National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-12-27
SIEGE OF SUFFOLK.
HOW THE C0NFEDERATEs SECURED
LARGE AMOUNT OF PROVISIONS.
A Brisk skirmish Over a Mill Dam-Thc
Johnnies Caught Mapping by Squadron OF
Union Csvalry-Pleasant Interchange OF
CourtesIes Under Flag OF Truce.

After tho disastrous defeat OF Gen.
Burnside at Fredericksburg in December,
1862, Longstreets corps of Lees army
lay during the winter sDugly in winter
quarters around Guinea station, on the
Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad.
The troops had been we'll fed, we'll clad,
and well housed during that period, and
with the exception of an occasional tour
of duty along the bleak bank OF the Rap
pahannock, their military duties were
not In the least fatiguing nearly all drills
having been suspended during the in
clement season. Tho mon were fat and
healthy and heartily tired Of their long
insction. SO that whom, in the beginning
of April, 1868, orders were issued to the
division ("Pickett's"). to which tho
writer's regiment u7th Virginia in
fantry) belonged, to pack three days ra-
tions and DO ready to move at moments
warning, a general feeling of relief and
satisfaction pervaded the camp. Any
movement was far preferable to tho
monotonous life of
THE WINTER QUARTERS.
Gen. Longstreet, with Picketts and
Hoods divisions, broke camp about the
I'd of April, marched southwark through
Richmond and Petersburg, and then
beaded toward Suffolk for the crossing of
he Blackwater. No one in the COM
nand knew the object Of the movement,
although IL was rumored that we were
going on grand foraging expedition.
The weather was fine and the marching
at first easy, and the men Of the divisions
bothered their heads very little as to the
object of the march, We crossed tho
Blackwater on o pontoon bridge laid at
South Kay, aud the head of the column
was pointed directly for Suffolk, and
forced marches were in order. Before
this, however. TO mask bis movement,
Gen. Longstreet had detached brig
ade or so to feint againt Little Wash
ington in order to draw away at least
portion of Gen. Peck's army, which was
entrenched around Suffolk, at tho head
of the Nansemoud river. We arrived be-
fore the lines of Suffolk within striking
distance about noon, and the divisions
immediately deployed in line of battle,
Pickett on the right and Hood on the
left. The army of Gen. Peck was
WIDE AWAKE AND READY FOR Us,
md the gunboats in the river had had
steam up ready to take their part in the
expected battle. Now, If Longstreet had
intended to make serious assault upon
the works it is evident that the sooner 1t
was Done the better the chances of sue
cess But, apart from some desultory
musketry and artillery duels between the
gunboats and the confederate batteries,
there was no lighting, and the confederate
general by this indicated his intention to
regularly besiege the place. 1t was
thought that the object of tho expedi-
ton was to cut the railway between Suf-
folk and Norfolk, and capture Peck's force,
but IL Ia more likely that the objects aimed
at were to draw away troops from Hookers
army, and to collect the large amount oil
forage and provisions with which the
country between the Blackwater and
Nansemond rivers was stocked, owing
TO the inability of the planters
10 get transportation to mar.
ket This section was sort OF neutral
zone, which the tax gatherers seldom en-
tered, and the scouting parties from
either side were not disposed to wantonly
destroy the property of people who were
always ready to feed and treat them
well. The amount Of bacon, corn. peas
potatoes, horses, and cattle collected In
tho surrounding country by Longstreets
auartermasters and commissaries during
the siege was enormous aud they got II
all safely over the Blackwater, en- route
Tor Petersburg.
1t is not my purpose to attempt
TO DESCRIBE THE SIEGE,
INT only that part of il which was partici
pated In by nv regiment. The gunboat.
more than held their own. and wher
Hoods men succeeded In erecting a stron,
battery about six miles down the Napse
mond. which. If held i'm force. would pur
the punboats IN. the works were storrnet
by the federal infantry and the gun,
placed therein captured. And so tn,
m "a
from day to day until it was raised.
On the evening Of the day when th'
army arrived before suffolk the writer
regiment was detached from the brigade
with orders 10 march to the rlSht some
four or I'VE miles, and take post on th'
Edonton road to North carolina, ut
point where IL runs withln Two hundred
yards OIL the edge OF the DISMAL swamp
To attain our destination we had to eros
miil-dam or canseway some Two nun
area yards long, whlch retained the
waters OF deep mill pond, stretching
two or three miles in tho direction o
SUFFOLK. Ihis dam was only hundred
yards or so from the Edonton road
When we got to the designated position
IL was dark and rainy, and our command
ing officer was unable to hnd out but it'll
OF the lay OF the land, Tor our guide wa
either stupid or disloyal, probably the lat
ter. After throwing out strong picke
the regiment was moved down to firing
OF pines on the edge OF the mill pond I
go into bivouac. AS 1t was raining, in
stead OF stacking arms the men took thel
rifles and cartridge-boxes under thei
blankets to Keep them as dry as possible
and II was well for them they did SC
Just before the crack OF dawn
SINGLE SHOT WAS HEARD
from the outside picket, which, by tn
way, had been posted entirely too far iron
the bivouac. The fool OF u quarter guard
instead OF instantly arousing the camp
went to AWAKEN the adJutant While h
was making his explanations squadron