The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1884-09-03
FoE THE cLARzos
The Death Gr sple 1t Petersburg
Last Dayss 81 H.ss 'a.iss z7i arisass-

DHNISIO0 OF the ARM y Or AoEfnGTn \ II.
ginia, arrived and took position in tbe
lines of Petershnfg. After much shift
ing Of positions, , we're thrown forward
on the I'D Of 5tne, and look part IN
the fight Of that date, on Jordan's far n.
! This action was the first Of a series 81
/ bloody encounters fought for the DOS.
session Of the "Petersburg and Weldon
Railroad" and which ended in a com
| plete and disastrous repuIse to the Fed
erals. The ramifcafiOns of this battle
were unique and novel. Such curious
formations of lines of battle. and such
/ apparent ignorance of where TO strike.
and what 10 strikt, whom to strike. and
| how to strike, were witnessed right here.
1t was really ''erery one for himself, .
each man being general, captain and pri-
vate. This state of affairs existiag.
offset the fruits q a decided repulse.
From knowledge subsequently OBJ
tanned, we ascerta:ned that nearly the
same condition OF affairs existed in the
Federal lines; nc directing hand ap-
peared to stay - tide of uncertainty
prevailing witIEsAaEls When we swept
forward, we met with light opposition,
took a long line Of works aud many
| prisoners. The Alabama boys captured
a battery and many prisoners and colors.
| Harris then swooped down to the right
to Join the division, which was effected
by skirmish line only. They then set
| to, and were soon covered with light
rifle pits; these pits, though lightly
made, were formidable, and were easily
cOntrived with only an axe, bayonet and
mess pan. This art was acquired in the
tangled depths of the "Wilds of Spots
sylvania," and were found of a sufficient
strength to resist and repulse many at
tacks of Grant on the inferior lines of
Lee.
The skirmish line reported the enemy
in force, and we were ordered TO align
in front, advance and attack the works
Just as we formed, an order was given
to fall back, as the enemy had thrust
column between our command and the
division, and were threatening a flank
movement. The falling shades of even
ing added to the fears of many, that the
flank could be easily executed; and we
thus be captured and forced to languish
in Northern prisons As we fell bach
rapidly to concentrate with the division,
many of us observed on our right,
column of the enemy, distant some
three hundred yards or more, moving
parallel with ours. That they were the
enemy we had no doubt, and we deemed
them the hanking column. Thus we
marched, neither firing shot, and both
sides equally willing to be let alone.
The Federals no doubt had the same
idea that we did-that we were trying
to flank them, and they were avoiding
US. Gradually the columns diverged
and the suspense was over. In the
gathering gloom we rejoined the com
mand aHd marrhed back to our original
position. Our loss was light. The posi-
ton which our brigade occupied in the
lines proper of Petersburg, from June
18th, to December following, was direct
~ where the Jerusalem plank road
crossed the eintrenchmepts. In our front
about two hundred yards was Fort
Malone. At the beginning of the seige
large frame dwelling stood near the
lines, but was, by orders, destroyed soon
after our arrival. Further out toward
the enemy's line another house stood
which was pulled down. On its debris
afterwards were constructed our picket
lines, and was occupied by the Alabama
Brigade. The Federal Fort Sedgewick,
was not then constructed, nor its for
midable cleft hand neighbor." The
pine grove in which they were after
wards built, afforded III necessary prosae-
ton for the time being. In front of and
around Fort Malone was a cornfeld.
with the growing grain about knee-high
beyond this was an open field or meadow
descending from the fort. For several
| days in our immediate front no pickets
of the Federals were to be seen, they had
| been established some distance back, and
not in sight. One morning, was revealed
to us, isolated pits which contained each
two Federal pickets, situated a couple
of hundred yards away from us. A state
of good feeling prevailed. and not rife
shot broke the tranquility. A deep
drain ran from us toward the enemy's
picket, of which, advantage was fire.
quently taken to creep down, and under
a sheltering bridge and fringing bushes
we sought our adversaries and INDUCED
in talks, trades and bargains. Tobacco
would be freely exchanged for coffee
sugar or soap. Newspapers and memen.
toes would be swapped and good time
generally was indulged in by the "boys
in blue and gray" One of our regiment
was bold enough to venture in the
Federal lines, and bought with green
backs little luxaries from their suffers
| obtained a hat for one-and half dol
lars through this underground channel
The man, on one occasion, failed to re
appear, and we concluded that he haC
deserted. This leaked out, and peremp
tory orders were issued forbidding til,
intercourse, and to open fire upon tn,
picket. Of course we had to obey, bu
not much danger existed for some time
as neither cared to infict damage upol
the other. This indifference did no
suit the aggressive nature of Gen
Malone, and he broke it up rather sum
marily. For the first and only time
knew of, Fort Malone was manned wit
two peices of artillery, which withou
. any formula, as existed between the in
fantry pickets of eitAer side, orened fir
{ on the Federal pits The first sho
! skinned the top of one pit, the secon
flew high, while the third struck fail
and exploded as it struck. A cloud G
smoke and dirt, a cheer from th
|. gunners, and then came a volley froI
our whilom friends. The compact wa
: broken, and both sides then in dee
earnest sought each others life at th
: hazard of his own. Thus commence
that famous firing in front of Malone
division which sounded at a distance
: ike an engagement, and day by day, an
: into the wee small hours of every nigh
the fateful volleys went on, and with
|, many brave spirit, who died not as /
|. wished, upon the charging columns, bI
: : covertly struck down in the trenche
/ with none to notice as gallant act
: The picket post now became one
! great danger; the least exposure attracte
I the vigilant eye of riheman, and N,
: always without result. The corn no
! tasseling in the fields, afforded son
: cover; beyond, down the open slope,
seemed sure death to pass. The ope
meadow afforded no protection, but Il
n line had to be kept up. When we we
sent out to relieve guard, it was Wi
,, many misgivings and earnest commen
q ing of the soul to its Maker. As the la
:, row of corn was reached, at trail arm
+ We sped rapidly down the slope. and
not struck we would tumble s;head on
ACCAc AAsO t1C AStAc plES. E0meIu1
half dozen would crowd into the san
pit, only large enough to hold two. al
then would come the tug Of war y as
e who should leave, and run the gauntl
% to the neighboring pit, some twen
y yards to right or left. So much dang
E, attended this duty that finally the pi
"a were joined together, made very strou
and relief duty was done after nigI
le When the corn disappeared. cover
a, ways were contFived that led in a z
gag way to the post, and thus much ia
N ger was avoided
be The constant duty began to tell on
re While daily the sipsof = bullet As
or hissed past, or found l0dgment in sol
IN poor fellow, was telling on Us, and
or were actually glad. when every few de
as we would be Withdrawn from the trencl
ut and sent down the Weldon Railroad
nd head of and check some division Of /
is enemy. The Squirrel Level road .ReaI
d, Station, Daxids' House and Yell
at Tavern were familiar sights to us. Th