that he had taken Columbia, S. C. Cheers resounded from fort to fort, and the rebel pickets being also desirous of learning the news, our men in the picket line told them, but not a cheer was heard from their side.

The next day another dispatch told us that Charleston, the hot-bed of the Rebellion, and the birth-place of this war, had succumbed to the onward and irresistible march of our brave comrades in Sherman's army. A salute from one of the large forts in our rear greeted its reception, and our hearts were cheered as we thus saw the Confederacy crumbling to pieces.

On the 22d and 23d, appearances in our front indicated. an attack. Lines of rebels marched and counter-marched. Their works were crowded with them. Their pickets relieved two or three times a day, and they seemed to be massing troops to break through our lines at this point, and during these two nights, our works were manned all night, and every preparation made to give them a hot reception. In that portion of the fort occupied by the Seventh and Forty-fifth regiments, there was a cistern or well dug, which supplied the cooks with water. One morning this well was found dry. What could have caused it? Nothing but a hole underneath it. The rebels were mining Fort Hell, and were almost ready to blow us up, as we had them last July. It was quickly reported at headquarters. Officers were sent over here to investigate. They had holes dug in the ditch outside the fort, and tried in various ways to reach the mine.

At 3 o'clock, each morning, the whole garrison was aroused, and fell in line at the breast-works, keeping the centre of the fort, where the mine was supposed to be, as clear of troops as possible, and ready to resist an assault if they completed their scheme of giving us a bird's-eye view of Petersburg and its surroundings. After two or three

days' investigation, it was reported that the rebels had really undermined us, but from the excess of water which flooded their mine, and which they could not pump out fast enough, they were obliged to suspend operations, and another illustration of the effect of powder and fuse was happily avoided.

On the 24th, another dispatch from Sherman informed us that Wilmington, N. C., was captured, and in honor thereof, a shotted salute, was ordered to be fired from our front line of works, each gun in battery firing one round, commencing on the extreme right. The rebels had a bright idea. They could tell by this the number of guns in each of our forts, but our artillery-men played a Yankee trick upon them. The pieces that fired first on the right flank of each fort were run over to the left flank, and fired again in their turn, so that a four gun battery could fire six shots, from as many different embrasures; and they must have thought we had an awful amount of artillery in position. One or two of their batteries replied, but not to any great extent.

Something was wrong again inside the rebel line. From being crowded to excess, as in the last few days, they were now at the other extreme, and scarcely any troops could be seen. For the last few days, they had hardly honored us with a shot. We had an idea that they were drawing their troops away from here, in order to pounce upon Sherman, and our batteries were ordered to open a heavy fire upon them. The bombardment began at half past three in the afternoon, and lasted till sunset, but failed to draw a response from them with the exception of one or two mortars.

The next morning, February 26th, a thick fog settled over both lines. We could neither see the rebel lines, nor yet hear a sound from them. The air was still as Sun

day morning in summer at home. It was rather suspicious, and our general thought best to feel them a little.

We were ordered to "fall in in light marching order," and were soon in line, stacked arms, and broke ranks, with orders to stay by, ready to advance across the line at a moment's notice. We hung around our breast-works, and watched and waited for the next move.

But about 9 o'clock the fog lifted its thick curtain, and revealed to us the rebel line as thick with troops as ever, and in position, as if expecting us to make a morning call. What a hornet's nest we should have got into if we had gone over in the fog! Of course, the idea was now abandoned and our orders countermanded.

Thus watching, waiting, ever on the alert, we passed the month of February, knowing that but a short time must. elapse before one side or the other must make a break. There must be one more grand struggle before many days, and the result could not be doubted. Though many a poor fellow would be laid low, yet by their sacrifice the victory would be won, and the Confederacy sunk into oblivion.

March, 1865.

CHAPTER XXV.

THE BEGINNING OF THE END.

T

HE month of March opened quietly with us and continued so until the evening of the 13th. About

8 P. M., of that day, a large flock of wild geese passed over our lines, and it being quite dark they flew very low and made considerable noise. Upon hearing them, the pickets of both sides opened fire upon them over their heads, bringing down a number, some of which fell within the rebel lines. The rebels yelled with joy, and, excited to find such a heaven sent addition to their scanty rations, poured volley after volley in the direction of the poor geese. But this continued fire and yelling alarmed. our whole line. Those in camp hurried on their equipments and rallied at the breast-works. The batteries were doubleshotted, and lively times were anticipated that night. The paymaster, who happened to be in Fort Hell engaged in distributing greenbacks to us, shut and locked his treasurechest, and made quick time to the rear. But as soon as the firing lulled down and the real cause of it became known, the excitement died away, and the troops returned to their quarters. But this event serves to show how quick an unusual fire of the pickets will bring the whole line to their guns, ready for action.

For several days following, the Johnnies appeared very active in our front, showing themselves in great numbers on top of their works, marching and counter-marching, forming lines of battle as if for an assault, relieving their pickets three or four times in a day, and various other movements, probably intended to deceive us as to their real object or numbers.

About noon of the 15th their works were so crowded and their manoeuvres so threatening that orders were received to "fall in" in fighting trim, stack arms, and be prepared to move at a moment's notice, "where circumstances might direct." We spent the rest of the day watching the active movements of the rebels over the way, expecting to see them jump their works and advance in line of battle upon us, and ready to give them "Hail Columbia" if they should. But night came without the expected attack.

On the 21st, by way of a reminder that they were still at home to visitors, they gave us a severe shower of shells, which lasted over three hours, and resulted in the loss of a few men in each of our regiments in the fort. Lieutenant Costello, of our company, was knocked over by the concussion of a shell and slightly wounded.

At half past four, on the morning of the 24th, we were awakened by the report of a heavy gun on our right, and immediately we were up and in arms. The pickets in front, along the whole line, rattled away furiously for a few minutes, but the artillery held its fire, as it was soon discovered that the assault was farther down on our right.

The rebels, taking advantage of the fact that many of their number were entering our lines nightly as deserters, tried to play a genuine Yankee trick upon us.

On the night of the 23d, General Gordon's (rebel) corps was massed in rear of their picket lines directly opposite Fort Steadman. Soon after midnight they began sending