The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-08-07
WISE'S FAMOUS BRIGADE AT
CONFLICT OF THE CRATER
Its Commander, Colonel Goode, Narrates the
Part Played by His Regiments in That Bloody
Scene When the Battle Waged Over
the Pit of Dead and Dying.
BY j. THOMAS GOODE,
Ex.Coloncl Thirty-Fo urth Virginia Infantry.

Having commanded wise's Brigade.
composed of the Twenty sixth. Thirty
fourth. Forty-sixth and F!fty-ninth
Regiments 1or Virginia Infantry, DUR
ing the siege OF Petersburg from May,
1864. to March. 1865, General Wise be-
ing on detached service. I have been
urged 10 write an account OF the SER
Vice rendered By that command in the
great battle of July 80, 1884. known az
Nise's Brigade held the main line
from Elliott's right at small ravine
about ona hundred yards south OF the
Crater, the full front OF the brigade
extending across the Baxter Road sew
orai hundred yards
we had been warned some time be,
fore By major who deserted from the
enemy that his people wore under
mining the hill north OF the Baxter
Road held by Elliott's Brigade. and
possible the hill we held. over which
tho Baxter Road runs. for the purpose
OF making breaches IN our lines
through which assaulting columns
could be rushed into Petersburg On
the 2sth and 2s.h OF July we observed
Unusual activity in the enemy's camps,
anc supposed that some movement
would soon be, made On the evening
or the 2ath large number OF sand
bags were sent us. but too late to be
used Ny acting aide de-camp. Edward
Bagby. one of the hest and bravess
soldiers of the Confederacy. said he
would make us a bed of the bags on
which we could get one good nights
rest. If we never had another. II was
his last. He was killed the next morn
ing by MIME bail through the head.
About 4 o'clock A. N on tbs goth we
were aroused By . terrific explosion,
and were on our feet in an instant.
The earth trembled 80 that we could
scarcely stand, and the scene before
us was Indeed appalling. Human
forms. cannon. broken gun carria ges,
etc, high in the air. Two OF our cam
non fell nifty yards in front of our line
and were recovered later by cutting
covered ways out to them and hauling
them in with ropes, The troops were
in their places in the shortest possible
time. and the firing commenced when
the enemy emerged from his works
II was soon reported by one OF our
officers that the battery in our lines
had been abandoned. No artillery was
to be found. Captain Preston's Com
pany OBJ. rhir.y-fourth Virginia In
fantry, was Withdrawn from the line
and placed in charge OF the battery,
which, having clear field and short
range. did great execution and sui
rered heavy loss.
1t was here that Edward Baghy was
killed, and about 10 o'clock Captain
Preston was desperately wounded. his
skull being broken with fragment of
shell. His company was so cut UP that
it was relissed by Captain Bagby's
Company K.f eame regiment These
troops being trained artillerists, did ex-
cellent work TO the end of the struggle
knowing that the enerny's object was
to rush into Petersburg. ! as speedily
as possible after the explosion with
drew the Fifty.ninth Regiment Cap
tain Wood commanding, and placed 1t in
a. covered way facing the Crater, and
about 100 yards distant, with orders
to concentrate his Are on any troops
attempting to form in the rear OF the
Crater then wrote our division COM
mander, General Bushrod Johnson. in
Blandofrd, OF the situation and the dis
position made of the troops, suggesting |
that he come out and direct the fight
ing In person. He sent Lieutenant
Saunders, his aide.de.camp, to say tho
arrangements were very good and to
hold the works to the last extremity,
which we did. but with heavy loss.
The battle was then raging all along !