Camp before Petersburg, March 25th, 1865.
One more “battle fought and victory won” for right and freedom. Never was an attack made under more favorable circumstances for the Rebels; never was repulse more complete.
The excitement and expectancy of the last two weeks had entirely died away. Sutlers had returned, and only yesterday General Wilcox’s Headquarters was enlivened by the presence of ladies.
This morning I was awakened, about daylight, by a single cannon. Soon a well-known sound struck my ear; a sound that instantly aroused all my faculties. Often had I heard it; at South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg, at Cold Harbor, in the Wilderness and at Petersburg.
No, I cannot be mistaken; it is the Rebel “battle cry.” They are charging our works! But I hear no answering shout; no rattling musketry! It cannot be! They have heard good news, or are having a big drunk.
These are some of the thoughts that flashed through my mind as I listened to those fearful yells; more hideous, far, than tongue can tell or pen describe.
I was not long left in doubt. “Fall in, Seventeenth, with guns and equipments,” was the order that passed from tent to tent.
Then I knew that work was to be done. The Rebels had played a “Yankee trick” on our pickets by sending out a small force in advance, which, by pretending to desert, threw them off their guard until near enough to force them to surrender. Thus an opening was made through which they advanced on Fort Steadman, taking the garrison completely by surprise, most of whom they captured. Then they swept down the line, driving the Third Brigade from their works and taking possession.
Thus matters stood at daylight. Fort Steadman in their possession, their skirmishers advancing, supported by three brigades of infantry. When the Seventeenth formed in front of General Wilcox’s Headquarters, the Rebel skirmishers were within one hundred rods of them, evidently bent on paying their respects to the General.
Thinking their presence might be intrusive, at this early hour, our boys charged them, as only the Seventeenth can charge, and drove them back upon their main body, taking about thirty prisoners. By this time the Third Division of the Ninth Corps, held in reserve, had formed in front of the gap and checked their further advance. The Seventeenth formed on the right of the Third Division, and when the final charge was made for the recovery of the lost works, charged with them and held a position in the line until 1 o’clock in the afternoon, when they were relieved.
In this last charge one man of Company G was killed, and Captain Sudborough was wounded in the right side and arm.
At 2 o’clock we had recovered every foot of lost ground, and were as firmly established as before. I have heard, as yet, no estimate of our loss, or of the Rebels, except in prisoners. We took between three and four thousand prisoners, which is more men than we had engaged.
I feel a little curiosity as to the coloring correspondents will give this affair. Will they acknowledge it a surprise? The commander of the fort was taken in bed; also most of the garrison. After it was discovered, it was superbly managed, and Lee’s desperate attempt to join his forces with Johnson’s was rendered abortive.
