Winfield S. Hancock to Birney, June 16, 1864

June 16, 1864—12.25 a. m. General GIBBON and General BIRNEY:

GENERAL: If there are any points in your front commanding your position now occupied by the enemy the major-general commanding directs that they be taken at or before daylight, preferably before, as it is desirable to prevent the enemy from holding any points between us and the Appomattox. It is thought there are one or two such points. General Barlow willsoon be up, and will mass in rear of General Gibbon’s left. i tie dent :

é ral, very respectfu our obedient servant, Ben, Senge eta ta W. G. MITCHELL, Major and Aide-de-Camp.

Delivered the above to General Gibbon about 1 a.m. General Birney also received a copy by the hands of a staff officer. Night cold. At daybreak rode around the lines with the general. Met Captain Marlin, of General Barlow’s staff, who reported that General Barlow’s division had arrived on the field. General Barlow took the wrong road yesterday, and marched nearly to City Point before the mistake was discovered. Barlow’s division placed on left of Birney, extending out in direction of Norfolk road. About 8 a. m. Birney advanced a brigade and drove the enemy back some distance in front and to left of Dunn’s house. Lee’s army coming up rapidly and occupying the works in our front. Sharp skirmishing all day. 6 p.m., Generals Barlow and Birney assaulted enemy’s lines, but did not succeed in breaking through. Barlow and Birney, supported by portions of Ninth and Highteenth Corps, two brigades of each. Two brigades of Eighteenth Corps and one brigade of Ninth Corps sent to General Birney; one brigade of Ninth Corps sent to General Barlow. Fighting continued at intervals all night. Our loss heavy in killed and wounded. General Burnside’s corps (Ninth), fighting on our left. Enemy threw an immense number ot shot and shell during the night.

June 17, 1864.—General Burnside attacked at daybreak on General Barlow’s left, capturing some artillery and prisoners. No assaults made by Second Corps to-day. Enemy made several attacks on General Birney’s line, not in great force, however, and were always repulsed. About 3 p.m. General Burnside again attacked on our left, but was compelled to retire. Barlow also engaged in this attack.

June 18, 1864.—General Birney in command of Second Corps, General Hancock being compelled to relinquish command on account of his wound which he received at Gettysburg. His wound has been suppurating all summer, and giving him great pain, and now compels him to remain in his tent. 4 a.m., an attack ordered by Second, Ninth, and Fifth Corps. Shortly after 4 a. m. General Birney advanced, and at 5 a.m. sent word to General Hancock that he had entered the enemy’s first line of works and found it evacuated. 12.15, General Gibbon assaulted in two lines, but did not succeed in carrying the works. 4 p.m., another assault by nine brigades, which did not succeed. Our loss very heavy in killed and wounded to-day.

June 19, 1864.—General Birney in command of the corps. No operations of importance on the line of second Corps to-day. Both armies busily engaged intrenching. The enemy already have very powerful redoubts and rifle-pits (curtains) encircling Petersburg on this side of the river, either flank of those resting on the Appomattox, which appear to have been constructed some time since, in anticipation of an advance of our army in that direction.

June 20, 1864.—The musketry and artillery quite brisk in the trenches, but no assaults on the Second Corps line. Orders received for corps to move in direction of Norfolk and Petersburg road. Relieved in the trenches by other troops, and then moved to rear of Ninth Corps, where the pe was massed. General Hancock still unable to resume command.

June 21, 1864.—Corps moved to-day toward Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, crossing that railroad near Deserted House, and striking Jerusalem plank road near Williams’ house, then took position on left of Fifth Corps, about two miles from Weldon railroad. Corps headquarters established just in front of Jones’ house, near Jerusalem plank road. General Birney in command of corps.

June 22, 1864.—General Birney commanding corps. Major-General Meade, commanding Army of the Potomac, at corps headquarters in forenoon. Comparatively little firing until about 3 o’clock this p. m., when left of Second Corps was thrown forward, intending to connect with right of Sixth Corps, but such connection was not made; after having advanced some distance toward Weldon railroad, Barlow’s division (left of corps) was attacked on its left flank by the enemy, who had pushed in between it and Sixth Corps, the country being densely wooded, and thrown into great confusion, losing considerable in prisoners captured by the enemy. Barlow’s troops retired to the line held by them before advancing. The enemy then came forward on Gibbon’s and Mott’s fronts (Second and Third Divisions), and captured 4 guns, McKnight’s battery. Enemy finally repulsed and line re-established; skirmishing continued until dark. During the attack the enemy was at one time very close to corps headquarters, and their bullets struck among our tents. They also sent a great many round shot through our camp, one of them cutting a canteen from the side of a mounted orderly of Doctor Dougherty, medical director of the corps. General Meade present during the attack. Skirmishing continued until dark.

June 23, 1864.—General Birney still in command on account of General Hancock’s wounds unfitting him for duty. Second Corps’ line connected with Sixth Corps’ line on our left. Headquarters established at Jones’ house near Jerusalem plank road; some skirmishing and artillery. Troops engaged in throwing up rifle-pits.

June 24, 1864.—No movement of importance by Second Corps. Some skirmishing on our front and enemy threw a number of shot in our direction, but did no damage. General Birney still in command.

June 25, 1864.—Same as yesterday; no movements.

June 26, 1864.—Same as yesterday.

June 27, 1864.—No movements of moment on Second Corps line today. General Hancock sufficiently recovered to resume command of the corps at 7 p. m.

June 28, 1864.—No movement by the corps to-day. Our line now connects with left of Crawford’s division, Fifth Corps. General Meade visited corps’ headquarters to-day.

June 29, 1864.—Sixth Corps moved from left of Second toward Reams’ Station, on Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad.* General Gibbon occupied intrenchments vacated by Sixth Corps toward the Williams house. Lieutenant-Colonel Jones reported to General Hancock from army headquarters with detachment of cavalry 1,000 strong; took position in intrenchments between Williams’ house and Jerusalem plank road.

June 380, 1864.—Sixth Corps at Reams’ Station; General Ferrero reported to General Hancock with division of colored troops (Ninth Corps), and took position in intrenchments from General Gibbon’s left, near Williams’ house, to Jerusalem plank road. General Gibbon moved to-night and increased the strength of his line.

July 1, 1864.—Nothing of importance. The usual picket and artillery firing making some casualties.

July 2, 1864.—Sixth Corps returned from Reams’ Station and took post again on left of Gibbon’s division in front of Williams’ house, covering Jerusalem plank road.

July 3, 1864.—No movements of any importance. AI at work in the trenches. ;

July 4, 1864.—This is our National anniversary and we are having a more deadly struggle to-day for our national existence than our fore-

* Reams’ Station is on the Petersburg and Weldon Railroad, fathers had during the Revolution. Alas, that our present enemies should be our brothers, descendants of the men who resisted nobly the tyranny of England. f

July 5,6, 7, and 8, 1864,—Comparatively quiet, and very hot and dusty. The customary picket and artillery firing still goes on, with mortar shelling as an accompaniment. The shells from the mortars look very beautiful at night as they describe long ares with burning fuses, passing from our lines to the enemy’s and from their position into our works, each one leaving a streaming tail of fire behind it. Sometimes we count as many as thirty of them in the air at the same time. Our menare protected from them and from other heavy missiles by strong bomb-proofs, so that we do not lose many killed or wounded by them. We have now immense earth-works with bomb-proofs, covered ways, &c., extending for many miles, crossing the Appomattox and James Rivers on our right and stretching away toward the South Side Railroad on our left. The enemy’s works are equally extended and formidable, and we now appear to have settled down to a siege of each other’s positions. The redoubts are immense on our line and all connected by curtains forinfantry. There is a vast armament of artillery on both sides, which thunders away with noise enough to frighten the world, but does very little execution among the men. The fatigue is terrible to the men who are digging in the works, making new redoubts, curtains, covered ways, &c. Whole divisions of 10,000 men are detailed for fatigue duty at the same time. The works will soon form such a labyrinth that none but those who are in them daily will be able to find the way to front or when there to get out again.

July 9, 1864.—First and Second Divisions, Sixth Corps, moved from our left toward City Point. Second Corps occupied the line vacated by them, our line extending on the left nearly to Williams’ house. Mott’s brigade, Third Division, on left of General Gibbon, Second Division. General Ferrero’s division (colored troops) taking position on left of Mott’s brigade, extending over Jerusalem plank road.

July 10, 1864.—No important movements this day by the Second

July 11, 1864.—Orders received to move out of our rifle-pits to-night, to destroy the works in vicinity of Williams’ house, and to mass corps in vicinity of said house.

July 12, 1864.—Corps moved out at 3 o’clock this a. m. and massed in neighborhood of Williams’ house. Destroyed works in compliance with orders. 5.15 a. m., General Barlow ordered to move his division to cross-roads, four miles down Jerusalem plank road, in support of Gregg’s cavalry, which is farther out. General Gregg (D. McM.) placed under General Hancock’s orders temporarily. General Barlow afterward withdrawn to same position he held in the morning. 9.45 p. m., General Hancock received telegram from army headquarters directing him to move into position in rear of Fifth Corps, which is in front line of intrenchments; Second Corps took up position accordingly on right and left of Norfolk road, near Deserted House, and also near Southall house.

July 13, 1864.—Corps in reserve, having taken position in rear of Fifth Corps; headquarters established at Deserted House, which is literally riddled with shot and shell from the enemy’s lines.

July 14, 1864.—About the usual firing in front to-day. Two divisions of the corps detailed for fatigue duty on the line of the Fifth Corps making covered ways,

July 15, 1864.—Quiet save the customary artillery and musketry in the trenches. First and Second Divisions, Second Corps, on fatigue duty destroying old works of the rebels near the Avery house.

é ou 16, 1864.—Quiet as usual this day. No movements. Hot and usty.

July 17, 1864.—No movements by Second Corps this day. Deserters from the enemy report that the enemy intend attacking us to-morrow morning. Corps consequently ordered under arms, to be ready at 3 a.m. to-morrow. Headquarters to be packed at same hour.

July 18, 1864.—No movements this day. No attack from enemy as deserters reported there would be.

July 19, 1864.—Quiet on our line save customary artillery and musketry in the trenches.

July 20, 1864.—Same as yesterday ; no movements.

July 21, 1864.—Accompanied General Hancock, with other members of his staff, to headquarters of General Grant, at City Point; also to General Butler’s headquarters, at Bermuda Hundred. Back same evening to our own headquarters ; a long ride ; hot and dusty.

July 22, 1864.—Gibbon’s division relieved Ferrero’s division of colored troops in front line of works, Gibbon’s left resting on Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad. General Birney relinquished command of the Third Division, Second Corps, to-day and took command of the Tenth Army Corps.

July 23, 1864.—Pierce’s brigade, Third Division, Second Corps, took post on left of Gibbon’s division in front line of works. General Birney gave up Third Division to-day to take command of Tenth Corps.

July 24, 1864.—No movement by Second Corps to-day. Usual firing in intrenchments. Hot.

July 25, 1864.—Same as yesterday. Hot.

July 26, 1864.—Early this a. m. I was directed by General Hancock to proceed across the Appomattox at Bermuda Hundred, visit General Butler’s headquarters, and thence go on to pontoon bridge across James River at Jones’ Neck, so as to be familiar with the road from headquarters Second Corps to that point, then to return in the evening and guide the column on its march to-night to the bridge across the James at Jones’ Neck. Returned to corps headquarters early in the afternoon, and at 4 p. m. corps marched in direction of bridge across Appomattox at Point of Rocks, keeping well back of our lines, so as to prevent the column being observed by the enemy from their position. 9.30 p. m., head of column arrived at pontoon bridge over Appomattox; crossed immediately and continued the march on Bermuda Hundred in direction of pontoon bridge on the James River at Jones’ Neck; Barlow’s division in advance. Midnight, the troops on the march between General Butler’s headquarters and Jones’ Neck. a tee:

July 27, 1864.—2. 45 a, m., head of column, Barlow’s division, reached lower pontoon bridge at Jones’ Neck. The whole corps immediately crossed, the last regiment getting over at 6.30 a, m., General Sheridan’s cavalry following close in rear of Second Corps. Strewed the bridge thickly with hay to prevent the enemy from hearing the tramp of the horses’ feet. Infantry at once took position, and throwing skirmishers in direction of Bailey’s Creek, advanced upon the enemy’s first line of works over an open field. The works ran along the edge of a wooded crest covering New Market and Malvern Hill road. Mott had the right of our line, Barlow the center, Gibbon the left. 6.15 a. m., skirmishers dashing up the slope sharply engaged with the enemy; line of battle following them closely. 6.30 a. m., our whole line dashed into the works

21 R R—VOL XL, PT I and scattered the enemy in all directions, Miles’ brigade, Barlow’s division, capturing four 20-pounder Parrott guns; but few killed or wounded on either side. 6. 35 a.m., General Hancock wrote to General Humphreys, chief of staff, Army of the Potomac, that we had captured four guns and that he was pressing forward after the enemy. 7.20 a. m., enemy opened battery on our extreme right, which our guns at once silenced. One brigade of Mott’s division advanced to attempt capture of that battery and had a sharp fight, but enemy succeeded in getting their guns off. 7.25 a. m., dispatch sent by General Hancock to General Humphreys, chief of staff, Army of the Potomac, stating that enemy had opened battery on our extreme right, and that a brigade of {Mott’s] division was advancing to assailit. Also stating that as all chances for surprising the enemy had passed it was a question whether General Sheridan’s cavalry should attempt to break through the enemy’s lines for the purpose of making a raid as had been contemplated, or whether the cavalry should wait until the infantry advanced farther. 7.30 a. m., enemy gone at all points from their first line of works, and our troops occupying them. All firing ceased. Our whole line now advanced to Potteries, near Bailey’s Creek, on New Market and Malvern Hill road, on the left, and to New Market and Long Bridgeroad on the right. From this position we discovered the enemy in a second line of heavy intrenchments along the crest of Spring Hill, apparently extending for a great distance to our right and left. Bailey’s Creek and its valley lying between our lines, some firing in the valley between our skirmishers and the enemy’s; the cavalry holding the right of our line, under General Sheridan. Enemy’s works in our front covering New Market and Darby or Central roads. Our gun-boats lying in James River shelled enemy’s works, throwing their immense shot and shell over our heads. Wecould see them plow up the ground in their works and could also see the “‘rebs” flying from them in all directions for shelter. Sharp skirmishing all day. The general, Miller, and myself came near getting hit to-day by enemy’s skirmishers, who were concealed in a wood near which we rode to enable the general to see more closely the enemy’s line. We rode into a thicket after they had several deliberate shots at us without hitting any of us or either of our horses. 5 p.m., General Barlow advanced one regiment, Twenty-sixth Michigan, across New Market and Long Bridge road where Central road leaves it and pushed up toward Jennings’ house on Spring Hill. The regiment became sharply engaged, and having developed the enemy’s position was withdrawn by General Barlow in person. At night-fall the corps held the following position: First Division on right following direction of New Market road; Mott’s division in center facing Bailey’s Creek; General Gibbon holding Potteries, on our left, to a point where Bailey’s Creek becomes an impassable swamp. The prisoners captured to-day tell us that they belong to Kershaw’s division.

July 28, 1864.—5 a. m., troops in same position as last night. At this hour Captain Sweet, of General Birney’s staff, reported to General Hancock with Birge’s brigade, Tenth [Nineteenth] Corps, said to have 2,600 meninit. General H. ordered this brigade to relieve General Gibbon on our front lines at the Potteries, which was accomplished at 6.30 a.m. Gibbon’s division then massed in rear of our line in reserve. 10.50 a. m., a staff officer from General Sheridan reported to General Hancock that the enemy were moving on his (Sheridan’s) command near Ruffin’s house. General Gibbon immediately ordered to the support of General Sheridan. Before General Gibbon could get up, however, General Sheridan had defeated the enemy, driven him off the field, captured 3 colors and several hundred prisoners, killing and-wounding a large number. ’11 a. m., wrote a note, by direction of General Hancock, to Brigadier-General Foster (Army of the James), whose command was on our left next the river, that the enemy was attacking General Sheridan and advising General Foster to make a demonstration on his front. Mott’s division ordered to leave its present line and form in captured intrenchments on right of Birge’s brigade, Tenth [ Nineteenth] Corps, along New Market and Malvern Hill road. General Gibbon also withdrawn from New Market and Long Bridge road and formed on Mott’s right, extending his line across open plain in rear and throwing upintrenchments. Barlow withdrawn to same line about dusk. 5p.m., Generals Grant and Meade visited General Hancock. Fire of gun-boat Mendota, Commander Nichols, very effective to-day, nearly every shell alighting in the enemy’s works, and as they are 15-inch shell they make the “Johnnies” skip around amazingly. 8 p. m., General Mott’s division commenced recrossing the James at pontoon at Jones’ Neck, having been ordered to march across the Appomattox and report to General Ord (Eighteenth Corps) in front of Petersburg. Quiet on our line at dark.

July 29, 1864.—Position of troops as follows this morning: General Gibbon on the right of infantry from New Market and Malvern Hill road across plain; cavalry on Gibbon’s right to James River. First Division, General Miles in command, from *’ gate posts” on New Market road (Malvern Hill), connecting with Gibbon’s left, to edge of wood near the Potteries, holding the rifle-pits. Brigadier-General Birge’s command (Tenth [Nineteenth] Corps) on left of First Division, extending to Bailey’s Creek, extreme left resting at a point where that creek becomes an impassable swamp. General Gibbon’s troops throwing up rifle-pits, artillery in position on plain in front of the bridge-head and along our line of battle. Our picket-line extends from left of Birge’s brigade across fields infront of Potteries to New Market and Long Bridge road, thence to junction of New Market and Central roads, thence refused to the right and connecting with cavalry pickets. 5.30 p.m., a staff officer reported to General Hancock that enemy was advancing with dismounted cavalry in front of our pickets on New Market road near Ruffin’s house. Generals Miles and Gibbon ordered to look after this matter. The advance of the enemy was weak and easily repulsed. Orders received to recross James River to-night and march to position in rear of Eighteenth Corps, which is in intrenchments in front of Petersburg. Accordingly, when it grew dark, the troops commenced recrossing the James at Jones’ Neck. 11.15 p. m., both divisions, First and Second, are across the James. Mott’s division crossed yesterday. Troops marched all night to assume position supporting Eighteenth Corps in front of Petersburg.

July 30, 1864.—4.45 a. m., at this hour the head of our column had arrived nearly in rear of the Highteenth Corps, and we witnessed the explosion of an immense mine under one of the enemy’s redoubts. This mine has been under way for a long time and was most successfully run, notwithstanding the fact that the enemy was aware from deserters and other sources that we were mining their lines at some point. A very large quantity of powder, 10,000 pounds, I believe, was placed in the chambers of the mine, which were directly under a redoubt heavily garrisoned with troops and artillery. The earth was thrown to a great height, and seemed, from where we stood, to rise in the air like an enormous whirlwind. The whole redoubt must have been torn to pieces and many men killed. Immediately all of our artillery opened, and I have scarcely ever heard a more crashing roar of big guns; very soon the little valley along which the intrenchments ran was covered the mine was run, and was to make the assault upon the enemy’s line as soon as it was sprung, the Highteenth Corps in support and two divisions of our corps in reserve, for which purpose we had marched all of last night. We occupied the high ground immediately in rear of the mine, and therefore had ‘an excellent view of the fight. Mott’s division is in the intrenchments, having relieved the Highteenth Corps there to enable it to form part of the assaulting force after the mine was exploded. General Burnside had a division of colored troops in his corps which had been but little, if any, under musketry fire, and determined to make the assault with that division. As soon as the explosion took place an advance was made, but it is said in very bad order, the troops being poorly formed and worse led by some of the higher officers. They rushed in as far as the crater of the mine and there huddled up in great confusion. The enemy’s old troops soon recovered from the scare and disorder of the explosion and rushed upon the negroes in the crater, killing hundreds of them. No regular line or column was or could be advanced; in short, great stupidity of all kinds is said to have prevailed in the whole matter, and the day is one of the most disgraceful failures of the war. Of course some gallant spirits did their duty, as is always the case, and many lost their lives in trying for a great victory, but those whose duty it was to have done a great deal seem to have failed miserably. It was certainly an inexcusable blunder to make the assault with the green troops of the colored division, and yet, from all accounts, they would have done well had they been properly put in and led; as It is they were simply butchered; Fredericksburg over again from the same inefficient head. Eight hundred of the enemy are stated to have been killed by the explosion alone. The heavy fighting ceased by 10 a. m., our troops having extricated themselves from the enemy’s lines by that hour.

At dark the Second Corps moved to same position held by it before we marched to Deep Bottom on the 26th of July. Headquarters again established at Deserted House.

July 31, 1864.—Quiet this day, save the artillery and musketry in the trenches. Exceedingly hot and dusty.*

GENERAL vk ae HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, No. 25. July 31, 1864.

The major-general commanding desires to express to the troops his gratification with their conduct during the late movement across the James River. While all the troops who kept their ranks (he regrets to say there were many who did not) and sustained the arduous marches are deserving of praise, the following organizations seem to merit particular mention: The Fifth New Hampshire, Twenty-eighth Massachusetts, One hundred and eighty-third Pennsylvania, and Twenty-sixth Michigan Volunteers, under Colonel Lynch, One hundred and eightythird Pennsylvania Volunteers, all from General Miles’ brigade, constituting part of the skirmish line of General Barlow’s division, for their gallantry in the capture of the enemy’s battery on the morning of the

* For continuation of memoranda, see Vol. XLII, Part I.

27th; and the skirmish line of General De Trobriand’s brigade, General Mott’s division, particularly the Ninety-ninth and One hundred and tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, for good conduct and bravery in their severe action on the right of the battery; and the Twenty-sixth Michigan Volunteers, for gallantry in the reconnaissance of the 28th. The spirit exhibited by the command shows that they are determined to maintain the high reputation they have heretofore acquired. The major-general commanding will not be unmindful of the services of individual officers or soldiers or organizations, and will reward them to the extent of his power.

By order of Major-General Hancock: