GENERAL GRANT ON THE SIEGE OF PETERSBURG.
577
trenched position, with the loss of four pieces ofartillery. [See map, p. 198.] On the 28th ourlines were extended from Deep Bottom to NewMarket road, hut in getting this position wereattacked by the enemy in heavy force. The fight-ing lasted for several hours, resulting in con-siderable loss to both sides. The first object ofthis move having failed, by reason of the verylarge force thrown there by the enemy, I deter-mined to take advantage of the diversion madeby assaulting Petersburg before he could get hisforce back there. One division of the Second CorpsWas withdrawn on the night of the 28th, andmoved during the night to the rear of the Eight-6 enth Corps, to relieve that corps in the line, that itmight be foot-loose in the assault to be made. Theother two divisions of the Second Corps and Sheri-dan’s cavalry were crossed over on the night of the29th and moved in front of Petersburg. On themorning of the 30th, between 4 and 5 o’clock,the mine was sprung, blowing up a battery andmost of a regiment, and the advance of the as-saulting column, formed of the Ninth Corps, im-mediately took possession of the crater made by theexplosion, and the line for some distance to ther ight and left of it, and a detached line in front ofrt, but for some cause failed to advance promptlyto the ridge beyond. [Seep. 540, etseq.~\ Had theydone this, I have every reason to believe thatPetersburg would have fallen. Other troops wereimmediately pushed forward, but the time con-sumed in getting them up enabled the enemy torally from his surprise (which had been complete)and get forces to this point for its defense. The°aptured line thus held being untenable, and of noadvantage to us, the troops were withdrawn, but notwithout heavy loss. Thus terminated in disasterWhat promised to be the most successful assault ofthe campaign. . . .
Reports from various sources led me to believethat the enemy had detached three divisions fromPetersburg to reenforce Early in the ShenandoahMalley. [See pp. 500 and 522.] I therefore sentthe Second Corps and Gregg's division of cavalry, ofthe Army of the Potomac, and a force of GeneralSutler’s army, on the night of the 13th of August,to threaten Eiehmond from the north side of theJames, to prevent him from sending troops away,an d, if possible, to draw back those sent. [See map,P-198.] In this move we captured six pieces ofartillery and several hundred prisoners, detainedtroops that were under marching orders, andascertained that but one division (Kershaw’s) ofthe three reputed detached had gone.
The enemy having withdrawn heavily from Pe-tersburg to resist this movement, the Fifth Corps,general Warren commanding, was moved out onthe 18th, and took possession of the Weldon Eail-road. [See p. 568.] During the day he had con-siderable fighting. To regain possession of the road
. ^ The assault on Port Gilmer was made by General
delbert Ames’s division, and Brigadier-General Wili-am Birney’s colored brigade of the Tenth Corps.—
wmtors.
G The assaults on Fort Harrison were made by the
rigades of Clingman, Colguitt, Law, G. T. Anderson,
the enemy made repeated and desperate assaults,but was each time repulsed with great loss. Onthe night of the 20th the troops on the north sideof the James were withdrawn, and Hancock andGregg returned to the front at Petersburg. Onthe 25th the Second Corps and Gregg’s division ofcavalry, while at Eeams’s Station destroying therailroad, were attacked, and after desperate fight-ing a part of our line gave way and five pieces ofartillery fell into the hands of the enemy. [See p.571.]
By the 12th of September a branch railroadwas completed from the City Point and Peters-
UNION RAILROAD BATTERY, PETERSBURG,l iaUl A PHOTOGRAPH.
burg Eailroad to the Weldon Eailroad, enablingus to supply, without difficulty, in all weather, thearmy in front of Petersburg. [See map, p. 538.]The extension of our lines across the WeldonEailroad compelled the enemy to so extend histhat it seemed he could have but few troops northof the James for the defense of Eiehmond. Onthe night of the 28th the Tenth Corps, Major-Gen-eral [D. B.] Birney, and the Eighteenth Corps,Major-General [E. O.. C.] Ord commanding, of Gen-eral Butler’s army, were crossed to the north sideof the James, and advanced on the morning of the29th, carrying the very strong fortifications and in-trenchments below Chaffin’s Farm, known as FortHarrison, capturing fifteen pieces of artillery andthe New Market road and intrenchments. Thissuccess was followed up by a gallant assault uponFort Gilmer, j immediately in front of the ChaffinFarm fortifications, in which we were repulsedwith heavy loss. [See map, p. 198.] Kautz’s cav-alry was pushed forward on the road to the rightof this, supported by infantry, and reached theenemy’s inner line, but was unable to get farther.The position captured from the enemy was sothreatening to Eiehmond that I determined to holdit. The enemy made several desperate attemptsto dislodge us, all of which were unsuccessful, andfor which he paid dearly.On the morning of the30th [of September] General Meade sent out a
and Bratton, under General E. H. Anderson, command-ing Longstreet’s corps. The Confederate loss in killedand wounded was about two thousand. General GeorgeJ. Stannard, commander of the Union troops at FortHarrison, lost his arm, and General Hiram Burnham, abrigade commander, was killed.— Editors.