The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1903-04-23


the Army OF. Northern Virginia saw its
finish at Appomattox, and as l pen this
brief sketch, comrades, on this anniver-
sary of one of the greatest events in
American history, the scene of Lees .ur-
render is as vivid TO me as if it had oc-
Cured only month ago. Were you
there? If so, you can never efface from
your memory that day of all days in the
annals of the grand old Army of the Poto-
mac. 1t was the closing scene In the DARK
and bloody drama of desolation and death
which had been prolonged over TOUR long
years-the bitterest, fiercest, hardest
fought struggle for National lie ana honof
ever known i'll the history OF ihe wo,iu:
1t was tile fruitcu of all our hopes; the
dawn of peace on that bright Sabbath
morning when the Confederate battle
flags were furled and Lees veterans
stacked their muskets and parked theif
artillery in submission to the victorious
Union forces. For 10 days we had been
battering away at the Army OF Northe.h
Virginia. short but arduous campassh
vet marked with many deeds of valof afad
endurance in fierce conflicts and fsfSea
marches. and the end was glorious.
On the morning of the 18th OF March
the Second Corps broke camp at HATCH
er's Run and followed the Fifth Oh the
old and beaten track to find the right flank
of the rebel army near the White OAK
Road. That night our brigade got into
position close to the enemys works near
Armstrong; Mill, and lay on our arms UNI
till daybreak in line of battle. All of that
night a cold rain fell, and we were satu-
rated to the skin and chilled to the mar
row as we crept under the water-laden
branches of the pines and cedarS and
peered anxiously and vigilantly toward the
rebel works in expectation ,ot encounter
ing the enemy.
Shortly after dawn the lines We're eX-
tended by the Fifth Corps moving furth-
er to the left, and the Second followed
after until we went into line OF battle
again with one brigade stretched across
an open field through which ran the Boyd
ton Plank Road toward the rebel lines.
Here we intrenched heavily and worked
all that day March 80 strengthening our
breastworks, with rain falling steadily and
up to our knees in mud.
Battery X of the 18th q. S. Art. took
position right on the plank road, with our
regiment III support.
Down the Boydton Road about COO or
500 yards was posted rebel battery be-
hind strong Notifications, and soon the
rebs began to shell us. They were pref
ty good cannoneers, and made some accu-
rate shooting, but when Battery * got
line on them and opened up with the
precision for which Seeley's gunners were
noted, they were soon slenced.
On the next morning, away off to the
left. near the White Oak Road, Gen. War
rem with the Fifth Corps ran across a
strong force of the Jolinnies, and the roar
of musketry and artillery came rolling
back to us with terrible distinctness.
Then the First Division AIiles's) of the
Second Corps got into the fight il sup
port of Warren. and the rebs were forced
back into their works and the White Oak
Road was won for the Union forces.
Sheridan's troopers had meanwhile cap
tEred Five Forks, and Gen. Lee began to
realize that his right flank was in bad
fix.
All of that day there was heavy fighting
all along the line, and in our brigade front
the 9Th n. j., 18th n. j., 10th N. Y,
and 18th Mass. made several successive
and brave attempts to force the rebel
lines, but without avail, as the rebels were
too strongly fortified. Each of these regi-
ments suffered severe losses in their en-
deavors to get through the tangle of slash
ing and abatis in front of the Confederate
works. 1t was desperate fighting, and
all were kept busy.
That night we lay down in the mud
and water behind our works, cold, hun
cry and jaded, and next morning the bat
tie was resumed. Another day of fierce
fighting ensued, with heavy battle losses
among some of the regiments engaged.
Early on the morning of Sunday, April
2, a general assault all along the line
started the rebs moving, and our troops
broke through their works in several
places. Sheridan had smashed their
right flank, and started them humping to-
ward Petersburg, while Gems. Wright and
Ord had carried everything in their front.
Our corps marched down the Boydton
Plank Road, over the rebel intrenchments,
and continued on until we reached the
outskirts of Petersburg, where we
tivouacked that night. On tile route we
passed Gen. Lees headquarters, and also
Fort Gregg, where details were buryine
the dead who were killed in the attack on
that stronghold that morning.
While near Fort Gregg l saw q group
of officers. among whom were one or two
in Confederate uniform, standing near 6
body which was about to be inferred. Be
ing convinced that the dead soldier was al
officer of high rank, and being inquisitive
i approached near enough to ask one OF
the burial detail who it was, and was told
that the body was that of Gen. A. p. Hill
the Confederate leader who was killed
that morning. Does any comrade remem
Der this circumstance!
That night we used the spade and picl
again and built light intrenchments where
we lay in line of battle, and lay down Il
rest. Early in the morning we wer,
reused up with the news that Lees troop!
had evacuated Petersburg and were il
full retreat. 4 hasty breakfast of hard
tack and coffee was gulped down. wheI
we We're ordered to fall in" and ava,
we started ON our last chase after til,
Army of Northern Virginia. The morn
ing was n beautiful one-a warm Apri
sun was shining, grass green and yelvety
peach trees in blossom, and everythin;
bright and cheerful, which was an exceed
ingly pleasant change after our tire
days of wallowing in the rain and mud il
the trenches.
Our troops were in fine fettle as w
marched off briskly with joke and son
after our quarry. We must hav
made 20 miles that day, and at nightfa
bivouacked by the roadside Early mex
day We started again, and kept up til
pace with citation, although suffering froI
sore feet and stiff joints while our havel
sacks were empty, the supply trains bein
far in the rear. So all we could do wa
to tighten up our waist-beIts another inc
or two and keep on. 1t was a tight rae
for Burkesville Junction, and the roads b.
ing yet wet and heavy made the marc
very fatigning
Early on the morning of the 9th "
caught up TO the retreating Johnnies, an
lively scrap occurred near Sailor
Creek which was exciting while it laste
Here Gen. Gershom Mott, who comman,
ed our division, was severely wounde
while the loss among the rank and Fl