THE BATTLE OF THE PETERSBURG CRATER.

557

THE CONFEDERATE LINE AS RECONSTRUCTED AT THE CRATER. FROM A DRAWING MADEBY LIEUTENANT HENDERSON AFTER TIIE BATTLE.

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charge, and had they been supported, even at that late hour in the day, thereWould have been a possibility of success; but when they fell back and brokell p in disorder, it was the closing scene of the tragedy. The rout of the col-ored troops was followed up by a feeble attack from the enemy, more in theWay of a reconnoissance than a charge; but the attack was repulsed by thetroops in the crater and in the intrencliments connected therewith, and theConfederates retired.

It was now evident that the enemy did not fear a demonstration from anyother quarter, as they began to collect their troops for a decisive assault. Onobserving this I left the crater and reported to General Ledlie, whom I foundseated in a bomb-proof with General Ferrero, that some means ought to beRevised for withdrawing the mass of men from the crater without exposingthem to the terrific fire which was kept up by the enemy; that if someshovels and picks could be found, the men in an hour could open a coveredWay Py which they could be withdrawn; that the enemy was making everyPreparation for a determined assault on the crater, and, disorganized as thetroops were, they could make no permanent resistance. Not an implement of;) ny kind could be found; indeed, the proposition was received with disfavor,blatters remained in statu quo until about 2 p. m., when the enemy’s antici-pated assault was made.

About 9:30 a. m. General Meade had given positive orders to have thetroops withdrawn from the crater. To have done so under the severe fire of

Seant, stripped to the waist — his coal-black skinfining like polished ebony in the strong sunlight.

he was passing up the slope to emerge on theenemy's gi^g 0 f crest he came across one ofUs own black fellows, who was lagging behindls company, evidently with the intention of re-gaining inside the crater, out of the way of the

bullets. He was accosted by the sergeant with

“None ob yo’d-n skulkin’, now,” with which

remark he seized the culprit with one hand, and,lifting him up in his powerful grasp by the waist-band of his trousers, carried him to the crest of thecrater, threw him over on the enemy’s side, andquickly followed.— W. H. P.