her, while Laws, holding
the chord of the circle, could re-enforce any part of his line in a few
hours. Laws could not by any possibility stretch his line much farther,
while Silent was steadily acquiring more ground.

"The greatest consternation now prevailed in the city of Richmond. Its
evacuation was seriously contemplated. The publication of the newspapers
was suspended, and the printers were called out to defend the city. Some
of the city police fell into our hands. Offices and shops were closed.
The church bells sounded the alarm. Guards were sent into the streets to
impress every able-bodied man. Members of the Government were sent into
the trenches, and all between the ages of fifteen and fifty-five were
ordered under arms. Laws stubbornly held his position. He could plainly
see that Silent was determined to fight it out and settle the contest
in and about Richmond, without being driven or drawn away, unless some
alarm at Washington should cause a change of his campaign.

"After many movements, counter-movements, and much fighting, of all
which I cannot speak in this narrative, Laws concluded to set Ewelling
at the work of threatening our Capital. He crossed the Potomac and
turned and threatened Washington, expecting Silent's army to be at once
ordered to its defense; but this made no impression on Silent. He sent
Wight's Corps to meet Ewelling and to follow him, which was done, and
the danger to our Capital passed. Ewelling struck for the Valley of the
Shannon, passed into Maryland and the border of Pennsylvania, levying
contributions as he marched through towns and country, returning with
much booty to the valley mentioned, joining Dawn. In the meantime Wight
was following him. Sherlin was sent to take command of these forces.
He fell upon Ewelling and Dawn, and almost annihilated their commands,
driving what was left of them entirely out of that part of the country,
and making such a desolation that another movement in that direction by
the rebels would be wholly impracticable. Leaving a sufficient force
to prevent any further movement, he returned to the army near Richmond,
destroying railroads, canals, and in fact nearly all the enemy's lines
of communication of any advantage to him.

"In the meantime an attempt was made by our forces in front of
Petersville to mine and blow up some of the enemy's main forts. The main
sap was run some 500 feet, until it was under a fort on Cemetery Hill.
Wings were constr