The herald and news. [volume] (Newberry S.C.) 1903-1937, 1907-08-30
TWICE A WEEK. S1.5OA YEAR
around Spottslyvania C. e., behind

fight of all day and all night at
Bloody Bend. Again Lee took his
stand ait North Anna, and we, bring
ing up the rear, did not get into the
engagement. A repetition Of this
same movement brought up both ar
mics on the line Of the Chickahominy.
Here Grants army met a decided re-
pulse in the second battle Of Cold
Harbor. This overland campaign
lasted from the 1st Of May, until the
middle Of June, 1864, and ended with
Lees army in the strong entrench-
ments around Richmond. This move
ment on the Confederate Capital cost
the Union army a great sacrifice Of
men-over 60,000-but with all our
hardships, we did not lose one third
! Of that number. Having failed 80
far, the Yankee general threw his
forces against Petersburg to capture
it before too strongly fortified. We
reached the city on the 18th Of June,
1864, during the assault which was
repulsed, and both armies sat down .
for a long protracted siege, which
lasted from June, 1864, to April, 1865.
During this time, several severe and
important battles and ski1mishes
took place. The singular and tre- ::
mendous E'mine,' charged with an
immense quantity of powder, was
fired and exploded on the 30th day
of July, 1864, which carried the earth !.
! works Into the air and killed and bu- :
ried and mangled many men. A storm
ing column then advanced to press
through to Petersburg, but We're driy-
en- back with great slaughter. There
were several skirmishes and fights:
that Of jones' farm, where we cap
tured caisson and horse-duringg the
period 10 stop foraging parties and
cavalry raids, though not attended
with so much blood shed, we're hor-.
rid scenesof privation, suffering
cold and hard marching, but was at
tended by only one gratifying scene,
and that was the capture Of 3,50o ofs'
the enemy's beeves driven into our
Ines and rationed ont to our men 4.
The military situation at the OPEN
ing of the campaign Of 1866 was
gloomy indeed-simp3y desperate.
The men we're worn out and diminish
ed with the fatigues and causahtles
of a protracted seige and no source
for recruiting the army, which the,
enemy were doing daily in immense
numbers. The only formidable army
Of the south now consisted Of Lees
veterans still lying behind the earth
en- parapets around Petersburg and
Richmond. This army was reduced
to less than 10000, whilst the enemy
had been recruited to over an 100000
strong, fresh troops from nearly every
quarter of the globe. ~.
On the 25th Of March, Gen. Leg
captured Fort Steadman, but our
men were soon driven from out of it.
On April 1st, 1865, General Sheridan
and Warren assailed our right flank
and defeated our forces at Five
! Forks. An attack was then made
along the whole line in front Of Pet
ersbure on the End Of April. The
line was carried at several points and
during the night Gen. Lee abandoned
Petersburg and Richmond. [ Will al
WAYS remainder the furry along the
! 5r>ast-works aud will feel it more
!zeenlv, perhaps, for being placed on
yidette between two lines Of sharp
shooters.
You remember the retreat and
route of the morning Of the Sd OF
April. '65, and the FIGHT at the South
Side Railroad the same evening; al
so the stampede from there and the
. high waters or the Appomattox, and
.her dangers and privations on that
memorable retreat. Gen. Lee with
i fractured and demoraiei army re-
treated westward. and hot pursuit
was begun b., Grants victorious tor
ces. Several partial engagements were
fought during this long race.
! At last. the Confederate army was
i completely surrounded' at Appomat- t.
! tox C. H., where Gen. Lee surrender
ed on the 9th of April, 1865. We
! etacIad CIR arms on the line OF