Bradford reporter. [volume] (Towanda, Pa.) 1844-1884, 1865-04-20
FROM PETERSB URG.

PETERSBURG April 4, 1865.
DEAR MARY-lIcre we are at last, snugly
cncampcd in this pestferous rebel city
Two days have passed during which II
was not possible for me to write. You
will receive the present letter duly written
on confscated rebel paper but don't be
afraid, it wont hurt you.
In order to keep the run of my diary, |
must go back to Saturday night The in
tcrvening events are 50 many and so ex-
citing, | can hardly remember when that
was, though it is only Tuesday.
About midnight on Saturday night, we
were aroused from our slumbers by heavy
firing on the left of our Division. and at
once all were out of their hunks, and the
regiment on their way to the front The
3d Division Of our Corps captured four reb-
eI forts and held them to the end. Just
before daylight our Regiment went in,
losing only two men killed and seven
wounded.
Sunday was devoted to the piou5 task of
whipping the Johnnies. The battle ragged
all day long. At 9 O'clock | took posi-
ton where | could overlook the whole fight,
within easy musket range and yet in
safe position. One random shell burst
quite near me, but not Minnie whizzed
overhead. | was at the flank of the two
q armies, so that the balls and shells passed
4 at right angles to my position. kept my
4 position until o'clock, p. m The rebs
8 made several desperate charges to retake
'ner works, but were repulsed every time
" Our boys kept gaining ground foot by foot
Inc view was magnificent beyond descrip-
ton. | could see our line stand like a wall
d ~ IRE, never a man finching. could
near Their shouts of victory as the routed
j rcbS fell back in utter confusion. The din
and roar Of battle was terrific, but the
4 shouts Of victory could be heard above all
i 'le dlScordant uproar When darkness set
III we had driven the rebs to their last line
] Of works, and our shell fell in the citv
from all directions, except from across the
AppomattoX. After dark there was Iuu
tn" men needed rest, and breakfast dinner
ana supper, all at once for they had eat
en- nothing since the night before While
our boys were thus resting and recruiting
lying on their arms the rcbs were STEALTH
! y leaving the city. Soon after midnight
q we charged along the whole line and found
4 lHc mass Of rebs gone. They crossed the
'i''r III great haste, carrying with them
8 l0e most Of their light artillery. They
q ''rht the bridges after them, having sat
q 0fated them with turpentine The Rail-
8 road bridge alone was saved. Our losses
q were not heavy. The rebel loss in killed,
"'''aed and prisoners is estimated at full
81 "Hty thousand In their retreat they
# ','' captured by brigades Thousands
''' III 'he deserted houses, and gave them
'.'''S up The country and city for miles
was almost covered with muskets and the
","| garments cast away by the fleeing
'e'' Their dead were scattered every
"Avfe. Thus ended the fght-thus APP
81 i'afed the battle ground.
As soon as it was daylight your cores
''ent entered the i'll fated city. This
Wat" scene that beggars all descrip-
'''S. thousands of contrabands, male
'eul"ie, big and little, old and young,
.g III the streets. "Bress the Lord"
'''Fy to God" and otherlike expressions,
ra: -. me very air Their eyes sparkled,
,' IVORY Shone. They danced, and jump