The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-14

yesterday AFTERNOON at the Mathewson
Street M. r. church. After the reading OF
the records by Secretary Gallagher. the
names OF William o. Sherman and Ed
mund o. Con were presented, and they
were elected members
The death OF Brother Thomas II. Briggs
at the age of 95 was announced. President
Cook, then introduced Mr.. Gallagher
who sang song, formerly sung i'm the
soldiers camp I'm the armory.
The president next introduced Rev.
Charles ii. Ever OF the Cranston Street
M. r. church, who delivered an address
on the Siege OF Petersburg, Va, and the
Collapse of the Rebellion. The distin-
guished veteran, and orator who fought
from Bull Run TO Petersburg and Apo
matox gave a fine description OF the inn
mense battlefield using a large map and
chart. His address was punctuated at
points with some very brilliant gems of
classic eloquence. He spoke In part az fol-
lows:
THE WILDERNESS CAMPAIGN.
The Wilderness campaign was a failure
and a success failure in that IL did not
destroy Lees army. nor compel the cap
itulation OF Richmond; and n success, In
that II did demonstrate the impracticabil-
ity OF an attempt To take the confederate
stronghold by direct assault.
The necessity for a siege was anticipat-
seige-train was issued April 16. 1864. Col.
III. l.. Abbot OF the First Connecticut
Heavy Artillery, was placed in charge. A
portion OF the Train was started from
Alexandria on the evening OF May IL, but
the complete OUTFIT. including the 100
FOUNDER PARROTS. failed 10 reach the
front until past the middle OF June. Col.
Abbot's regiment, however, was not idle.
1t found enough TO do In both artillery
and infantry service.
The organization OF an artillery brigade
was important, and in siege opera tions.
necessity. Infantry troops move suddenly.
and Unexpectedly and siege-artilIery
service must be conducted under author
ity within itself or. closely related At
times. the artillery brigade numbered
$500. IL never fell below 20D.
The siege line was in three sections The
first, ran from point on the north side
OF the James near Dutch Gap, 10 a point
in the rear of Chaffins Blun. opposite
Fort Darling. The second section. ran
across the Bermuda Hundred peninsula
between the rivers, q distance OF about
three and one half miles The third Sec
tion, ran from the Appomattox river.
south and west. TO the Jerusalem Plank
road. In the month OF August, the line
was extended as far as the Welden rail-
road.
The line OF batteries was ~ miles long
The siege guns and mortars were hauled
an average distance OF seven miles. The
number OF guns and mortars was not far
the field batteries. which were constantly
liable to change OF location, and were
most used In field service.
SIEGE OF PETERSBURG.
The city of Petersburg had a popula-
ton OF about 1900. IT is situated on the
bank of the Appomattox, branch of the
James, about nine miles from City Point,
and twenty-five miles from Richmond A.
was railroad centre Five railroads ran
out in different directions: The Richmond
and Petersburg: the Petersburg and City
Point; the Petersburg and Norfolk; the
Weldon: and the South-Side railroad The
Danville r. r. did not touch Petersburg
Then there were several Post roads: the
Jerusalem Plank road; the Vaughan
road: and the Boyden Plank road.
The Importance OF the work done on the
siege-line In it's relation to the general
military movement I'm that period OF the
war, and In relation to the final result
cannot be overestimated. There was al
most constant firing for many months
Indeed, IL might well be called "ten
months battle" The amount OF metal
thrown was enormous. The official fig
ures say 1900 tons, 3.940 rounds
The purpose OF siege activity was four
fold. first. to remove obstructions TO our
own forward movements, such as abatis,
palisades, etc. Second, to silence the ene-
mics guns preparatory TO assault. Third,
10 sweep the ground over which the
enemy must pass i'm attack upon our
lines. And fourth. to cut lines OF commu-
nication, travel and supply. and thereby
20 force the surrender Of Lees army and
the capitulation OF Richmond
IL was never any part of the purpose on
the Union side. to destroy Petersburg
How long. think you, would Il have taken
L. IL
one house In the city was entirely demol-
ished by our firing during the siege. The
Union army did not wage war against
women and children There was no wan
ten destruction Of property.
The principal movements and battles
The movement against Petersburg on
the 9Th OF June. Gen. Kautz, with 1900
cavalry, pushed around south OF the city
pnin, n UP pth,n the ss,e sbs flank rGsa to
Gen Gilmore. with force OF 1890. made a
demonstrate tion on the right. This double
movement was without result
The assault on the 18th OF June II was
the last OF four days almost continuous
nghting, with the result OF firmly estab-
Tnon sid. he afrs srss Tine .hs ,or The loss on tss
men. on the 18th the First Maine Heavy
artillery. in an unsupported charge. lost
badly managed affair With good gen
erslship Petersburg might have been
taken.
NOT BuRNsIDEs FAULT.
The explosion Of the mine Cthe battle Of
the crater July 20. The preparation COW
cred about n month. The main tunnel
was $40 feet long from the opening The
two laterals. each nearly 10 feet long from
the intersecting point. The powder charge
5000 pounds The fort destroyed Eliots
salient The Ninth CBurnsideD and
parts of the second (HancockD. Fifth
(Warren) and Eighteenth (ordnancel
corps were included in the move
nent. either I'm the sssaulting column or
ss supports. The details OF the AFFAIR
need not here be rchearscd Nor do 7
care 10 discuss at length the roe asons why
N failed, except 10 say that IN our opn-
Ion. the fault was not Burnsid a
The movement on tho Weldon railroad
The Firth corps struck the railroad about
four miles from the city. Warren lost
800 men. IL was really n three days
fght