Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 11.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

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[555] M. on the 4th. I was utterly broken down, and did not get up until several hours after our battalion had resumed its march, but as it was moving so slowly, I soon caught up with it. Crossed the Appomattox River at Mattoax Station, upon a railway bridge, a very dangerous experiment, as the bridge was in a horrible condition. Lee's army is evidently making for Danville, Va., via Burkeville Junction. Camped near Mattoax Station.

Wednesday, April 5th.—Marched all day and night; passed through Amelia Courthouse, and there found the enemy pressing us closely. A short distance in front of our battalion, beyond the Courthouse, a brigade of Federals dashed into our lines, but were driven off.

Thursday, April 6th.—The enemy have reached Burkeville Junction ahead of us, and we must take another direction, towards Lynchburg, I presume. The enemy, to-day, made a bold dash upon our column, at Deatonville, Amelia county; our guns were rapidly brought ‘into battery,’ and for a time we thought a heavy fight would take place. After a half hour's engagement we drove them off and resumed our march. Matters now began to assume a very serious aspect, and late in the afternoon a heavy fight occurred in our rear, in which we were most seriously worsted. The march now assumed every appearance of a rout. Soldiers from every command were straggling all over the country, and our once grand army was rapidly melting away. On every side the Federals were capturing our wagon trains, artillery, etc., and in the meantime picked up thousands of our men, who were too nearly starved to fight. Marched to the High Bridge, over the Appomattox, and reached that point late at night, remaining there until next morning, when we moved in the direction of Farmville.