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 Welcome to Beyond the Crater: The Civil War Petersburg Campaign Online. Beyond the Crater is an information compilation site focusing on the Siege of Petersburg during the American Civil War. The Petersburg Campaign was, rather than a true siege, a series of nine offensives by the Union forces against the Confederates defending Petersburg and Richmond, Virginia. The campaign for Petersburg lasted from June 15, 1864 until April 2, 1865, claiming 50,000 Union soldiers and 32,000 Confederates. The Petersburg Campaign has been criminally neglected in the study of the Civil War, and this site aims to partially rectify that lack of coverage.
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Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Ken Perdue.
THE MOVEMENT ON PETERSBURG, (VA.)
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The movement on Petersburg (Va.) last week was made with about five thousand men, under the command of Gen. Gillmore and Gen. Kautz. The latter had fourteen hundred cavalry, and the former one brigade of his own corps and one brigade of colored troops, under the immediate command of Gen. Hincks. The particulars of the expedition are given in the annexed letter:
HEADQUARTERS IN THE FIELD, JUNE 9, 1864.
Last evening there was an unusual stir around headquarters. Staff officers and orderlies arrived and departed in quick succession. An indefinable feeling of expectation was experienced by everybody. In Gen. Butler’s tent a council of war was held. Gens. Gillmore and Kautz had arrived shortly after sunset, and remained in consultation with the Commanding General for several hours. During the still hours of the night troops were moved down and across to the easterly side of the Appomattox river. A pontoon bridge, seven hundred feet in length, had been thrown over the river, and about a quarter of a mile below Point of Rocks. On the bridge had been placed a thick covering of hay, to deaden the sound made by the troops as they marched across. They numbered about four thousand, and were composed of infantry, cavalry, and artillery. Gens. Gillmore and Kautz were in command.
Between midnight and two o’clock this morning the troops crossed noiselessly and safely. They rested for about an hour, and then took up their line of march for Petersburg. Gen. Gillmore, with the infantry, one regiment of cavalry, and some of Gen. Hinck’s colored troops, was to enter the city by one of the country roads. Gen. Kautz, with his cavalry, was to enter by the turnpike at that place. If they found it possible to hold the city they were to do so. But the principal object was to destroy the immense quantities of Government stores at that point.
Gen. Butler had laid his plans for the capture of Petersburg with great skill. It appeared almost impossible that the expedition should prove a failure. The rebels were known to have a very respectable force on our front, and to prevent them annoying the rear of the column commanded by Gens. Gillmore and Kautz, he had determined to engage their batteries during the whole day. With that object in view he proceeded to the front shortly after six o’clock this morning, and remained at the signal station in the vicinity of Fort Wisconsin during the whole day.
Our gunboats had received orders to pay their respects to Fort Clifton. This is the strongest of the rebel works on our front. The firing from the Commodore Perry and other gunboats stationed in the Appomattox river was beautifully accurate. The report of a heavy gun was heard and in a few seconds it was followed by a lesser report. The shell had burst right inside the rebel works, as the white puff of smoke indicated. Firing was continued during the whole day from our batteries, and also from the gunboats. The guns in the rebel Fort Clifton replied very feebly, and are either of very small calibre or the ammunition they use is of an inferior quality, for not one in a dozen of their shells came at all near our works.
The expedition, to facilitate and insure the success of which all the above mentioned precautions had been taken by General Butler, took up its line of march for Petersburg about three o’clock this morning. The roads were dry and in capital marching condition. Skirmishers were sent ahead, and also placed on either flank. After marching unmolested for about two miles General Kautz, with his veteran raiders, turned sharply off to the left, and Gen. Gillmore, with a regiment of cavalry, the infantry, colored troops, and several pieces of artillery, went to the right. They were to reunite their forces in the city of Petersburg.
The line of march of Gen. Gillmore’s troops was through a pleasant country. In a short time a few shots were fired at Gen. Gillmore and his staff, while riding at the head of the column. None of the shots, however, took effect. The General’s escort pushed ahead, and again a volley was fired. This time one soldier was wounded, and several horses were maimed. Until the column arrived within about two miles of Petersburg the skirmishing continued, but no large force of rebels was encountered.
On arriving within sight of Petersburg Gen. Gillmore, accompanied by Brig. Gen. Foster, reconnoitered the enemy’s works, and found that Beauregard, for the defence of the city, had thrown up a most elaborate and perfect series of works. A few mounted men were ordered forward, when the fact was ascertained that the works were fully manned and the rebels on the alert to receive our troops.
During Gen. Gillmore’s march up from the river a woman had come forward with the intelligence that Beauregard had received information of our intended movement as early as one o’clock P. M. on Wednesday, just twelve hours before our troops began to march. After giving the subject due consideration, and consulting with his staff officers, Gen. Gillmore decided to return to the Appomattox. No word had been received from Gen. Kautz and no firing had been heard, except from the gunboats and the batteries on our front. We proceeded at a very leisurely pace on our way back to the Appomattox, and arrived there safely about five o’clock this evening. Gen. Gillmore’s loss, all told, is about twenty-five wounded. I did not learn that any deaths had taken place.
Gen. Kautz, with his tried and veteran raiders, about eighteen hundred in number, rode considerably to the south, and finally struck the turnpike leading to Petersburg. They then rode briskly forward, and appear to have taken the enemy considerably by surprise, for they managed to enter the rebel works, and actually penetrated for a short distance within the city. Finding, however, that General Gillmore and his troops had failed in the co-operating movement, and that he was in danger of being surrounded and cut off, a retreat was ordered. They, however, managed to bring off with them a large number of prisoners and several pieces of light artillery. The destruction of the bridge was not effected, in consequence of the rapidity with which the rebels were gathering in his rear and on his flanks.
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Note: This newspaper article is used with the permission of NewsInHistory.com. All rights reserved.
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II. REPELLING THE FIRST ASSAULT ON PETERSBURG.
BY R. E. COLSTON, BRIGADIER-GENERAL, C. S. A.
At the end of April, 1864, I was transferred from the Department of Georgia to that of Virginia and was assigned by General H. A. Wise to the provisional command of the post of Petersburg, which I had already held from January to March, 1863. General Wise returned to Petersburg about June 1st, and I remained there while waiting for another assignment.
At that time the lines covering Petersburg on the south side of the Appomattox formed a semicircle of about eight miles development, resting upon the river at each extremity. With the exception of a few lunettes and redoubts at the most commanding positions, they were barely marked out, and a horseman could ride over them without the least difficulty almost everywhere, as I myself had done day after day for weeks just before the fight. They differed in toto from the shortened and formidable works constructed later by General Lee’s army.
On the 9th of June the lines were entirely stripped of regular troops, with the exception of Wise’s brigade on our extreme left, and of Sturdivant’s battery of four guns. Every other regiment had been ordered across the James to aid General Lee on the north side. A few skeleton companies of home guards (less than 150 men) occupied the redoubts half a mile from the river on the left, which were armed with heavy artillery. Then came a gap of a mile and a half to lunette 16, occupied by 30 home guards with 4 pieces of stationary artillery. One mile farther to the
right were two howitzers of Sturdivant’s battery ; one mile farther still were lunettes 26, 27, and 28, at the intersection of the lines with the Jerusalem road; but neither there nor for four miles more to the river on our right was there a man or gun.
During the night of June 8th-9th General Kautz and Colonel Spear, with four regiments of cavalry and 4 pieces of artillery, crossed the Appomattox on a pontoon-bridge, about 7 miles below Petersburg, and on the morning of the 9th they made their appearance in front of the left of our lines, while the Federal gun-boats opened a heavy fire upon Fort Clifton and other positions on the river. The alarm-bell was rung in the city about 9 o’clock, and every man able to shoulder a musket hurried out to the lines. Colonel P. H. Archer, a veteran of the Mexican war, who had commanded a Confederate battalion in my brigade in 1862, but now commanding the Home Guards, hastened to take position at lunettes Nos. 27 and 28 on the Jerusalem road with 125 men. This force was composed of Second Class Reserves, men exempted from active service on account of age or infirmities, and boys under conscription age, who had had no military training. Very few of them wore a uniform, and they were armed with inferior muskets and rifles, for all the best arms had to be reserved for troops in the field.
At the first sound of alarm I mounted my horse, hastened to report to General Wise and to offer my services. He thanked me warmly, saying that he was just going across the river to bring up the reserve infantry as promptly as possible, together with other reinforcements, and directed me to take command of all the forces in the lines and use them according to my judgment, with only one specific order, viz., that lunette No. 10 must be held at any hazard. He added as he turned his horse’s head: “For God’s sake, General, hold out till I come back, or all is lost!”
At lunette No. 16 I found the men at their guns, but the enemy were not yet in sight. They had reconnoitered from a distance the positions on our left; seeing heavy guns on the works, and not aware of the very small number of the defenders, they had continued their reconnoissance toward the right, nearly hidden from our view by the wooded and undulating character of the ground. We had no scouts or mounted men to send out for information. I had been at lunette 16 about an hour, and it was nearly 11 o’clock, when a courier arrived from Petersburg with a note from General Wise, saying that the enemy were advancing by the Jerusalem road upon Colonel Archers position, and that reinforcements were on the way. I left my aide, Lieutenant J. T. Tosh, in command at lunette 16, with orders not to leave that position until relieved. I galloped on alone toward the Jerusalem road, and when half-way there I heard the rattle of musketry from that point. Being just then at the position of Sturdivant’s section, I ordered the sergeant to bring on one of his howitzers to lunette 28, and hastened toward it, catching glimpses of Federal cavalry still moving to our right, parallel to our intrenchments. Arrived at lunettes 27 and 28 I found that Colonel Archer had disposed his
small force very judiciously in the low trenches . A wagon had been overturned across the road and, together with a hastily built rail-fence, formed a pretty good barricade. A detachment of Federal cavalry had just made a spirited charge and been checked by this obstruction and by the scattering fire of the militia. Several dead horses, some sabers and carbines, and a couple of prisoners were the tokens of the repulse, and the men were in high spirits at their success in this their first fight. It was evident, however, that the enemy had only been feeling the position and were preparing for a more serious attack. Their line was visible on the edge of the woods back of the Gregory house, and our slender ranks were extended to the right and left to present an equal front. In a few minutes the howitzer that I had ordered up came in sight and was welcomed with cheers by our men. I placed it in lunette 28, and took my position in the trenches, which did not cover us more than waist-high.
Very soon an advance was made by the enemy’s dismounted skirmishers, while a mounted line in close order appeared behind the Gregory house. I impressed upon the men the necessity of holding their fire until the enemy were at close range, and this direction was well observed. But the howitzer opened fire and the Federal skirmishers fell back under cover and commenced a continuous fire of small-arms. A number of their men had taken position in the Gregory house and were shooting, from the windows and from the garret, some firing through openings made by knocking off the shingles. I directed the artillery sergeant to send a few shells at the house to dislodge them, but the distance was so short that the shells passed through the building before exploding, and failed to set it on fire as I had hoped. Meanwhile the mounted line, some three hundred yards back, presented a tempting mark and I told the sergeant to give them canister. To my intense vexation he replied that he had not a single charge of canister with his piece. I then directed him to shell the mounted line, but several shells passed over the line and burst harmlessly beyond it. I now ordered him to cut the fuse at the closest notch, and, pointing the piece myself very low, I had the satisfaction of seeing the shell explode just in front of the line of cavalry and make a great gap in its ranks, causing its immediate retreat.
All this time the bullets were flying uncomfortably thick and close, but I saw no signal of another advance. Meanwhile our men, closely hugging the low breastworks and holding back their fire, were suffering no harm. In about half an hour a cannon shot was fired at us, then another, followed by others in quick succession. The enemy had paused while waiting for the arrival of their battery. So far from being dismayed, the brave civilians around me, with Colonel Archer at their head, offered to charge the battery, but I knew that the moment they left the cover of the trenches to cross the open ground they would be destroyed by the breechloading carbines of the dismounted men supporting the battery and far overlapping our front. Our only hope was in delay. I called for a volunteer
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RESERVOIR HILL, WHERE KAUTZ’S ADVANCE WAS STOPPED, JUNE 9, 1864. FROM A PHOTOGRAPH MADE IN 1886.
The spires of Petersburg are seen to the left of the reservoir. In front of the reservoir is the ravine of Lieutenant’s Creek that encircles the eastern outskirts of the city and afforded the Confederates a concealed and convenient way by which either wing of their lines could be reenforced by troops from the other.
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to mount my horse, find General Wise, and let him know that we could hold out but a very short time longer. A lieutenant of the Junior Reserves, Wales Hurt, a youth of eighteen, promptly offered to go, and I watched him galloping away until hidden from view by the bend of the road, while the bullets were knocking up the dust all around him and under his horse’s feet.
By this time our ability to retain the position was a question of minutes only, but on these few minutes hung the rescue or the capture of the city. I knew that if we were driven in before a sufficient Confederate force recrossed the Appomattox the enemy would at once ride into the town and burn the bridges, after which they would have no difficulty in holding the place until their infantry came up, and then all of General Lee’s army would be unable to force a recrossing. With the town would be lost the main lines of railway upon which our army depended almost entirely for its supplies.
But the end was very near. The enemy, sheltered by the Gregory house and the defective construction of our works, which allowed approach under cover to within fifty yards, redoubled the fire of their skirmishers and artillery; while a line in open order, overlapping both our flanks, advanced, firing rapidly. The brave militia discharged their pieces at close range. Numbers of them fell killed or wounded, and before the survivors could reload the enemy turned our left flank and more of our men fell by bullets that struck us in the rear from lunette No. 26, which we had not had men enough to occupy. Yet those heroic citizens held their ground. In the heat of the fight I picked up and discharged at the enemy two or three of the muskets dropped by our fallen men. We were now hemmed in on three sides, and only a narrow path leading through an abrupt ravine offered a way of escape. The howitzer, which continued its fire to the last, was captured while limbering up, the horses being shot in their traces, and two artillerymen killed. Some of the militia were killed or wounded with the bayonet or carbine butts, and many were captured. Our shattered remnants made their way down and across the ravine and re-formed at my command on Reservoir Hill, in order, if needed, to support Graham’s battery, which had just arrived and unlimbered on the top of the hill.(1)
After driving us from the trenches the enemy paused awhile to call in their dismounted men and to send to their rear our wounded and prisoners. They then formed in mounted column, with a few files thrown forward in open order. They advanced upon the main road, evidently expecting to enter the city without further opposition.(2)
The moments gained at such fearful cost barely gave time for Graham’s battery to cross the bridge. They came up Sycamore street at full gallop and unlimbered on the summit of Reservoir Hill just as the head of the Federal column was coming down the opposite slope into the hollow. The battery opened fire, and with rapidity and precision hurled a storm of shell and canister upon the approaching cavalry. The enemy, who thought themselves already in possession of the city, halted in surprise. But just at this moment, while they were yet hesitating, Dearing’s cavalry, which had followed after Graham’s battery, charged upon Kautz’s and Spear’s column with irresistible impetuosity. The latter wheeled about, but re-formed on the top of the next hill and gallantly endeavored to make a stand there, being joined by another column advancing upon the Blandford road. But this also was checked by a section of Sturdivant’s battery, which came on their flank from another road. Under the fire of artillery and the charge of Dearing’s cavalry the enemy retreated. In Jackson’s field, about a mile beyond Blandford church, our cavalry captured a howitzer, complete, with its team, and in the subsequent pursuit killed or captured a number of the enemy.
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(1) The loss of the militia in this conflict was 12 killed (not counting the 2 artillerymen), 20 wounded, and 30 prisoners,—62 out of 125.— R. E. C.
(2) Lieutenant Hurt had delivered his message and was returning at this time by the same road. Coming suddenly upon the leading Federal files he was shot dead.— R. E. C.
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Source:
No. 201. Report of Colonel Samuel Harriman, Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry.
HDQRS. THIRTY-SEVENTH WISCONSIN VOL. INFANTRY,
Near Petersburg, Va., August 12, 1864.
In compliance with Special Orders, No. 39, I have the honor to submit the following record of the Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Volunteers from date of assignment to the First Brigade, Third Division, Ninth Army Corps, to July 31, 1864:
June 12, having reported as per orders from corps headquarters for duty to Brigadier-General Hartranft, were assigned to a line of rifle-
pits at Cold Harbor, which we occupied at 2 p.m. Evacuated Cold Harbor at 9 p.m. After a constant and rapid march arrived near James River 6 p.m. 14th. Crossed James River on pontoon bridge at 11.30 p.m. 15th. Arrived in woods near Petersburg and halted 5.30 p.m. 16th. At dusk advanced and occupied a line of rifle-pits near the left of our line.
June 17, having changed our position, made a charge toward enemy’s work, conforming (as per order) to the movements of regiment upon our left. The charge was a failure, and we found ourselves at its terminus occupying our own rifle-pits, to the right of our previous position. June 18, in concert with the balance of the brigade charged to the ravine between the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad cut and Petersburg, Va. June 19, relieved from duty and ordered into camp to rear of front line of battle. June 20, ordered into intrenchments. June 23, occupied another position in line of intrenchments to left of the one occupied on the 20th. June 26, Captain R. N. Doyle, Eighth Michigan Volunteers, placed in command of regiment by order of Brigadier-General Hartranft. June 27, moved out to picket-line; set about strengthening line. July 9, regiment relieved from duty in pits, and in camp at rear and out of range. July 17, entered pits again. July 18, Captain Doyle relieved of his command of regiment, Colonel Samuel Harriman assuming command. July 30, after explosion of enemy’s fort by our mine charged their works at 4.30 a.m., which were held by our troops until 4 p.m., when the Thirty-seventh was among the last few who fell back to former line of works. July 31, regiment relieved and sent to rear 2 a.m.
SAM. HARRIMAN,
Colonel, Commanding.
Source:
March 11, 1865
Federal expedition from Fortress Monroe aboard steamers, into Westmoreland County, VA, with skirmish (Mar. 12) near Warsaw, VA, and with the destruction of all Confederate property of any value. 3/11-13/1865.
Skirmish as Goochland Court-House, VA, as Maj. Gen. Philip Henry Sheridan, USA, threatens Richmond, VA.
Note: All “Today In The Petersburg Campaign” blog entries are used with permission from Ronald A. Mosocco’s Chronological Tracking of the American Civil War per the Official Records of the War of the Rebellion. Order the book HERE.
Copyright © 1993, 1994 by Ronald A. Mosocco
Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Ken Perdue.
ARMY NEWS. There is nothing later from the front this morning. We are obliged to content ourselves with the general assurance that everything is going on well. The report of yesterday about Fort Darling was doubtless highly imaginative, for we are told this morning that “all is quiet with General Butler.”
The following account of the Petersburg movement is from the New York World:
A council of war was held by General Butler last evening, at which it was determined to make a new movement in order to ascertain if the stories of deserters and others coming into our lines, were true. Generals Gillmore and Kautz were present, and after a brief conference, left for their respective commands. During the night pontoons were laid across the Appomattox river, near Point of Rocks, and about midnight the movement commenced. It was understood that Petersburg was almost defenceless, and that the garrison could be easily surprised. The plan as now revealed was for General Gillmore to enter the city by one of the turnpike roads, while General Kautz, with his cavalry, made an entrance by another at a different point. The object was not so much to hold the city as to destroy the immense depots of supplies which it contained. In order to cover the movement, the gunboats were ordered to open fire on Fort Clifton, while the batteries attacked the enemy’s lines in our immediate front.
After marching for about two miles, General Kautz turned to the left, and General Gillmore, with his command moved to the right. Both were to unite within the city of Petersburg. General Gillmore was soon met by a volley from the rebel lines, but pushed his column forward until within about two miles of Petersburg without encountering any very heavy force. When within sight of the city a reconnoissance was made, which revealed the fact that Beauregard had thrown up most formidable works for the defense of the city. A woman who had been met on the road stated that Beauregard was fully prepared for the assault, and that he had been warned of it, so that a surprise was considered impossible. General Gillmore, after consultation with his officers determined to return as he had come, without making any demonstration upon the works. He did so, and returned to camp about five o’clock in the evening.
Gen. Kautz succeeded better, and actually penetrated a short distance within the city limits. Finding that he was not supported and was in danger of being cut off, he retired, but succeeded in bringing off a large number of prisoners, and several small pieces of artillery. He did not have time to destroy the bridge as the rebels were rapidly gathering on his flanks.
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LATER.
By the one o’clock train from Boston, this afternoon, we have the following from Secretary Stanton:—
War Department, Washington, June 13th — Midnight.— To Major General Dix: — We have dispatches from the Army of the Potomac as late as 8 o’clock this morning. The movement at that hour was in successful progress.
No reports to-day from Gen. Sherman.
The following dispatch from Gen. Burbridge, commanding in Kentucky, has been received here:
“I attacked Morgan at Cynthiana at daylight yesterday morning and after an hour’s hard fighting completely routed him, killing 300, wounding nearly as many and capturing nearly 400; besides re-capturing 100 of Gen. Hobson’s command and over 1000 horses. Our loss in killed and wounded was about 150. Morgan’s scattered forces are flying in all directions; they have thrown away their arms, are out of ammunition and are wholly demoralized.”
Dispatches from Gen. Butler at 9 o’clock this evening indicate no change in his command.
No further intelligence has been received from General Hunter.
E. M. STANTON, Sec’y of War.
New York, June 13. — The World says it is now disclosed that Gen. Grant has effected a change of base to the James River. All movements since the battle of Friday have been aimed at this consummation.
The raid of Sheridan, the destruction of railroads, and the investment of Fort Darling to open the James River for our gunboats, indicate that every available force is to be employed in the next offensive movement.
The World’s Washington dispatch says there is much anxiety at White House to hear from Gen. Sheridan’s raid. It was to be a long and important one.
Washington is excited with rumors that Fort Darling has been largely invested and must soon surrender.
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Note: This newspaper article is used with the permission of NewsInHistory.com. All rights reserved.
Source:
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