The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1890-05-22

Gr,opc the most interesting contributions is
one from Comrade Gilbert Thompson, L. =.
Engineer battalion, who was during much Oh
his service employed as Typographical drafts
man at Army Headquarters On tins account
Comradc Thompson is entitled to speak with
mucb authority on the subject of campaign
maps and positions But let him tell ms own
story:
was n to1,ographer at Gen. Meade's Headquar-
fers and q Ter Lees surrender assisted IN naSlhs
detailed surveys of ihe foriihcailon5 NJ lIat i'I
under Gen. y Mlchler, Corps OF I-iisihSSe's. ~
NAV interest comrades 10 know mat 'hs was
carried out in a very accurate and careful hlhHIei
every l,ickei l,it being located. measured Win
,,air tls dis ,t.ce between "A picSeipit at ttle
cedar tree in front Of Fort Stedman to the mann
line OF the enemy. and il was lso feet. rms was
undoubtcdiy the point where the plckets were t,le
nearest together. At what II now knoWl @ % t'e
Crater the main lines were about ieo rect HlAi',
and il must be remembered so tliat the tusslr -
Petersburg may be understood tii'i aiilS N"S -
permanent position of the two forces al this poit
from June. 1854, to April. ls5o OF COURSE hlt'Sh
made al times over TINS Nell'h - - :
Tor a time al the explosion OF the mine INC =. =.
forces captured and held Eiliois saiieh' VIC
Crater r.. 1,i,,
q covered way from each front met al a spring
between tlle llues, and water must have peen on-
famed there whenever required, under some iorm
Pm me down for a copy. in book form, OF the
STORY of a Caunoneer." which, aside from l"SiAi
iniercsg. l. the best war story oil any Aino ts'I
read A. civilian topoErapher, from oeIl'5u ~,
pine tree saw the last night Of old Battery y on
fha Quaker road March %, 1863; bui want nun ,
20 f5ut "a hi. book that Gen. Warren was al the
front on lis vite horse at the barns al the fEhI
OF The position If the battery u seemed 10 me -
though boh com ants in this baitic-ior sueh y
was-iierally Sprgng at each others ihroats anu y
was a foreta-is of every engagement from 'lieh o"
90 ApPomat.oN ,r
At llie surrender al Appomhtiox Iourthouse
was deiaiicd together with J.. & O-weI', 10 suiNSS
the route 81 march Of the Second Corps. couid
give many interesting details but VIII slalS =.
brief that Gen Humphreys account j ah Aeei,S1
one. and / suggest reading 81 y, SS'.. - -
thought lhai Gea. Grant was Al the Scc1Au Sofps
'front.' and liz letter came IN there under nag ol
truce and gse.i Meade who was present, seHt "
unopened hy courier 10 Gen. Giant Several oiii-
Gers of the second Corps rode over To Tue rtee4
lines and EIr. 0sWcll and myself lad surveyed De-
yond our picket line. when Gen Humphrey sSht
oul An Orderly Tor everyone to return lusde ui me
lines Olle fact want especially 70 draw aiteuiioh
70 i shat Humthrcys Was for making an attack,
and uHIy hsid hGck from receiving repeated as
eurauces from lee that q surrender "as 20 lAhc
place Lee could be plainly seen from the tront oi
The Second Corps. tsee Humphreys account
remember 30 this day the expression 81 The oncer
IN command sf The advance when the flag OF truce
came by His whole frame seemed 20 relax, As ne
uttered from the bottom Of has heart: : Al issa!
Now Il appears 10 me that oI the Second Corps fToUt
were thc iaiu lines Of battle, and not skiTfn'sii
but f.iii like Sailors Creek was imminent "lu
place tile advance Of the Second Corps Jusi across
Rocky Run. on the pike leading from New iieFe
Church L. AY{omatiox Courthouse. aud that tie
main rebel army lay IN the triangle made by TIC
NorLll Branch and kCcky Run.