The National tribune., 1890-05-01
beectfkzzor RL1rR.

Whitworth was intended 10 be connected
with Gregg by an iHtreBched line, but the line
was never completed. The Gncomplcted part was
midway between the two. The part that con-
neCJcd with Gregg, uuOccupiei by infantry at
the time Of the assault, was the meansby which
the Federais reached the paragct and forced a
surrender Mhitworih was an incomplete in
Closure, and was greatly weakened By our COM
mand, which encamped Tor the Winter adjacent
thereto and converted the timber supports into
brew09d thus rendering il easily washed by
the Winter rains; in fact, il did not have the
strength Of an ordinary TiAe-pit. Old Town
Creek flowed ia front oi Fort Gregg. and il was
conceived and executed that toy means or a
dam across d. 4 large scope Of country could be
inundated and made more defcnsibe.
We watched the progress Of the dam from its
lncIpiencys and were surprised 10 wake mp one
DAY aud find il thing II the past. IL broke.
carrying destruction ia its path aud exposing
very weak portion 81 orr lines, over which the
EedaFais soon rushed without much opposition.
o. the eve Of this eycutlul occasion HaTris's
Mississippi Brigade was located near Howlct's
house aud battery on the James River, aud ia
view Of Buffers Dutch Gap canal. On the
ni2htof April orders came from Gen. Malone,
ouF division commander TO report TO Gen. j.
y. Gordon, near Petersburg As We had had
hand IN every lracs IN front and rear Of Peters
burg from Richmond 20 Meheuen River. on the
aud wondering Why in -- can't Malone
get some other troops 10 do some lghting2"
Nevertheless. orders bad 10 be obeyed and VIC
went. ] Was detailed from the ranks aud
mounted as Courier, and IS such had oppor-
tuniiles Oi witnessing a great deal Of the ac-
ton that followed. About sunrise we passed
through RelefsluTg. and arrived in front Of
Gregg shortly afterwards and formed line Of
battle in hollow facing west. We found
everything IL confusion; our lines had been
TBpturee everywhere, and the Union troops
were in possession. We found in our front long
lines 0f Federal blue-iHlanlry, artillery, cav
airy, mounted staff, gailoping Orderios, la
fact, " the pomp aud circumstance OF war, I"
closing 10 aud around the last ditch" Of
Petersburg u was Gibbons Corps OF four or
more divisions against whom were 10 be uitted
fragment of brigade OF scarcely 400 men.
The faci dawHed upon Us that we were there 10
stem that torrent; 10 do or die; 10 defend Ia
tic last gasp THIS last stronghold left Gen. Lee
Every minute represented hours, aud hours
were Of mighty import aud pregnant with
events that delayed tie inevitable surrender
q the army ii Northern Virginia 1t Apo
InaitOZ.
We threw out administers, bat they were
not as aggressive as usual. Delay was Of d,
much value then 10 Gen. Lee as might 81
ElucL-r was 20 wellington at Waterloo Gen
GlbJJH formed line Of battle some GOO yards o.
more 10 our front. aud opened with a few shells
A section 81 Washington Artillery. under Licuis
Owen ana IcElTOy, Oh our part responded and
then. Overwhelmingly Oyerapped by the Fed
erals theg moved c0upacily forward
was sent 10 the front 70 carry orders 10 burn
iie 90 inter quarters aud fight each cabin {,
thc last. As j came IN full view Of the Fedora
kkirmlshors yoilcy greeted me that cause
iny Pegasus 10 practice all the tricks ant
sets u tie DUciI-vaunted circus horse IL,
showed a strong inclination 10 20 further 10 ID,
front than wss necessary, aud IN one OF bi
pluEgibg freaks bullet struck him on one o
bis .egs, breaking IT, Fortunately had bin
headed toward our line, and after few franti
plunges he tumbled 10 the ground, myself " nj
him. ] fortunately struck on ms feet run
ming" which ] kept up until the lines wrr
reached. Meanwhile, under orders, Gen Har
ris bad placed ia Fort Gregg tie 18TH Miss
under Capt A. u. Jones, and the 18th Miss
under Capt J. II. Duncan, the two undc
LicuL-Col. j. ii. Duncan. Of the 18th Miss
TIE 18Th aud 5stb Miss we're in Fort Whit
worth, under The immediate command Of Ger
Harris himself
light bOnibardment Of Gregg ensued, an
then 30 solid columns Gibbons men surge
against Gregg. The hattlemeBts we're wreathe
IN smoke, aud his men went down bv tie buu
dTcds. lie smoke waited and from Whit
worth We could see ground stregyn with man
blue-eiad fellow, while the rear WAS fnli I
fugitiVes. Again and again came rapid trims
snd Gibbons men recoiied. A Aecond and thir
attempts were likewise beat Of, with trench