Southern Historical Society Papers Volumes 34 35 PDF Download

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1905 edition. Excerpt: ... as though there were no enemy there. The slaughter "'85 terrible. _ "Our brigade fsallhdfirs') is highly complimented in the mornmg papers, both in Petersburg and Richmond, "I will write you all the particulars as soon as I have time. "General Grant mined our works and blew a fort up. and in the C0I1fl1$10n captured it, but it was a dear business for him. "Our entire loss, 800 men; their loss (5,000) five thousand. I have never seen such slaughter since the war commenced. "I will write more. "Your affectionate husband, "J. C. FEATHERSTON." UNITED STATES Cmusrmn COMMISSION, 500 H. STREET, Wnsnmorou, D. C. Camp Ninth Alabama Regiment, near Petersburg, Aug. 2, I864. "llly Dear l/Vi/"e.---I wrote you a note yesterday while in our recaptured fortifications, informing you that I was not killed in our desperate fight on Saturday, the 30th ultimo, but gave you very little news otherwise. You must excuse its brevity, for considering the circumstances, I think I did well to write at all. The enemy's line was only about seventy-five yards from ours, and we were shooting at each other at every opportunity, and the sand was flying over everything, and the general noise and confusion incident on such occasions will tender to keep me from writing more. = == On the morning of the 30th, about an hour before day, we received orders to leave our camp and move up to our place in the breastworl-ts (which was about one hundred yards distant), and to be prepared for an attack. Nothing unusual occurred. The skirmishing was about as usual, and so was the cannonading, until just about 5 A. M. The earth seemed to tremble, and the next instant there came a report that seemed to deafen all nature....