The tri-weekly news. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1865-1876, 1865-08-19
General Lee ns.ing the Pstarshnrg
III a. Hattie. h

Wortd whites as foilowSs9
Soon after sunrise on the I'd Of April
the Federal columns, in heavy mass, ad.
vanced from the outer line of works,
which they had carried at daybreak, 70
attack General Lee in his luner intrench.
ments near Petersburg. When the
present writer reached the vicinity Of
army headquarters on the Cox road, west
of the city, Federal column was rapidly
advancing to charge battery posted IN
the open field to the right of the house,
and at that time was firing rapidly. Gen.
Lee was in the lawn in front Of his head
quarters, looking through his glass at the
column as it moved at double quick
across the fields, and knowing the terrible.
significance of the advantage which the
Federal troops had gained, / looked at
the General, to ascertain if possible,
what he thought Of it. He never APP
peared more calm +; and if the affair had
been review, he could not have
exhibited less emotion of any description.
In full uniform, with his gold.hilted
sword, and perfectly quiet look, he ap
peared to be witnessing, with simple
curiosity, some military parade.
The movement of the Federal column
became more rapid, and the battery was
soon charged; but it succeeded in gallop.
ing off under heavy fire of m,sketry.
The column then pressed on, and the
Federal artillery opend heavy fire on
the hill, before which the. Southern
guns s-- there wasn no infantry withdrew.
General Lee retired slowly with bis
artillery, riding his wnll-known iron gray,
and one person, at least, in the company
forgot the shell and shafphooters in look.
ing at the superb old cavalier, erect as
an arrow, and as calm as May morning.
When he said to nm officer near, "Thls
is bad business, Colonel" there was
no excitement in his voice, or, indeed,
any change whatsoever in its grave and
courteous tones; A, slight f,ish came to
his face, howevef, 4 moment afterwards.
a shell froin the Federal batteries fired
at the groupe, burst almost upon him,
killing a horse near by, and cutting his
bride reins. This brought decided
expression Of fight" to the old soldiers
face, and he probably felt as he did in
Gulpepper when the disaster of Kappa.
hammock bridge occurred-when he
muttered, General Stuart told me. II
should now like 10 go into charge"
The demcanor Of public men on great
occasions is legitimate matter for history.
General Lees personal bearing npon
this critical occasion, when he saw him.
self about 70 be subjected to- The greatest
humiliation to the pride Of soldier---
capture was admirably noble and Sc,
rene. 1t was impossible not to be struck
with the grandeur ofhis appearance mo
other phrase describes 1t; or 10 refrain
from admiring the princely air with which
the old cavalry officer sat his horse
With his calm and thoughtful eye, and
perfect repose of manner visible in spite
of theSrestiye movements Of his horse,
lnghtened,by the firing ii was hard 10
believe that he saw'there WAS no hope,
and for himself would have cared little
il one Of the bullets singing around had
iouha ftS mark In his breast. E.'-taa..
r. *, -----------e. - >--r--S---- 4
z FREEDMEN IN BALTIMORE - The
Baltimore SIN Of yesterday says
q "a large number of the freedmen of
Virginia have been brought to Maryland
to work on farms in the Eastern Shore
counties. A gentleman who has esta.
blished anagency in this city for the pur
pose Of furnishing Maryland farmers
with laborers, yesterday exhibited to us
his books. from which it appears that he
has supplied over ak handred colored
laborers from Richmond with suitable
employment, at fair compensation, on
FIRMS in Rent and adjoining counties.
In ono case the commanding officer at
Richmond, with the approval of the
Secretary Of War, sent him, ON Gov,
ernmeht transport one hundred and fifty
freedmen, who had been drawing Gov.
eminent rations at Richmond for. want
OF employment, and the demand for more
increases every dey. The freedmen
N. A -.