New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1866-05-21
Evacuation of Petersburg.

evacuation OF Petersburg.
I'VE take the following interesting account of
u event from the Petersburgh Index
There is not much need to dwell upon the scenes
(which these bright, quiet days are anniversa-
y. No one has forgotten yet, still some notice
" be expected
ktdaybreak on the morning of the LIST of April,
b, the cannonading which, along the lines on
immediate front of the city, had been con-
Iued and severe, extended along the whole line
lib redoubled ierceness, until, by sunrise, IRON
bAppomattox to Five Forks, there was scarcely
BY yards of ground along the entrenehme9nts ~
ii its black mouthed piece belching form angry
hoke and Lending the reverberatlons OF itS rear
/ thunder to the maddening tumult.
Early in the morning the rattle OF musKetFy pc,
an on the right, and soon an unceaslng roar tod
III the battle was in earnest, and that the spring
ampaign had begun. General Grant FORCES!
hn-advaneed in solid lines upon the intreneh-
%nts held by Pickett and Bushrod Johnson's di-
Eions. under command of Lieut.. Cen r. H. An.
isrson. and after several. gallant but Intellectual
lint attacks a movement in column was made by
Heridan, to force passage between the left flank
A the Confederate infantry and Fitz Lees feeble
Ayalry force, continuing that line By some error
Npap had been left, which Sheridan struck and
"A troopers poured through.
EPassing back towards the rear of Lees cavalry,
Aev swung to the left of Picketts lines, and ere
epg wild cheer rung from the troopers in the
paT to the troopers in front, and long lines OF
mntv trenches, roads strewn with abandoned
ans aud fields dotted with hurrying men, showed
bat the Wort; was done-that Lees right had been
rlshed. But this had not been done at once.
light followed speedily upon its accomplishment
ID the rumors of disaster which reached Peters
arg from the distant battlefield, though gloomy
iOurl were not explicit of the total overthrow
our forces, and sumber in our city was as
tsured of safety that nj hit as ever. No one
aew what real ruin had been done.
might brought with it no quiet, but instead, tht
heaming fuses and bursting shells of new BON
hrdment. Morning came as bright and smiling
any day Of any sprng.time. With light came
bunds of conflict, which grew louder and mort
Eghtful. Did they not draw nearer? 1t SOUNDED
"a And soon strange ruHOrs filled the streets
Fhe church bells rang out their first call to prayer
BIT nc one needed the summons. The clear, swee
anes fell upon the agony Of hearts that listened
Il bird.notes sonnd to those who mourn the dead
Zen gathered in groups around the corners. an
BOXED, with stFaining eyes, towards the CLOUDS Q
attic smoke that hung around the tOwn-stoo
Identity, and listened to the dull reports of heav
rdinance. and the sharp rattle OF musketry, upo
hch their fate hung trembling.
Men grew white in the agony Of suspense, an
bmen wept.
,ur-but the scanty meals stood on the boar
tasted The houses were deserted, and Gag
iestoners crowded around the men. who no
bne in with haggard faces and wild eyes.
B'What is it?'
And QUE answered, They have taken the riv
Ana another, pickett and johnson were ove
ielmed yesterday, their line broken and thu
pmauds beaten and crushed out-cut OIL fro
army, and forced up the country"
And another Gibbons corps struck Wtloo1
bit at day this morning, piercing his line;
bps TO the right were captured those TO
tforaed back. The enemy have reached
aroad and the river, and our line is at the sto
Ahd lust then a cry of look . was heard, a
hrninr we saw from the warehouses, where,
Irder Of the military authorities, had been stoI
lll the tobacco in the city, columns OF black, IN
smoke 20 up above mass of iurid flames.
= was the speech of every white cheek Q
reaming eve Few words told how like VIII
Find Of wrath came to the thousand hearts the de-
fthe hopes of years The groups dispersed .
ought their homes, .;AgonizinIg suspense had
ONE certainty, and they could weep now.
ANY attempt to tell of that day, with its hours
I'M dead h0peessness, it's moments of wild no
4 feelings of utter wretchedness, of the end
things to be desired. God spare us such anot
experience.
some good report " We are pressing them bac
len Lee has re-established his lines,' etc.,
n while the feverish wish would be paren
alief About IL o'clock the Confederates did
Apture the lines at Riyes's, and ray of real !
ame in upon the anxious souls. But the
anper was not there. On the right the W
tent resistlessly on. Fort Gregg fell despite
host heroic defense of the war; the Union
Idyauced from Cogbill's to Turnbull's, from 7
bulls to WhitwoTth's, and there, within ST
throw of the corporation limits, marshalled
enthusiastic masses.
At last Longsreet came. strengthened
was formed, and at o'clock the dispatch
Gen. Lee to his commanders across the Appoi
tox and James was: | can hold out until nj
and shall then withdraw"
It's terms were noised abroad and there wa
more of doubt or hope. The time passed in 5
preparation. The Federal officers seeing the
evitahle result of their success, wisely and
namely forebore further assault, and the
narrative stiffness was oppressive.
Dusk came, and with it came the evacua
Noise!essly from the lines they had so gallt
defended the Gonfederates withdrew, and
long dark columns passed through the streets
attacked unpursued We were spared the NJ
of q fight through the streets, which had
feared Now began the wild farewells and
embraces with which mothers sent forth
sons to unknown fates, and perchance en-
partings.
We draw the curtain over them. The darl
fell. the silent march continued until the
bridge at Pocahontas had reechoed to the
of the last Confederate soldier. signal gun
a 1t is fnished;n from right to left of the e
trenches rang deafenng explosions, While
of angry light shot up to the bending sky.
The army held on its track Of retreat alon
River bank, the citizens awoke to their chs
Condition, and the long agony was over.