Unknown to George G. Meade, June 28, 1864

GENERAL: The communication of General Hancock [June 26], inclosing a newspaper article and asking for an investigation of the conduct of the Second Corps and its commander, in the affair of the 15th instant, with your indorsement, is received. No investigation can now be had without great prejudice to the service, nor do I think an investigation necessary at any time. The reputation of the Second Corps and its commander is so high, both with the public and in the army, that an investigation could not add to it. It cannot be tarnished by newspaper articles or scribblers. No official dispatch has ever been sent from these headquarters which, by any construction, could cast blame on the Second Corps or its commander for the part they have played in this campaign. Iam very much mistaken if you were not informed of the contemplated movement against Petersburg as soon as J returned to Wilcox’s Landing from Bermuda Hundred, and that the object of getting the Second Corps up without waiting for the supply train to come up to issue rations to them, was that they might be on hand if required. I arranged to have rations sent down from Bermuda Hundred to issue as the troops crossed. Finding they did not arrive I then directed that the corps should march without them, and arranged that the rations should be sent in wagons from Bermuda Hundred to meet them on the road. This is not said in any spirit of fault-finding for any delay, for there was no fault to be found in what was done either by the Second Corps, its commander, or the commander of the Army of the Potomac. The only delay that I know of was an hour or two arising from the report that the provisions which had been ordered down by water had arrived, and details from the different divisions that had already crossed had come to the river to draw them. This was after the order had been given to march without them, but I believe before the troops had received the order.*

* Original is in General Grant’s handwriting unsigned, and filed with General Hancock’s letter of June 26, 1864. It does not appear in Letters Sent Books, headquarters Armies of the United States, or in the Letters Received Books, headquarters Army of the Potomac.

Copy of daily memoranda* taken at headquarters of the Second Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, during the campaign commencing May 3, 1864, with copies of messages, dispatches, &c. The Army of the Potomac commanded by Lieut. Gen. U. S. Grant in person, Major-General Meade second in command.

Major and Aide-de-Camp to Major-General Hancock.

June 12, 1864.—Orders received this p.m. to be ready to march tonight, which is very agreeable to all of us, as there seems to be no hope of breaking the enemy’s lines here, they are so strong and powerfully garrisoned. 11 p. m., the movement of Second Corps commenced, First Division taking the lead, moving in direction of Long Bridge, over the Chickahominy. Withdrawal from our lines effected very quietly and promptly. The pickets to remain on our lines, under command of Colonel Hammell, Sixty-sixth New York Volunteers, officer of the day, until the line of battle is completely withdrawn, then to follow the corps. Major Nelson, aide-de-camp, directed by the general to remain with Colonel Hammell. Marched all night—men and officers very weary. ;

June 13, 1864.—Head of column reached pontoon bridge over Chickahominy at Long Bridge at 9.30 a. m., and immediately commenced crossing, General. Birney in advance, having been directed to pass First and Second Divisions to permit them to cook breakfast. 11a. m., wrote note, by direction of General Hancock, to General Gibbon to protect pontoon bridge over Chickahominy until it was taken up. Marched rapidly all day. Head of column reached James River, near Wilcox’s Landing, at 5.30 p.m. Corps formed line of battle for the night. Preparations making for transporting the troops over the James to-morrow.

June 14, 1864.—11.10 a. m., Birney’s troops commenced moving on board the transports and crossing James River, disembarking at WindMill Point and at upper landing. Crossing of troops (infantry and artillery) continued all day and night, Gibbon’s division following, Birney’s and Barlow’s following Gibbon’s. Considering the facilities at hand the troops have been transported across the stream with remarkable promptitude and success.

June 15, 1864….5 a, m., the last regiment of the corps has just been landed on the south side of the James. The whole corps now ready to move when ordered. We remained from 5 a. m. until 10.30 a. m. waiting for the arrival of 60,000 rations of the corps which General Butler was to send from City Point. Orders received in the mean time to march toward Petersburg after we had received rations. As norations arrived the head of the column (General Birney’s division) moved out in direction of Petersburg at 10.30 a. m., or rather in the direction of Harrison’s Creek, near Petersburg. A map which was furnished General Hancock to march by found to be exceedingly defective. Day intensely hot and roads dusty; the men suffering terribly for water during the march, many of them giving out along the road. Had a row with a straggler from one of the heavy artillery regiments, whom I found in a deserted house deliberately engaged in a library (upstairs) tearing up the books and throwing them on the floor. I struck him with my saber and ordered him to his regiment, when he seized his musket from a corner of the room, bayonet fixed, and plunged right at me. I knocked his

“For portion of memoranda (here omitted) covering operations from May 3 to June 11, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 350.

musket to one side and gave him a slash over the head with my saber, opening his head and knocking him clear down a flight of stairs, musket and all, and before I could get down to him he scrambled up and made off toward the column, and I could not overtake him. These straggling scoundrels, murderers, and pillagers should all be shot or hung by the provost-marshal. 5.25 p. m., General Hancock received dispatch from General Grant addressed to him (General Hancock) or to General Gibbon, commanding Second Division, stating that General Smith had carried the outer works of the enemy in front of Petersburg, and directed General Hancock to proceed to assistance of General Smith as rapidly as possible. 5.50 p. m., General Hancock received dispatch from General Smith (William F.), by the hands of Captain Livermore, saying that he (General Smith) was authorized by General Grant to call upon the Second Corps for assistance, and requesting General Hancock to move up as rapidly as possible. We were already marching with the utmost expedition. We could now hear the artillery at Petersburg and the men stepped out briskly. 6.30. p. m., General Birney’s division arrived at Bryant’s house, on Bailey’s Creek, in front of Petersburg, near Hinks’ division, Eighteenth Corps, Gibbon’s division immediately in rear of Birney’s. Rode forward with General Hancock to where Generals Smith and Brooks were; found they had captured a portion of the enemy’s line of works with 17 pieces of artillery. None of Lee’s army in the works yet (so it is said); they were defended by citizens and local troops around Petersburg. As soon as General Hancock met General Smith he told him that Birney’s and Gibbon’s divisions, of the Second Corps, were at his service for any place he wished them; stating at the same time that he made the offer of the troops in question for the reason that it was now getting dark and he could not well see the position of the lines, and that General Smith having been on the ground all day knew just what was required to be done. General Smith replied that all he wished General Hancock to do was to relieve his troops of the Eighteenth Corps from their position in the captured works. General Hancock, General Smith, and General Brooks then rode out to the captured works with their staff officers. On the way General Hancock directed me to return to Bryant’s house and bring up Gibbon’s division to the works; a staff cfficer also sent to General Birney with same instructions. Returned immediately to General Gibbon with General Hancock’s orders, who at once put his troops in motion and moved up to the designated point, occupying the works, his right resting in the captured redoubt on the crest, on left of the Friend house; his left connecting with General Birnev’s division, which also came up at the Dunn house. Both divisions in position in works at11.30 p.m. 12 midnight, Barlow’s division not yet up. Evidently has taken the wrong road and ot lost.

R June 16, 1864.—12.25 a. m., by direction of General Hancock I wrote the following instructions to Generals Birney and Gibbon: