Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 28.djvu/328

 Southern Ili^orn-al .Soc/V/// /'

said that Butler had intended to cross Swift Creek on the loth, and make a determined effort at the capture of Petersburg, but deceived by tidings from Washington, received on the night of the gth, that Lee was in full retreat before Grant, he determined to turn north and assist in the capture of Richmond. Instead, however, of pressing at once upon the latter place, with its meagre garrison, on the even- ing of the loth, he withdrew aside into his entrenchments at Ber- muda Hundred, leaving the road open for the transfer by the short- est route of the bulk of the troops now at Petersburg into the southern defences of the Confederate capital at Drewry's Bluff, and did not move upon the latter place until two days later, Beauregard, himself remaining at Petersburg for the further organization of his assembling force, promptly availed himself of the opportunity, and sent forward along the open pike a column under General Hoke, of six brigades of infantry, with eight batteries of artillery, in the after- noon of the i ith, which arrived and took position at Drewry's Bluff on the morning of the i2th. Soon after this force was in position at Drewry's, on the i2th, the enemy appeared, skirmishing com- menced, and was maintained, with more or less vigor, during that day and the next. Towards evening of the i3th, some advantage was obtained by the Federals on our right, and Hoke withdrew be- fore day on the I4th to our second, or interior line of defence.

DREWRY'S BLUFF AN ENTRENCHED CAMP.

The lines of Drewry's Bluff were in the nature of an entrenched camp. Starting at the bluff, they ran first south and then west- wardly, crossing the pike and reaching the Petersburg and Rich- mond railroad, then bending back they returned to the river James, about a mile and a half north of the bluff. From Fort Stephens a bastioned work on the lines east of the pike another line of slighter profile branched off in a curve still more to the southwest, forming an advanced line, with its left running Into Fort Stephens, and its right resting "in air" near the railroad. It was this last line that Hoke abandoned on the night of May i3th and i4th.

At 3 o'clock in the morning of the i4th General Beauregard ar- rived at Drewry's by a circuitous route from Petersburg, bringing with him two regiments about 1,200 men of Colquitt's Brigade, and Baker's Regiment of Cavalry. Before assuming command or seeing General Hoke, who expecting another attack from Butler, was then engaged along his lines, he met and held a conference with