The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1886-05-13
SIEGE OF SUFFOLK,


As Taken from n Comrades Diary.
To THE EDITOR: On April 10, 1863, Gen.
Longstreet made a move TO attack the Union
forces at Suffolk. He began to drive in the
cavalry pickets. Co. ID, 18th Pa. Cav, being
on the Simmonton road, fought the advance Of
Gen. McLaw's Brigade until Gen. Fosters Bril-
gade of infantry got TO the outpost with bat
terry Of artillery and checked the rebel advance.
Gen. Hoods Division came in on what was
called the South Quay road, and was met by.
Col. Spears cavalry and howitzer battery OF
two brass 10 pound guns, and had quite fight at
the railroad crossing of the Seaboard & Roanoke
Railroad. Longstreet in person came in on the
Edenton road, extending his lines so as to take
in the Petersburg road, thus attacking our
forces on the four roads at one and the same
time Gen. Peck was in command Of Suffolk at
this time, and our forces were composed of two
regiments Of cavalry, viz, 18th Pa. Cav, Col.
Spear; LIST N. Y. Mounted Rifles, Col. Dodge;
Gen. Corcoran's Irish Legion-69th. l55th, 10th
N. "; Gen. Terrys Connecticut Brigade Gen.
Fosters Brigade, Gen. Harlans Brigade, and
also Gen. Gettys Brigade-in all, about $4,000
men. We had Fort Corcoran on South Quay
road, Fort Connecticut on Petersburg road, and
Fort Nansemond on EdentOn road all formid-
able earthworks. and on the other side ran the
Ransemond River, that was so CALAMITY de-
Tended by our gunboats. Allow me here to give
some extracts from my diary made at this time:
April Is. Heavy firing all day from our forts,
and the enemy appear in strong force on South
Quay road. Heavy fighting along the river.
The gunboats Smelling the woods to keep the
enemy from crossing.
April Ia Picket firing. No engagement yet.
A few prisoners taken to-day. They say Gen.
Hills Division has come to the support Of Long
street.
April Is. Still firing between gunboats and
rebel artillery. The enemy trying to build
fort or earlhworks near the Nansemond River.
April l6 Our pickets driven in on Simmon-
ton road, and a heavy skirmish. Our loss l3
killed and 20 wounded, but finally drove the
enemy TO his lines.
April IL. Picket firing, etc.
April Is. A compromise between pickets.
There is TO be no picket firing on three roads,
but on the Edenton road, Corcoran's Legion
piekets and the Mississippi and South Carolina
troops do not like one anc her, and they still
keep up shooting day and night.
April ~. Gettys Division crossed the river
and took six pieces Of artillery and loo prison
ers, and only lost few men.
April 90. All quiet.
April 81. Capt Murphy, officer of the day,
went to advance our picket-line on the Eden
ton road and ran into a hornets nest. A sharp
fight was the result
April %. Sharp firing on the river and Eden
ton road. Some killed and wounded brought in.
April 2S Some sharpshooters trying TO shoot
oar gunners az Fort C0rcorsn. Our loss not
over $50 since Longstreet came. The enemy's
loss far greater, besides over 300 prisoners, and
we only lost 10 prisoners, all out of the 18th
Pa. Cav.
April "a At 2 o'clock p. m. Gen. Coreoran,
in command of two divisions started TO ad-
vance on the Edenton road and opened on the
line with four feldpieces, and advanced a
strong line Of infantry on each side Of the road
to drive the enemy out of the woods, and Col.
Spear took Co. q, 18th Pa. Cav, and one COM
pany of the LIST n. Y. MID Rifles, and charged
the main road in column of fours; we ran into
masked battery Of four guns, and they opened
on Us. We fell back behind the 69th and 164th
N. Y. For some time the field was raked with
shell, but finally we carried their first line of
works, Fosters Brigade on the right, driving
the enemy over and through the woods with
yell and bayOnet charge The loss on our
side was not heavy, some 35 or 40 killed and
wounded.
April %. Not much firing.
April 26. Nothing Of Importance occurred
to-day. All quiet.
and rebel battery.
April 2s. Heavy firing on our left at Fort
Nansemond.
April % and 3d. Some cannonading and the
shRrpshooters firing from both sides. Not good
70 put your head too far above ground.
May i. HOODS DIVISION made an advance
this evening, but our forts and infantry raked
his mon. His loss was heavy and he did not
drive back our sharpshooters
May 2. The Goth N. Y. went over the South
Quay Bridge to drive Hoods sharpshooSrs
from their pits, but they were soon supported,
and our loss was A killed and wounded, and
the S9th n. Y. driven back. Four men Of the
llth Pa Cav. shot while on picket to-day.
May g. A brigade Of our men-artillery and
the LIST N. Y. Rifes-went across the Nanse-
mond and fought all day; our loss about so.
We drove them back.
May 4. The 18th Pa Cav. started at 3 o'clock
this morning, along with Gems. Corcoran, Dodge,
and Foster, and when we got to the enemys
works on Edenton road, found that Longstreet
had begun TO retreat in the night. We fol-
lowed on at gallop and soon ran into his rear
guard, and fought his rear for some miles
Our infantry could not overtake him. We sue
ceeded in capturing some 500 prisoners. Thus
endes one of Longstreet's failures. He had
over two men TO our one, but il showed the
difference of men fighting behind works and
in the open.-WM. ]. SHIRLEY, Co. G, 18th Pa.
Cav. Altoona, Pa