"On Sep. 28th a movement was made by General Grant on the
North of the James. It was predicated on the belief that only
a small force of the enemy occupied the works on the North
side of the river."
"General Birney was ordered by a rapid movement at daylight,
to capture the enemy's work in front of Deep Bottom, and gain
possession of the New Market road leading to Richmond."
"Two Regiments only, of the Colored Division, reached one of
the Rebel forts, where they found a ditch ten feet wide and
eight feet deep between them and the parapet.
More than a hundred of these brave fellows jumped into the
ditch and assisted some of their comrades to mount the parapet
by allowing them to climb up on their shoulders, about a dozen
succeeded in mounting the parapet by this means. But this
force which had bravely pushed on, was far too small to
capture the fort, and was, therefore, compelled to retire,
leaving their comrades in the ditch of the fort.
But these were unable to make good their escape, as it would
have been certain death to leave the ditch and return to the
troops, and were afterwards compelled to surrender.
About 800 men were lost in this assault in killed, wounded,
and prisoners."
I regret not having the date upon which my information was forwarded to
General Grant, but it evidently was not in his hand by September 28th.
[Illustration: COLONEL HARRY GILMOR]