The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1865-08-22
THE PETERSBURG BATTLES.
General Lee.

SOGn after sunrise on the I'd OF April the Z ed
eral columns, in heavy mass, advanced from the
outerhne of works, which they had carried a.
daybreak, to attack Gen. Lee in his inner in
trenchments near Petersburg. When the present
writer reached the vicinity of army headquarters
the Cox road, west Of the city, Federal
column was rapidly advancing to charge bat
! terry posted in the open field to the right of the
house, and at that time firing rapidly. Gen
Lee was in the lawn in front Of his headquarters
looking through his glass at the column as it
moved at double-quick across the fields, and
knowing the terrible significance of the advan-
tage which the Federal troops had gained, /
looked at the General to ascertain, if possible,
what he thought Of it. lie never appeared more
calm; and if the affair had been a 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 III SallcPing off under heavy
fire of musketry. The column then pressed on
and the Federal artillery opened heavy fire on
the hill, before which the Southern guns-tlere
was inlantry--withdrew Gen Lee retired
slowly with his artillery, riding his well ,knoa n
iron-gray, aud one person, at least, IN the com
pany forgot the shell and sharpshooters, looking
at the superb old cavalier, erect as arrow and
calm as May morning. When he said to an
officer near, This is bad business, Colonel"
there was no excitement in his voice, or, indeed,
any change whatsoever in its grave and courte-
ous tones X slight flush came to his face, how
ever, moment afterwards A shell from the
Federal batteries, fred at the group, burst al
most upon hin, killing horse near by, and
cltting bride reins. This brought decided
expression Of fight to the OLD soldiers face,
and he probably felt as be did in Culpeper when'
tie d aster Of RapI ahannock bridge occurred
when he mutered, Gen. Stewart told me, 81
should now like to go into charge"
The demcrnor Of public men on great occa-
sions is legitimate matter for history. General
Lees personal bearing upon this critical occa-
sion, when lie saw himself about to be subjected
to the greatest humiliation to the pride of
afture-was admirably noble and
serene. 1t was impossible not 20 be struck with
the grandeur OF his appearance other phrase
describes it; or to 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 the rcstiEe movemcntf0f his horse, frightened
by the friug. it was hard to believe that he saw
there was no hope, ard for himself would have
cared little if one of the bullets singing around
had found its mark in his breast.
OfGeneral Lees soldiership, the writer, who
is announced as one Of General Lees staff goes
on to say:
If General Lee coutip1ed, Of his own choice,
to occupy position at Petersburg from which,
events soon showed, he,could not extrcate his
army, it will go far 10 rob him Of that renown
which be had previously won.
ob,, IF fi.a eiF Ean
Lee, in February, issued orders for the removal
Of all the stores of the army to DanvilIe. Gov
crnment cotton and tobacco was hauled away
from Petersburg hundreds Of The inhabitants
left the place; ali the surplus artillery was sent
10 Amelia Courthouse, and even the reserve ord
nance train of the army was ordered to the same
point Then suddenly, in the midst Of all, the
movement stopped The authorities at Rich
mond had said, 'Iold your position" Ice
ccuntermanded his orders and awaited his fate.
say d1oaited his.fate, because lam perfectly
we'll convinced that from that moment be re-
earded the eTcut ers mere question of time.
ct be determined to stand at bay, and fight to
the last. The expected attack came. General
Grant rapidly concentrated bis army, (amount-
ing, General Meade stated at Appon attox Court
House, to about one hundred and forty thousand
nicn,1 on Lees right, near Burgess Mill, his
lht1SL TItiE1i Corps Oh lD36ntIS anu NeEe
throw9 forward and desperate attack was
made upon the Confederate works Oh White
Oak roaa. Il bloody gcpuise awaited the first
assauls bet thc second was saccessfal. At the
same time The lines pear Petersburg were broken
by great force, and the affair was decided -
] he Confederate army was cut in two; the ene-
ny held the Southside railroad, iutercepting the
EBe cf retreat; and what Lees clear military
Judgment had foreseen, had come to pass. Be-
tween his forty thousand men, or less, and Dan
Vile wcre the one hundred and forty thousand
men. of Grant
GENERAL Meade, it is said, expressed extreme
60 General Lee when informed Of
his si.lall numbers, declaring that if Gen. Grant
bad suspected this weakness, he would bave long
before broken through the Confederate lines, and
this would have doubtless been done sooner, but
that up to this time MS adversary, by rapid
of his small force from poiut 10 point,
and obstinate fighting, had invariably foiled him.
After describing the difficulties of swollen
streams and broken down transportation which
aided the energetic movements of Genaral Grant
in producing the final surrender, fbe writer
speaks Of another scene in the retreat in which
Gen. Lee appeared conspicaously -
In front of all was the a5i1l line Of battle just
placed By Lee, thrown in at the critical moment
and most unexpectedly, aud waiting calmly.
GeneralI Lee had rushed his infantry over just
at sunset, leading it in in person, his face AMI
mated, aud bis eye brilliant with the soldiers
spirft of ''fght"-but bis bearing unfurried as
before. Al artist desiring to paint his picture,
ought 10 have seen the old cavalier at this mo-
ment, sweeping on upon his large iron gray,
whose name aud tail foated in the wiod, carry
ing his ield-glass half raised in his right band,