Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Jackie Martin.
FROM PETERSBURG.
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The Petersburg papers of yesterday report nothing new in the situation of affairs. The enemy keeps up his shelling as usual. On Sunday night [September 4, 1864] it was furious. This elicited a response from our guns, and they opened rapidly from Fort Mahone on our right to the Appomattox on our left. The bombardment was terrifick, and the cannonading was heard to a great distance in the country. Many citizens could not resist the belief that a general engagement was pending and quickly hurried into the streets. At one o’ clock, however, the sound of the last gun ceased, and all was again quiet on the lines. A Petersburg paper of yesterday thus speculates on the situation:
It is not at all improbable, we think, that the next fight with this army may be for the possession of the Southside railroad. Grant is evidently greatly chagrined that Sherman has gained a little more glory than himself so far. He confidently expected to outstrip all competitors in this campaign, and to think that Sherman has thrown him completely in the shade, is indeed a bitter pill to swallow. The enemy evidently has a hankering after the Southside railroad, but is afraid to venture after the sad experiences to which he has been recently subjected. He is dashing about, and bobbing in and bobbing out, to find the weak places in our lines, but this he will find is a useless undertaking.1
Source:
- “From Petersburg.” Richmond Examiner. September 5, 1864, p. 1 col. 4 ↩