From the Richmond Enquirer, 5/13/1864
THE CITY.
The sound of heavy guns in the direction of Drewry’s Bluff
waked up the suburban population at an early hour yesterday morning, but as the
day advanced, the reverberations, whether in the din of the city, or from the
cessation of firing, was unknown, were lost to the ear, leaving the material for
many magnificent conjectures. The rumbling of government wagons monopolized the
privilege of making a noise during the day, nearly all other vehicles having
been withdrawn from the thoroughfares of business and mercantile operations in a
great measure suspended. The militia and other local troops were doing their
duty faithfully, at their respective posts, and the few persons who appeared on
the streets, were either the aged and infirm, or those whose presence in the
city was necessary to the public good. The forenoon passed away with scarcely a
rumor, with the exception of some little corner confabulation and exaggeration
about the raid on the Central Railroad, and when evening came, such was the
scarcity of reports," hardly a whisper of war reached the ears of the quid-nuncs,
and the city looked as serene as a desert. The two points of leading interest
were, of course Fredericksburg and Drewry’s Bluff. The heavy firing heard in the
direction of Petersburg, on Monday evening, was explained by a despatch from
General Bushrod Johnston, announcing the disabling of a gunboat in the
Appomattox, by our troops at Fort Clifton, about three miles below Petersburg,
its destruction by the enemy to prevent its falling into our hands, and the
retirement of the other gunboats engaged in the attack from the conflict. The
rumored fighting behind Drewry’s Bluff on Monday turned out, as we anticipated,
in slight skirmishing, and a few shots of artillery, on the left of one of the
fortifications, lasting
only a short time.
THE WOUNDED FROM
LEE'S ARMY.
The number of wounded from Gen. Lee’s army, received in
Richmond up to this time, from the several late battles near Fredericksburg,
exceeds one thousand. Most of the remained have been sent to Charlottesville and
Lynchburg, or are attended temporarily in the field hospitals. The distribution
of the wounded who arrive in Richmond is as follows: The wounded are first
received at Seabrook’s Hospital for distribution. All from Maryland, Virginia,
Kentucky, Tennessee and Missouri are sent to Chimborazo; those from Alabama,
Mississippi, Florida, Texas and Arkansas are sent to Howard Grove; those from
South Carolina and Georgia are sent to Jackson Hospital; North Carolinians are
sent to Camp Winder. The only State hospital is that for Louisiana, at the
Baptist College, near Camp Lee. All officers are sent to the Baptist Institute
Hospital, on 10th, between Marshall and Clay streets, but have the privilege of
going to the hospital containing divisions for their respective States. The
Robinson Hospital, supported jointly by the Confederate Government and private
contribution, is situated on the corner of 3d and Main streets, and contains
patients from various States. Nearly all of the wounded from the recent fights
who have arrived here are only slightly injured, and many of them will be able
to rejoin their commands before the campaign is over.
The following note is from yesterday’s morning hospital
report: Total number of commissioned officers, wounded, arrived and sent to
Officer’s Hospital, Baptist Institute (general hospital No. 4) 124. Total number
of privates and non-commissioned officers arrived, 1080. Of these 978 were sent
to the Receiving and Distributing Hospital, (general hospital No. 9,) and thence
transferred to the hospitals for States, as above. The remaining 104 being badly
wounded were sent direct from the trains to the respective hospitals for States
so as to avoid a second removal.
THE RAID ON BEAVER
DAM STATION.
The Fredericksburg train arriving at eight o’clock
yesterday morning brought down the wounded, seven in number, belonging to Col.
Bradley T. Johnston’s command, who fell in engaging the enemy in his raid upon
Beaver Dam Station Monday evening. We learn from one of the number that the
enemy, about two thousand strong, consisting entirely of cavalry, charged upon
the station at about half-past seven o, and captured and burned two trains and
two locomotives, together with a large quantity of bacon intended for Gen. Lee’s
army. The enemy were prevented by the battalion from making further progress
during the night....
Page
last updated on
07/24/2009
|
