Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-10-26

Why the Confederates Did Not Storm the
Union Works at Petersburg.

Why the Confederates Did Not Storm the
Union Works ut Petersburg.
From the Atlanta Constitution.
The private soldiers had 40 few privileges
during the war that It does me good to mention
for the first time in print an incident Of the
siege OF Petersburg. There are q plenty yet
living Of the old soldiers who can tell you that
the question Of "storming" or mot storming"
the Yankee works at Petersburg By night was
left to vote Of the privates. =.
forget dates, it has been so long, but il was
just a short while before the confederates left
their trenches and started on the nine days re-
treat which ended at Appomattox.
II had been well known for some time that
Leo could not hold out against Grant much
longer unless, by taking some desperate chance,
advantage might be gained to the confederates
council Of officers was held. and while, of
course. do not know what happened In that
meeting, do not know that il became under
stood among the privates OF the army that there
had been a disagreement among the officers,
and failing to agree, they compromised by
leaving the question Of storming the Yankee
works at night to tho decision Of the privates--
thing ny unusual that it cast ID shadow over
their hopes.
On the day before the vote was to be taken at
night the bushes. rubbish and brush were or
the two arinies II was perilous undertaking,
but the confederstss gathered their axes. and
without hinching marched 70 their work.
Strange to cay, the Yankees quietly watched
this proceeding without firing a gun, Il being u
work they wished performed or else they antici-
pated that the confederates were fixing to
storm their works--a thing they much desired
Anyhow, the confederates got through with
their work and went back to their camps with
out any trouble, but fully confident that it was
preparation to charge, all ignorant Of what
turn matters were to take.
When night approached and the officers
quietly bid the men to fall in, you may wonder
al the surprise OF all privates when they we're
told that all commissioned officers would retire
from their presence and that privates should
decide by ballot among themselves AS TO whether
the Yankee works should be attempted by storm
upon that very night.
A little incident happened just AZ the COM
n1issioned officers retired, and none of US can
say to what extent it bore upon the action of
the privates. The mail had arrived letters
from home to the brave soldier boys, an unex-
pected thing just at chat time, for it was so
early to get the mails then. The arrival of
these letters from home stopped all other
thought, and the men gathered in groups
around their orderly sergeants anxiously listen
Ing to the names upon the envelopes to be-
called out. As each man received his letter he
FASTENED from the group to some little fire
light, and down upon his knees he broke the
seal and read the contents Soon there were
many kneeling men round the fires through the
camps, and as now and then one would reach
mp and punch up the chunks you could see the
tears glistening in his eyes.
This busy world may laugh at ths-ye men
who read as you run-but it was no laughing
matter there that night. There we're letters
from home; news from the dear wives and the
little children, from the old fathers and moth
ers. and from the sweethearts who were :Icver