The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-27
QUICK ADVANCE SAVED
BELEAGUERED PETERSBURG
Johnson's Division, Rushed From Hewlett Line
Supported Local Home Guard and Drove
Back Aduancinp Federals
Back ADVANCING F'ederalS.
BY "THIRI'Y-FOU JRTH VIR GlNlA.'"'

~. u .
The night after the battle OF clay's
Farm will ever be remembered By
members OF the old Thirty-fourth on
account OF an experience we had. Soon
after nightfall, and before VIC had fin
ished our meagrc rcpast of bareback
and fat bacon. wc were called upon
To so with a detail to cree, redouhr
on the brink OF a hill. to The LETT OF
our line. where Il battery OF artillery
had been posted during the day and
had done some execution. Although
there was no firing going on when We
went to work. the enemy had gotten
the exact range. and took 1t for grant
cd that we would be at work, there.
fore they opened nrc on US with she'll
and nortars. Every shetland there
was perfect tornado OF thcm--Bccmcd
TO fall and explode right in the midst
or our group.
Our boys. the artillcrists, opened up in
reply and with equal rapidly. 1t was
awful. The dirt was flying in every
direction, ammunition chests were ex-
ploding with terrific Jars. caissons
were being Knocked into thousand
pieces. cannon were being d!sbled. men
were grooming and dying. We did not
even have the bracing excitement OF be-
ing ourselves engaged. but had to stand
there and see the duel go on i do not re :
member what command OF artillery
on orr side Il was, but I do remem-
Der that they were game fighters, and
that they stood to their guns and han
died them with great skill and dexter
ity. The flame from the guns and
bursting shells made weird light In
the midst OF darkness. SO that the high
bristling parapets OF the enemy cond
be seen as well as those on our side.
When the enemy found at length what
II was costing them TO disturb this
working party they ceased firing, and
there was perfect calm for the bali
snce or the night.
From this time our position on the
Hewlett line WAS secure. and Buffers
army lay in front OF US. apparently
content to be allowed to hold his posi-
ton. Thus the two armies watched
each other during the remaining days
or the spring and summer OF 1854. We
occupied many positions on the line.
which had been heavily intrcnched
during the last half of May and first
half OF June. The weather was warm.
with alterations OF hot suns and rain
and mud. Quiet prevailed for the most
part. and rations. now reduced to half
nnd sometimes less. consisted solely In
lat bacon and stale "hardtack.''
tbs Attack on petersburg,
On tho afternoon OF .Tune 10 we re.
ccived hurry orders to move out OF the
trenches. Immediately In four ranks
double file we headed for Richmond
and Petersburg Turnpike. which lay
parallel with the Hewlett line. few
rods to tho rear. Striking this road
we turned southwark. bound for Pc
tcrsburg, marching In quick time.
every man being required to keep his
place. Everything betokcned an I'm.
portant move, though we had not yet
learned what the matter at the Cock
ade City was.
rho heat was intense and the dust
was sitting, but on we pushed In an
incredibly short time we swung into
Petersburg. only to find the city IN a
tremendous uproar OF excitement. a
Federal division OF cavalry. supported
crossed tho James. and Appomattox
had swung around the city, and ap-
preaching 1t from the southeast, had
pushed forward to capture the town
which was Of itself critical point OF
the Confederate dcfenses. guarding the
main railroad communications between
the South and the Confederate capital
But this strong column OF invaders
had been met on the outskirts OF the
city by the local militia, about reg,
ilnent, composed OF schoolboys clerks
III the stores and old men armed witt
all Kinds of weapons. This regiment
was commanded by q. distinguished
civilian. Colonel Archer. who by plac.
1ngEhis one piece of artillery on r higf
mound on which stood the city Reser:
voir-thought by the enemy to BIO 1
fort-made a determined stand viii
his little limo of amateur infantry ant
repulscd the enemy with heavy losse.
on both sides.
Ifcrolsm Of petersburg Home Guards
There was perhaps not. moro bril-
liant; display OF gallantrys during thu
entire war than Archer's victory OF
that hot juno day. It saved Peters
burg, tho loss OF which would have
4 meant tho flankinE OF Lees army, ,thel
still north OF the James. Success tt
tho Federals would almost cerSainl,
have resulted in the fall OF Richmond.
But this defeat and retreat OF thu
Federal vanguard only resulted II
thor falling to tho Appomattox River
where they We're joined by Grant,
tceming thousands, who had crossct
and wero crossing to tho south Of tn,
James and APPROXIMATIONS. Such. then
was tho military situation when W.
errlved In Petersburg. The Yankee
y had perhaps 10000 men south Of tn
Appomattox, and We're being rap II.
reinforced, They had Sestabl ished thel
Sf5 rlSlL Oll Ltl0 IN - PPoAuoSsus< 3e'1A
s5 were rapidly xtending It to the south
west, curping the line SO as to keep Il
n close proximity to the city.
Our entire force consisted of WISE
q brigade and General bearings artll
lery, with#Sa small 1. cavalry csco1l
Passing through the city our brigad
pushed on to the enemy's from 1lea
4. the river. taking our position in tn
old intrencnments,#l long ago consNruo
oil and now almost obliterated by til
wear Of time and nature. Skirmishinl
s$ and change of position at once be
gam The enemy wero intrencl1ing !
4 q parallelsline Within 81 ose rang Ih
nring grow heavier as night approac h
ed, and IA great strug Gle was now OF
little later on and the remainin
brigade of our diYisio one liott's Ran
som's Gracie's and the remnant g
s Dushrod Iohnson's Rrlgad e---Has B fol
& lowed ny IIolso's 1 ID lYasion. They too
eaattl on our lefty e pushing !