Thomas Wright's Diary

The Breakout

March 1865, begins with Lincoln's second inauguration, the Confederate Army's morale is at an all time low. Inadequate supplies, knowledge of hardship back home, and impending fear of defeat are consuming the soldiers. Weakened by disease and desertion. General Lee had few options.

24, March 1865

Seems we gettin ready fer an attack, although we won't be participating in it. We were informed to watch fer a counter-attack on our line. Theo heard it be close ta sixty thousand men in on it. Think Grant may see an end ta this. Not sure, do know both Armies are about tired a this trench an wonderin ifin ya get your head blown off, from some sharpshooter. Gots a letter from Ma an Betsy, Uncle Thom he made it home. Thins are good Mister Bowman ain't been a bother, Joe's boys they still on the Farm, Uncle Thom well him an those boys gettin on fine.

Seems he been fixin up the barn an fence line around the farm. Betsy say, he seems happy. Ma waitin on the need ta roam ta kick in. She say Thom at least you are more like ya Poopy than Thom.
Ya have no need ta roam, best stay out harm's way. Heard about the fight where you are. It be late need ta check the men over, best close up.

26, March 1865

What a day, few skirmishes around us no big fight. Lee attacked us at Fort Stedman, near Grant's Head Quarters they a supply depot. Lee must be real short on them. Ta take a chance on it. Well they did manage ta break through. They was repulsed but good.
Captured near 2,000 men. Heard they looked beat an starved. Our Second an Sixth Corp's managed ta break through an capture some of they lines.

My thinkin is this be over soon, Lee is gettin desperate. My Companies spirits are up, they a thinkin the same this here War is about over! Just want this ta end, it is not fittin ta live this aways.
Only good thin least we been gettin fresh bread, near fresh not more than a day old. Better than hard tack I am tellin ya.

3, April 1865

Why we broke through! Bobby Lee is on the run! Petersburg an Richmond will be ours soon! It feels like a heavy burden has been pulled from my shoulders. The Fellas are ready ta take ta thum, get Ole Bobby Lee an his Army! Home can almost taste Ma an Betsy's cookin now, the smell of the farm. The fear worry gone, my boys home, with they family. We tired, but we out an we gonna get thum! Late evenin almost night, Richmond is ours. Theo came through an told all the Companies in the Regiment. After I had my fellas make ready, ta chase Ole Bobby Lee.

I must write this down, the fight we had must a been the most ferrous of any thus far. I know I have probably have say this before. We attacked Fort Gregg, they was only few hundred men ta defend it. They fought like they was the devil himself. We shouted several times, fer those fellas ta give up surrender. No it took the killin of almost all them fellas a defendin that fort.
It was bayonets sabers knives an even men fist fightin! I could hate those fellas, fer that. I can not, they were brave an stuck ta they beliefs. They is no glory in that, only they is honor ta do what you feel is right. Those fellas had honor, shame they honor was against us.

The few that lived, I seen ta it they got some water an some bread.
They ate like hungry dogs, that been with out real food fer days.
Out a about three hundred ta my count, only thirty fellas were a left alive. Pity honor brins so much death, glory is only in the papers and man's minds.

             Thomas and his men would have had to break through this.
             It is called chevaux-de-frise used like modern barbed wire.

                                   Fort Gregg & Fort Whitworth

These two forts were the holding action, so Lee and the Army of Northern Virginia, could retreat west and possibly join up with Johnston, in North Carolina. The forts Garrison was out numbered 10-1 they were to small a force to break up the attack, but the position was to fortified to just brute force in.

The Confederates had every other man firing while another reloaded a musket, that way the firing was non stop. Between the cannon and musket fire they held off the Union till the rest  could re-treat west. John Gordon launched a counter attack at Fort Mahone nearly driving the Union IX Corp, out of the fortifications.
Gordon was repulsed by reinforcements, was ready to counter-attack when he was ordered to withdraw with the rest of the Army of Northern Virginia.

Grant's Regiments to tired from the fight, were stopped into the evening. Grant formed his lines for the final assault, but Lee had managed to pull is Army out of Petersburg. During the night.

The fall of Petersburg then Richmond was the staggering blow to the head of Lee and his Army. The next blow that I consider the death blow, is the Battle of Sailors Creek, or Sayler Creek. With Lee on the run, the next Campaign is the final of the War it's called the Appomattox Campaign. The Battle of Sailor Creek is in that campaign. Fort Gregg did only have about 300 defenders with only 30 left standing after it was over. Considered one of the most deadly fighting during Lee's withdraw.

General Longstreet watched through his glasses as Gordon held out, then later he could see his old friend, the one he stood up for at his wedding in Saint Louis, Grant ride into view. This is the Irony of the War, most of the Commanding Officers knew each other either from West Point or the Mexican War. Most were as close as Grant and Longstreet were. Even if they weren't they had heard of one another. I think maybe at the beginning of the War, that was why they had some hesitation in giving hard chase, after they defeated an Army.
In the hopes of it ending with each early battle.

Within a week, Lee and his Army would surrender to Grant. The Start of The End For The Confederacy. Why did Lee, stay at Petersburg? Why didn't he do what he did best Maneuver his Army towards Johnston? Form up and carry on the War. Lee was best at turning a bad situation around other than Gettysburg he turned most of them around. Managed to move fight another day. In March before the Battle of Fort Stedman, Lee talked with his youngest General from Georgia, John Brown Gordon, commanding the Second Corp Army of Northern Virginia for his ideas on what to do.

The Confederacy had already faced the harsh reality of the War, they were losing, no hope of any peace those talks , were stopped. So in desperation and need, in March 1865 the Confederate Congress voted to allow Slaves to fight. Surprisingly most Commanders agreed to it. John Brown Gordon looked over the situation informed Lee of his thoughts placing the one most logical first. Lee had three options. He said make the best terms of surrender, that could be honorably obtained. Abandon Petersburg and Richmond force march to Johnston. Attack Sherman before he and Grant could combine.

This is why Lee, wouldn't leave, Jefferson Davis and the Congress refused to abandon the Capital in Richmond. Lee not wanting to abandon the Government stayed put. The politicians made the end come faster. Lee knew to just stand and do nothing his Army would continue to starve desert and die of disease. So he and Gordon planned the Battle of Fort Stedman. Hoping to get much-needed food and other supplies. Maybe even taking Grant's Head Quarters.

Thanks for your continued support.

I hope Thomas as grown and developed into a character you can love, and the story is still compelling.

I have tried to give a complete history, through one persons eyes and thoughts. I hope I've done a entertaining and historically accurate job. Please vote comment if you wish too.