The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-03-20

the tremendous 3dash Win WHICH We
went in on the Yanks carried con-
sternation into tho hearts OF the blue-
coats. and they fed without thinking
OF anything else TO do. Nevertheless.
some of our dearest and best boys lost
their lives a. Port Walthall Junction.
BY sunset on tho evening OF the
day of battle our lines had Joined Pick
ett's Division on the north. and there
was q solid line OF the boys in gray
standing cast OF the Richmond and
Petersburg Railroad. and far enough,
too. to protect said road from all harm
by the enemy. just as tho sun was
setting General Beauregard. accom-
panied by his staff. rode along the
line. cap in hand. amid the deafening
shouts OF his admirlnE troops. He
had como from Drewry's Bluff. and the
way was clear. the railroad had been
freed and there only remained some
repairing to be done before trains
could again run from Richmond
southwark. The line Of battle, as now
formed, marked tho ground on which
the famous Hewlett line of works
were constructed. and which were held
until Richmond fell.
The Hewlett line, SO Familiarity
known in Confederate history. extend
ed from tho Hewlett farm at q high
bluff on the south side OF the James
River, at a point nearly opposite
Dutch Gap. southwark and parallel
with the Richmond and Petersburg
Railroad. to the Appomattox River,
striking that river some five miles be-
low Petersburg.
Here General Beauregnrd made hia
stand and commenced to entrench.
placing redoubts at intervals with suftl-
cient artillery for defensive work. IT.
was only few days after this stand
was taken that General Grant de-'
scribed the situation by. saying that
.'Beauregard had bottled up Butler at
Bermuda Hundred and sealed the cork
In the bottle,' a most apt description
when taking into consideration the
narrow strip OF land to which he was
confined and the rivers and marshes
on each flank and in his rear.
Fortifying the Line.
immediately after taking our posi-
ton on tho new line we began tho
work OF fortifying with great energy
by large details. The sun vas hot
by day, but we handled the pick and
the great earthworks were completed.
Our position on tho line was near the
centre. but within day or two We
were moved to tho left and occupicd
the works at the extreme left. tho left
OF our line touching the Bluff at the
rlyer Here we We're In easy range OF
Buffers guns at Dutch Gap, and there
fore exposed to q murd erous firc day
and night Great shells from his gun
boats and land batteries We're thrown
into our ks. doing conslderabl % exc
cutlon.
we had now entered we'll Into the
campaign of the spring and summer Of
1861, (which was destined to DO q SO.
sriessof continued battles. Within the
5next few days were were moved again,
J, this time to the right. taking our
position on q line at a point nearly
opposite Chester. II ystilities had prac-
tically ceased since the day Butler
was pushed back, except the constant
bonh harding, at the left. from Dutcl,
Gap. All was quiet ut every Their
point along the entire line ana each
army was constantly engaged In
siren Ethening Its works. The entire
length OF tho Hewlett line was per-
haps fifteen or eighteen miles.
Down in the -daap trench es with no
protection from the sun by day ana
the dews by night With occasional
rain and mud, ecant rations OF TAT
bacon and cornbread, we had discoln-
+olts uS " ga ~ ~ g US O11!t3ss, put
the brave boys worked and watched
without a murnur.
The quiet that had prevailed for
several days was not to last long, on
account OF come curves III Cutters
lines ar the abroad or both, the Yan-
keo lines were considered by OUR alert
commander too near to tina railroad
for safety, and he therefore decided
tn drive back the invad ers, especially
at o point lust to the left. OF our brit
gade.. About May "A 8 we were 5ordered
forward earl I'm tho lno rnin s, adYanc-
i.1 n nf8 i,