Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1889-05-05

Grimes's division" etc. Could our enc
mics have beheld the bare hsndfuls OF men
who answered to these calls they would
have wondered il these were really the
divisions, or rather the remnants of the
divisions, called ont. Yes they were
really all that remained Of them-about
2,OOO-for a chain of sentries were ut
once thrown around to prevent stray
cling. Here were all that remained of
the corps with which the immortal Jack.
son marched in rear Of Pope, and forced
him in disastrous retreat from Manassas :;
with which he defeated a greater portion
Of Hooker's army on the bloody field OF
Charlottesville, where the Confederate
cause paid SO dearly for victory with his
blood. Here was the remnants OF the
corps which Ewell led into the Wilder
ness which six months ago numbered
10000 men and now could scarcely mus
ter one tenth Of that number. What a
sight for Gordon He had once led bri-
gade in the Second corps in its palmy
days and had more men at his command
than to-day, when he has risen TO the
leadership Of the whole corps Tue
spirit of this command seemed to have
died with its first leader, for vic
tory has since that day ceased
to perch on its banners. 1t is true
there is bright light shining at its head
to-day, which has rekindled some of the
old fire, but, alas, too late 1t is only
the flickering glare of an expiring
Narna IL wa NOM about a ofo1oaLs and
we continued our march to the High
bridge, near which we halted and had
long rest, which we were sadly in need
Of. Only the excitement attending the
various scenes through which we had
passed kept us up. 10 look over the in
cideuts of this day was truly dispiri5ing.
in a few hours a great portion OF the
army had been surrounded and captured.
Nearly the entire train had also been
lost, and there was but little organiza-
ton left in the army. However, this
had but little effect on u.s. we were too
nearly starved and exhausted. We
dropped on the ground and we're in
stantly in the land OF dreams.
AT TIE HIGH BRIDGE.
The next morning april 7th) " Fight
ing Billy Malone was placed with his
division in the rear. No enemy appear
ed in sight until about o'clock. Ac-
cordng to Mahone's orders the High
bridge WAS fired from the north side of
the AppomattOx as they appeared in
sight. The First regiment OF engineer
troops, who were posted there for this
purpose, were drawn up in line Of bat
tie IN the valley below the bridge, and
portion OF them were thrown ont as
skIrmishers 10 secure the burning OF the
road bridge. They were exposed to n
numerous fire from the enemys bate
ries and sharpshooters, and though they
tonight CALAMITY, could not prevent the
Feierals from extinguishlng the fire at
the bridge. Three piers of the railroad
bridge were burned, however, and but
for a wind blowing from an opposite di-
rectIon the whole structure would have
been destroyed. There vas one poor
fellow crossing the bridge ct the time it
was fired, and as he neared the southern
abutment the flames sprang out and
stopped him. His position was a dread
full one. He could not 60 forward, and
TO turn back in the face o. the enemy's
fire was almost certain death. We be-
lieve, however, that his life was saved
by falling into the hands Of the Federsls.
GENERAL MALONE.
On the railroad track near the bridge
could be seen a person walking back-
wards and forwards, twlhing a switch in
his hand, and giving directions to Colonel
Talcott who was below him. He was
small, thin man, with q long beard he
was dressed in Il citizens suit gave his
orders in a rather fine voice, aud a spec
tator would have thought him q country
gentleman calmly giving directions upon
bis farm rather than a Confederate gene
raj giving orders to body Of troops
under a heavy fire. This was General
Malone, whose reputation for gallantry
is already too well established for Us TO
attempt any further remarks on it. His
record is one OF the brightest connected
with the siege of Petersburg.
THE ENGINEER CORPS.
After finding that the engineers could
do no further good by remaining in their
present position he ordered them to re-
tire, which they did in admirable order,
though under a heavy fire from their
right flank and rear. This regiment was
the only one Of its kind with General
Lees army, and it would have been we'll
if there could have boon several more,
Judging from the great service it
rendered, especially on the retreat.
Although each man was loaded with an
Implement, such as q spade, pick, or an
axe, in addition to bis gun and baggage,
they kept up with the army, passing
constantly from the rear to the front,
building bridges and repairing roads, in
addition to performing the duties Of in
fantry and when they reached Apo
mattox Courthouse were in better state
of organization and discipline than any
other regiment in the army. They were
commanded by Colonel 7. NJ. K. TIL
colt, formerly an aid to General Lea
fine officer in fact the whole regiment
was splendidly Differed.
A BRILLIANT AFFAIR.
While the diminishing was going on at
the High bridge a brilliant affair had
taken place near Farmyille, which served
to cheer us mp very much. We can only
give from hearsay, the chief facts con-
nected with it. Wilcox met the Federas
near the town and engaged them he
WAS ut first driven back, but being rein
forced by Walkers (StonewalD division,
regmned his position. The cavalry un-
der Generals ". Il. i. Lee and Fitz
Lee in the mean time took them in flank.
They (the Federals) were repulsed with
the loss of 500 prisoners.
The forces from the High bridge took
what is known as the Curdsyille road,
leaving Farmville 10 the left. We pur-
sued our march quietly and without
further molesiation from the enemy.
We were very much at a loss to find out
where We were now going. The idea Of
going to North Carolina was now ex-
4 ploded, for we had been cut Off from the
junction, and had taken the route for
Lynchburg, and were. according to
rumor, cut Off from the latter point.