The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-10-02

A"e io1oWl"6 ieiter WHICH, appeared III
the lSrEtLtGEScrn during the 'timcs that
tried mems souls is repuhlisl,ed ut tho
request OF many old soldiers:
HEADQUARTERS 12rt w. Va,
INFANTRY N%oiusrEEtss,
1H APPROXIMATION G. IT,, VA,
Ilpril 10. 1865.
Editors Mtehigencer:-We have lust re-
turned from m expeditionstb L~ynchburc,
and are resting for IL :fews hours ut this
most insignificant OF Virginia country
towns, but Il town which will liyein the
history connected witli!tllN Surrender Of
the remnant of the great Rebel Army of
Northern NirginM. Since this cammign
began great and glorious victories have
followed each other in such rapid Success
ion that here in the theatre OF action we
nre lost in aIpazement nj the oyerwhelm-
ing defeat that has been the fAte OF the
enemy ut every point, and VIC can but
idotize the hero whose master mind
Planned and controlled every movement
OF this greatest and mostsucepssiul military
combination OF modern times.
L will attempt to give you some idea Of
the part played by ON command in the
movements:
We crossed to the south, side of the
James, and were throwno on our liEcs near
llatclcr's Run in time to take part in the
skirmish OF March :lst and April LIST, in
which the 10th, 18th and 18th infantry
regiments, c%omposinsG Gen. Harris brigade,
suffered severely.
They charged and captured every Skin
mish line OF the enemy throughout, and
took positions so close 10 the rebel forts
us to completely silence every gun by
picking of the gunners. The Eth held Il
skirmish inehere also, but with very little
loss.
On Sunday morning, april 9, everything
had been arrangcdto charge simultaneous
ly every position along the line. At the
given signal, in our front line, General
Harris, with his Virginil brigade, dashed
on double quick for their stronghold, but
before he had neared it they hoistcd the
white flag, and most Of the garrison es-
capped.
Our whole command then moved rap
idly inside their life Of works toward
Petersburg, and when within two miles OF
that place was greeted with a storm OF
shot and shell that convinced us that the
work was not yet finished. But it was dis
covered That they had a line oil strong
forts, which it was Immediately arranged
that the Twenty fourth army corps should
charge. The Lieutenant General, Mason,
was on the fold and directed the move.
ments In person. 4.
Fort Gregg, which was tho strongest
rebel work on the Petersburg deienses-.
which was the key 10 the city-aud was
manned by 800 selected men, whose in
structions were to hold it at all hazards,
the capture Of which Maj. Gen. Glib.
bons says In general orders, those
who charged it are entitled to q
place by the side Of the heroes OF
Fort Fisher, was first entered by tho Ser.
ond brigade and its gallant leuler. Col
onel Curtis was the first brigade COM
pander in the works, and the surrender
was made to him. This was the first time
this Brigade, composed Of the Twelftl,
Virginia, Fifty.fourth Pennsylvania and
Twenty-third Illinois Colonel Mulligan's
old regiment), was called into action dur
ing the fight, and the manner they nc
quilted themselves entities them to ever
lasting honor. The fort was charged
from two directions, the Second
brigade forming the second line OF
battle on the part charged by them. The
first line OF bnttlc was 4 brigade from the
first division Of this corps, which behaved
nobly in advancing to the very ditch of
the fort, but here the firing was SO terrible
and destructive they faltered and lay down
in the ditch. The command was now
given to the SECOND brigade to charge in
support, and with q yell, like s'rcapers
they went into the harvest OF death" over
ground already tiiakly strcwa with the
dead OF the brigade which had preceded
them, and %througha storm Of grape and
cgnpistcr that caused the heaftot every.
observer 10 at0nd still in fear for the fate
OF the brave men who Hn4auntediy dasied
onward whilst cannon to the right OF
them, canDon to the left Of them,
and cannon, in front Of them,
~yolleycd and Numbered" So des-
perate, indeed, was tho nndpr-
taking, that-the general commanding, con,
GLIDING perhaps the work impregnable to
ASSAULT with The force engaged, ordered
the column to halt. 'Aelommand reach
cd Colonel Curtis at the heatofihe charge,
whilst on horseback 10 xas gallopine back
ana forth encouraging the men but he,
thinking tins work could be taken, made
but little effort 10 hail the column now de-
termined on going thorough, and they
dashed onward. When they reached The
parapct OF the fort it was found so difficult
to ascend that n temporary halt was made
for the men to breathe. They now being
under tho encmy's cannon, were, subject
to q fire Of mnsketry from the garrison.
which they returned with .vigor.
In 4 few minutes they began the diff
cult and perilous task Of climbing the
parapet, and in this WIS displayed the
true heroism OF brave men; q hand to
hand conflict ensued. Our men in
ascending the parapet could not use their
guns, and in SOME instances threw peb-
bles and sand into the faces OF the enemy
to blind them.
Sergeant Adams, Company D, color.
bearer OF the 10Th Virginia infantry, had
already fallen severely wounded. Cor.
poral Fogston, Company G, seized the
colors, and %clamberins up the parapet
amid the ringing shouts OF his comrades
planted the old tattered banncr-the first
on tho rebel stronghold, but was almost
instantly shot dead. The colors were
caught and held in their place now by
Lieut.. Mont. Curtis, acting staff officer,
who had gone into the charge in the front
rank OF tho regiment, and brandishine
his sword cheered the men onward. He
escaped u%tliurt, but with bullet holes In
his coat, 1t WIS ut this juncturc the
bravo Lieutenant Caldwell, Company Gin
advance'oi his men, sprang into the fort
and was bayoneted to death before his