NP: June 20, 1864 Raleigh Confederate: Fort Clifton, June 5 and 9

Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Brett Schulte.

FORT CLIFTON, NEAR PETERSBURG Va.
June 14th, 1864.

Editors Confederate:–Presuming you would would [sic] not be averse to hear what has transpired at this point recently, (being the key to Petersburg) you will please give this space in your most excellent paper. Fort Clifton is situated between Swift Creek and the Appomattox river, on the north bank of the latter, about four miles from the city of Petersburg, and is under the immediate command of Lieut. Col. Guion of the 10th N. C. T., and has, suffice it to say, a force and armament adequate to the task of vindicating every trust reposed in them. Up to the 5th inst., nothing transpired to disturb the quietude of the garrison, consisting of North Carolinians, Georgians and Virginians. On that day the enemy, probably to ascertain the weight of our metal, opened on us with hundred pound shell, from their gunboats; but after fifteen shots from us, he no doubt being convinced of the actual weight of our metal, drew off without having inflicted a scratch of injury to any one here. Again on the 9th inst., they opened on us from a land battery about two thousand yards distant on the other side of the river and from their gunboats. We replied slowly and deliberately. The fight lasted from 8 o’clock, a. m., till sun-down. The enemy fired with remarkable precision–throwing, out of four hundred shots, over two hundred in, and in the dangerous proximity to, the Fort, yet strange to announce, to wound slightly only one man of the 64th Georgia. The accidental bursting of one of the guns manned by a detachment of the 34th Virginia, swelled our casualties to the aggregate of four men slightly wounded. We could not ascertain the damage inflicted on the enemy, yet I do not suppose it could have been less, or as small as ours.

The enemy seem quite active at present, and indicate an early development of their intentions. They have erected near Port Walthal Landing a Lookout, towering above the highest tree tops, from which our works can be seen, and our position and force approximated, yet with all their ingenuity and yankee humbugism, whenever they choose to leave their works and give us a call, they will find southerners ready to sacrifice their lives in defence of that freedom bequeathed to us by the blood of our forefathers.

I will let you hear from me again, whenever there occurs any-thing that would interest your readers.

Most respectfully,
Co. H, 10th N. C. Troops.¹

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