The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1895-09-29

our men had fallen out OF rank ana re-
turned to plumber their camp which was
rich in spoils, and by this outrageous
conduct our troops in line became de-
moralized and the fruit of their brilliant
victory was lost. At the most suitable
position the enemy halted and formed
and was soon reinforced by sheridan
from Winchester when they moved back
and soon regained their lost camp. Our
troops were soon in rapid and disorderly
fl ght up the valley. The enemy halted
in his old camp and his calvary p 1rsued
us to Strasburg where darkness put an
end TO these operations. We halted at
Fisher Hill, formed again AID continued
our retreat in some order The enemy
recap ur0d all the guus aud prisoners
they lost in the morning, besides twenty
three Of our guns and equally as many
prisoners as they lest, This battle was
The last event 0. importance in the valley
C mpaign and pra tigaily closed 1t.
The defeat of Gen. L r'y and the DIES
olatiou OF the valley by Sheridan made
it imp ssi6le for an army to remain In
that region. These failures caused a
great feeling of Indignation against Gen.
Early and he was soon relieved OF his
command. The remnant of his army
was placed under command of Gen. j
B. Gordon and sent back to Petersburg.
Upon our arrival there our division was
placed under command of Gen Pegram,
and sent niue miles west of the city
and went into some cabins on the
BoydtOWn plank road that had been
built by other troops for winter quarters,
The next day we were marched to the
front and formed. In a short time our
division and G0rdon's was attacked by
an overwhelming force, and after a most
desperate struggle Of three hours were
compelled to give way and fall back a
short distance, but upon being reinforc
ed by Mahone's aud Wllcox's division,
the army was soon driven back aud we
again held our first position. In this
battle our loss was very heavy Among
the killed was our gallant division com
mander Gen. Pegram who was married
just a few days before.
From this point we were moved two
miles below Petersburg, placed in Walk
er's Division, and took our position in
the trenches formerly occupied by Gen.
Ransom, at some points in a stones
throw of the enemy. Ga the 25th of
March we were heavily reinforced and
stormed the enemy's w0!ks, more than
half a mile 10 our front, and drove them
back in wild confusion for more than
half a mile, leaving hind them twenty
pieces Of artillery and six hundred pris-
oners. Being exposed to terrific shell
| ling from the batteries both on our right
and left, We were compelled to fall back
to our former position, losing many OF
our best men. The next day hostilities
were suspended and we, with the enemy,
we're engaged in burying the dead that
were left between the two lines. Ga the
following day we retoCk our riff pits
that had fallen into the hands of the
enemy the day fore We remained
unusually quiet for two days, when the
enemy opened a heavy bombardment
from all their gu. upon our works,
which did but little damage. On the
both a b isk picket fire was kept up until
dark, in which Capt. Pasch&ll, of oul
regiment, was killed.
On April 2d, 1865, another most ter
rife bombardment f.om one end Of oul
| line to the other commenced, which wa;
followed b. three desperate assaults by
their infantry. Our little b nd, so much
exhausted from hard fighting, was soon
OVerpoweTed and was compelled to give
way, and retreated in the direction Of
/ Rappahannock river, with bat little Of
no organic ton. Following the course
of the river by the most accessible roads,
we reached Amelia Court House thirty
eight miles from the point we started
/ from. Here Gen. Lee expected to find
quantity of supplies for his troops, but
by an inexcusable blunder of the Rich.
mond authorities, the cars passed with
out stopping TO unload the stores. We
then had been without food for two days
and not a ration to be had. This mis-
take completely destroyed his hope, when
/ be began The retreat. But for this blum
der be could have passed Barkville in
safety before the enemy could have
reached it.
Ga the night of the 5Jh we left Amelia
Court House, marching by way Of Doe
! torville in the direction of Farmville.
Upon reaching Jettersville our division
was repeatedly attacked by heavy
force, and after a desperate struggle for
/ two hours was oyerpoWered and COM
PEELED to fall back losing more than two
/ thirds of on" men as prisoners and a
great many killed and wounded Among
/ the killed was the lamented Capt 4. H.
Martin who fell with his face to the
enemy while CALAMITY leading our regi-
ment. The remnant of our brigade
then moved on to Farmyille and in con
! iuncture with other troops was ordered
/ to retake some of our artillery that had
recently fallen into the hands of the
enemy. This charge was made in the
presence Of Gen. r. Z. Lee and was led
| by our gallant Brigadier Commander
/ Gen. w. q. Lewis who was so distin-
guishcd for his intrepid yalOr-he soon
! fell severely wounded and was unavOid-
ably left in the hands Of the enemy
We then resumed our marcn in the
direction Of Lynchburg and GA the night
Of the 8th, reached the vicinity of Apo
mattox in six hours, and finding the
enemy upon all sides and in possession
of our only line of retreat the army was
halted pending negotiations for the
/ surrender.
On the morning Of the 10Th, in &C
/ c0rdauce wi h the terms agreed upon, we
marched to q point deslgU ated by the
cOmmis toner's appointed for that pur-
pose, and stacked our arms, deposited
our furled colors and took up the liue of
march for the homes we had fought 50
Drayely to defend through four long