Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 23.djvu/200

 194 Southern Historical Society Papers.

being in a ditch a few feet from the line, General Martin had a visit from a General Smith, an engineer officer, serving with the Com- mander-in-chief, General R. E. Lee. Old army soldiers, they greeted each other familiarly as "Smith" and "Martin." In my presence General Smith said: " Martin, I come to you with a mes- sage from General Lee, who desires me to say that he regrets that his duties prevent his calling on you in person to say that he is glad to hear you have come to -his army. He directs me to come, not through your major-general, but directly to you, to say that he is deeply concerned about this point in the line occupied by your brigade, which he considers the key to his position. He believes that Grant is massing his army in your front, preparing to make an attack to carry this point if possible. I am ordered to place eighteen - inch siege-guns in your works, and strengthen them in every way pos- sible, and you must assist me in doing so. And further, as yours is comparatively a new brigade, not having seen much hard field ser- vice, he desires you to* candidly let him know whether you can rely upon your men in case of such a powerful assault. If not, he will relieve your command, and send here another (veteran troops), as he wishes to take no risk whatever at this point."

I well remember General Martin's very earnest reply: "Smith, say to General Lee, with my compliments, that my men are soldiers, and he has no brigade in his army that will hold this place any longer than they will. I know them, and do not fear their giving way. But tell him further that, in my judgment, he is mistaken. Grant is withdrawing his army from our front and going to City Point, and General Lee should at once return Hoke's Division to General Beauregard for the defense of Petersburg. Grant is going to attack Richmond from the rear, as the Army of the Potomac should have done long ago."

General Smith replied: " No, Martin, our information is different, and General Lee expects another attack right here." So our com- mand went to work to strengthen the line and place abattis in front of it and prepare for the attack, which never came. History records that Beauregard was urging the War Department to send him Hoke's Division at that very time, and also begging General Lee for the same, as he looked for Grant to attack Petersburg. But we re- mained there several days until the enemy disappeared from our front, and then, after some hesitation, doubt and delay, we were suddenly hurried to Petersburg.

If Hancock had not been disabled by wounds from commanding