Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1865-06-08
HISTORY OF CO. G, 9th .. v. L.
Com m encing March 2Sth and
Ending May 26th, 1865.
FREDERlcKs HALL, LOUISA Co., VA. !
HID. QR's. Co. G, 67thO. vi, May 26. !


Mr.. EDITOR IF space permits in the
columns Of your paper, please give publica-
ton to the following, which is intended TO
give brief yet thorough history, TO those
of our cherished friends at home, who may
wish to know what part Go. Q has taken in
Grants last successful and energetic spring
The operations against Peters
burg and Richmond, the storming of the
before Petersburg, the fall ofthe
two dreaded as well as renowned cities, the
pursuit after Lee s army and last though
not least the capture of the boasted irwin
cible "Army Of Northern Virginia with
its famed chief Robert +. Lee, also the
backward march to Richmond after our task
was fulfilled, and the final assignment to
duty at Fredericks Hall, station on the
Va. Cen. r. r., noted for shoemaker
shop aud private station-hou large
tabacco factory and other buildings were de-
stroyed by Sheridan raids.
After we had passed a comparatively
quiet winter in the tented field on the north
side of the James, we broke up our winter
quarters on March 9th and the campaign
began. 1t was in the twilight of the eve
ming, when we had the last glimpse at our
abandoned cabins, where we spent many a
long and happy winter hour, the sun was
below the western horizon already, when
noisclcssly like sable hearse the column Of
which Co. & formed part was moving OFT,
many probably marched with heavy hearts
contemplating over the stern realities that
we're awaiting us at best in the future, but
surely all marched with heavy knapsacks.
The night march brought US beyond both
rivers, James and Appomattox, both of
which we crossed on pontoons, the first
pearof morn, 2Sth, found us on the southern
banks of the latter. By evening we reach
ed the left Of our lines south west from
Petersburg, shifting us in "a hours from
the extreme right to the left of our lines. -
On the morning of the Goth relieved troops
of the ID Corps which Immediately in com
bination with the 5th Corps commenced
offensive operations on our left at Hatchers
run, for the next or consecutive
days continual fighting was going on on our
left, we were not engaged any excepting
some skirmishing that extended several
times along our front from the left. Up to
Saturday evening, April l the fighting was
exclusively on our left. Perfect quietude
prevailed on our right, while the deadly
conflict was raging on the left.
Dead silence is always 9, sure foreboding
of y terrible hurricane. So here. It was
about clock p. NJ. when the signal gun
was fired, and one of the most calling cam
onadings was opened that ever was heard
since powder is known; under that protec-
tion the storming column was formed, which
broke the rebel works in front Of the 9th
Corps, ere that memorable Sabbath morn
ing dawned in the meantime our Brigade
had gone to the left but was ordered back
again after the first successful dash had
been made, breastwork after breastwork fell
into the hands of the victors, also fort after
fort. Our division received orders to storm
the works on the right of the 9th Corps,
the rebels soon abandoned their whole first
line of breastworks and we pursued them at
a rapid pace, all had gone right and we
met little trouble so far; the sun had passed
the meridian and the hour had arrived when
the scenes of Fort Wagner were to be re-
called again. We encountered stronghold
(called Ft. Gregg for which they showed
no inclination to abandon so quickly. After
the capture we learned that hardly 10 min
utes before our storming column rolled on
ward, Gen. Lee was there in person and or
dered the fort to be held at all hazards. -
Hence their tenacity in resistance. After
fierce musketry of 40 minutes, we sue
ceededin overwhelming the garrison, closing
at hand to hand fight. The fierceness Of
the assault may be Judged by the statement
that Co. G had 2 killed and II wounded,
wash killed and Lieut.. Chas. Authenrieth,
Isaac j. Miller and America Murry, Corpls.
John G. Shriver, D. Brandt, George Adams
and G. Ellis wounded some only very
slightly. Gregg was the last fort stormed
that day. As known, during the following
night Petersburg and Richmond were evac-
uated. On the morning April Sd the grand
morch in Lees pursuit commenced, march
ed all day near along the S. S. r. r.,
bivouaced for the night, SO the next day, on
the evening of April 5th we passed through
Wottoway G. H., by forced march we
were to reach Burkesvlle junction yet that
night to support Sheridan, arrived at about
II in the night. Seven miles beyond the
junction we encountered the first resist
ance, and q sharp skirmish ensued, which
was kept up for the remainder of the day,
the following night they abandoned our
front which they had fortified already We
followed in close pursuit to tributary of
the Appomattox near the so-called High
Bridge where they made another short
stand, but short skirmish routed them and
we drove them in hurry skurry through
the small village of Farmville, beyond which
place we encamped for the night, to rest
and strengthen us for the arduous and
supernatural march we were about to make
on the morrow. BY day break we were in
motion again en- route for Lynchburg. AL
though both armies, rebel and ours, were
marching parallel that day and sometimes
can have been more than two miles apart,
we mysteriously encountered no difficulties.
Half past IL in the night we arrived at Ap-
pomattox Station. tired to death; in &C
cordance to Lee 8 own expression we march
ed forty miles that day. After a short
rest We were put in motion again at clock
in the morning; having marched awhile,
being ahead of the enemy's column, we
struch for direct northern course, we're
drawn up in line of battle in double-quick
time, then we advanced directly east, by
the direction we were moving, we could well
imagine that we were in Lee last lupe hole,
that we will have to contend with his ad-
vancing column. No sooner were we thus
advancing when we were mingling in another
mortal combat, our advancing in double
quick soon checked their advancing and
they sought safety in retreating; all went
nicely till we encountered one of their bat
teries in an open field, our brigade having
no connection on either right nor left we
we're forced to fall back little piece 20 pre-.
vent being Aanked, here that hostile battery