Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1895-06-01

was made by Gen. dordon's command.
Tell us about that, general" said
genial Col. Bob, and so the general pro-
ceeded to answer another demand on
him for experiences. (All the dining
party agreed that they could listen to
him for weekly "That attack" said
the general, was made in February,
1865, when we were in our last gasp
and very desperate. Gen. Lee had sent
for me in the night-after midnight
to come to his quarters. 1t was Bit
ter cold night, and set out on gall
lop to get out of the intense cold as
soon as possible. Lee occupied little
brick house in the environs of Peters
burg, and as opened the door of his
room, after he had answered my knock,
found him standing by an open fire.
place, resting his head on his arm, on
a high-up mantle, and apparently in
deep and sad study over the situation.
~ have sent for you, said he, to
look over these reports from our va
rious commands. l have spent the
night on them and on these maps
pointing to long table covered with
papers, on which light was burning.
You will see,' he said, that they are
very discouraging. The men have
scarcely anything to eat A single ra-
ton is made to supply six men and the
camps are full Of sick and starved SOL
diers. Our horses are also dying for food,
and when we lose a horse we prac-
tically lose his rider, for we can make
no other disposition of him. OF course,
l was more or less familiar with the
situation in my own command, but did
not know it was so bad in all the rest.
So l said to Gen. Lee that, of course.
the situation was very desperate, and
that l supposed we would have to do
something very soon. WELL said he,
fixing his eyes very intently on me,
what do you think we ought to do%
1 replied: One of three things, gen.
eral, right away. Either to make the
best terms we can get from Grant, or
to retreat and try to unite with Gen.
Johnston, or to fight And which
would you adviser said he. L would
first try fight, replied. He medita-
lively remarked, as if to try my earn
estness in the matter (Which was a
habit he hadl: so you would advise
fighting?' Yes 1 said, as choice of
three evils He had been to Richmond
and had laid the situation before Mr.
Davis. asked him what the president
thought Oh he remarked, he is
pertinacious as to the idea of holding
out longer and fighting further. And
as for the members of congress, they
do not know nor appreciate the situa-
tion at all. So l suppose the only
thing left for US is to fight, and will
let you arrange for an attack on Fort
Stedman Mt once
$50 returned to my quarters and at
once issued orders to that effect. We
were to get ready to move inside the
federal fortified area the next night,
and as soon as we could see in the
morning we We're to attempt to sur
prise Fort Stedman. Well, we found
many difficulties in our way when the
time came. There were the abbatis
that we had to cut through with our
axmen, who went ahead of the COM
mand to do this work They succeeded
in cutting an opening into the area,
and through this in the darkness we
marched as rapidly as possible. A good
deal of delay occurred as day was
breaking, and part of the command
became bewildered as to it's exact