Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1865-04-19
Special Correspondence of the South car9inian'
The Fall Of Richmond.
DANylLLE, Va, April $, lSC

DAyylLLE, Va, April $, 1860.
Richmond and Petersburg have fallen: but
they have gone down in q blaze of glory, and
with record unstained by cne blot OF shame.
All that the enemy has gained, has been pur-
chased OF terrible price in blood, while our
own army, although suffering severely, Is still
strong. intact, and ready for lis future work.
!. Of:the events of.tho last five days can
give YOU bat cursory view, and even this is
obscnred BY the yet fresh smoke O. battle. :
Grant commenced his grand movement as
early as Tuesday, the 18th. 1t was not I'M
anticipated. Our only doubt was as TO the
exact point at whichhe would make bis main
or decisive demonstration. He felt our lines
at different localities along there entire length.
Hence Gen. Lee was compelled so 10 dist:b-
ute his forces as to be prepared to repel the
principal assault wit tlcleast possible delay.
On the Tuesday in question the enemy ad
ysnced on the south side to within ono mile
he Boydkin plank road threw up en-
ts2nchinents and built large fort in the VI
.cnity of the Lewis house. Durinsthe night;
lliS skirmishers pushed forward few hundred
Yards further. Wednesday, we fought this
column with yerriag success, and nightdroop'
e.! on drawn battle. At Hatcher's Run:
,t!,iring the afternoon, there was also heavy
;iehtiug, in which the enemy lost heavily
i i.,;i sday heavy skiraishing and movement
t-t troops. Friday the efforts were resumed
snd with greater deicrlEination. The Fed
cral cavalry swept around Our works towards
the railroads. but were met by Gen. Fi;z Lee
andrepulsed. The Yankee infantry, upwards
Of forty thousand strong, We're inassed near
burgess Mill, and her battle was coined IL
ernest. Qf.ils results inow. nothing deh-
ni,c, save that tie enemy gained no silbstan
tial advantage, and suffered greatly. Necap-
lured between four andsix hurdred prisoners
On-Saturday and Sunday. the lighting WAS
fearful-the shocks Of conflict i:lo,l terrible
Of the war, and the casualties on b3!h sllcs
immense. Our entrenchments, in many pla'
ces, were he'd by a thin line ou!y, but tins
stood ncbly to its post, throughout Saturday
On SUNDAY. however, Grant resumed his old
4ocation of "Batcher." Finding that lie
could make little or no impression III the or
binary way, lie masscd his troops several col
umns deep against portion OF tn lire on
the right, aud then driving them ra'ent!essly
forward succeeded at last after frightiul sacri-
fce of life in obtaining possession oi y sec
ton of the works. 1t was not in the power
of any men. however brave. to have With
stood these desperate assaults without greater
support. Longstreet had not yet come. up,
although hurrying from another part OF te
field. Meanwhile the Federals were rolling
forward and recoiling like wayes-those. be-
Eiud impcl!ins these bcfore-untii = loGGS-
mcr,t was effected, the olkslnountca, tiaa',-
ing position end eniila'le lire secured. and the
;att!e substantially won.
Our grape and cania.er moved thc.encrHy
down by hundreds, our rifles toid with une:.
ring precision, aud the ground was literally
carpeted with the dead and wounded, but
sheer physical brute force proved 1T last sl-
perior to everything elsc and the delances
were taken.
We know nothing yet Of the military move
rnens of the day in detail. Eat every state
reAt that reaches us confirms the fact That
orr officers and soldier, fought li..e heroes
Gen. 4. p. Hill is said to have been killed
ormortally wounded He Was passing through
The woods and came upon two Yankees, whose
surrender he demanded, bat instead OF yield
.ag one Of them drew si.,,t ard shot him
through the body. Whether he WAS killed
outright or not we don't sl'ow. Il is thought
by some that he is in Inc lanes Of the enemy
and probably still alive. Gen. ficriioa is re-
ported mortaly wounded. He was one OF tie
lions of the ,lav. Gen. Picket is said 10 have
been killed. These reports may all prove
premature, and recommend that they be re-
ceiyed with caution. Our total losses are
estimated al from eight to fifteen thousand,
otWIIom considerable portion are piison-
crs. ';hat of the eneuty can only be guessed
Al, but officers Who were engaged st The
fron: and saw something Of tie slaughter,
state that it cannot be less thar from forty TO
ii'ty iilnnsand.