The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1882-02-09
Gordon's Capture of Fort Steadman
M. Quad in Detroit Free Press.

Gordon Capture OF Fort Steadman.
M. Quad in Detroit Free Press.
Grant had been hammering at Lee in front
OF Petersburg day after day and night after
night for months When a Federal was killed
he was replaced by recruit. When Con-
federate fell he could not be replaced at all
Death and desertien had thinned Lees army
down until, in the last days of March, 1865,
he did not have one mnn to every ten foot of
fortified line Unbolted corn meal and sor-
ghum molasses furnished the staple ration, and
hundreds of the men were without overcoats
and almost barefooted. Grants hammering
with cannon and mortar and musket gave
Lee no rest. Men who fought all day to save
one point were marched all night to be ready
to save another, and tired men fell asleep to
be awakened by the crash Of bombs Or the yell
of assalants. Say what you will, but the
world has acknowledged that there was some
thing heroic in that long defense of Peters
burg and Richmond Such faith and patrl-
otism and obedience would have freed coun-
try from yoke of despotsm
BORN OF DESPAIR
The last days of the Confederacy were ap-
preaching. Lee knew it, Davis knew it-al
chieftains knew it. Sherman was sweeping
through Georgia, Grant was extending his
lines each day, and even the poorest private
soldier must have seen the signs of collapse
When Lee looked up and down his thin lines
he realized that a few more blows of that
great Federal hammer would shatter them
Skeleton regiments, numbering scarcely 300
men, were already guarding lines half a mile
long, and each day and each night were taking
from the number of men and adding to the
length of the line. In this grmness of despair
the Confederate chieftain was neryed to strike
great and daring blow in the hope that it
might delay the inevitable. This was to attack
Fort Steadman, one of Grants strongest and
most advanced forts.
THE SITUATION.
Fort Steadman is to the left of and about
half a mile from the Crater Down the Con-
federate lines to spot opposite Steadman and
salient Thus crookedly ran the lines At the
Crater the Federals held a little creek. Four
hundred yards further up the Confederates
held the same stream In both cases the pick
cts were SO close together that conversation
could be carried ON in ordinary tones. Beyond
Fort Steadman were three other Federal forts
which commanded it and portions OF the Con-
federate lines as well. Grant had four men
there to Lees one He had ten feet of earth
works to Lees one, and yet Lee planned one
Of the boldest moves of the whole war.
THE PLAN.
The plan was to mass troops at the salient,
dash across the clear space, capture Fort
Steadman and the other works commanding
it, and fall upon the rear of the Federal army
right and left. An attack by night and sur
prise at daybreak would give the Confederates
chances of success. At least, they could only
be beaten back. If only the forts were captur-
ed Grants lines would be cut in two and his
army demoralized.
MAKING READY.
On the night of the 25th of March portions
of A. P. Hills and Longstreet's corps were
silently assembled at the salient. Some were
there before midnght-the remainder an hour
later. Every man in the command knew what
was to be undertaken, and each one could fig
ure the chances for himself The open ground
over which they must dash could be swept by
thirty Federal cannon and 5000 muskets. In
front of Steadman and its thanking works was
an abattis of the strongest description. Fence
rails were sharpened and driven into the
earth at an angle of forty-iv degrees. Their
centres rested upon line of rails three feet
high. and were firmly bound with telegraph
wire. Then the outer ends of the rails were
sharpened, making defense which was sup
posed to be able to Withstand any attack.
Gen. Gordon had the command, and if the
general plan was daring his minor plans
might be termed reckless Every detail was
carefully planned, and every officer knew ex-
actly what he was to do. One OF the last pre-
parations was for each COME derate soldier
tostie piece Of white cloth around his arm
50 that he might be identified in the dark
ness.
THE RUSH
About 200 men, each armed with sharp ak
we're the first to leave the salient, and the
time was half an hour before daybreak. They
rushed across the cleared space at the top Of
their speed and without shout, and in hive
minutes had clear passage through the abat
It's. Not gun was fired by the Federal pick
ct, withdrawn behind the abattis for the night
until the work was nearly completed. Had
these axmen made the rush by daylight
not one of them would have lived three
minutes.
WITH EMPTY MUsKETs
The first troops to follow the axmen were
three companies with unloaded muskets and
fixed bayonets. Gordon feared that if the mus
kets were loaded the men would stop to fire