks,
breostworks cherdnr d.: e:trisc, rifle pits
and covered ways, bitches that could
be leaped, and bitches wide and deep,
parallels and cross sections, abatis and
entanglements Of every description
the exhaustion of engineering skill.
An ENHANCEMENT of digging, such as
never before was seen, covered the
greater part of the distance. For the
breadth Of over a mile the country is
literally oil dug over. Every manner
Of earthwork has been thrown up by
either army. Corrections Of the lines
alterations, changes and perfections
have kept the armies busy for over
year. II is is impossible to describe
this vast network Of entrcnchnents !
from the hasty glance l had riding |
through and over them, or to describe
them in mere words. The civilian
cannot better understand them than
by conceiving vast system of sunken
roads sufficient to manocuvre armies
of 100000 men, without exposing any |
above level ground. This is ono fea-
ture Of these extensive works, to which
must be added the high and strong
breastworks, running in zigzag cour-
ses, with batteries and redoubts in
terspersed and then the advanced
picket lines, with the various sunken
paths of communication and behind
oil tho obo;n IF afropo fnr.fs with vida 4