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Southern Historical Society Papers.
Vol.
VI. Richmond, Va., November, 1878. no. 5.
Detailed Minutiae of soldier life.
Paper no. 5--improvised infantry — to Appomattox Courthouse.
Sunday, April 2d, 1865, found
Cutshaw's battalion of artillery occupying the earthworks at
Fort Clifton, on the
Appomattox, about two miles below
Petersburg, Virginia.
The command was composed of the Second company Richmond Howitzers,
Captain Lorraine F. Jones,
Garber's battery,
Fry's battery and remnants of five other batteries (saved from the
battle of Spotsylvania Courthouse, May 12, 1864), and had present for duty nearly five hundred men, with a total muster roll, including the men in prison, of one thousand and eighty.
The place — the old “Clifton house” --was well fortified, and had the additional protection of the river along the entire front of perhaps a mile.
The works extended from the
Appomattox on the right to
Swift creek on the left.
There were some guns of heavy calibre, mounted and ready for action, and in addition to these some field-pieces disposed along the line at suitable points.
The enemy had formidable works opposite, but had not used
