Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-26
Recapture of The Crater Again.

Editor Journals See some time ago in
your valuable columns a request from
lady that some old veteran give his expert
ence in the battle Of the Crater, near
Petersburg Va, July 3d. 1864, have wait
ed to see If some one better qualified to
describe the scenes enacted there on that
dreadful and never to-be-forgotten day,
try in my feeble way to tell OF some OF the
soul trying experiences Of that day, also
to give one Of the closest calls had dur
Ing my entire period Of service.
To begin with, the command to which /
belonged, Wright's Georgia brigade, had
about the 10th or 18th Of July, 1854, been
ordered to take position on the breast
works, where the Jerusalem plank road
crossed the works, nearly, or quite, south
of Petersburg, and afterwards was moved
little farther to the right and across the
road, and then still farther to the right
until we were about one mile from the
above mentioned road.
AS I remember, Wilcox's Alabama brig
ade, commanded by General Saunders,
was on our left. Mahones brigade on our
right. These three brigades, Mahones,
Wright's and Wilcox's, were the ones de-
tailed to re-capture the works.
Wright's brigade had no general officer
in command, but one of the colonies, /
forget which, was in command. We were
ordered up about o'clock that morning
and placed in position behind the works,
just a few steps in front Of where we were
lying under our bush arbors, and after
being there some time most of US had
slipped back to our arbors to snatch an
other snooze, when just after daybreak
we were rudely aroused from our peaceful
slumbers by a horrible trembling of the
earth, followed by a most terrific explo-
sion, and then by one Of the heaviest dis
charges of artillery and musketry l ever
heard. We could see between us and the
light Of the eastern sky the smoke Of
shells as they hurtled through the air or
burst in mid air, and it seemed to us the
air was alive with them, while the huz-
zahs and wells of the combatants, COM
bined with the other horrible sounds,
seemed as if hell had torn loose sure
enough. And right well we knew a ter
rible and sanguinary conflict was going
on and we expected every moment to be
ordered into the midst of it.
After waiting nearly two hours, we had
orders to fall In, left face, and forward
We were rushed over hill and vale, with
shells screaming overhead and an occa-
sional bullet whistling by, and above all
the roar the command, CLOSE up, men.
Finally we reached the Petersburg ice
houses directly in the rear and about
one-half mile from the crater, where
we halted to let the rear catch up. Then
forward again, up zig-zag path cut
round the hill and toward the front with
the wounded fling out,some on stretchers'
some walking, some leaning on sticks or
guns improvised as crutches; others be-
ing carried in blankets by four comrades,
and all uniting in telling US boys ITS
the worst place you ever saw. You'll
never be able to retakc It,
The groans and cries Of agony, and the
sufferings of these poor fellows We were
obliged to pass, was enough to sicken the
hearts of the bravest among us. When we
got to the top of the hill where we could
peep over the ditch and see the works,
all we had heard seemed verified, for the
captured works were bristling with bat
tie flags and from the number indicated
a strong force, but nothing daunted. on
we pushed. About this time Mahone's brig
ade which was in front OF US, was or
dered to charge, and right CALAMITY did
they respond, and although met by
whitening fire from the bitches as well as
from the Yankee breastworlks about 100
yards away, they precipitated themselves
on the foe with such a determined rush