Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1877-09-27

occupied 2 heavy earth redoubts,
these men poured in terrible
and effective vollies upon the
advancing enemy. These char
ges were continued for several
successive hours and were con-
|stantIy repulsed with heavy
loss. The result was the cap
ture of 8 Brigades and their
colors, which latter was effecte,s
by a sallie from the redoubts un-
der command of Lieut.. i. M.
Kelso, who had the honor of
bringing back 3 Brigade stand
ards of the enemy. The pris-
oners largely outnumbering our
force, they were marched by
the flank to the rear so that our
numbers should not be devel-
oped to them. Before midnight
under the soft light Of the
moon they laid their arms down
to surrender. About 2 o'clock
picks and shovels and hot cof-
fee were brought in. We were
then at work making good our
previous days earthwork, when
the enemy advanced III 3 lines
Of battle. They had discovered a
breachin our line from the previ-
GUS day made by a portion of the
force retiring forest. Coming up
a ravine and firing Simultaneous
ly with their front fire, We had
to give back, a hand TO hand
encounter ensued and men were
shot down at the muzzles of our
guns disputing every inch in
the face of superior numbers,
and several men who had been
bayoneted got away after the
conflict. 1t was in the rayine
mentioned here where Maj. S.
N. Crawford, commanding the
Regiment, was MORALLY wound
ed. At IL midday we were a
gain placed in line of battle in
front of a IL gun battery, here
We made sn earthwork and for
tunately their heavy fire passed
over us. At about 6 P. NJ, the
enemy began again to charge
our line-Gen. Beauregard in
command. After hours of
heavy fighting the enemy gained
temporary lodgment IN our
line, reinforcing from his right
promptly and a heavy concen-
trated fire from both tanks, the
ground was regained and thus
Grants promise to take supper
in Petersburg that night was
thwarted. Fighting continued,
caissons on both sides were
burning and night was made
lurid with their light; the bat
tie still wagcd in fury. The
enemy were discovered making
a flank movement to our right,
the heavy firing ceased. The
next morning found us on an
interior line facing the enemy.
A telegram from Gen. Lee was
read in the trenches, that if we
could hold out until 8 o'clock
he would reinforce us with his
army. There commenced the
defense by Gen. Lee of Peters
burg, Va, on the 10Th of June,
1864. Our loss by this time
had been heavy, our entire
Brigade now numbering about
200 guns and its equivalent of
officers. Fighting continued
for about 4 months, almost in
cessantly night and day. On
the morning of the July our
gallant commander Col. Jno. S.
Fulton was MORALLY wounded.
The wounded and convalescent
camps of Gen. Lees army ex-
tended for miles along the road
in our rear, and the citizens of
Petersburg were living in tents
and camping out whilst the city
was deserted and visited only
by the heavy shot and shell OF
the enemy's guns. We were
removed from this position to
The left flank when our regiment
was commanded by Lt-Col. RIB.
SnowdeD, of the 25tk Tenn. Reg
iment, our duty being to make
observation of the enemy. At
Fort Harrison and in lis imme-
date vicinity we were in no
condition to meet a heavy force.
The fort was partially garri-
soned by a force from Rich
mond, Col. j. NJ. Hughs at this
time commanding the Brigade.
Gen. Lees lines were now near
" 40 miles long, extending
north of Richmond to south of
Petersburg. On the night of |
9Th of October heavy fire was
opened on the immediate front
g Do.o.sburor oxfoudinor coroo \