Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1913-04-01
GEN. GORDOS's LAST BATTLE
(Rev. Thomas B. Gregory, in New York
tAmeTican.D

1t was As years ago today-March
20, 1865-that the army of Northern
Virginia made its last desperate at
tempt to break through the great blue
Gordon at Petersburg,
On the night of March 10 Gen. Lee
sent for Gen. John B. Gordon, and the
result OF their conference was that
Gordon with some $4,000 men, CON
siderably more than half the army,
should make the effort to break
through the Union line at the point
known as Fort Steadman, on Hares
Hill.
Fort Steadman was on the main line
Of Grants works, and was fiaaked on
either side by earthworks and other
lorts. In the rear OF Fort Steadman
were three other forts, commanding it
iii case OF its capture. In front of all
these forts was an almost impenetra-
Bile abatis, sharpened fence rails, a
network of wires, and every other
species of obstruction that could be
thought OF.
The plan was to clear these obstruc-
tons, capture Fort Steadman and the
other forts in its rear, thus opening
the way for the entire Confederate
force, which, once through the lines,
was to disorganize and destroy the
left wing of Grants army before he
could recover and concentrate his
1 forces; with the final result that Lees
army might then be free to meet
Johnston, collect the scattered forces
OF the Confederacy, and stake the
fortunes of the South on one great
and desperate battle.
Soon after midnight on the morning
of the 26th at signal from Gordon,
the Confederate axmen rushed for
ward, followed by the bodies armed
with bayonets and empty muskets.
The Federal pickets, completely sur
prlsed, were taken and sent to the
rear; the axmen cut away the obstruc-
tons, and in few minutes Fort
Steadman was captured, along with II
heavy guns, 700 prisoners, and a brig
adler general.
But right there the fates ceased to
be friendly. The men who had been
sent to capture the forts in the rear
of Steadman lost their way. In the
pitchy darkness the guides got mixed
up, lost their way, and led the bravest
men that God ever put breath of life
into far out of the way.
In the meantime lowing to the laws
of nature, which knows nothing about
the little differences of the inhabitants
of earth), the day began to break, and
with the dawn came the doom of the |
heroic attempt to break through
Grants lines.
With the coming of light the men IN
blue took in the whole situation at
glance, and governed themselves ac- /
cordingly. Upon the $4,000 ragged,
half-starved Confederates was concen- |
trated the almost omnipotent energy !
of the whole Federal army, and there
was nothing left for them but to get
back to Uncle Robert" the best way
they could.
If the guides had not become ratified |
the forts behind Steadman would. in
all probability, have been taken as
Steadman was, and the rest would |
have followed as the night the day
The Confederate army would have
found itself free to depart for the de-
sired junction with Johnston, Kirby |
Smith, and other Confederate COM
manders.
But what then? Another great bat
tie, perhaps, that would have stag
gered humanity" the inevitable
result that the war would have ended
just as it did.
1t is well, then. for all concerned,
that Lee did not break through the |
blue Gordon at Petersburg. 1t would !
only have meant more blood, another
heoatomb Of the flower of American |
youth, without in any way affecting
the final verdict.
And yet it is just as well that the
last heroic attempt on the part of the
C2nfederates was made. 1t will ever
serve to show the grim, silent cour-
age and god-like devotion to duty CT
the men who little while later SUI
rendered at Appomattox.