Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1867-06-14
The Rattle Grounds Around Petersburg.

The Rattle Grounds Around petersburg.
We pnblish from the Petersburg EcpreS:
extracts from the correspondence OF the
New York Times in reference to scenes anC
incidents connected with the siege and fall
of Petersburg. We commend them, not
only for their great interest, but for theil
general accuracy.
The facts concerning the battle of the
"Crater" are especially interesting and
correct. Derived from General MALONE
whose troops dislodged the Federal forces
on that occasion, they can be relied upon
as most accurate There are two errors in
reference to other matters, however, into
which the writer has been led, (which we
desire to correct.
The first is in regard to Che troops de
Tending Fort Gregg i'll the desperate en-
counter on the ID of April, ending in its
capture. The correspondent says, 6 the
defence of this work had been intrIIsted to
a body of Mississippi troops, numbering III
all about $50 men," The writer Of this ar.
ticle, being Chief of Staff to Major Gene
raj WMcox, upon whose line Fort Gregg
was situated, took part in the immediate
disposition of the troops on that occasion.
Two brigades of WILCOX S division, LANE S
North Carolina and THOMAS Georgia, were
vainly endeavoring to check the advance
of the Federal troops, who had carried the
ing up with his brigade of Nississippians,
was ordered to garrison the bastions to the
right of Gregg larger portion taking
possession of Fort Whitworth, Immediately
to the right. The remainder of the bri-
gade went forward to assist WILCOX troops.
The only garrison then in Gregg being a
Virginia artillery company which had been
in charge of it for some weeks. The troops
in front being forced back, were ordered
to concentrate at Gregg, and the i'm
provised garrison consisted of troops from
the brigades of HARRIS, LANE and THOMAS,
a Mississippi Lieutenant Colonel being in
Immediate command.
Three distinct attacks were made, and
being in the fort during the two first, and
but short distance from it when it fell, to
the relief of which VIC were bringing rein
forcements, we are prepared not only to
speak of the conduct of the garrison, but
with perfect accuracy rs to its compost
ton.
The next error is in regard to the time of
the death of Lieutenant General A. 2.
HILL. The writer says: AT the time Fort
Gregg was carried, Generals HILL and MA
HONE were in conversation with LEE at
his headquarters" Fort Gregg did not
fall until 9 or 10 o'clock; General Hill was
killed about two miles to the right of
Gregg about sunrise. 1t was not the fall
of Fort Gregg to which General LEE direc-
ted the attention of General Hull, as that
bastion was at least a quarter of n mile in
rear of the line os works, but it was the
breastworks some distance to the right of
Gregg. To this point General HILL rode,
taking with him several couriers, and had
finally sent them all back save one, in
charge of Federal soldiers, who had stray
gled too far to the 'front.' when the occur
renee, as related in the letter, deprived the
Army of Northern Virginia of one of its
most able commanders, and General LEE of
one of his most trusted Lieutenants.