Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-06-09

the shots falling around him. and appar-
emily not noticing what a target the
place was becoming.
After he had finished his dispatches he
got up, took a View of the situation. and
as he started toward the other side of the
farmhouse said with a quizzical look at
the group around him. We'll. they do
seem to have the range on us
The staff was now sent to various
points of the advancing lines. and all was
activity in pressing forward the good
work BY noon nearly all the outer line
of works was in possession except
two strong redoubts which occupied a
commanding position, named, respec-
lively. Fort Gregg and Fort Whitworth
the general decided that these should
De storIned, and about ] o'clock three Of
Ord's brigades swept down upon Fort
Gregg. The garrison OF 800 with two
ri'1ed cannon made a desperate defense,
and most gallant contest took place
For half an hour after our men had
gained the parapet a bloody hand to- hand
struggle continued, but nothing could
stand against the onslaught Of Ord s
troops, flushed with their mornings VIC
tory By 2:3O fifty-seven Of the brave
surrendered Fort Whitworth was at
once abandoned. but the guns of Fort
Gregg were opened upon the garrison as
they marched out. and the commander
and sixty men were surrendered.
About this time Miles had struck a
force Of the enemy on Lees extreme
right. and had captured two pieces OF
artillery and nearly a thousand prisoners
At $40 the general. who had beer
keeping Mr.. Lincoln fully advised Of the
history that was SO rapidly being made
that day. sent him q telegram inviting
him to come out the next day and pay
him a visit. A prompt reply came back
from the President. saying:
ALLOW me to tender you and all with
You the nations grateful thanks for the
additional and magnificent success. AT
your suggestion. / think / will meet you
tomorrow"
Prominent officers now urged the gen
eral to make an assault on the inner
lines and capture Petersburg that after
noon. but he was firm in his resolve not
to sacrifice the lives necessary to &C
compiish such a result. He said the city
would undoubtedly be evacuated during
troops for a parallel march westward.
and try to head off the escaping army.
And thus ended the eventful Sunday.
The general was up at daylight the next
morning, ana the HrSt report brought IN
was that Parke had gone through the
lines at am. capturing a few skirmish-
ers, and that the city had surrendered at
42S to Col. Ralph Ely. A second COM
munication surrendertng the place was
sent to Wright. The evacuation had be-
gun about 10 the night before and was
completed before on the morning OF the
Sd. Between and am. the general
had a conference with Meade and orders
were given to push westward with all
haste.
About 9 am. the general rode into Pc
tersburg. Many of the citizens, panic
stricken. had escaped with the army.
Most of the whites who remained stayed
indoors, a few groups Of negroes gave
cheers, but the scene generally was one
of complete desertion.
Grant rode along quietly with his staff
until he came to a comfortable-looki
brick house, with a yard In front, situat-
ed on one Of the principal streets. and
here he and the officers accompanying