The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1904-01-10

ing to go forward with him. Gordon
demonstrated, and the men, seeing his
intention, cried out: Gen. Lee to the
rear!" which was taken all along the
line. The two moving lines met ill
rear of the captured woods, and after
a fierce struggle the Federals were
forced back to the base
of the salient. But Cor
don's division did not cover their
whole front. On the left, where Rodes'
division had connected with Johnston's,
the attack was still pressed with great
determination. Three brigades from
Hills corps were ordered up. PERKINS,,
which was the first to arrive rushed
forward through a fearful fire and re-
covered a part of the line on Gordon s
left. All day long and far into the
night the battle ragged with unceasing
fury in the space covered by the sa-
lent and the adjacent works. Every
attempt to advance on either side was
met and repealed from the other. The
hostile battle flags waved over different
portions of the same works, while the
men fought like fiends for their posses
sion. 1t was as one of the "Rebs" re-
marked, War to the knife. and the
knife to the hilt."
While the battle was raging at the
salient, a portion of Gen. Gordon's di-
vision was busily engaged in construct
ing new and shorter line of intrench-
ments in rear of the old one, to which
Ewelrs corps retired before daylight
on the 18th. The five days of compare
tive rest that followed the terrible bat
tie of the 18th were never
more welcome to the wearied
Confederate soldiers. who had been
marching and fighting since May al
It,
comfort" writes a Confederate general,
was materially enhanced by the sup
ply coffee, sugar and other luxu-
ries to which they had long been
strangers, obtained from the haversack
of the enemy who had been killed in
their 'front.'.
"In the last days of March, 1885,
writes a Confederate chronicler, Gen.
Lee made his last offensive demon
stration, which ended in failure, and
plainly and painfully revealed the con-
dition of his troops. He determined to
try Grants lines south Of the Apo
mattoX. The attack was Immediately
directed by Gen. Gordon on the enc
| my's works at Hare's Hill. The pro-
ject of assault was bold and its
promises were large, while one sue
cess might lead to another" If Cor
don's troops once got possession of a
part of the Federal line, in the flush of
success, with such a daring COM
mander they might be carried to the
capture of the neighboring works.
After that Lee might even venture on
the great enterprise of getting posses
sion of Grants military road, and cut
ting his entire right from it's base at
City Point and from the army north
of the James.
Dashed Upon the FederaIs.
The assault of March 25 was made
two miles south of the Appomattox
and just to the left of the Crater.
Massing two divisions, Gen. Gordon in
the early light of the morning dashed
on the Federal works. "The enemy was
surprised" writes a Confederate his
torian; 1.-The sharpshooters of Grimes
division, composing the advance, sue
ceeded in driving the Federal troops
from their works, and the Confeder-
ates occupied their breastworks for a
distance of a quarter of a mile, with
comparatively slight. loss, and with
the loss to the enemy of one principal
fort (Steadman) and some 500 prison.
ers. Had this advantage been utilized,
there is no telling the result; but the
troops could not be induced to leave
the breastworks they had taken from
the enemy, and to advance beyond
them and seize the crest in rear of the
line they had occupied. They Rugged
the works in disorder until the enc
my recovered from his surprise; and
soon the artillery in the forts to the
right and left began their murderous
fire on them. When fresh troops were
brought up by the enemy, their ad-
vance was almost unresisted and an
easy recapture of the fort was obtain
ed, the Confederates retiring under a
severe fire into their own works. Near
ly 1000 men took shelter under the
breastworks they had captured, and
surrendered when the enemy advanced
and the result was a Confederate loss
much greater than that of the foe.
This affair demonstrated to all that
the day of offensive movements on the
part of the Confederates was gone"
COnfederates Cut in Two.
On the night of April l. 1865, Gen.
Grant celebrated the victory of Five
Forks, and performed the prelude of
what was yet to come by a fierce and
bombardment along his
hines in front of Petersburg. AS dawn
broke next morning, he prepared for
the final attack. which was made in
double column at various points on the
Confederate line. The most determined
effort was made on Gordon's lines and
here the enemy succeeded in taking q
portion of the breastworks near the
Appomattox. But they could not use
the advantage which they had strug-
gled so hard to obtain, because Cor
don's men held an inner Gordon Of
works. and the position which the fed
erals had taken exposed them to rak-
ing fire of artillery. In other parts of
the field. however. important advan-
tages were gained by the Union troops.
Finally Fort Gregg was taken, and
with It the Confederate army was cut
in two.
on leaving Petersburg, Gordon's
troops took the river road, His divis-
ion formed the rear guard OF Lees re-
treating army, and on reaching Sail
or's Creek. and whilst deploying his
tronrna intn line OF battle. the Confed-