¹

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THE WAR NEWS.

In our last issue, without pretensing to superiour discernment, we stated that Grant was at last, about to do something.  It required neither a military genius nor a prophet to tell this.

Let us see what this mighty operation was, and how Grant executed it.

Having mined one of our most important positions a mile and a half east of Petersburg, and laid his train in readiness to blow it up, he, on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday [July 27, 28, and 29, 1864] withdrew a large portion of his army from in front of Petersburg, and threw them to the north bank of the James, as if about to attack Richmond from the east.  He supposed that we would follow him with the bulk of our forces, and leave Petersburg weakly garrisoned. It was then his intention to slip quietly back over the James, present himself suddenly in great force in front of Petersburg, spring his mine, and in the incidental confusion, to rush his army through the breach and secure the city.¹

A part of his designs he executed faultlessly—His mine was a tremendous affair.  He carried his army to the north side and brought them back on Friday night [July 29, 1864].  He exploded the mine [on the morning of July 30], and a PART of his army rushed through the breach; but not enough of them got in, as will be seen.  Why a larger force did not enter our broken line we will soon hear from the Northern press.  The Yankees will blame some unlucky wight for being too fast or too slow, too early or too late.  The whole truth though is that the Confederate generals are the parties who are alone to blame.  They are too early always for General Grant.²

Between four and five o’clock Saturday morning [July 30, 1864] Grant sprung his mine under one of our earthworks a mile and a half east of Petersburg.  The mine went thirty feet below the surface.  By the explosion our breastwork was demolished and the earth for a space of thirty yards square torn and thrown into the air.  Branch’s battery of Petersburg, and three companies of infantry belonging to the Twenty first [sic, Eighteenth South Carolina]  and Twenty second  South Carolina regiments, altogether one hundred and eighteen men, who occupied the redoubt, shared its fate; men and earth were tossed into the air together—The four guns of Branch’s battery were buried in the ruins of the redoubt.  Where the redoubt had stood the explosion left a cavity thirty yards square.  This cavity was from twenty to thirty feet deep.

Before the dust and smoke of the explosion had cleared away, Burnside’s [Ninth] corps [IX/AotP] who had been held in readiness, charged through the breach, the negroes in the van, while the Yankee batteries opened on the town and on our lines.  Our troops immediately on either side of the breach were thrown into some confusion by the explosion, but soon rallied and closed up and fought Burnside as coolly as though nothing had occurred.  The Yankees made good their entrance only by force of overwhelming numbers, directed, unexpectedly to us, upon this one point.  Our troops never fought more courageously.  They were at length beaten slowly back and the enemy, continuing to pour in through the breach, occupied two or three hundred yards of our works.³

At nine o’clock General [William] Mahone attempted to dislodge the enemy and drive him out, and was partially successful, re-taking a considerable portion of the works, and capturing a number of prisoners.  ⁴ About two o’clock, with a heavier force, he renewed the attack, this time with the most complete and glorious success.⁵  He drove the enemy from the entire line and back through the breach with heavy loss, and captured Brigadier-General [William F.] Bartlett, his staff and five hundred of his men.—This [?]as not occupied scarce half an hour.  Bartlett and his men when taken were huddled in the excavation made by the explosion, and with some negro troops in front of them.⁶

With our driving the Yankees back through the breach ended the battle, and with it all the hopes built by Grant and his admiring nation on this grand movement on the little town of Petersburg.

The enemy’s loss was strangely heavy in the battle.  Our men say they have filled up with dead Yankees and negroes the hole made by the explosion.  We have in our hands one thousand prisoners.  We have heard no estimate of their wounded.

Our whole loss in killed, wounded and missing will not exceed six hundred and fifty.  Some of our men, believed to have been blown up, are reported by prisoners taken at the close of the day, supposed to be in the enemy’s hands.⁷

OFFICIAL ACCOUNTS.

“An official despatch received at the War Department states that at 5, A. M., on Saturday [July 30, 1864], the enemy sprung a mine under one of the salient on our front and opened his batteries upon our lines and the city of Petersburg.  In the confusion caused by the explosion he got possession of the salient, which was afterwards retaken and the enemy driven back to his lines with loss.

‘A later official telegram gives some interesting particulars.  When we drove the enemy from the salient we recovered the four guns with which it was armed, captured twelve stands of colours, seventy four officers, including Brigadier General Bartlett and staff and eight hundred and fifty-five enlisted men.  Upwards of five hundred of the enemy’s dead are lying unburied in the trenches.—Our loss slight.”

The press telegrams treating of this battle may be found under our telegraphic head.  Except the casualties mentioned in the telegrams referred to we have learned very few.  The following occurred in the Richmond Light Infantry Blues:  W. T. Lipscomb, killed; Robert Reid and J. J. Dodson, seriously wounded; L. T. Trueheart, J. W. Smith and J. J. Wilkinson, slightly wounded.

David Wright of the Sixth Virginia regiment, formerly of this city, and J E Lawton were killed.  George M. Savage, of the Otey battery, was shot through the foot.

GRANT SENDING TROOPS TO WASHINGTON.

A gentleman from the Northern Neck informs us that, on Thursday and Friday [July 28 and 29, 1864], large numbers of transports loaded with troops from Grant’s army passed up the Potomac.⁸  The number of these troops is put at twenty thousand.⁹

SOPO Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Jackie Martin.

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Letters from the Army.

From the 45^th Pennsylvania Regiment.

CAMP NEAR PETERSBURG, Va.,
July 4^th, 1864.

Friend Cobb—Contrary to the general expectation of the army, and perhaps of the public, nothing exciting or of interest has transpired at the front to-day.  On the contrary, there is if anything, less firing than usual between the pickets.¹

The weather is dry, sultry and exceedingly hot.  The constant discharge of small arms and frequent cannonading, which has been in progress since the beginning of the siege of Petersburg, together with the great heat and uncommon drouth which has prevailed during the past two weeks, have given to the atmosphere a sulphurous smell, and parched the air to a degree really oppressive, as well as reduced our supply of water in and around camp until it has become an inconvenient scarcity.  Roads are fearfully dusty.  Symptoms of rain have been frequent, but with the exception of a few inconsiderable showers, we have thus far been doomed to disappointment.  The health of the army is surprisingly good under existing circumstances.  The daily arrival of convalescents more than equals the number of those disabled by disease.  Our rations have been increased in quality and quantity until we are faring better than ever before.  Besides our usual government allowance we get daily issues from the [United States] Sanitary Commission, such as pickles, cabbage, onions, radishes, dried apples, tea, condensed milk, lemons, &c., while the sick get still greater delicacies.  None can relish these luxuries as well as the soldier, who for months has been dieted exclusively on fresh beef, hard tack, and coffee as an army invariably and necessarily is during a vigorous campaign such as the army of the Potomac has passed during the last two months.  The knowledge of this should, and I am confident will encourage the friends at home in their efforts to attest their devotion to the cause of the soldier, by contributing to those beneficent institutions—the Sanitary and [United States] Christion Commission.²

Many a war-worn veteran as he sits down on his knapsack to feast and indulge his stinted stomach on these luxuries thinks of home, and that perhaps the dish he is eating was prepared by his own mother, wife, sister, or sweet-heart, which I assure you makes it taste none the worse.  We also get ½ gill of whiskey to a man as a daily item of rations, which while it is not sufficient to intoxicate, proves a valuable stimulant and does us more good than harm, particularly while on duty in the pits.

By going on the skirmish line any desirable quantity of good ice can be got, but the ice-house is commanded by the rebel sharpshooters, and whenever a blue jacket appears a shower of bullets, or perhaps a shell is sure to follow.  Several have been killed in attempting to reach it, but ice is a great luxury in such times as these, and scarcely a day passes but that we feast on the cooling beverage, or drink ice cool lemonade as good as our city saloons afford.[SOPO Editor’s Note: This is one of many accounts of an ice house near Baxter Road that the soldiers found interesting and enticing.  See Julie Steele’s site The Petersburg Project for their page on the Ice House. Many Federal daredevils ran the gauntlet to go get ice in the early summer of 1864.]

The siege progresses uninterruptedly.  The pickets on other parts of our line have generally ceased firing and are living in comparative peace and quiet with their southern neighbors.  Along the front of our corps the rattle of musketry is incessant night and day.³

Occasionally the rebels run out a battery and attempt to shell our lines, but are invariably silenced in a few moments by the unerring aim of our gunners.  During the night shelling with mortars is freely indulged in on both sides.  Some of the rebels’ shells in the dead of night burst in fearful proximity to our pits but have as yet inflicted no considerable damage.  When awake, these monster visitors can be easily dodged, as they are visible for miles before they strike or burst.  The greater part of our casualties is caused by the fire of the rebel sharpshooters, who with unerring aim, make it almost invariably fatal for us to elevate our craniums above the parapets.  Three of our company have been wounded to-day, namely:

Corporal Jasper R. White, in the head,

Private Morris Smith, in shoulder,

Private Peter Bellinger, in head.

Neither of them are dangerously hurt.  They have been sent to the hospital.  The advance line of our [Second] division [of the Ninth Corps] is not more than 100 yards from the rebel works, which are very formidable and being daily strengthened as the glimmer of picks and shovels in the hot sun in front of us plainly show.  While this is going on, Grant’s army is not idle; our engineers and strong details from different regiments are constantly digging, daily increasing the magnitude and strength of our fortifications.  Since the destruction of the Weldon railroad by our forces the whistle of the cars, which a few days since could be distinctly heard has ceased to taunt us and defy our approach.⁴

You may not be surprised to hear of a fearful collision of the armies at any time, but let the future speak for itself.  When Grant moves it will be with a purpose and when he is fully prepared, and judging from the past we have no grounds for fears in the future.  The boys are feeling well, the majority of them are on picket to-day, celebrating the “fourth” and picking off the “Johnnies” at the same time.

Capt. Richards returned from the hospital where he had been temporarily detained by an attack of fever and ague, on the 2d instant in good health.  Hoping we have not been forgotten at the celebrations and picnics held in the familiar groves of old Tioga, to-day, I remain,

Very respectfully yours,         VETERAN.⁵,⁶

***

Letters from VETERAN in the Tioga County Agitator:

• NP: June 29, 1864 The Tioga County Agitator (Wellsboro, PA): The 45th PA Moves on Petersburg, June 12-20, 1864
• NP: July 27, 1864 The Tioga County Agitator (Wellsboro, PA): The 45th PA at Petersburg, Early July 1864

***

SOPO Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Dan Eyde.

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OUR GENERALS ON THE JAMES.

A correspondent, writing from James River, gives the following sketch of a late scene on board a gunboat in that river:—

Nine o’clock found [Army of the James commander] General [BENJAMIN] BUTLER, a portion of his staff, and your correspondent in the saddle en route for the Grey Mud [sic, Grey Hound?]¹ and a trip up James River. Stopping at City Point, [Union army group commander] Lieutenant-General [ULYSSES S.] GRANT, [Grant’s Chief Engineer] General [JOHN G.] BARNARD and an army of silver leaf² were received on board. The Generals immediately grouped themselves around several maps and charts produced by General BUTLER, and the conversation became animated.

There sat the imperturbable GRANT, looking about ten years older than when I saw him in Washington prior to his campaign, quietly smoking his cigar, suggesting some idea occasionally, asking a [?] question now and then, studying the maps carefully and listening to the conversation and proposals of those around him, as becomes a thinking man.

But underneath all the imperturbability which has been accorded to him, and claimed as a great point in General GRANT’s character, I thought I could discern in the expression of his eyes, “the [?] the soul,” an inward consciousness of the [?] of the struggle in which we are engaged, [?] feeling of the great responsibility resting upon him, and the other, dignified determination to rise [?], to all circumstances.

General BUTLER, brimful of hope, sanguine of success, and overflowing with expedients to worse annoy the enemy, explained with remarkable [clear?]ness the different pontoons along the river, producing this plan and that plan, and other plans, all [?] to the damage of the foe, never hesitating to [?] [any?] and all objections by the counter suggested a thoroughly practical mind, showing at once a comprehensible grasp of the whole situation, an attention to detail, a counter mind for all the possible contingencies of the great game, and, above all, a [?] determination to overcome any and all obstacles. With a man of his caliber “all things are possible.”

[Butler’s Chief Engineer] General [GODFREY] WEITZEL sat smoking his pipe with the phlegmatic coolness of a German, keenly alive, as ever, to the conversation, answering all questions with a plainness, directness, and economy of [worth?] especially desirable in a military man, suggesting occasionally an expedient when none of the others had thought of, or a contingency which they had not mentioned, fixing a time for the performance of certain movements, and manoeuvres with the orchestrating, indisputable air of one who “knows whereof he [?]ms.”

One does not nor cannot see the latest energy the thorough earnestness of the man until he becomes aroused by the force of circumstances, and then it finds vent, not in hasty movements of the body, not in violent vocal demonstrations, but more in the calm determination of the voice, the brightening of the eyes, from which beam forth the whole soul of a man thoroughly and heartily engaged in a work at which he feels himself a master.³

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LOCAL MATTERS.

—–

[SOPO Editor’s Note: A portion of this article was not transcribed because it does not pertain to the Siege of Petersburg.]

MORE PRISONERS BROUGHT IN—Ten prisoners, captured from Hancock’s Corps, by our cavalry, while attempting to cut the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad, yesterday afternoon [June 21, 1864]¹, were brought in to the Provost Marshal’s office last night, between 10 and 11 o’clock. Among them was Lieut. Col. [Homer R.] Stoughton, of the Second U. S. Sharpshooters². The other nine represented almost as many different regiments, but all belonged to the 2nd  (Hancock’s) Corps. The prisoners represent that this corps was engaged in the expedition towards the Railroad. There was a short, stumpy, dusty Irishman among the prisoners, who did not hesitate to speak his mind. He was drugged into the army. He said America is not what it was cracked up to be. He was told it was a great country to make money in, but he found more lead than money flying around.

—

UNION PRAYER MEETING.—The Union Prayer Meeting will be held at the Washington Street Presbyterian (Rev. Mr. Miller’s) Church, this afternoon [June 22, 1864] at 5 ½ o’clock. These prayer meetings, which are now held daily, are, we are glad to say, very largely attended. The crisis demands the prayers of all Christian people, and members of all denominations should unite in offering them.

—

THE CAPTURED OTTAWA INDIANS³.—Indian names are generally musical in their sound, and have in consequence been much admired. But if our readers can extract any music out of the following, which is a partial list of the names of the Indians captured near this city on Friday night last [June 17, 1864], it is more than we can do. The bare effort to write some of them, almost exhausts us⁴:

Jacke Penasenorquad. [sic, Jacko Pe-nais-now-o-quot]

Louis Micksquat. [possibly Louis Marks?]

Wm. McSatraw. [possibly William Mixinasaw?]

Michael Johony. [possibly Michael Jondrau?]

Jackson Wargishwabber. [possibly Jackson Nar-we-ge-she-qua-bey?]

Adam Schohbsquaheern. [possibly Adam Saw-be-come?]

Peter Penarroquaquaw.

John Nicheraw.

These names were taken down letter by letter, as the interpreter would spell them. The Provost Marshal or the commanding officer at Andersonville, Geo[rgia]., wither the prisoners are now going, will have a sweet time in getting a list of them—There are some Dutchmen captured with the Indians, who enjoy longer names and more unmusical even than the above.

—

ACCIDENT—A shell from the enemy’s battery exploded on Lombard street yesterday afternoon [June 21, 1864], in the vicinity of the “Southern Express” Stables, wounding slightly two negro men—one a slave to Mr. R. S. Thompson, and the other a slave to Major N. M. Tannor. Both wounds were through the arm.

—

FIRE LAST NIGHT.—The fire last night [June 21, 1864] about 10 o’clock, was the accidental burning of some old papers in the upper story, rear portion of the late Mr. W. H. Hardee’s store on Sycamore street. Firemen were promptly on the spot and extinguished the burning pile before any damage was done to the building.

—

PRISONERS SENT SOUTH.—Three hundred and sixty one prisoners, being a portion of those captured from Grant’s army on Friday and Saturday last [June 17-18, 1864], were marched to the depot yesterday afternoon [June 21, 1864], and sent South to Andersonville.⁵

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List of Casualties.

In Co. “E,” 76^th Reg[imen]t. P[ennsylvania].V[olunteers]. since the opening of the campaign 1864, in Virginia.

AT CHESTER HEIGHTS, May 7.-Wounded.-Corp. Levi Agnew, forearm, severe; Chas. Caldwell, foot, severe; David Johnson, arm, severe, since dead; John Leader, shoulder, severe; Preston Miller, leg, flesh; Jacob Peterman, leg; John E. Lemon, missing.

AT DRURYS BLUFFS, May 14.-Killed.-Wm. Demings; Chas. McCoy; Gabriel Vastbinder. Wounded-Alex. Bollinger, hand; John Charleston, foot; Jas. Leary, breast, severe; Jos. Long, hand; Uriah Mills, hand; M.B. Smith, breast, severe; Samuel Stott, hand; Andrew miller, May 16, hand.

AT COLD HARBOR, June 1.-Wounded-Corp. J.F. Cypher, leg, severe; Corp. W.F. Fahnestock, foot; Color Corp. Theodore Klahre, face, severe; John Fetter, hand; Wilbur Lyon, leg, severe.

NEAR PETERSBURG, July 6.-Wounded-Wm. M. Lynn, hip, severe; John T. Eckels, July 25, face; S. Warner, July 27, face, severe; 1^st Sergt. R.P. Pilkington, July 30, arm; Sergt. A.C. Bennett, July 30, hand; Chas. R. Lindsay, July 30, chin.

AT DEEP BOTTOM.-Wounded-1^st Sergt. R.P. Pilkington, Aug. 14, arm, severe; 2^nd Serg’t. L.Smith, Aug. 16, contusion, severe; H.H. Nulton, Aug. 16, shoulder; John T. Eckels, Aug. 16, missing; Benj. F. Malin, Aug. 16, missing.

W. P. B.¹

SOPO Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Roy Gustrowsky.

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[SOPO Editor’s Note: This article was badly faded in places, but it is an important one.  In this letter to the Editor of the Examiner, Private Charles J. Armistead of the 1st Rockbridge Virginia Artillery lays out why his battery was captured on July 27, 1864 at the First Battle of Deep Bottom. I have done my best to transcribe this article faithfully, but there were words and passages I simply cannot make out.  If you can help on a few of the missing words, please Contact Us.]

THE [1ST] ROCKBRIDGE [VIRGINIA] BATTERY.

CAMP NEAR DEEP BOTTOM, July 28, 1864.

To the Editor of the Examiner:

Under the head of “THE WAR NEWS” your issue of today notices the capture of the First Rockbridge battery, which occurred on yesterday [July 27, 1864].  In referring to the fact that no loss was sustained beyond that of the guns, you say it may be readily explained, “if the accounts that reach us of the rapidity with which our men ran be true.”  From this I infer that the report of the affair made no difference between the conduct of the artillerists and the conduct of their support, but represented both as having been disgraceful in the face of the enemy.  If this is so the accounts which have reached you are not true, and my job is to correct them.¹  Let me premise by saying that this is the first time I have ever seen the First Rockbridge battery alluded to in the papers, except in the lists of casualties.  There it has figured conspicuously.  It has won a reputation in the army, though it may be little known elsewhere. Take Stonewall Jackson, not one of whose victories came without its help.  It has been content to do its duty, without a sensitive regard of the impression it made or the credit accorded to it.  But it will not boast on its behalf of a said indifference to unjust censure, and I hereby appeal to your sense of justice to correct your unintentional misrepresentation of our conduct of the occasion referred to above.  A simple statement of the facts will sustain my appeal.  It will not be necessary to go over fully into details as they would not throw any light on the conduct of the artillerists.  It will be enough to say that the battery, with a part of [Kershaw]’s division² as a support, was posted on a road running along the edge of a large bed of woods. In front lay a field, [half?] a mile wide, bounded on either side by woods and sloping abruptly at the edge two hundred yards from our position into a valley or ravine deep enough to conceal from the battery any movements which the enemy might make under its cover.  At the other end of the field, and on a hill opposite us, the enemy was [?] with infantry and artillery, the distance between us being about one thousand yards.  Between seven and eight o’ clock, on Wednesday morning [July 27, 1864] the enemy’s infantry³ (by whose fault I do not know) had gained a position on our left from which they opened an enfilade fire directly upon the road which we held.  Before they had fired five shots the infantry support on the left of our battery retreated in confusion across the road into the woods in their rear, thus leaving the battery unprotected.⁴  Captain [Archibald] Graham⁵ at once ordered the guns to be wheeled to the left so as to sweep the road, but the latter was so narrow that only two guns could be brought to bear on the enemy.  A few rounds of canister checked their advance effectually.  While this [was?] doing that portion of our infantry which was on the right of the battery⁶ had formed a [zig-zag?], militia like line in the rear of our guns, with part of the line resting on the road and the rest bearing off at an obtuse angle into the woods.  But before order could be restored, or anything like a line of battle could be formed, a small body of the enemy which had deployed in the ravine mentioned above, appeared on the brow of the hill in our original front, and advanced upon the battery.⁷  Our supply of canister being small, as is always the case with heavy rifled guns, had run short, but the guns were turned to the right again and fire withheld until the enemy were within fifty yards.  Our infantry in the meantime, did not fire a shot, and seeing that it was meaningless to attempt to hold on, we abandoned our pieces and sought the cover of the woods.  The conduct of our support can be better explained by one in the infantry than by myself.  Such, [then?], was the part which this battery took in the affair.  I have only to [?] application which Captain Graham made in the field, to be [?]. [?] in retaking the battery was refused.  No effort to retake it was made by the infantry, who fell back when we ceased firing.⁸

C[harles]. [J.] A[rmistead].⁹,¹⁰

SOPO Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Jackie Martin.

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From the 45th Pennsylvania Regiment.

___

CAMP IN THE FIELD,
(Near Petersburg, Va.,) June 20, 1864.

Friend Cobb:—The plans of our Generals and the consequent movements of our armies, not only puzzle and keep in painful suspense the public mind, but often bewilder and astonish the army itself.  The private soldier, and even all but the commanding Generals, know but little of the movements of the army of which we form a part, more than what passes under our own observation.  A good soldier should obey orders, as they are issued, and not enquire into the expediency or propriety of what he is told to do.

On the evening of the 12^th inst. [June 12, 1864], while quietly resting in our pits, in front of the enemy, near Cold Harbor, we received the order, which every old soldier has learned to dread, to “pack up.”  Not until the head of our column was directed from the enemy, did we believe that we were not about to make a night attack.—Silently and quickly the main body of our corps withdrew from before the enemy’s works—a heavy skirmish line covering our movements.  A rapid all night’s march of about 15 miles, brought us in sight of the Chickahominy river [on June 13, 1864].  After halting a few hours, to cook coffee and get a few moments of rest, we resumed our march, shaping our course southward, and nearly parallel with that of the river.  At one a.m., on the 14^th [of June 1864], we bivouacked near Jones’ bridge.  During the forenoon of the same day we crossed the Chickahominy.

During the afternoon we crossed the peninsula, and at 10 p.m., encamped within two miles of James river.¹

On the 15^th [of June, 1864], we were allowed to rest until 9 p.m., when, having drawn rations, the 9^th corps marched to the river, and crossed on pontoons, between the hours of 11 and 12 p.m.—A forced march of about 25 miles brought us before the enemy’s works around Petersburg, at 4 p.m., on the 16^th [of June, 1864].  We found the 18^th [XVIII/AotJ] and 2d corps [II/AotP] already in position.²

Shortly before dark [on June 16] our forces attacked and turned the enemy’s right.³  Firing was kept up all night [of June 16-17, 1864], during which our corps was constantly marching and countermarching to get in position for the [June 17] morning assault.

At daybreak on the morning of the 17^th, the 9^th corps [IX/AotP] charged on and carried the Rebs first line of entrenchments—a strong position, defended by artillery.  Several hundred prisoners were captured, besides five pieces of artillery, which the Rebels abandoned without having time to spike them.  Our brigade [1/2/IX/AotP] participated in the charge, and was hotly engaged.  Our loss was very slight, considering what was accomplished.  The casualties in our regiment were few—none in Co. G.⁴  Skirmishing was kept up all day; the Rebels, under Beauregard, presenting a bold front, though driven from their works.

On the morning of the 18^th [of June, 1864], the 5^th corps [V/AotP] having come up, a general advance was made all along the line.  The Rebels had retired during the night, but our skirmishers soon found them about half a mile ahead.  During the afternoon we made several charges, driving them about a mile, within their second line of works around the city.  As we advanced on a double quick, a perfect shower of bullets was poured into our ranks from the enemy’s pits.  Colonel [John I.] Curtin [of the 45th Pennsylvania], while leading our brigade through the hottest of the fire, was struck in the shoulder by a Minnie ball, inflicting a serious but not dangerous wound.  Corporal Charles H. Millday, of Co. G, was badly wounded; a Minnie ball, entering his right arm, passed clean thru’ his side and knapsack.  The casualties in the 45^th [Pennsylvania] were 3 killed and 18 wounded.  We are losing men every day from the fire of the enemy’s sharpshooters.  Our regiment has now but 260 men fit for duty.⁵

The steeples of Petersburg are plainly seen in front of us, while the shrill note of the whistle, as the cars run to and from the town, remind us that we have something to do, ere the enemy’s communications are severed.  The enemy, here, has not the advantage over us which the impenetrable forests and mountain fastnesses of the “Wilderness,” Spottsylvania, and other chosen rebel positions in northern Virginia, afforded him.  The ground being favorable for the use of artillery, our superiority in that important branch of warfare is being surely felt by the Rebels.  The city is at the mercy of our guns, and can be shelled to pieces whenever our artillery opens on it.

The Appomattox [River] is in the enemy’s possession.  Our army is fast concentrating here and closing in around the city; and as Lee’s forces are also gathering for its defence, a desperate struggle will doubtless take place for its possession, ere many days.  The Rebels still fight stubbornly, but are evidently getting disheartened, and give themselves up as prisoners at every opportunity.

In this they have the advantage over us;—when they get in a tight place, they can throw down their arms and surrender themselves, with the assurance that decent treatment awaits them.  With us it is different.  The dread of being cast into some Southern dungeon, there to starve and perish by degrees, in filth and torture, is enough to make one fight to the last for his life, rather than capitulate to Southern chivalry.

Since joining the army of the Potomac, I have learned a few facts which, though often mentioned, will probably bear repetition by an eye witness.  The boasted Rebel army, though composed of the flower of the Southern soldiers, is no better to stand fire than that composed of our Northern boys.  The men, though brave and determined, are as much afraid of bullets as we are.  It is the impetuosity of their leaders, and not the superiority of the men, that has given them success.  Their dashing charges and demoniacal yells have lost their terror, and are no longer irresistible.  During the present campaign, they have almost universally been repulsed and driven back with slaughter, in their assaults on our works, while, when we have attacked them, with any thing like an equal chance, we have been successful.  It is their bullets, and not their yells, which after all are nothing but “mouthsfull of spoken wind,” that we fear.

Much has been said and written about the ignorance of the Southern soldier, which as a general thing, is true; but I have seen enough to convince any one that there are many intelligent minds in the rebel ranks.  There seem to be two extremes; those who are educated at all, are good scholars, while those whose education has been neglected, are very illiterate, the large majority of them not being able to sign their names, or even read print.  General Lee’s army is composed almost exclusively of vigorous, active and well fed men.  On enquiring of a Rebel captured at Spottsylvania, how much pay they got per month, he answered that they got eleven dollars, and that it took ten dollars to get a plug of tobacco, leaving them one dollar to “spree it on,” which would not get them a drink of whiskey.  Many of them do not call for their pay at all.

During our march from Cold Harbor, we passed through the most beautiful and fertile part of Virginia I have yet seen.  Large fields of waving gran, (wheat and oats,) nearly ready for the sickle; immense plantations, made beautiful by the luxuriant crops of green corn with which they are covered ; thick, shady groves, of beautiful pine, oak and cedar; orchards, laden with all kinds of fruit,–remind us, that unless we overrun the South with our armies, the rebellion can still live on the production of its own soil; and that Virginia, in parts where our army has not extensively penetrated, is neither desolated nor entirely robbed of its former splendor.

As our columns advance, the growing crops are mercilessly trodden down, and much other valuable property destroyed, or put to use by the soldiers, despite the guards which some of our Generals insist on placing over secesh property.  Early fruit, such as cherries, mulberries, &C., are fully ripe.  Apples, peaches and pears are plentiful, and growing finely.  Grass is a good crop, and makes excellent feed for our beef cattle.

As the season advances the weather grows warmer, making marching and manoeuvering, or fighting in the open fields, when the sun is up, very exhausting and laborious to the troops.  The roads are generally good, but very dusty.  We have hitherto been confined to rations of hard bread and beef only, which, during forced marches and night work generally, is not sufficient to satisfy the demands of exhausted nature.  There are plenty of rations in Washington, and except in extreme cases, nothing but willul neglect on the part of our Commissaries, prevents us from getting what is due us.  Today we got half a gill of whiskey to a man, which I understand is to form a part of our daily ration.

Sergeant [James E.] Catlin, of Co. I, has been promoted to the 2d Lieutenancy of that company [on June 21, 1864], vice [DeWitt C.] Hoig, deceased [at Cold Harbor on June 6, 1864]⁶.  Our division [2/IX/AotP] is now resting in reserve.  We shall probably be called out tonight [June 20, 1864] to relive troops at the front.

But it is night, and I must close.

Very respectfully,

VETERAN⁷,⁸

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Letters from VETERAN in the Tioga County Agitator:

• NP: June 29, 1864 The Tioga County Agitator (Wellsboro, PA): The 45th PA Moves on Petersburg, June 12-20, 1864
• NP: July 27, 1864 The Tioga County Agitator (Wellsboro, PA): The 45th PA at Petersburg, Early July 1864

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SOPO Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Dan Eyde.

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