The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-10-02
fort, IL was surrendered to Colonel Curtis
commanding hesecondbrigade who were

We "to
commanding the second brigade, Who wer,
among the first 10 enter.
How desperately the rebels fought t
repulse the attack their So killed out Of {
garrison OF 500 fighting In 4 fort, In an &c
ton Of less than two hours duration bear,
fearful testimony TINT this was their only
hope Of ventemporarily checking Grant,
movements, is evident from tho fac
General Lee Immediately teiegraphed Da
Wis that Richmond and Petersburg mus
be evacuated. The loss OF the Tenth Vir
ginia In this short notion was 10 killed and
10 wounded. Where all behaved will
such distinguished gallantry II would be
injustice to others to mention individ'
ual eases. In the absence OF field
officers the regiment was led In the
charge by CAPTAIN Bristor, Company II,
WHO'S decidedly the "bravest OF thebravc,'
md here, III everywhere else, was among
tho foremost til the fight. Lieutenant
John Briggs, acting Adjutant, also noted
for courage md dash, received II painful
though not dangerous wound In the left
wrist, After the forced evacuation o!
Richmond und Petersburg, Lee began the
retreat toward Lynchburg. We followed
him leisnrely until the Sth inst, when II
was found necessary for our corps, then ut
Farmville to make Il forced march to sup.
port the cavalry which was endeavoring
TO cut oil his retreat. We marched during
the day and night ~tliirty-two miles and
went In the camp ut midnight, to start
again after three hours rest. At daylight
the thunder OF cannon began to be heard
In our front. Gen. Sheridan sent word
back that his cavalry held tho Lynciburg
road, and II he could be supported soon by
the infantry Lee would be cut oil.
Our command immediately fell In
md the effect Of the news upon the
weary, barefooted, foot.sore soldiers, acted
like magic. They fell in promptly, every
man In his place, and marched at quick
time. We soon heard the rattle Of car
bine's in our immediatefron and, and the
order was given to double quick, which
was obeycd with cliceriulncss, and the
gait WIS kept up for 4 mile, when We ar
rived in the ear Of the cavalry, which was
being driven back by Lees whole army
massing against it. Our corps on reach
ing the Lynchburg road Immediately
wheeled into line Of battle and charged
the advancing rebels, who, upon seeing the
infantry bad come up, up, fell back 10 APP
pomattox G. H., offering but little resist
nnce where the surrender was made.
Here the arrival OF our troops cut short
the chase, perhaps the war by several
weeks. Two hours later and Lee would
gained the crossing Of the Lynch
burg road, and We can only
speculate what the result might
hive been. On the llth the command
was drawn out to witness the formal Stir
OF the Army OF Northern Virginia,
and it was indeed n glorious day for the
Of the army. Tho rebel officers
and soldiers all speak in the highest terms
Of the magnanimity Of Gen. Grant in nc
cording them such generous terms when
they were entirely within his power, and
all seemed to accept the surrender MS the
final settlement Of the war, and are dis
posed to return to their homes and make
the best Of n bad matter. Our division
moved up to L.ynchburg, remaining two
lays, destroying n large amount OF war
material and distributing the commission
stores captured there among tho poorer
and suffering inhabitants. We encamped
very near the ground Of our battle and re-
pulse under Gen. Hunter last year. We
are now returning toward Richmond,
and hope we may soon find Il "havcn
Of rest" Rumors Of the assassination of
Lincoln have reached us, md
although not fully confirmed, the deepest
gloom prevails, and curses both loud and
deep are heard against the dastardly US.
the cause and people he represents.
this rumor be true the South has muir
its best friend. Verify, "whom the
Gods would des,royt they first make mad"
The fighting Of the West Virginia brigade,
composed Of the Tenth, Eleventh and
Fifteenth West Virginia infantry regi-
under command Of the gallant
Gen. Harris, has been sucf, as to reflect
.redit on themselves and the State they
'epresent. l have not the particulars Of
he casualties in these regiments.
7. H.,PArrES,