The Battle of Hatcher’s Run, Feb. 5-7, 1865: A Reading Guide

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The Battle of Hatcher’s Run Series:

• 150 Years Ago Today: The Battle of Hatcher’s Run: February 4, 1865
• 150 Years Ago Today: The Battle of Hatcher’s Run: February 5, 1865
• 150 Years Ago Today: The Battle of Hatcher’s Run: February 6, 1865
• 150 Years Ago Today: The Battle of Hatcher’s Run: February 7, 1865
• MAP: 8th Offensive Against Petersburg, Grant’s Original Plan: February 4, 1865
• MAP: 8th Offensive Against Petersburg, Meade’s 1st Tweak: February 4, 1865
• MAP: 8th Offensive Against Petersburg, Meade’s 2nd Tweak: February 4, 1865
• MAP: 8th Offensive Against Petersburg, Warren’s 3rd Tweak: February 4, 1865

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A Reading Guide to the Battle of Hatcher’s Run

(in the Absence of a Published Battle Study)

During my recent studies on the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, fought 150 years ago this week from February 5-7, 1865, I came to realize that those seeking to study this phase of the Siege of Petersburg really don’t have one volume they can go to which focuses exclusively on the Eighth Offensive and its only major battle.  Instead, many good books on the Siege of Petersburg contain sections ranging from a massive chapter (Ed Bearss/Bryce Suderow) to several pages (Earl H. Hess).  The late Art Bergeron also penned an article for America’s Civil War for their March 2003 issue.  Jim Epperson has a really nice intro to the battle on his own Siege of Petersburg site, one of the inspirations for The Siege of Petersburg Online.  The Official Records contain dozens of pages on the Battle of Hatcher’s Run, and I’ve read through all of them.  As a result of my studies, I’ve decided to post a lengthy list of books, articles, web pages and other items which focus on this little known battle and will allow you as an interested reader to learn all you need to know until a proper battle study comes along.

Books, Articles, and Web Sites on the Battle of Hatcher’s Run

• The Petersburg Campaign Volume II: The Western Front Battles September 1864-April 1865 by Ed Bearss, edited by Bryce Suderow, pages 165-240
• In the Trenches at Petersburg: Field Fortifications & Confederate Defeat by Earl J. Hess, pages 229-235
• The Last Citadel: Petersburg, June 1864-April 1865 by Noah Andre Trudeau, pages 315-327
• The Final Battles of the Petersburg Campaign: Breaking the Backbone of the Rebellion by A. Wilson Greene
• Review In Brief: History and Tour Guide of Five Forks, Hatcher’s Run and Namozine  by Chris Calkins
• America’s Civil War Magazine, Vol. 16, No. 1 (March 2003), Three-Day Tussle at Hatcher’s Run by Art Bergeron, pages 30-37
• The Petersburg Campaign June 1864-April 1865 by John Horn, pages 199-207
• Second Battle of Hatcher’s Run by Jim Epperson
• 865bb: Union Forces Battle of Hatcher’s Run (or Dabney’s Mill) 5-7 February 1865
• Map of Hatcher’s Run and Vicinity, Showing Operations of the Fifth Corps, From February 5 to 8, 1865: Official Records
• MHSM Papers V5: The Siege of Petersburg after the Capture of the Weldon Railroad by Brevet Brigadier-General Francis A. Walker

Reports from the Official Records: OR Vol. XVLI, Part 1

• Number 2. Abstract from tri-monthly returns, showing the “present for duty equipped,” or effective strength of the armies operating against Richmond, under Lieutenant General Ulysses S. Grant, for January 31, February 28, March 20, March 31, and April 10, 1865
• Number 3. Return of casualties in the Union forces at Hatcher’s Run (otherwise known as Dabney’s Mill, Armstrong’s Mill, Rowanty Creek, and Vaughan Road) and Fort Stedman
• Number 4. Siege of Petersburg Itineraries of the Army of the Potomac, Sheridan’s Cavalry Command, and the Army of the James (January-April 1865)
• Number 5. Siege of Petersburg Reports of Major General George G. Meade, U. S. Army, commanding Army of the Potomac, of operations February 5-7 and March 25
• Number 6. Siege of Petersburg Reports of Bvt. Col. James C. Duane, Corps of Engineers, U. S. Army, of operations January 14-February 25
• Number 8. Siege of Petersburg Report of Major Frank W. Hess, Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, of operations February 5-7
• Number 9. Siege of Petersburg Reports of Bvt. Brigadier General Henry L. Abbot, First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, commanding Siege Train, of operation January 1 – March 31
• Number 29. Siege of Petersburg Report of Maj. Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys, U. S. Army, commanding Second Army Corps, of operations February 5-11
• Number 30. Siege of Petersburg Reports of Bvt. Major General Nelson A. Miles, U. S. Army, commanding First Division, of operations February 5-7 and March 25
• Number 36. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel George von Schack, Seventh New York Infantry, commanding Third Brigade of operations February 5-7
• Number 43. Siege of Petersburg Report of Bvt. Brigadier General John Ramsey, Eighth New Jersey Infantry, commanding Fourth Brigade, of operations February 5-7
• Number 44. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant Colonel William Glenny, Sixty-fourth New York Infantry, of operations February 5-7
• Number 45. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel William M. Mintzer, Fifty-third Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations February 5-7
• Number 47. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel St. Clair A. Mulholland, One hundred and sixteenth Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations February 5-7
• Number 48. Siege of Petersburg Report of Captain James H. Hamlin, One hundred and forty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations February 5-7
• Number 50. Siege of Petersburg Report of Major Seward F. Gould, Fourth New York Heavy Artillery, of operations February 5-7
• Number 51. Siege of Petersburg Report of Brigadier General Thomas A. Smyth, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division of operations February 5-11
• Number 53. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel William A. Olmstead, Fifty-ninth New York Infantry, commanding First Brigade, of operations February 5-7
• Number 54. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph W. Spaulding, Nineteenth Maine Infantry, of operations February 5-11
• Number 55. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant Colonel Edmund Rice, Nineteenth Massachusetts Infantry, of operations February 5-7
• Number 56. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant Colonel Arthur R. Curtis, Twentieth Massachusetts Infantry, of operations February 5-7
• Number 57. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant Colonel George W. La Point, Seventh Michigan Infantry, of operations, February 5-7
• Number 58. Siege of Petersburg Report of Captain Frank Houston, First Minnesota Infantry, of operations February 5-11
• Number 59. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant Colonel James A. Jewell, Fifty-ninth New York Infantry, of operations February 5-7
• Number 60. Siege of Petersburg Report of Captain Charles H. Dygert, One hundred and fifty-second New York Infantry, of operations February 5-11
• Number 61. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel John H. Stover, One hundred and eighty-fourth Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations February 5-11
• Number 62. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant Colonel Clement E. Warner, Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry, of operations February 5-7
• Number 63. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel Mathew Murphy, One hundred and eighty-second New York Infantry (Sixty-ninth National Guard Artillery), commanding Second Brigade, of operations February 5
• Number 64. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel James P. McIvor, One hundred and seventieth New York Infantry, commanding Second Brigade, of operations February 5-7
• Number 65. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant Colonel Francis E. Pierce, One hundred and eighth New York Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of operations February 5-7
• Number 66. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant Colonel Samuel A. Moore, Fourteenth Connecticut Infantry, of operations February 5-11
• Number 67. Siege of Petersburg Report of Bvt. Major General Gershom Mott, U. S. Army, commanding Third Division, of operations February 5-7
• Number 68. Siege of Petersburg Report of Brigadier General Regis de Trobriand, U. S. Army, commanding First Brigade of operations February 5-9
• Number 77. Siege of Petersburg Report of Bvt. Brigadier General George W. West, Seventeenth Maine Infantry, commanding Second Brigade, of operations February 5-7
• Number 79. Siege of Petersburg Reports of Bvt. Brigadier General Robert McAllister, Eleventh New Jersey, Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of operations February 5-6 and March 25
• Number 80. Siege of Petersburg Report of Captain James F. Mansfield, Eleventh Massachusetts Infantry, of operations February 5-7
• Number 82. Siege of Petersburg Reports of Colonel Francis Price, Seventh New Jersey Infantry, of operations February 5-7 and March 25
• Number 83. Siege of Petersburg Reports of Major Henry Hartford, Eighth New Jersey Infantry, of operations February 5-7 and March 25-26
• Number 84. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant Colonel John Schoonover, Eleventh New Jersey Infantry, of operations February 5
• Number 86. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant Colonel Abram L. Lockwood, One hundred and twentieth New York Infantry, of operations February 5-7
• Number 88. Siege of Petersburg Reports of Bvt. Lieutenant Colonel John G. Hazard, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, commanding Artillery Brigade, of operations February 5-7 and March 25
• Number 89. Siege of Petersburg Report of Bvt. Captain John W. Roder, Battery K, Fourth U. S. Artillery, of operations February 5-11
• Number 90. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant Edward S. Smith, Fifteenth Battery New York Light Artillery, commanding section Battery K, Fourth U. S. Artillery, of operations February 6-11
• Number 91. Siege of Petersburg Report of Major General Governeur K. Warren, U. S. Army, commanding Fifth Army Corps, of operations February 5-7
• Number 92. Siege of Petersburg Report of Surg. T. Rush Spencer, U. S. Army, Medical Director, of operations February 5-April 30
• Number 93. Siege of Petersburg Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Horatio G. Sickel, One hundred and ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, commanding First Brigade, First Division, of operations February 5-7
• Number 95. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel Allen L. Burr, One hundred and eighty-ninth New York Infantry, commanding Second Brigade, of operations February 5-7
• Number 97. Siege of Petersburg Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Alfred L. Pearson, One hundred and fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of operations February 5-7
• Number 105. Siege of Petersburg Reports of Bvt. Major General Romeyn B. Ayres, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division, of operations February 5-7
• Number 106. Siege of Petersburg Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Frederick Winthrop, Fifth New York Veteran Infantry, commanding First Brigade, of operations February 5-7
• Number 107. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel Richard N. Bowerman, Fourth Maryland Infantry, commanding Second Brigade, of operations February 5-7
• Number 108. Siege of Petersburg Report of Bvt. Brigadier General James Gwyn, One hundred and eighteenth Pennsylvania Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of operations February 5-7
• Number 109. Siege of Petersburg Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Henry A. Morrow, Twenty-fourth Michigan Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, Third Division, of operations February 5-6
• Number 110. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel Thomas F. McCoy, One hundred and seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of operations February 6-9
• Number 111. Siege of Petersburg Report of Captain Aaron Bright, jr., Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations February 5-10
• Number 112. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel Thomas F. McCoy, One hundred and seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations February 5-6
• Number 113. Siege of Petersburg Report of Major Henry J. Sheafer, One hundred and seventh Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations February 6-9
• Number 114. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant Colonel Horatio N. Warren, One hundred and forty-second Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations February 5-10
• Number 115. Siege of Petersburg Report of Bvt. Lieutenant Colonel Robert H. Fitzhugh, First New York Light Artillery, commanding Artillery Brigade, of operations February 5-7
• Number 116. Siege of Petersburg Report of Bvt. Major General Frank Wheaton, U. S. Army, commanding First Division, Sixth Army Corps, of operations February 5-8
• Number 134. Siege of Petersburg Reports of Major General John G. Parke, U. S. Army, commanding Ninth Army Corps, of operations February 5-7 and March 25
• Number 169. Siege of Petersburg Report of Bvt. Brigadier General J. Irvin Gregg, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanding Second Cavalry Division, of operations February 5-7
• Number 170. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel Michael Kervin, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, Commanding Second Brigade, of operations February 5-7
• Number 171. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel B. M. Young, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, of operations February 5-7
• Number 172. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant William A. Corrie, Eighth Pennsylvania Cavalry, of operations February 5-7
• Number 173. Siege of Petersburg Report of Lieutenant Colonel John K. Robinson, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, of operations February 5-7
• Number 174. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel Oliver B. Knowles, Twenty-first Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanding Third Brigade, of operations February 5-7
• Number 176. Siege of Petersburg Reports of Bvt. Major Peter S. Michie, U. S. Army, Chief Engineer, Department of Virginia, of operations February 4-March 18
• Number 179. Siege of Petersburg Reports of General Robert E. Lee, C. S. Army, commanding Army of Northern Virginia, of operations February 5-8 and March 25
• Number 180. Abstract from returns of the Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee, C. S. Army
• Number 181. Siege of Petersburg Reports of Major General John B. Gordon, C. S. Army, commanding Second Army Corps, of operations February 6 and March 25
• Number 182. Siege of Petersburg Report of Colonel William R. Peck, Louisiana Brigade, of operations February 5-7

Reports from the Official Records: OR Vol. LI, Part 1

• OR LI P1: Report of Lieutenant J. Webb Adams, Tenth Battery Massachusetts Light Artillery, of operations February 5-11, 1865
• OR LI P1: Report of Brigadier General Henry Baxter, commanding Second Brigade, Third Division, Fifth Army Corps, of operations February 5-7, 1865
• OR LI P1: Report of Colonel Charles W. Tilden, Sixteenth Maine Infantry, of operations February 5-11, 1865
• OR LI P1: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Henry M. Tremlett, Thirty-ninth Massachusetts Infantry, of operations February 5-10, 1865
• OR LI P1: Report of Lieutenant Colonel John P. Spofford, Ninety-seventh New York Infantry, of operations February 5-8, 1865
• OR LI P1: Report of Major John B. Overmeyer, Eleventh Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations February 5-10, 1865
• OR LI P1: Report of Captain George French, Ninety-fourth New York Infantry, Third Brigade, Third Division, Fifth Army Corps, of operations February 5-10, 1865
• OR LI P1: Report of Captain Archibald McC. Bush, Ninety-fifth New York Infantry, of operations February 5-10, 1865
• OR LI P1: Report of Bvt. Lieutenant Colonel Dennis B. Dailey, Sixth Wisconsin Infantry, commanding One hundred and forty-seventh New York Infantry, of operations February 5-10, 1865
• OR LI P1: Report of Lieutenant Colonel John T. Jack, Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations February 5-10, 1865
• OR LI P1: Report of Captain Henry H. Herpst, One hundred and twenty-first Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations February 5-10, 1865
• OR LI P1: Report of Bvt. Major General Rufus Ingalls, Chief Quartermaster Armies operating against Richmond, of operations July 1, 1864, to June 30, 1865
• OR LI P1: Report of Colonel Richard N. Batchelder, U. S. Army, Chief Quartermaster Army of the Potomac, of operations June 30, 1864, to June 30, 1865
• OR LI P1: Report of Major Thomas T. Eckert, Assistant Quartermaster, U. S. Army, Assistant Superintendent U. S. Military Telegraph, of operations July 1, 1864, to June 30, 1865

Other Reports on the Battle of Hatcher’s Run

• CT AG 64-65: Report of Colonel James Hubbard, 2nd Connecticut Heavy Artillery, of operations February 6, 1865
• UPR: Report of Colonel Andrew H. Tippin, Sixty-Eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations February 5-7, 1865

Correspondence from the Battle of Hatcher’s Run: OR Vol. XLVI, Part 2

UNION

• Jan. 31:
  • First reference is a dispatch from Grant to Parke asking him to have the AotP ready to move at a moment’s notice. (314) Earlier, Grant had been given info that Mahone’s Division had left and gone south.
  • Parke asked to estimate what portion of his troops would need to be left behind to hold the fortified lines around Petersburg (315)
  • Second Corps issues orders to be ready to move at moment’s notice (316)
  • Grant asks Ord to “prepare your troops with six days’ rations, four of them in haversacks, from Thursday next, preparatory to moving with all available forces at that time.” (318)
  • Strength of AotP by Corps on Jan. 31, 1865 (324)
• Feb. 1:
  • Second corps issues orders to division commanders to be ready to move at a moment’s notice, and to have six days’ rations on hand. (345)
  • Sixth corps issues same order as Second corps (346)
• Feb. 2:
  • Grant asks Ord to check out the possibility of Kautz’s cavalry moving around Confederate left “from the Nine Mile Road into the city”, and talks of backing him up with a corps from the AotP if the weather holds. (356)
• Feb. 3:
  • Ord asked Kautz about Grant’s message of day before to “stir him up” (363-364)
• Feb. 4:
  • Grant writes to Stanton to tell him he’d like to have Schofield w/ Terry move first before trying to force Lee out of Richmond. (365)
  • Grant to Stanton telling him Gregg has been ordered to “move down the Weldon road” to break up Rebel supply wagons with an infantry corps ordered to Stony Creek in support. (366)
  • Grant to Meade, Feb. 4: telling Meade the object of the Eighth Offensive, Meade’s slight tweaks to plan follows (367-368)
  • Meade tells Grant cav will move at 3 a.m. and infantry to follow at 7 a.m. Butler’s division of cavalry (correctly) reported to have left the area for North Carolina (368)
  • Grant asks if Gregg can go to Belfield, it’s possible he can destroy a lot of supplies given that Rooney Lee’s division is the last one left to Lee at the moment (368)
  • Meade forwards Grant’s question to Gregg and asks him to do as Grant says and head to Belfield if contraband info makes the trip seem worthwhile (369)
  • Meade replies that Gregg has been told to head to Belfield after getting to Dinwiddie CH IF he finds evidence making the trip is worth the risk (369)
  • Grant asks Meade if he will be at AotP HQ on Feb. 5. If so, Grant would like to see him and will be taking his wife.  Meade replies he will be out the Vaughan Road near the expected action.  Grant says, go be with your troops, we’ll do it another day. (369)
  • Intel info reinforces that Butler’s cavalry division has left for North Carolina. (370)
  • AotP Circular (370-371):
    • Gregg to start at 3 am and to Ream’s Station and then on to the Boydton Plank Road (which way?), to capture as many enemy supply wagons as possible.
    • Waren starts at 7 am and heads to “a point designated as J Hargrave’s house, on the road leading from Rowanty Post-Office to Dinwiddie Court-House.”
    • Humphreys to take two of his divisions to the Vaughan Road crossing of Hatcher’s Run near Armstrong’s Mill, keeping a connection with the established Union fortifications to the right and Warren to the left to prevent any Confederate flanking attacks they favored so much during the Siege.
    • Ninth and Sixth Corps to be ready to send help if needed.
  • Meade’s Chief of Staff Alexander S. Webb instructs A. A. Humphreys to take the two divisions which aren’t on the line, which means Smyth and Mott, with four days’ rations and 50 rounds of amo. They haggle over the exact nature of the rations, and Humphreys asks if he should bring intrenching tools. (371)
  • Specific orders to Humphreys’ Second Corps on what they are to do on Feb. 5. Leave at 7 am and hold Vaughan Road crossing of HR and Armstonrg’s Mill. Take two batteries of artillery (which ones?) (372)
  • Humphreys asks Webb and Meade if one medicine and one hospital wagon should go with each brigade. He also says he has gotten three batteries ready instead of two, and could take all three. (372)
  • Second Corps circular detailing line of march and specific instructions (373-374)
  • Humphreys to Miles, whose division is staying behind (374)
  • Humphreys sends another circular telling Smyth and Mott what to take with them on the march. (375)
  • Orders to Smyth’s Div. from 2^nd Corps HQ (375)
  • Smyth’s 2^nd, 2^nd Corps has a march order by brigade of First, Second, Third. (376)
  • Orders to Mott’s Div. from 2^nd Corps HQ (376)
  • Mott sends a circular to his 3^rd 2^nd Corps, with order of march being First Brigade, BG Regis de Trobriand, then Roder’s btty, then Second Brigade, Bvt BG West (who?, find out), then Third Brigade, Bvt BG McAllister; then ambulances, spring wagons, ammunition train. (376)
  • Mott to his Frist Brigade commander at 11 pm (376-377)
  • HQ AotP to Warren instructing him to move with 4 days’ rations and 50 rounds of ammo on the person, 40 in wagons (377)
  • Warren asks if he can move down Halifax Road to Rowanty Post-Office, then to take the direct road to the crossing of Rowanty Creek at W. Perkins’. He says it shorter than going to Reams’ Station. (377)
  • AotP HQ agrees with Warren and changes his instructions accordingly, telling him what the other pieces of the operation will be doing. (377-378)
  • Warren asks if he can just leave his 1400 man picket force on the picket line, and AotP HQ defers to his judgment on the question. (378)
  • 5^th Corps Circular telling his commands to be ready to move. Sent at 1:30 pm on Feb. 4 (378)
  • More detailed 5^th Corps circular setting the march order and what to take with them. March order: First, Ayres’ Division, Second, Griffin’s Division, then three batteries (which ones?), Third, Crawford’s Division, Fourth, ambulances, Fifth, reserve ammo wagons. (379)
  • 1^st, V Corps circular tells the three brigade commanders what to bring with them. (379)
  • Message to Gregg from AotP HQ telling Gregg to bring 3 days’ rations for his men and 1.5 days’ forage for the horses. (380)
  • AotP HQ sends specific orders to Gregg (380-381)
  • Gregg reports intel from a deserter saying Mahone’s Division had just been headed to Belfield. (381)
  • A contraband is sent to Gen. Gregg with valuable information, and also to act as a guide. (382)
  • 2^nd Div. orders from Gregg to his brigade commanders at 8:50 pm on Feb. 4. March order, moving at 3 am: First, 2^nd Brig., second, 3^rd Brig., third, ½ of the ambulances of the division, fourth, 1^st Brig. They would move down JPR to Gary’s Church, then to Ream’s Station, at which point Gregg would verbally give further orders.  Forage for horses would travel with Warren’s Corps at 7 am and stay with him for protection.  Third Brigade to detail one cavalry regiment to stay with Warren and to report to him at 6 am, one hour before the infantry move. (382)
  • Gregg to his brother J. I. Gregg about his pickets. (382)
• Feb. 5:
  • Grant to Halleck at 10:30 pm telling him Gregg’s Cavalry went to Dinwiddie CH after meeting “but little opposition.” Gregg captured 18 wagons and 50 prisoners, but didn’t go to Belfield.  Warren moved at 7 am to get to Stony Creek and also met “but little opposition,” capturing 30 prisoners.  Humphreys moved on the Vaughan Road to crossing of Hatcher’s Run and was attacked late in the afternoon, repulsing every attack.  Grant not sure on what the casualties are yet. (388)
  • Meade to Grant, Crossing of Hatcher’s run by Vaughan Road, Feb. 5, 2:30 pm (sent 3 pm) Humphreys reached his assigned points by 10 am, capturing nine prisoners from Pegram’s Division. At the time of the letter, Humphreys is sending troops down Vaughan Road to connect with Warren.  Warren crossed most of infantry (over Hatcher’s Run) by 1 pm, would have to build a 50 foot bridge to get over wagons and artillery, and hoped to be fully over by 3 pm. Nothing heard yet from Gregg. Meade believes from prisoner reports that Confederates are attempting to get between Warren and Humphreys, a gap of four miles at that point in time.  Meade sent up one of Parke’s Divisions, Hartranft’s, to be available to help close that gap if needed. (395)
  • Meade to Grant, Crossing of Hatcher’s run by Vaughan Road, Feb. 5, 6:15 pm (sent 7:10 pm) Humphreys was attacked on his right at 5:15 pm on Feb. 5, with Humphreys repulsing all attacks. Meade had ordered up Hartranft from IX Corps and Wheaton from VI Corps to come to Humphreys’ aid.  Warren had reached his objective of J. Hargrave’s house without ever even meeting the Confederates.  Gregg had been to Dinwiddie CH and returned to Hatcher’s Run by the Malone Road.  Meade ordered Gregg to move to Warren’s position.  Meade suspects the enemy is trying to cut off the expedition from the permanent Union works.  Deserters were reporting the divisions of Pegram and Gordon (Evans’) from Second Corps and Heth and Mahone from Third Corps (all correct info).  Meade says he will leave Humphreys and Warren in place overnight. (389)
  • Grant to Meade, City Point, Feb. 5, 7:15 pm Grant indicates he received Meade’s 6:45 dispatch. Grant asks Meade to “bring Warren and the cavalry back” and to see if the enemy attacks on Humphreys’ right lead to an opportunity to reach the South Side Railroad, or “a positions from which it can be reached.” (390)
  • Meade to Grant, Crossing of Hatcher’s run by Vaughan Road, Feb. 5, 8 pm (sent 8:22 pm) Meade says he has withdrawn Warren and Gregg to near the Hatcher’s Run crossing of Vaughan Road to consolidate, pulling one of the three V Corps divisions over to the north side to provide a reserve for Humphreys. He has asked Humphreys to attack if it makes sense to do so.  Meade doubts the ability to reach the SS RR or even Boydton Plank Road “without a flank movement considerably to the left.” (390)
  • Meade to Grant, HQ AotP, Feb. 5, 9:30 pm (sent 10 pm) seems to be outdated by a day. This order doesn’t make sense on the night of Feb. 5.  It looks like it should have been Feb. 4.  (390)
  • Meade to Grant, HQ AotP, Feb. 5, 10 pm Meade tells Grant that upon arriving at AotP HQ he found a dispatch from Gregg, and that a staff officer who came from Warren told him that reports there from Gregg indicated his rear guard may have gotten cut off. Meade tells Grant he is worried that the Confederate cavalry will get between Gregg and Warren, cutting Gregg off entirely, and then getting onto the road Warren had used to advance.  He asked Gregg to keep that road open and protect Warren’s left, or southern, flank. (390-391)
  • Grant to Meade, City Point, Feb. 5, (Received 10:25 pm) Grant asks Meade to give him a report of the locations of his troops and the enemy’s, and to tell Grant what Meade proposes for the next day. Grant wants Meade to stay and fight. (391)
  • Meade to Grant, HQ AotP, Feb. 5, 10:30 pm (sent 11:15 pm) Meade goes over the events of February 5, telling Grant he will attack the Confederates in the morning if they venture outside their trenches. (391-392)
  • S. Webb orders out the “Provisional brigade” (I think) commanded by Andrew H. Tippin of the 68^th Pa. See the recent report you pulled out of this correspondence volume of the ORs.  Order is forwarded to Tippin. (392)
  • Union signal corps reports for Feb. 5 (393-395)
  • Alex S. Webb orders up the Engineer Brigade at 1:10 pm on Feb. 5 to report to Gen. Parke, presumably to help him man the defenses in the absence of Hartranft. (395)
  • Second Corps correspondence on Feb. 5 (396-400)
  • Fifth Corps correspondence on Feb. 5 (400-404)
  • Sixth Corps correspondence on Feb. 5 (404-407)
  • Ninth Corps correspondence on Feb. 5 (407-409)
  • Second Cav. Div. correspondence on Feb. 5 (409-410)
• Feb. 6:
  • Grant and DC correspondence Feb. 6 (414-416)
  • Grant and Meade correspondence Feb. 6 (416-418)
  • Union signal corps reports for Feb. 6 (418-421)
  • Second Corps correspondence on Feb. 6 (422-430)
  • Fifth Corps correspondence on Feb. 6 (430-436)
  • Sixth Corps correspondence on Feb. 6 (436-437)
  • Ninth Corps correspondence on Feb. 6 (438-439)
  • Second Cav. Div. correspondence on Feb. 6 (439)
• Feb. 7:
  • Grant and DC correspondence Feb. 7 (445-447)
  • Grant and Meade correspondence Feb. 7 (447-450)
  • Union signal corps reports for Feb. 7 N/A
  • Second Corps correspondence on Feb. 7 (450-453)
  • Fifth Corps correspondence on Feb. 7 (454-461)
  • Sixth Corps correspondence on Feb. 7 (461-463)
  • Ninth Corps correspondence on Feb. 7 (463-464)
  • Second Cav. Div. correspondence on Feb. 7 (464-466)
• Feb. 8:
  • Grant and DC correspondence Feb. 8 (473-476)
  • Grant and Meade correspondence Feb. 8 (476-479)
  • Union signal corps reports for Feb. 8 N/A
  • Second Corps correspondence on Feb. 8 (479-485)
  • Fifth Corps correspondence on Feb. 8 (485-490)
  • Sixth Corps correspondence on Feb. 8 (490-493)
  • Ninth Corps correspondence on Feb. 8 (493)
  • Second Cav. Div. correspondence on Feb. 8 (494)
  • Meade to Ord, Feb 8 (494-495)

CONFEDERATE

• Feb. 1: (1188-1191)
• Feb. 2: (1192-1193)
• Feb. 3: (1193-1198)
• Feb. 4: (1199-1204)
• Feb. 5: (1204-1205)
  • Lee to Cooper, Feb. 5 (Received 2:45 pm) Lee informed Cooper that the Union army, likely 2^nd and 5^th Corps, had crossed Hatcher’s run on the Vaughan Road with cavalry, and that Lee was “preparing to meet them.” (1204)
  • Taylor (Lee) to Pendleton (probably near the same time as previous dispatch) Taylor tells Pendleton of the Union movement and asks him to have the artillery along the lines ready for any attacks (1204)
  • Dunn (Longstreet) to Kershaw, Benning, G. W. C. Lee, and A. C. Haskell (i.e. troops north of James River), telling them that Lee anticipates a Federal move on his left too, just as they had done several times in previous offensives. (1204)
  • Taylor (Lee) to Grimes (11 pm) Lee reports (correctly) to Grimes, commanding a Second Corps division, that the Union cavalry went to Dinwiddie CH and then retired, so Grimes doesn’t need to head in that direction any longer. (1205)

• Feb. 6: (1205-1208)
  • Lee to Cooper (no time, presumably late in the day) Lee describes the Union movements of February 5-6, 1865 from the Confederate perspective as well as the fighting which had occurred on the 5-6. (1206)
  • Longstreet to Lee (no time) Longstreet tells Lee there are no indications the Union had also moved on the north side of the James in this case. (1206)
  • Longstreet to Taylor (Lee) Tells Lee that a deserter reported (false) part of the Second Corps crossed over to the north side of the James on Feb. 5. (1207)
  • Latrobe (Longstreet) to Benning (no time) Longstreet tells Benning that the Union tried to cross White Oak Swamp, and that Gary’s Cavalry has been ordered to stop such attempts going forward. (1207)
  • Bushrod Johnson to R. R. Duncan (presumably Anderson’s 4^th Corps AAG) (no time) Reports new Union troops on the line in front of Wise’s brigade. (1207)
  • Latrobe (Longstreet) to Gary (no time) Longstreet tells Gary to resist attempts by the Union to force crossings of White Oak Swamp, and to call on Confederate infantry if necessary. (1207)

• Feb. 7: (1208-1209)
  • Longstreet to Taylor (Lee) (no time) Longstreet tells Lee he has learned the Army of the James has written orders to have four days’ cooked rations on hand, presumably for a sudden movement if necessary. (1209)
  • Latrobe (Longstreet) to G. W. C. Lee at Chaffin’s Bluff (no time) Longstreet tells G. W. C. Lee that he needs to hurry up the bombproofs on his portion of the line north of the James River. (1209)
  • Bushrod Johnson to Duncan (presumably Anderson’s 4^th Corps AAG) (no time) Johnson indicates that thirteen of his wagons were captured by Gregg’s cavalry near Dinwiddie CH on the Boydton Plank Road on Feb. 5. (1209)

• Feb. 8: (1209-1210)
  • Lee to SoW Seddon (no time) Lee pens a lengthy dispatch to Secretary of War Seddon telling him what happened from Feb. 5-7, 1865. He tells Seddon something must be done about the supply issues, and recommends a reorg of the commissary dept. before a disaster occurs. (1209-1210)