The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1897-11-03

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J lll'Sr.

ing west pushing on after the retreat
ing forces Of Gen. Lee We remained
on the road side some time waiting for
the troops to pass, and after the main
columns had passed us we brought of
the rear following the course Of the
South Side railroad and we marched
several miles during the day After
night We still followed on until about
ten o'clock. Durin. the march at
night | saw several good chances to
escape, but did not make the attempt.
We were told that Gen. Lees forces
were surrounded and we would be re-
leased in a day or two. We could tell
by the movements Of the troops that
Gen. Lee was not surrounded Occa-
sionally We could hear The roar of can
non in front and the forces would in
crease their speed.
Thursday the order Of march was
made the same. We marched most of
the day and at night we're put out in
az open field crowded together and ::
heavy guard placed around us. Our
rations were exhausted By this time.
A scanty supply was issued on the
morning Of the I'd. The troops we
followed did not have rations enough
to divide with us, Cor their wagon
trains were not up, and they were
grumbling ut fearful rae, but they
divided rations with the prisoners
while they had them. While Lee S
veterans were on starvation, the Fed
erals were not much better until the
supply trains caught up with them.
Wednesday morning, April 5th, we
were marched out into the road cx-
recting to follow the troops in their
line of march as We had done for two
days. The infantry guards were re-
placed by cavalry, and we parted COM
pany with the main army somewhere
near Burkevillc Junction, / think.
We were started in the direction of
Petersburg over the same route we
had travelled Monday and Tuesday.
but our progress was slow on account
of the supply trains pushing on after
the army.
During the day we met hundreds Of
wagons heavily loaded with army sup
plies. The teams were fat and sleek,
well equipped in every respect. With
tho supply train there were more
troops than Gen. Lee had in the army.
The white troops treated us kindly
during the trip, but we met brigade
of colored troops that were insolent'
and said some things that would have
brought on first class fight under
more favorable circumstances. We
were in no condition to resent The IL
suit and treated them with contempt.
We reached Petersburg footsore and
hungry after four days of marching,
and we were quartered in warehouse
at the Weldon depot until Saturday
morning when the commissioned off
GERS were separated from us and
marched away.
The city was quiet after nine
months Of seige. From June, when
Gen. Butler came 80 near capturing
the city, not day passed that the
roar Of cannon and rattle of small
arms could not be heard somewhere
along the line. Near the crater the
skirmish lines were near together and
u continual fire was kept up. We
would go to sleep at night with the
crack Of the sharpshooter' rife ring
ing in our ear, wake up in the night
we could still hear it, and every few
minutes the battery at Howlett's
House would send shell into the
Dutch Gap canal to let the enemy
know that they were still awake.
On Saturday morning, April Sth,
We were ched out Of our quarters,
ordered INTO line and marched
through the earthworks cast
Of town: passing near the famous era
ter, and on to City Point on James
River, where we found a good-sized
army loafng around and having reg
ular jubilee.
Ra.;ons were issued to us consist
Ing of salt pork and army crackers.
Before we could cook our meat we
were ordered on board Of steamer
and put under guard of negro troops.
The pork was SO salty that only hun
cry men could eat eat it. If we had
known that sea voyage was ahead of
us, some Of us would have taken less
of the pork the first meal.
About the middle Of the afternoon
our vessel moved out down the river.
The trip down the James river was
u