gotten almost to a run.  All the regiments stood the great strain without flinching, with the exception of the Twentieth.  The “Old Twentieth Army Corps,” as that regiment was now called, could not stand what the old veterans did, and fell by the way side.  It was not for want of patriotism or courage, but simply a want of seasoning.  Fully half of the “Corps” fell out.  When we reached Petersburg, about sunrise, we found only Wise’s Brigade and several regiments of old men and boys, hastily gotten together to defend their city, until the regulars came up.  They had been fighting in the ranks, these gray-beards and half-grown boys, for three days, and to their credit be it said, “they weathered the storm” like their kinsmen in Wise’s Brigade, and showed as much courage and endurance as the best of veterans.  On the streets were ladies of every walk in life, some waving banners and handkerchiefs, some clapping their hands and giving words of cheer as the soldiers came by with their swinging step, their clothes looking as if they had just swum the river.  Were the ladies refugeeing—­getting out of harm’s way?  Not a bit of it.  They looked equally as determined and defiant as their brothers and fathers in ranks—­each and all seemed to envy the soldier his rifle.  If Richmond had become famous through the courage and loyalty of her daughters, Petersburg was equally entitled to share the glories of her older sister, Richmond.

Kershaw’s Brigade relieved that of General Wise, taking position on extreme right, resting its right on the Jerusalem plank road, and extending towards the left over the hill and across open fields.  Wise had some hastily constructed works, with rifle pits in front.  These later had to be relieved under a heavy fire from the enemy’s battle line.  As the other brigades of the division came up, they took position on the left.  Fields’ Division and R.H.  Anderson’s, now of this corps, did not come up for some hours yet.  General Anderson, in the absence of General Longstreet, commanded the corps as senior Major General.  Before our division lines were properly adjusted, Warren’s whole corps made a mad rush upon the works, now manned by a thin skirmish line, and seemed determined to drive us from our entrenchments by sheer weight of numbers.  But Kershaw displayed no inclination to yield, until the other portions of our corps came upon the field.  After some hours of stubborn fighting, and failing to dislodge us, the enemy withdrew to strengthen and straighten their lines and bring them more in harmony with ours.  About four o’clock in the afternoon Meade organized a strong column of assault, composed of the Second, Fifth, and the Ninth Army Corps, and commanded in person, holding one corps in reserve.  The artillery of the four corps was put in position, and a destructive fire was opened upon us by fifty pieces of the best field artillery.  The infantry then commenced the storming of our works, but Field’s Division had come up and was on the line.  General