The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1886-02-04
AROUND PETERSBURG.
A Story of the Battle of the Crater.

"A
The Consultation of December pub.
fishes what purports to be an account oi
the battle of the Crater. 1t is perfectly
evident to the writer, as to every other
participant in that struggle, that F. D.
NJ. knows nothing about what he at
tempts to describe. Nor does he believe
that F. D. NJ. belonged to the gallant
Virginia brigade, which had been COM
manded by General Malone, and which
at that time WAS commanded by Colonel
Weisiger. The exploits of that brigade
were too glorious 10 need bolstering by
claiming everything done upon battle.
field as the result of its action, to the
disparagement of other troops. The
writer does not wish to detract one iota
of glory from the bright halo surround
ing this brigade, believing, as he does,
after witnessing many of its gallant feats,
that it was the equal Of any body of men
that ever faced foe upon the battlefield.
Indeed, he believes that, on charge, it
surpasses any brigade of the army OF
Northern Virginia. This is saying a
great deal, as by its side on many a
stubbornly fought field stood Harris
Mississippi and Wilcox's Alabama.
These three, during the last year of the
war, gave that reputation to Mahone's
division, which made it as famous Oh the
side of the enemy as upon that of North
ern Virginia.
The writer has not seen the scene OF
conflict around Petersburg since the
Fall Of 1864, but it is as vivid in his
memory as if bit yesterday. F. M. D.
locates Fort Monroe on the Jerusalem
plank road, and Fort Steadman just op'
.posite. During the last half of June,
the whole of July, August and Septem.
ber, 1864, the Alabama brigade Of Ma.
homes division occupied the main line
of Notifications in rear of Fort Malone,
which was an advance work, aud which
was occupied only during attacks upon
the, enemy, it being completely command
ed by the main line. During the time
above mentioned the Eighth Alabama,
in connection with the Washington Ar,
tillery, of New Orleans, garrisoned battery
No. As, about one hundred yards imme.
diately to the rear of said fort. 1t is
located about one mile to the right of
the point, where the works crossed the
Jerusalem road. Fort ,Sseadman about
one thousand yards to its left, and about
the same. distance from said road. Op-
posite to Fort Steadman the Southern
works make an abrupt turn, forming a
considerable angle. Fort Steadman was
built with two faces; one commanding
the side Of the angle extending to
Southwest, the other, that which extend
ed to Northwest. 1t also had an enfilade
FIRE upon Fort Malone. tE
The day before the explosion of the
mine on the Jerusalem road severe fight
ing had taken place in the vicinity OF
Fort Harrison, North of the James.
The whole of the army of Northern
Virginia, except the division of Malone,
Of A. P. Hills corps, had been concen-
trated there under the command of
General Longstreet. Beauregard's troops
occupied the line at Petersburg, from the
Appomattox to the angle and Malone
extended this line to near the shot tower
South Of the city.
General Grants plan Of campaign was
an excellent one, and ought to have sue
ceeded. He concentrated the greater
part of his army to the North of the
James in front of Richmond, intending
to take that place by direct assault, if
not. me. by an opposing force strong
enough to prevent; but, III case he
found too strong an opposition to over.
come, to march back to the front Of
Petersburg during the night, explode the
mine, and carry Petersburg, thus forcing
the evacuation of Richmond by severing
it's communication with the South. He
soon discovered the army of Virginia in
such force in his front as to render the
first part of this plan hopeless, and pro.
ceeded to the execution of the second.
The facts show, that although General
Lee did not know of the intended explo.
sion of the mine, nor of the concentra-
ton in front Of the place to be blown up,
yet he expected an attack at Petersburg
Only Mahone's division Of his army Of
Virginia was at that place; yet he and
General a. P. Hill both remained, when
the army marched to the North of the
James. The whole force at Petersburg
received orders the night previous 10 take
their places in the Notifications at 2 a
M, and to remain in line until further
orders. The troops were accordingly
aroused at that hour, and formed ready
for action. About the break of day
they began to struggle back into tbel'
blankets, grumbling, as usual, about
being disturbed. All Of sudden, 8
furious canncnade was opened upon theil
lines by the enemy, from Ft. Malone te
the Appomattox. Those who had crawl
ed into their blankets, lost no time ir
getting under the cover of the breast
works, as perfect hurricane of shot ant
shell came plungiug through their ranks
In about fifteen minutes, several mel
came down in rear of the works, covered
with red clay, and reported the explosion
of the mine. This occurred just before
the commencement of the bombardment
the artillerymen having orders to b.
ready and open as soon as they saw TIT
explosion take place. They opened 81
promptly as to drown the sound of th'
explosion before it reached us, we being
about one mile away. At this tlm'
Generals Lee, Hill, and Malone formed