The age-herald., 1898-01-30
Siege of Suffolk
Battling TWentu-FOur Daus-

In February, 1863, Gen. Longstrect, with two divisions, Hoods and Pickett's, was de- tached from the army of Northern Virginia and for short time encamped between Richmond and Petersburg to be employed as we thought, at any point that might be attacked. After the battle of Kelly's Ford in which the gallant Pelham" was killed, halting for few days at Petersburg. Gen. Longstreet after rapid march of four days sat down before Suffolk, April 10, 1S63 for what purpose we were not informed. So far as we could see, we were used to draw the fire of the union army made up as we thought, of new levies. They seemed to have the greatest abundance of ammu- milton and q vicious disposition to expend 1t In our direction.
 On our part, the infantry had orders not to fire, and the artillery until the last day simply observed the federal practice in gunnery.
 We kept the Yankees well in their works on the south bank of the Nansemond. This conduct on the part of Longstreet made the commander of the union forces suspi- cious and on the last day of the siege in- duced him to make demonstration in force. Whatever was Longstreets purpose. it had been accomplished, and, when the Yankee army moved to the attack, the confederate general rapidly withdrew in the night from before Suffolk, and did not halt until he rejoined Gen. Lee on the Rap pidan at Raccoon mountain.
 Referring to the vicious disposition of those Suffolk Yankees, 1t was the case that, whenever confederate soldier lifted his head above the embankment of the rife pit, he was sure to be reminded of his care lessness by the singing of bullet. One sunshiny day, after many days of dark ness and rain, tempted by a carpet of green grass that covered the bank between the rifle pit and the river, crawled out on the velvety turf and, stretching out at full length, prepared to sleep. Lulled by the ripplng water at my feet and the monot- onous murmur of the low tones of my com rades conversing in the rife pit, when about to become unconscious, was brought up standing by the explosion of a spherical case shot, scattering it's frag- ments of splintered iron and sulphurous packing along the waters edge at my feet. Laughing at the surprise, tumbled into the rifle pit and shouted back at the arr tiIlerist What do you mean by shooting at a fellow while he's asleep?" In reply I saw a puff of smoke from the same bat tery. I ducked only in time for the shot to pass above my head skinning the bark from small pine growing at the end of the pit. Alter a 1eW SnotS. Hnding a tar- get no longer in sight. this practice for that day was suspended. This artillery practice was kept up until the pine woods in the vicinity looked as if a cyclone had been through them. We were forced to keep under cover all the time. Being on the left as flankers, we were less exposed than the men in the center and on the right. where the firing was continuous
 It was under circumstances such as have been detailed that the following was writ ten:
 Twelfth of April.
 We are now about four miles from Suf- folk. having moved here last night. As usual, the air Is resonant with rumors Two Texans accidentally shot themselves ycster- day, 0na of whom has since died. The Fifth Texas had a slight skirmish yester-