New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-04-16
Aleu- Orleans 9ailp Grescent.
Evacuation OF Petersburg.

Evacuation OF Petersburg.
We take the following interesting account of
this event from the Petersburg Index:
HIsroRY.--There is not much need to dwell
anon the scenes of which these bright, quiet days
are anniversaries. No one has forgotten yet, still
some notice may be expected
AT daybreak an the morning Of the lst of April
1865, the cannonadng which, along the lines on
the immediate front of the city, had been con
. tinued and severe, extended along the whole line
q with redoubled derceness, until, by sunrise, from
J. the Appomattox to Five Forks there was scarcely
fifty yards of ground along the entertainments but
had its black mouthed piece belching forth angry
smoke and lending the reverberatious Of its fear
ipl thunder to the maddening tnmult
Early in the morning the rattle Of musketry be-
gan on the right, and soon an unceasing roar told
that the battle was in earnest and that The 7prihs
campaign had begun. General Grants forces
two corps of infantry and the cavalry under Sheri-
dan-adyanced in solid lines upon the intrtnch'
ments held by Pickett and Bnshrod johnson o.
divisions under command of Lieut.. Gen: Il. Il.
Anderson, and after several gallant but Intellectual
feint attacks, movement in column was MADE Dy
Sheridan, to force passage between the !eit hahh
of the Confederate infantry and titz Lee leeo n,
cavalry force continuing that line. By some error
a gap had been left, which Sheridan struck, ana
his troopers poured through.
Passing back towards the rear of Lees cavalry
they swung to the left upon the rear OF fieke.i
troopers in the rear the troopers in front, anc
long lines of empty trenches roads strewn witt
abandoned guns and fields dotted with hurrylng
beaten men, showed that the work was done--tha
Lees right had been crushed. But this had no
been done at once. Night followed speedily upor
its accomplishment, and the rhmors OF disaster
which reached Petersburg from the distant battle
field though gloomy enough, were not explicit OF
the total overthrow of our forces, and slumber il
our city was as assured Of safety that night as
ever. No one knew what real ruin had been done
Night brought with it no quiet but instead, the
httrgy allltu hnT
bardment. Morning came, as bright and smiling
as any day of any spring-time. With light came
sounds Of conflict. which grew louder and more
frghtful. Did they not draw nearer! 1t sounded
SO. And soon strange rumors filled the streets
The church bells rang out their first call to prayer
but no one needed the summons. The clear
sweet tones fell upon the agony of hearts that lis
tened, as brd-notes sound to those who mourn tht
dead. Men gathered in groups around the corners
and looked, with straining eyes, towards TN
clouds Of batte.smoke that hung around tn
town-stood silently, and listened to the dull re
ports of heavy ordnance, and the sharp rattle o
musketry, upon which their fate hung trembling.
Men grew white in the agony Of suspense, an
women wept.
The old town clock struck eght-the breakfas
hour-but the scanty meals stood on the board un
tasted. The houses were deserted, and cage
questioners crowded around the men who nos
came in with haggard faces and wild eyes.
:" What is it?
And one answered, "They have taken the Rive
Salient"
And another, pickett and Johnson were over
whelmed yesterday, their line broken, and the
commands beaten and crushed Ont--cut Oft tror
the army, and forced up the country"
And another. "Gihbons corps struck Wilcox
front at day this morning. piercing his line; tn
troops to the right were captured. those to Tn
left forced back The enemy have reached til
railroad AID the river, and our line is at the ston
BRIDGE
And just then cry of "lool'' was heard, an
turning we saw from the warehouses, where, b
order Of the military authorities, had been store
all the tobacco in the city, columns OF black TING
smoke go up above mass of lurid flames. ''iI
d. so,'' WIS the speech of every white cheek aE
streaming eye. Few words told how like a Win
wind OF wrath came to the thousand hearts til
death of the hopes of years. The groups disperse
and sought their homes. Agonizng suspeni
had become certainty, and they could wee
now.
Any attempt to tell of that day, with its hours
dull dead hopelessness, its moments of wild hop
its feelings Of utter wretchedness, of the end OF
things to be desired. God spare US such anoth
experience.
som, good report. 1--WE are pressing them back
.GenTal Lee has re-established his lnes,' ETC., al
for awhile the teverish wish would be parent
belle. About eleven o'clock the Confederates
recature the lines at Rives and ray of real Ig
cam, in upon the anxious souls. But the real da
ger ras not there. On the right the work we
resslessly on. Fort Gregg fell, despite the mt
heroc defense of the war, the Union line adVanc
from Cogblls to Turnbus, from Turnbuiis
Whityorth's and there, in stone.throw OF the C
poraiOn limits, marshalled their enthuslas
masses.
Atast Longstreet came. A strengthened j
was Drmed, and at four o'clock the dispatch fr
Geneal Lee to his commanders across the Apl
mattw and James was, 6 | can hold ont jul
night and shall then withdraw"
It's erms were noised abroad, and there was
M Re fdoubt or hope. The time passed in sill
pfepaation. The Federal officers seeing the IN
itableresult of their success, wisely and human
forebGe further assault, and the comparative s.
ness vas oppressive. -.-...
DUSK came, and with it came the evacuati
Noisehssly from the lines they had so gala1
defended, the Confederates withdrew, and
long dirk columns passed through the streets, Ill
tackled, unpursued We were spared the hol
of fight through the streets. which had b
feared Now began the wild farewells ard /
embraces with which mothers sent forth d
sons to unknown fates, and perchance end
partings.
We draw the curtain over them. The dark
fell the silent march continued unit! the old brl
at Pocahontastad re.echoed to the tread OF
last Confederate soldier A signal gun said, :
finished - fron right to left Of the empty trent
rang deafenin explosions, while bursts OF al
light shot up the bending sky.
The army hid on its track of retreat along
river bank, tie citizens awoke to their chal
condition, antthe long agony was over.