expected to move from Fort Monroe on the same day that General Meade
moved from Culpepper. The exact time of course could not at that time be
designated; but, says General Grant: “It was my intention to fight Lee
between Culpepper and Richmond if he would stand. Should he, however,
fall back into Richmond, I would follow up and make a junction with his
(General Butler’s) army on the James river; that, could I be certain he
would be able to invest Richmond on the south side so as to have his
left resting on the James, above the city, I would form the junction
there; that circumstances might make this course advisable any how; that
he should use every exertion to secure a footing as far up the south
side of the river as he could, and as soon as possible after the receipt
of orders to move; that if he could not carry the city, he should at
least detain as large a force as possible.”
The military force under General Butler comprised the Eighteenth corps
under General W. F. Smith, and the Tenth corps, under General Q. A.
Gillmore. In order to mislead the enemy, these forces, on the 2d of May,
were massed at Yorktown and Gloucester as if designed for a movement up
the York river. At the same time a brigade under Colonel S. F. Alford,
Third New York, landed at West Point, up the York river, and commenced
building the wharves, &c. On the 4th of May orders to move were issued,
and the troops embarked on board the transports. After dark on the 4th
the vessels began to move down the York river, and up the James river,
preceded by three army gunboats under command of Brigadier-General
Graham; by the double-enders Eutaw, Mackinaw, and Osceola; four
monitors, the Tecumseh, Canonicus, Saugus, Onondaga, and the iron-clad
Atlanta, and by the smaller gunboats, Commodore Morris, Hunchback,
Commodore Jones, Dawn, Delaware, Putnam, and Sheshonee.
General Butler thus describes the result of his first movement, in a
dispatch to General Grant, from City Point:
“We have seized Wilson’s Wharf Landing. A brigade of Wild’s colored
troops are there. At Fort Powhatan Landing two regiments of the same
brigade have landed. At City Point, Hink’s division, with the remaining
troops and battery, have landed. The remainder of both the Eighteenth
and Tenth Army Corps are being landed at Bermuda Hundred, above the
Appomattox.
“No opposition experienced thus far. The movement was apparently a
complete surprise. Both army corps left Yorktown during last night. The
monitors are all over the bar at Harrison’s Landing and above City
Point. The operations of the fleet have been conducted to-day with
energy and success. Generals Smith and Gillmore are pushing the landing
of the men. General Graham with the army gunboats, led the advance
during the night, capturing the signal stations of the rebels.”
Simultaneous with the departure of the transports, in order to embarrass
the enemy, a party of nineteen hundred cavalry, led by Colonel West,
started from Williamsburgh, to proceed up the Peninsula by
land—supported by infantry—who drove the rebels before them, whenever
encountered. At the same time, also, another expedition, consisting of
the Eleventh Pennsylvania cavalry, Third New York cavalry, and First
Delaware cavalry, and led by General Kautz, started up the James river.
The design of this three-fold movement was to cut railroad
communications between Richmond and Petersburg, and between Petersburg
and Weldon, and thus to prevent reinforcements and supplies from coming
to Lee’s army. In this they were partially successful. Within twenty
hours after the transports sailed, the National forces were at City
Point, with not a rebel behind them. Colonel West was completely
successful in his Peninsula advance. On the 5th he dashed across the
Chickahominy, and attacked the camp of the Fourth Virginia cavalry, in
which thirty of the enemy were killed and wounded and thirty-five horses
captured.
General Kautz’s party, proceeding up the south bank of the James, as if
to cover the movement of the transports, wheeled off at Surrey
Court-House, on the road for Sussex Court-House. Thence they proceeded
to Hicksford, forty-five miles below Petersburg, where they cut the
Petersburg road by destroying the bridge over the Meherrin river.
Colonel Spear, with a detachment of Kautz’s cavalry, pushed on to
Jarrett’s Station, by the county road, where he destroyed the depot and
a quantity of grain and supplies, after having put to flight a body of
the enemy who opposed him.
Meantime General Kautz proceeded to Nottaway river, with the main body
of his command, where he encountered fifteen hundred of the enemy
entrenched in a square redoubt. After a spirited contest the rebels were
hemmed up in the fort by a portion of the Federal force, while the
remainder proceeded to destroy the public stores and burn the bridge.
After advancing to Sussex Court House, they encamped until Monday
following, the 8th, when they went on to Littleton, and taking the
Petersburg plank-road, they marched within seven miles of that place.
Reaching the Norfolk and Petersburg railroad, they burnt several bridges
and destroyed the telegraph and railroad, advancing thirteen miles on
that road. The next morning they returned to City Point. About three
hundred prisoners were captured on this expedition.
On the 7th of May five brigades, under General Brooks, advanced toward
the Petersburg and Richmond railroad, where they encountered a large
force of the enemy, and engaged them at intervals for six hours. The
railroad bridge across one of the tributaries of the Appomattox, seven
miles from Petersburg, was destroyed, when the troops were withdrawn to
their former position.
On the 9th there was a general advance of General Butler’s troops in the
same direction. The enemy were discovered near Bakeman’s Creek, where
severe skirmishing ensued, the brunt of which was borne by General
Heckman’s brigade. A furious charge of the rebels was met and bravely
repelled by the 27th Massachusetts. The rebel rifle-pits were finally
carried by a simultaneous charge of the brigade; but the Federal[ were
checked by a strong earthwork near Swift creek, that commanded the forks
of the road. General Terry with the right of the Union forces, destroyed
the railroad track about Chester Court House Junction, when the troops
were withdrawn. The Federal loss was about four hundred and fifty in
killed and wounded, principally in Heckman’s brigade. Many rebel
prisoners were taken, chiefly from South Carolina regiments. They were a
portion of Beauregard’s troops, who had just arrived in Virginia.
BATTLE AT FORT DARLING, VA.
MAY 12–16, 1864.
On the 12th of May, a heavy force under General Gilmore advanced up the
railroad toward Chester and Richmond, while a corresponding force, under
General Smith, proceeded up the Petersburg and Richmond road between
James river and the railroad. The object of this combined expedition was
to cover the movements of General Kautz’s cavalry, then operating on the
Nottaway river.
After a series of skirmishes throughout the day, General Smith’s troops
reached Proctor’s Run towards night, within three miles of Fort Darling.
Meantime General Gilmore’s troops on the left, had approached the
neighborhood of Half-way House, unopposed by the enemy, at which place
he baited his command for the night.
On the following morning the rebels were found to have withdrawn
themselves within an extensive range of earthworks, which constituted
the outer line of defences of Fort Darling. After consultation, General
Butler determined to dislodge them from their position by turning their
works on the left. While heavy skirmishing along the whole line was in
progress, the Union left was ordered to swing around upon the centre and
right, while a large body of troops advanced to turn the right flank of
the rebel works. The flanking column moved round stealthily through the
woods, slightly to the left, till they reached the outer edge of the
fortifications. Here, under cover, they charged up a steep hill, and
then across an open space, only twenty or thirty rods in width, in the
face of a destructive fire of musketry. Before the rebels could reload
the Federals troops had carried the position, capturing thirty of the
enemy. Their own loss was about one hundred and thirty.
The enemy abandoned the whole of the outer line on the next morning, and
withdrew to their second tier of works. The parapet of these outer
defences was in some places ten feet thick, having many embrasures for
artillery.
The Federal artillery was now brought to bear on the rebels in their new
position, and aided by the sharpshooters, the enemy’s batteries were
soon silenced, and the combat for the remainder of the day was confined
to the sharpshooters.
One of the magazines of Fort Darling exploded during the afternoon,
which was the occasion of much cheering in the Union lines. A night
attack was made on the Federals near the Petersburg turnpike, but being
on the alert, the enemy was repulsed without much difficulty.
At noon on the 15th, the rebels came out of their intrenchments in great
force, and attacked Heckman’s brigade. The combat was with musketry
alone, and lasted until four o’clock, when the enemy were discomfited,
and retired within their works.
At daylight on the 16th the rebels again hurled a strong force on the
weakest point of the Federal lines, upon Heckman’s brigade on the right
wing, the same troops who had suffered so heavily in previous contests.
Under cover of a dense fog the rebels bore down in overwhelming numbers,
and Heckman’s brave troops were compelled to yield their position.
Colonel Drake’s brigade was fortunately thrown forward at this juncture,
and for a time stayed the advancing enemy. Two brigades of Weitzel’s
division were also attacked at the same time, but repulsed the enemy
with great slaughter. Meantime, with courageous pertinacity, the rebels
attacked Terry’s division on the Union left, and two of the Union
brigades of that commander suffered heavy loss. General Gilmore was soon
compelled to yield his favorable position on the left, and the whole
Federal force was then withdrawn, without confusion or serious loss in
retreating.
An attempt of the enemy to get in the rear of the Union forces was
repulsed; but General Butler was compelled to cut new roads for the
retreat of his army, as the rebels held control, of both the roads by
which the Federals had advanced. General Butler was then compelled to
retire within his intrenchments between the forks of the James and
Appomattox rivers, at Bermuda Hundred, a strong position, in which he
was perfectly secure against the whole rebel army.
The total loss of the Federals in this battle was five thousand men,
mostly in prisoners.
* * * * *
On the 19th of May the rebels, under Beauregard, encouraged by their
successful resistance of Butler’s troops, resolved to attack that
officer in his intrenchments at Bermuda Hundred. After two assaults, in
which they met with only temporary success, the rebels retired with
severe loss. The loss of the Unionists was about three hundred.
The result of the line of strategy thus far adopted by General Butler in
this campaign did not meet with the approbation of General Grant, who
considered that a good opportunity to capture Petersburg, if not
Richmond, had been allowed to pass by, between the 6th and 13th of May,
before Beauregard could collect his dispersed forces in North and South
Carolina, and concentrate them in front of Butler’s forces, for the
defence of Petersburg.
That General was now in a position of great security, but completely
shut off from further operations against Richmond; and it required but a
comparatively small force of the enemy to hold him there, while a large
portion of the troops opposed to him were sent out to assist in opposing
the advance of General Grant’s army north of Richmond. To compensate for
this strengthening of Lee’s army, General Grant directed that General W.
F. Smith’s corps should join the Army of the Potomac.
ASSAULTS OF PETERSBURG, VA.
JUNE 8–18, 1864.
On the first occasion the city of Petersburg was actually in possession
of the Federal forces, but the failure of a prominent commander to
perceive and take advantage of the opportunity, was the cause of heavy
losses to the Federal army in after battles for the same object.
On the night of June 8, an expedition under General Gilmore was sent out
from Bermuda Hundred for the capture of Petersburg.
The cavalry force was under General Kautz, who carried the works on the
south side of the town, with but slight resistance, and penetrated to
the suburbs of the city, where they remained for some time, awaiting the
advance of the infantry from the north. General Gilmore, finding the
works which he approached very strong, and deeming an assault
impracticable, returned to Bermuda Hundred without attempting one. The
cavalry being unsupported, were obliged to yield the advantage gained,
and retire.
It was well known by General Grant that the enemy held but a small
garrison at that time in Petersburg. Attaching great importance to the
possession of that place before the return of the troops that had been
sent from there to reinforce Lee, he immediately detached General
Smith’s command by water, via the White House, to reach Bermuda Hundred
in advance of the Army of the Potomac. The design of this was to secure
Petersburg before the enemy, becoming aware of the intention of the
Federal chief, could reinforce the place. The importance attached by
General Grant to this movement, induced him to seek a personal interview
with General Butler, at that time, which is thus alluded to in the
report of the Lieutenant-General.
“The instructions to General Butler were verbal, and were for him to
send General Smith immediately, that night, with all the troops he could
give him without sacrificing the position he then held. I told him that
I would return to the Army of the Potomac, hasten its crossing, and
throw it forward to Petersburg by divisions as rapidly as it could be
done; that we could reinforce our armies more rapidly there than the
enemy could bring troops against us. General Smith got off as directed,
and confronted the enemy’s pickets near Petersburg before daylight next
morning, but for some reason, that I have never been able to
satisfactory understand, did not get ready to assault his main lines
until near sundown. Then, with a part of his command only, he made the
assault, and carried the lines northeast of Petersburg from the
Appomattox river, for a distance of over two [and a half miles,
capturing fifteen pieces of artillery and three hundred prisoners. This
was about seven P. M. Between the line thus captured and Petersburg
there were no other works, and there was no evidence that the enemy had
reinforced Petersburg with a single brigade from any source. The night
was clear—the moon shining brightly—and favorable to further operations.
General Hancock, with two divisions of the Second corps, reached General
Smith, just after dark, and offered the services of these troops as he
(Smith) might wish, waiving rank to the named commander, who he
naturally supposed knew best the position of affairs, and what to do
with the troops. But instead of taking these troops, and pushing at once
into Petersburg, he requested General Hancock to relieve a part of his
line in the captured works, which was done before midnight.
“By the time I arrived the next morning, the enemy was in force. An
attack was ordered to be made at six o’clock that evening by the troops
under Smith and the Second and Ninth corps. It required until that time
for the Ninth corps to get up and into position. The attack was made as
ordered, and the fighting continued with but little intermission until
six o’clock the next morning, and resulted in our carrying the advance
and some of the main works of the enemy to the right (our left) of those
previously captured by General Smith, several pieces of artillery, and
over four hundred prisoners.
“The Fifth corps having got up, the attacks were renewed and persisted
in with great vigor on the 17th and 18th, but only resulted in forcing
the enemy to an interior line from which he could not be dislodged. The
advantages in position gained by us were very great. The army then
proceeded to envelop Petersburg toward the Southside railroad, as far as
possible, without attacking fortifications.”
The severe and continued fighting of the four days resulted in a loss to
the Federal army of about ten thousand men; the casualties of the Second
corps alone were estimated at fifteen hundred men.
* * * * *
General Grant thus alludes to the operations near Bermuda Hundred,
General Butler’s headquarters, which transpired simultaneously with the
transactions thus described:
“On the 6th, the enemy, to reinforce Petersburg, withdrew from a part of
his intrenchment in front of Bermuda Hundred, expecting no doubt to get
troops from north of the James to take the place of those withdrawn
before we could discover it. General Butler, taking advantage of this,
at once moved a force on the railroad between Petersburg and Richmond.
As soon as I was apprised of the advantage thus gained, to retain it I
ordered two divisions of the Sixth corps, General Wright commanding,
that were embarking at Wilcox landing, under orders for City Point, to
report to General Butler, at Bermuda Hundred, of which General Butler
was notified, and the importance of holding a position in advance of his
present line urged upon him.
“About two o’clock in the afternoon General Butler was forced back to
the line the enemy had withdrawn from in the morning. General Wright,
with his two divisions, joined General Butler on the afternoon of the
17th, the latter still holding with a strong picket line the enemy’s
works. But instead of putting these divisions into the enemy’s works to
hold them, he permitted them to halt and rest some distance in the rear
of his own line. Between four and five o’clock in the forenoon the enemy
attacked and drove in his pickets, and reoccupied his old line.
“On the night of the 20th, and morning of the 21st, a lodgment was
effected by General Butler, with one brigade of infantry, on the north
bank of the James, at Deep Bottom, and connected the pontoon bridge with
Bermuda Hundred.”
WELDON RAILROAD, NEAR PETERSBURG VA.
JUNE 22–23, 1864.
An attempt was made on the 22d of June, to cut the Weldon railroad below
Petersburg, in order to cut off the rebel supplies through that
important line of communication. The expedition was simultaneous in
departure with a cavalry force under General Wilson, whose design was to
also cut the railroad at a point several miles below.
The Sixth corps, in conjunction with the Second, were dispatched early
in the morning, but had not advanced far before they were discovered by
the rebels, who boldly came out to meet them, in order to check the
movement on the railroad. Great advantage occurred to the rebel forces
from a more accurate knowledge of the topography of the country. Hill’s
rebel corps first made their appearance on the flank of Barlow’s
division, gradually worked round towards his rear, and he eventually
succeeded in throwing a division of his troops between the Second and
Sixth corps, thus creating confusion in the Union ranks. A desultory
combat ensued for a short time, in which the Federals were driven some
distance, and several hundred of Barlow’s men were captured. The left
flank of Mott’s division now became involved in a similar misfortune,
when he too was compelled to retire with the loss of three or four
hundred prisoners. The rebel troops following up their advantage, soon
became strongly reinforced, and assailed Gibbon’s division in front and
rear. His brigades on the right boldly withstood the enemy; while those
on the left, though slightly entrenched, were obliged to yield ground
under pressure of the immense force which was brought against them. A
four-gun battery now opened on the enemy, but being without infantry
supports, it was soon captured, and the rebel troops pressed forward in
dense masses, throwing the Federal lines into inextricable confusion.
Several regiments were captured at this time, which had become so
disorganized as to be able to oppose little if any resistance. At this
point a change of front was effected by a small force, the centre of
which was the Twentieth Massachusetts, and the enemy were soon checked
by a determined resistance. A want of good discipline and generalship,
exposed the Federals to a heavy loss and severe defeat on this occasion
by an inferior force of the enemy. The ground was partly recovered on
the succeeding day by an advance of the Sixth and Second corps; but it
soon became apparent that the main object of the expedition was
unattainable, as the enemy were strongly intrenched on the northern side
of the Weldon railroad and an assault was not deemed advisable. The
Union loss was five hundred in killed and wounded, and two thousand
prisoners.
ENGAGEMENTS AT REAMS’S STATION, STONY CREEK, ETC.
JUNE 22–29, 1864.
The cavalry expedition which left the Federal camps at the same time
with the infantry force described in the previous section, was
successful in its results. It was composed of General Wilson’s division
of the Army of the Potomac, and General Kautz’s division of the Army of
the James, both under the command of the former officer. The entire
force comprised about seven thousand men, and was accompanied by three
batteries of four guns each. This force was also designed to operate on
the railroads south of Petersburg, and the results of their raid were
such as to deprive the rebels of their accustomed supplies for several
weeks by the ordinary roads, which occasioned them great inconvenience
and actual want. They first struck the Weldon railroad at Reams’s
Station, where they destroyed all the public buildings, and several
miles of the road. They then struck boldly across the country by way of
Dinwiddie Court House to Sutherland’s Station, destroying several miles
of the Sutherland railroad, fifteen miles from Petersburg; also at
Ford’s Station on the Lynchburg railroad, twenty-two miles from
Petersburg, Kautz’s troops being in advance, where sixteen cars, two
locomotives, and the depot were destroyed, and several miles of the
track rendered useless.
On the morning of the 23rd, Kautz’s troops again pursued their march,
and on reaching Nottoway Station a rebel force of two brigades made
their appearance, and an engagement ensued, in which the enemy were
defeated. General Kautz’s troops moved on to Burkesville in the
afternoon, where the work of destruction was continued. General Wilson’s
command proceeded from Nottoway Court House to Medler’s Station, and
destroyed the Danville railroad to Roanoke bridge, a distance of
twenty-five miles, where he found the enemy in force, and in a position
from which he could not dislodge him. The entire force then moved in a
southeasterly direction toward Williamsburg, which they reached on the
morning of the 26th. General Wilson then commenced his return march, and
on the 28th he met the enemy’s cavalry in force at the Weldon railroad
crossing of Stony creek. The rebels made some show of resistance while
the Federals were crossing the bridge, but were speedily driven back,
and the crossing effected. The enemy were soon encountered in force and
a fierce contest ensued. Under a severe fire a portion of the Federal
cavalry dismounted and formed a slight breastwork, where they resisted
several charges of the rebels. After five hours’ fighting, General
Wilson relinquished the design of forcing a passage at that point, and
sent General Kautz’s force up a left-hand road to Reams’s Station,
supposing that place to be in the possession of Federal troops. General
Kautz there encountered a body of Confederate cavalry, supported by
infantry, and after a short engagement was compelled to retire, with the
loss of his artillery and trains. In this encounter General Kautz and a
part of his force became separated from the body of the Federal cavalry,
but succeeded in making his way into the Union lines. General Wilson,
with the remainder of the force, succeeding in crossing the Nottoway
river, and coming in safely on the left and rear.
SHERMAN’S MARCH FROM ATLANTA TO SAVANNAH
NOVEMBER 16 TO DECEMBER 22, 1804.