Battery L, 1st Artillery Regiment (Light) - George Breck Columns: Chapter 26: “Such Terrible Fighting” Grant’s Overland Campaign, May 13, 1864 – June 22, 1864

In launching their part of the spring offensive, Meade and Grant hoped to get the Army of the Potomac across the Rapidan and through the densely wooded area known as the Wilderness before Lee fully realized what was happening. The Union army could then use its superior numbers to advantage in the open country beyond. For a variety of reasons that didn’t happen, and the Army of the Potomac became engaged in a bloody slugfest in the middle of the Wilderness.

In the field, near Spottsylvania Court House
May 13, 1864
(Appeared Wednesday, May 18, 1864)

The glad notice has just been given to the several batteries of our brigade that a mail will be made up and sent from headquarters this noon. Numberless pens and pencils are being plied, and the opportunity for communicating home will be gladly improved, you may rest assured, for all mail communication has been nearly if not quite suspended since this great campaign began, and then, precious little time has been afforded to the soldier to write, for he has been kept almost constantly busy moving and fighting since breaking camp on the north side of the Rapidan. This is the tenth day of the campaign, and will be the ninth day of fighting if the fighting is continued to-day. I shall not attempt to furnish a detailed account of the movements and operations of the army, as they have fallen within my observation or are known to me. Indeed, I havn’t time to write but a few lines relating more particularly to our battery. My readers will have to, as they have already no doubt, refer to the graphic and full descriptions of the campaign as given by New York and other correspondents. I believe it is no exaggeration to say that the campaign of the last ten days in this state exceeds anything which has ever occurred in the annals of all modern warfare. Such terrible fighting, such slaughtering of human beings with war’s tortures and deadly missiles, such tenacity and desperation of purpose on both sides to overcome and defeat each other, such displays of bravery, heroism and endurance, such an exhibition of scenes, incidents, and everything associated with the strife and carnage of battle, have but few parallels in history.

Our own battery, as most of the batteries, have suffered but little, as artillery was almost powerless during the two great battles of the Wilderness, fought the 5th and 6th insts. The fighting was mostly by infantry until yesterday and day before, when the roar of artillery seemed to shake the very earth. The topography of the country in the Wilderness is such that it was difficult to use artillery. The positions for it were few and far between owing to the dense thicket of the trees, and yet, it was crowded into nearly every open space, however small.

The army began to move at an early hour on Wednesday, the 4th inst., in the direction of Mine Run and Chancellorsville. The 5th corps crossed Germania Ford followed by the 6th. – Marched about 15 miles, halting at 4 p.m. and encamping for the night near the Lacy House where Stonewall Jackson is said to have been taken after he was wounded. The 2d corps moved on our left. The day was beautiful and the troops moved forward in the best of spirits. No opposition in crossing the Rapidan, no sight of the enemy, no fighting that I could learn.

The next morning (May 5) our battery moved out towards Parker’s store with the 1st division of the old 1st corps, now the 4th division of the 5th corps. The command was under Gen. Wadsworth, who advanced with his infantry on our right.

When Confederate soldiers were spotted along the Orange Turnpike, Warren’s V Corps, leading the Union advance, was ordered to attack them. Two of Warren’s divisions, including Wadsworth’s, had already started moving southwest from Wilderness Tavern toward Parker’s Store. Wadsworth’s brigades had to stop, face west, then advance into a tangled growth where formations quickly fell into disarray. The Confederates, part of Ewell’s corps, plunged into the gaps, flanking the Union attackers and driving them back all along Warren’s line. Artillery was of little use to either side; there simply weren’t enough clear areas for artillerymen to deploy their guns, much less see what they were shooting at.

About 10 o’clock he (Wadsworth) became hotly engaged with the enemy and was repulsed after a most severe contest. Our position was such that we could do nothing, and a very precarious one in a small opening of woods where we came very near being gobbled up by the rebels, after they had flanked and driven back Wadsworth’s division. We fell back to the Lacy House, and there remained in park till the next day.

Terrific musketry fire on Thursday afternoon (May 5), beginning at 3 ½ o’clock and continuing till 7 p.m. The 6th corps was hotly engaged, who drove the enemy about two miles. In the engagement of the morning Battery D of our regiment lost two guns, the rebels suddenly appearing on the right flank, and the battery being without support, or rather this section of it, it was captured. Lieut. Shelton, formerly of our battery, was wounded in the leg and taken prisoner. He was commanding the section. It was impossible to save it, all the horses being shot down and the rebels being in force. Lieutenant Shelton had just received his commission, and we regret exceedingly that he should have fallen into the enemy’s hands. When his sabre was demanded he was seen to take it off and then throw it on the ground as if indignant at the demand. It is reported that he was not severely wounded, and we hope we may soon welcome him back in our brigade. The Federal army can illy afford to lose such a man and officer. (1)

A. P. Hill’s Corps, in the meantime, had advanced along the Orange Plank Road, which ran south of and roughly parallel to the Orange Turnpike. His soldiers were stopped just short of the vital Brock Road intersection. Meade and Grant ordered an all-out attack at dawn the next day, May 6, along the Orange Plank Road against Hill’s outnumbered Confederates. As Union soldiers pushed down the Plank Road at daybreak, Lee’s right wing began to crumble. However, the Union attack began to bog down because too many soldiers were compressed along the road. Reinforcements from Longstreet’s corps arrived just in time to stop the Federal attack. Part of Longstreet’s men used an unfinished railroad cut to reach a position beyond the Union left flank. They attacked, rolling up the Union flank and pushing panicked soldiers back to the Brock Road, where the Confederate attackers, equally hindered by the dense growth of the Wilderness, also bogged down.

On Friday morning (May 6) skirmishing began at daybreak, followed soon after by a terrible musketry fire. The volleys exceeded anything I ever heard. The fighting continued till 8 a.m., when there was a lull for two hours succeeded by still another storm and rattle of musketry. Burnside’s corps advanced on the right, the 6th corps on the left, the center of our lines falling back, with the purpose of drawing Lee towards the centre so as to flank him. But he was not to be caught in any such trap. Troops of all kinds, dismounted cavalry, heavy artillery, and engineer corps, are pushed to the front. It seems as if the rebel army must be overcome by the superior weight of numbers alone. But then what they lacked in men was about equalized by their position, so completely entrenched behind works and concealed in the wilderness of trees. Our troops had to feel their way forward every step they took.

Thursday afternoon we went into position again to cover with an enfilading fire any charge the enemy might make on our right center. – The loss of men and officers, killed, wounded and taken prisoners, the first two days of the battle was immense – not less than 30,000 on our side. The rebels tried to break through between the 5th and 6th corps Friday night but were signally repulsed.

The Confederates launched another flank attack, this one against the far right end of the Union army, late on May 6 that enjoyed initial success, then sputtered out in the darkness. For all practical purposes, the battle of the Wilderness had ended in a stalemate after 17,666 Union casualties, at least 5,000 more than those suffered by the Confederates. Previous commanders of the Army of the Potomac would have retreated back across the river to regroup. Not Grant. In another turning point of the war, Grant ordered the Army of the Potomac to move past Lee’s right, aiming for the key crossroads at Spotsylvania Courthouse. Battery L was among the units leading Warren’s V Corps in the race to the intersection.

Saturday’s fighting (May 7) was severe. There was more cannonading and the 6th corps had a warm engagement in the afternoon. (2) At 8 o’clock p.m. we began to move towards Spottsylvania Court House. I was told that it was the intention of Grant to reach there with the army before Lee did, and if he succeeded in doing so he would have the inside track to Richmond and would move directly on that coveted place. But the enemy was at Spottsylvania before Grant arrived there, and the place has not been reached yet. Griffin’s Division, 5th corps, led the advance Sunday (May 8) and when about two and a half miles from Spottsylvania Court House, made a charge on the enemy and was badly repulsed.

Soldiers from Confederate General Richard H. Anderson’s corps (formerly commanded by Longstreet, who had been wounded by his own men on May 6) reached Laurel Hill just in advance of Warren’s men. Warren, convinced he faced only light resistance from Confederate cavalry, committed his soldiers piecemeal as they arrived on the field. Battery L fired 127 rounds in support of these futile attacks from a position just to the right and front of the Alsop House. That night, the battery dug in, constructing lunette defenses – fortifications with two walls, or faces. (3)

Our battery accompanied the division and took position on a hill, where we became engaged with a rebel battery. Two or three charges were made by our troops but little or no ground was gained. The slaughter was terrible. The 6th corps was hurried up, and soon it and the 5th were fighting furiously with the enemy. The day was very hot. The next day (May 9) the battle was renewed with vigor, and our troops succeeded in driving the enemy on the right across Po river, which will probably be the name by which the battles fought in this vicinity will be known.

In late afternoon on May 9, Grant ordered Hancock’s II Corps to cross the Po River opposite Lee’s left flank, and try to advance down the Shady Grove Church Road into the rear of Lee’s army. Battery L moved up near the Pritchett House at 3 p.m. to help support this crossing. (4)

We reported to Gen. Gibbon, 2d Corps, Monday afternoon (May 9), and took position to enable him to take possession of a bridge across the above named river. It was while in this position that private Myron Matthews of our battery was shot through the neck by a rebel sharpshooter, the ball passing through near the left shoulder. He was conveyed to a hospital, and though the wound was a serious one, it was thought it would not prove fatal. Young Matthew died however, Wednesday afternoon, and is buried not far from the hospital, and from where I am now writing. This is the only casualty that has happened to the battery. We have been wonderfully preserved. We feel and deeply regret the loss of our comrade, and sympathize with his friends and relatives in their bereavement. (5)

On Tuesday (May 10) there was but little fighting . . .

Breck probably meant to say that Wednesday, May 11, was a day of little fighting. Heavy fighting occurred on Tuesday, May 10, when Battery L fired 231 rounds in support of Hancock’s withdrawal from south of the Po. (6) The fighting on May 10 also included a successful surprise assault by Upton’s brigade against a muleshoe shaped salient projecting towards the Union line. Upton’s men had to retreat for lack of support after overrunning a section of Confederate trenches. Nonetheless, Grant was so impressed with Upton’s initial success, that he decided to duplicate the effort on May 12 with a surprise attack on the same salient at dawn by Hancock’s entire corps, supported by Burnside’s corps. The attack succeeded – at first – but when Confederate reinforcements sealed off the Union penetration, the fighting degenerated into a savage brawl that lasted all day and into the night with little ground gained.

. . . but yesterday (May 12) the battle began at daybreak and raged all day long. A volume might be filled with its description. It rained nearly all the day – rained hard, but the conflict went on, there being no cessation for many consecutive hours of the most terrific musketry and cannonading. The success of Hancock on the left in capturing three Generals, 7,000 prisoners and thirty guns was certainly a great and glorious one, and caused our troops much joy and elated them with enthusiasm. (7) But this success, great as it was, did not bring anything decisive with it, and come night our army had not gained much ground. It appeared that such awful carnage and fighting must produce decided results one way or the other; but to use a homely phrase, both armies hold on with bull-dog tenacity. Lee has been badly handled, his army has suffered greatly, but I believe he will fight till he has not another man to fight; and when or how this campaign will terminate I shall not pretend to say. It seems that Grant must be victorious, that Lee and his army will be driven to the wall; that the Southern Confederacy will receive its death blow before this month expires. We will hope so at any rate. Our battery was hotly engaged yesterday, taking one position and then another. (8)

The men behave nobly. But I must close. The mail is about going, and I wish to send this with it.

In my last I mentioned the resignation of Capt. Reynolds, or of his tendering it. It came back accepted the night we broke camp. The suspension of communication northward has prevented Capt. R. leaving the army. His resignation was accepted solely on account of a surgeon’s certificate of disability, and very much do we regret that this disability obliged him to relinquish command of the battery. The character and efficiency of Battery L I need not mention, and to Capt. Reynolds is greatly due this fact. Most prompt, energetic and attentive in his duties as a commander, devoted to the best interests of his command, and truly capable in every respect as an officer, brave and collected in battle, and attached to and careful of his men, genial and most social companion, he has served his country nearly three years, and retires from the service, bearing the honored mark, physically and otherwise of love and devotion to his Government. He leaves a battery whose condition and record are second to no volunteer battery in the service. Our best wishes and those of the company will attend him wherever he is or goes. G.B.

It is very quiet to-day. We are resting near the 5th Corps hospital. The battery is in park, horses unhitched and unharnessed. The rest to man and beast is most acceptable.

Even while confronting Lee’s army in the trenches at Spotsylvania, Grant kept trying to edge around Lee’s right. At the start of the battles there, the Union army lay primarily northwest of the crossroads; by the end, it lay primarily to the northeast and east. This was achieved in part when Grant shifted V and VI Corps from the right side of the Union line to the left, with a miserable march in mud and rain the very night after Breck finished writing the above letter….

Near Spottsylvania Court House
May 17, 1864
(Appeared Friday, May 27, 1864)

This is the fourteenth day of the campaign. – The army has made no progress except to move farther to the left, since the date of my letter written on Friday last, the 13th inst. It then lay fronting northeast as far as I am able to judge, the right resting on or near Po river. It now lies fronting south east, the right resting on or near Ny river, the troops, or most of them, being massed between the two rivers. These two streams would hardly be denominated rivers up North as they are quite small, being two of the four branches of the Mattapony river, deriving their names from the last two syllables of that river, the other two branches taking their names from the first two syllables, Mat and Ta. Spotsylvania Court House is about a mile northwest of where our Battery is in position, and can be seen from the crest of a hill in front of us. The two armies confront each other in plain sight, both being in strong positions and both, apparently, waiting for the other to attack first. –Burnside is on our right. He was on our left before moving last Saturday night. (9) That movement cost this army one of the severest marches it ever made; to move two miles we had to march seven, and the roads were in a horrible condition – mud knee deep and almost impassable. The heavy rains of the two preceeding days had put Virginia soil in the worst possible shape, and Burnside’s famous mud march was fully equaled. The troops hadn’t time, scarcely, to get their breakfast before they were ordered into position. Our Battery was planted where it now is.

Wainwright identifies the battery’s location as “close to” the Beverly house, where Battery L’s guns fired in support while two attacks were made to gain and regain a position at the nearby Myers’ Farm on May 14. (10)

There was some musketry and cannonading and an attempt was made to take possession of a hill and piece of woods a little to our left and front. The position was gained, but afterwards lost and then retaken.

In front of us nineteen of the enemy’s guns can be counted, well protected behind earthworks. Lee is evidently well prepared to receive us, however strong the assault may be.

I cannot perceive that our army has in reality made any advance since leaving the Wilderness. Grant unquestionably hoped and expected to turn his right flank, get possession of Spottsylvania C.H., and if not reach Richmond first, force Lee to fall back to the defences of the rebel capital. Lee was on the alert for any such movement and before this army could reach the Court House the rebel army was there confronting us in force. Were it not for the handsome success of last Thursday (May 12) gained by Hancock, in the capture of several thousand prisoners and eighteen pieces of artillery, there would be no very great substantial advantages to recount in our favor.

I stated in my last that the 2d corps captured 30 pieces of artillery. That was the official announcement of Gen. Hancock to the army on the battle field. It appears that he was mistaken, for Gen. Meade informs us that only 18 guns have been captured altogether and eight thousand prisoners.

I think that the losses in killed, wounded and missing are about equal on both sides. The burning to death of the wounded lying on the battle field in the conflagration of the woods, is one of the most harrowing incidents of this campaign. The same occurred when Hooker fought in this vicinity.

Myron H. Matthews of our Battery, reported as wounded, has since died from the effects of his wound, on Wednesday afternoon, the 11th instant. He was a good soldier, brave and fearless in battle, and we mourn his loss. His family and friends have the sympathies of the company in their bereavement.

An order from Army Headquarters has just been issued, reducing each six gun battery in this army, except the horse artillery and one twenty pounder Parrott Battery, to four guns, retaining all its caissons, however. The surplus ordnance stores and horses will be sent to Belle Plain, and turned in to the proper department at that place. The Batteries of the artillery reserve are to be distributed through the different corps. What the object of this order is I cannot say, unless it is to make a more vigorous use of the Reserve Artillery, or to carry more ammunition, and have less guns. The order includes regular as well as volunteer Batteries. This is not a very agreeable order to commanders of six gun Batteries, they very naturally being desirous of retaining the number of pieces which constitutes what is regarded a full battery. And then, too, they dislike to part with guns which have done long service in many a bloody conflict. It may be that after the campaign, the guns will be returned. (11)

On May 18, Grant sent soldiers from the II and VI Corps against Confederate lines across the base of what had been the salient. They were stopped cold by Confederate artillery and thick abatis – an obstacle created by piling felled trees in the direction of a likely enemy advance. Battery L moved up to the left and front of the Beverly House and fired 383 rounds at Confederate artillery in support of the Union attack. (12)

May 19, 1864

I have had no opportunity to mail this letter. A mail will be sent this afternoon I understand. I will add a few more words to send with this.

We are still in about the same position, but not in battery. Nearly all the batteries in this corps, now numbering seventeen, have been all ready to move since daybreak this morning – horses harnessed and hitched, and standing near 5th corps Headquarters. It is now 4 p.m. There is a movement of some kind in progress. The Sixth and Burnside’s corps moved to our left this morning. We are expecting to follow.

A general attack was planned and attempted yesterday morning, but it resulted in a failure; our troops being repulsed with a loss of from 500 to 700 men.

The particulars I have not heard, further than the report that a portion of the Sixth and Second Corps on our right drove the enemy from two lines of rifle pits, but coming to an abattis, they were obliged to fall back. Battery L was engaged near the extreme left with two other rifle batteries joining our right and left, and we had a very severe artillery conflict. We first began firing, the enemy soon responding with two or three batteries, and had it not been for the excellence of our position – the best we ever occupied when in action – we should undoubtedly have sustained much injury. The rebel firing was good and sharp and their position as well covered as ours. We had two men wounded, Sergt. Frederick Deitz, from Scottsville, and John G. Minnamon, from Pittsford, both “old veterans” and lately returned from furlough. Sergt. Deitz was struck on the left shoulder blade with a piece of shell, bruising him severely, but it is thought he is not seriously injured. He is doing well to-day at the hospital. Young Minnamon had his left heel cut and torn by the fragment of a shell. He is also getting along comfortably.

We expended about 400 rounds of ammunition silencing the rebel batteries. There were many narrow escapes.

We have been favored with a mail to-day, the first received in two weeks.

Reinforcements of all kinds keep pouring in. A lot of the hundred day men are here and are being drilled.

Gen. Grant is said to have remarked that he never knew what fighting was till he witnessed the desperate, bloody and stubborn conflicts of this and Lee’s armies. There never was harder and more tenacious fighting, and Gen. Grant has certainly found a powerful and remarkable antagonist in the person of Gen. Lee, more so than in any other General with whom he has had to cope. May he indeed prove Lee’s superior in the end, though who can predict when the end will be. The superiority of men and material is on our side and that may win the day. G.B.

The bitter fighting around Spotsylvania Court House produced another 18,399 Union casualties in what was clearly becoming a campaign of attrition. By May 12, Lee’s losses were approaching 20,000, and he had also lost 20 of 57 corps, division and brigade commanders. (13) Grant, realizing he could gain nothing further at Spotsylvania, disengaged on May 21 and began another end around – again moving to the southeast around Lee’s right, following the line of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac Railroad. Lee’s army fell back behind the North Anna River near Hanover Junction to protect the Virginia Central Railroad, a key supply route.

In the field , near Hanover Town, Va.
May 30, 1864
(Appeared Tuesday, June 21, 1864)

Within fifteen miles of Richmond. Another day’s march would bring us within the precincts of the much coveted, long labored and hard fought for rebel capital – the great goal – which has cost three years of the severest marching and fighting to reach, the sacrifice of tens of thousands of lives, and the expenditure of countless treasure. But that day’s march, which, if allowed to be performed without or with little opposition, would doubtless find us treading the streets of the great centre and strong-hold of the Southern Confederacy before the rising of to-morrow’s sun, is destined to be lengthened into many days, for is it not, of course, to be expected that literally every inch of ground between here and Richmond will be disputed by the enemy with the most stubborn obstinacy, the strongest tenacity, the most unyielding hostility; and, indeed, is it not reasonable to suppose that if Lee is compelled to retire behind the defences of Richmond that the result will be a hard and protracted siege of that city? As I write, picket firing is going on in front, about two miles distant, which may ensue in a battle ere long. An hour ago there were a few reports of cannon – from our side apparently. It is a warm, pleasant morning, a nice breeze is stirring, the air is a little hazy, and with the exception of the sound of skirmishing everything is very quiet. Our battery, with nine or ten others of the 5th Corps, is parked in a large, level field, horses unhitched and unharnessed, and grazing not far away. We have been in this locality since last evening. Yesterday afternoon we advanced from Hanover Town, about three miles back, which place we arrived at the afternoon previous, crossing the Pamunkey river between one and two o’clock p.m. The rebels made no opposition to our crossing, and it is said that the army’s appearance at the place of crossing was entirely unexpected to the enemy, and took him by surprise. It is certain that a few pieces of cannon planted on the south bank of the river could have seriously interfered our troops from effecting a passage, and any considerable force might have prevented the army crossing at all. The Sixth Corps, or a portion of it, had crossed the river in the morning.

But let me briefly relate our movements from the time my last letter was written, the 19th inst. We were then in park near Spottsylvania Court House. About five o’clock that afternoon an attack was made on one of our wagon trains on the Fredericksburg road, directly in our rear, by a part of Ewell’s force. (14) It was suddenly begun, and for a little while it seemed as if success would attend the movement. The musketry was very sharp, and the engagement lasted about an hour, resulting in a complete repulse of the enemy, though not without a severe loss in killed and wounded on our side. The 2d battalion of the 4th Heavy Artillery was acting as skirmishers or pickets at the time of the assault, and I have been told that success on our part was due in a great measure to their stubbornness in resisting the advance of the rebel line until reinforcements came up. And then the timely arrival of a Maryland regiment returning from furlough, coming from Fredericksburg, helped materially in the repulse. Major (George) Forsyth of your city was also actively engaged with a small force of cavalry.

Our battery was ordered in the same position occupied the day before, to the left and front, in anticipation of an attack from that quarter. There was no demonstration made, however. We remained there all the next day. Towards evening, bands of music along the federal and rebel lines, almost within sight of each other, struck up several airs most industriously. A Union band would play the Star Spangled Banner, with a response from rebeldom with Dixie. Then the lively music of Yankee Doodle or the patriotic strains of Hail Columbia would be heard, followed on the other side by the Bonnie Blue Flag. The music was varieated with the occasional whizzing and zipping of a sharp-shooter’s bullet. Is there a greater anomaly in the world than this matter of fighting between man and man?

On Saturday, the 21st inst., the army began what I denominate its third flank movement on the enemy’s right. We took up our line of march that forenoon in the direction of Guiney’s Station – moved through a beautiful country, very level, well cultivated, but thinly settled. The roads, as in fact are nearly all the roads we have traveled over since leaving Spottsylvania C.H., were lined on either side with beautiful cedar trees, and were in excellent condition. Fine large plantations, with elegant mansions were […] here and there, but their beauty and elegance, and all about them soon became destroyed and a waste as our army advanced, pillaging and marauding being more characteristic of this campaign than any other I ever participated in. Houses have been thoroughly ransacked and robbed of everything in a number of instances; elegant libraries totally destroyed, and vandalism appears to have had full sway. A shame and disgrace is all this to our army and (our) cause, doing us no good, but working us great evil.

Encamping near Guiney’s Station Saturday night, we resumed the march at 9 o’clock the following morning over the Telegraph road, almost due south. It was warm and dusty. Marched about fifteen miles that day. There was some skirmishing in front of the column. – We took position once, but were not in action. That night we encamped near Pole Cat creek. The march was resumed the next morning (May 23) at 5 o’clock, Battery L following Ayers’ division. It was a lovely morning, but the heat became quite intense by noon. Fields of waving grain and beautiful landscapes were to be seen on every hand. For the first time during the campaign, it became necessary for us to forage for our horses, the supplies of grain being limited and nearly exhausted. The country is well supplied with corn, or rather was, before the system of foraging was resorted to. We have seen nothing, from the appearance of the country or of the rebel prisoners, to indicate that starvation is or has been staring the to be hoped for “tottering” Southern Confederacy in the face. All the prisoners I have seen looked strong and hearty, equally well as our own men.

We reached the North Anna river about 3 p.m. on the 23d inst. The 2d and Burnside’s corps moved on our left, the 6th corps in rear of the 5th. The advance of our corps crossed the river at Jericho’s Ford by fording, and the speedy construction of a pontoon bridge soon allowed all the corps to cross. The banks of the river at this point, as all along the river so far as I could see, are very high and steep, and difficult of descent and ascent. The river is about the width of the Genesee. The enemy made no attempt to impede the progress of our troops while crossing the river. Rifle batteries were put in position on the north banks to cover the passage of the troops. Our battery was on the extreme left, about a quarter of a mile below Jericho’s Ford. By 5 o’clock, the corps being on the south side with several light 12 pound batteries, an advance was begun by extending the left and front of our lines. The right was left more or less exposed. The troops had not moved forward very far when all of a sudden a terrific musketry fire was opened, and at the same time a rebel battery belched forth its shot and shell, by an enfilade fire, into the midst of our troops, causing considerable disaster and disorder. This battery was to our left and front, about fifteen hundred yards distant, and we had a good range of it. We opened fire, as did another battery on our right, and in ten minutes the hostile battery was silenced.

Warren’s troops were the only ones across the North Anna at this point. Here was the chance Lee had been waiting for, to destroy an isolated part of the Army of the Potomac. Gen. A.P. Hill attacked with four brigades, hitting the right flank of Warren’s bridgehead before the Union troops were fully deployed… (15)

In the meantime our infantry was hotly engaged with the rebel infantry, and were being roughly handled. In advancing they had alighted on what was almost an ambuscade, and were received with such deadly volleys of musketry that they broke and began to retire in great haste and confusion. These were not new men but old veterans who had borne the brunt of terrible battle time and again, and had so distinguished themselves in the various conflicts in which they had fought that they had won the proud distinction of the “Iron Brigade.” But there are times when scarred and war-worn soldiers cower before the “leaden rain and iron hail” of battle, particularly when such a furious storm bursts upon them at an unlooked for moment. While our infantry were thus falling back in bad order, and matters looked as though the whole of the 5th corps would be driven into the river, the light twelve pounder batteries were quickly put in position and began their death dealing work. Battery H of our regiment, commanded by Captain (Charles E.) Mink, a brave and fearless officer who has fought the rebellion from the beginning and whose battery did excellent service on the Peninsula, poured forth double charges of canister into the rebel ranks immediately in front; and very soon the onset of the enemy was stayed. The infantry were rallied and in turn began to drive the rebels. Battery D of our regiment did good execution. Never was the strength and efficiency of the artillery arm of the service more marked than on this occasion. It saved the day, in all probability, saved the 5th corps, or changed what was likely to prove a terrible disaster to our army into a victory. Those on the north side of the river, who had an extended view of all that was transpiring on the south side, trembled for the result of the issue as they saw our troops breaking and hurriedly falling back towards the steep banks of the river. The thought of another Ball Bluff disaster, or something similar, occurred to their minds. (16) Two officers of our regiment were wounded in this engagement, one mortally, Capt. (H. W.) Davis of Battery E, Brigade Inspector, who was shot in the neck and shoulder and died while being conveyed to Fredericksburg. He had been recently promoted to a Captaincy and was a fine man and officer. Lt. (Angell) Matthewson, in command of Battery D at the time of action, received a flesh wound in his leg. He had just been relieved at his own request, acting assistant Adjutant General of the artillery brigade of our corps in order to assume command of the above battery.

Battery L, which remained on the north bank during this engagement, fired 87 rounds to help silence the Confederate battery opposite it. Wainwright, in his diary, credited the battery with doing “excellent service.” (17) Though Hill’s attack was beaten off, Grant’s army remained in a precarious position, especially after Hancock’s II Corps established a bridgehead on the south side of the North Anna farther downstream. Lee’s army lay in an inverted V, with the point on the river between the two wings of the Union army. Should Lee attack one wing, reinforcements from the other wing would have to cross the river twice to help. Fortunately for the Army of the Potomac, Lee was taken ill and was unable to direct an attack. (18) On May 26, the Army of the Potomac pulled back to the north bank and began yet another move around Lee’s right, again angling southeast, crossing the Pamunkey River at Hanoverton. Richmond was now less than a dozen miles away…

On Tuesday afternoon, May 24th, we crossed the North Anna and encamped near the river till the morning of the 26th, when we recrossed the river and again went into camp near the north bank. A heavy rain fell in the morning during our march, and all hands got the benefit of a thorough drenching. The 6th corps had recrossed the river the night previous, and was on its way to the Pamunkey. Another flank movement by our army. Gen. Grant found Lee too strongly and formidably entrenched to turn his position on the North Anna, and the disposition of our troops was such, owing to the nature of the river and the enemy’s works, that it was impossible to reinforce one wing or corps by another in case of necessity, without first crossing the river and then re-crossing it – which before that was accomplished Lee might be able to totally defeat a part of our army by massing his forces at that particular point. – There is no mistake that our army was in a bad shape at the North Anna river, and Gen. Meade is reported to have said, when the army had returned to the north side of the river, that it was a matter of congratulation the enemy did not take advantage to mass his troops against any single corps or wing of our army.

The destruction of a portion of the Virginia Central R. R. leading to Gordonsville was one thing accomplished by the movement to North Anna river. I think the loss of life in the two or three days’ desultory engagements was greater on our than on the rebel side.

At 6 p.m., on the day of recrossing the river (May26), we were ordered to be ready to move. After patiently waiting for nine long hours for the movement to begin, we moved out and marched very rapidly all day, reaching Brandy Mine (Brandywine) at 9 o’clock p.m. Our march was through a rich, fertile country and over fine roads, like the marches of the few preceding days. We passed a most magnificent plantation, the property of a widow lady who has a son commanding a rebel battery. The negro huts, fifteen or twenty in number, were laid out in the form of a semicircle, of uniform size, and the mansion, the residence of the widow, was purely Virginian of the real “manor” kind. There were fifty negroes on the place when the advance of our column reached it, but we venture to say that they have all availed themselves ere now of the benefits of emancipation. We saw two or three cart loads of big blacks and little blacks with all their motley worldly effects, drawn by oxen, following in the wake of the army. So much more of the rebellion crushed, thought we, if Slavery has been the sole cause of it and is all that actually keeps it alive.

Early Saturday morning (May 28), our march was resumed and the hottest and dirtiest one we have experienced in the campaign. I have mentioned our arrival at the Pamunky, our crossing the river, and our movements up till to-day. As before conjectured, I think it probable this campaign will terminate in taking Richmond by siege, if Lee retires to its defences. Grant’s object appears to be the defeat and dispersion of Lee’s army if possible, the possession of the rebel capital being a minor consideration with him. We believe he is right. It is the rat we are after, not so much the rat hole.

The army’s base of supplies is now at White House Landing I have been informed. We are about eighteen or twenty miles from there, and communication is open and safe. Reinforcements continue to arrive daily, sometimes in squads of five thousand each. The inhabitants of the country through which we have passed are astounded at such vast multitudes of men. They declare that Richmond must be conquered by what they consider such countless numbers. A woman not far from here expressed the hope that it might fall into the Yankees’ hands before Saturday night. She, like hundreds of other citizens of the Old Dominion, is heartily sick of the war, and well they may be, for they have been stripped and robbed of everything.

James W. Angus of Palmyra, one of the buglers of our company, has been missing since Thursday, the 19th inst. He was dispatched on an errand that morning while we lay at Spottsylvania C.H. and has not been seen or heard of since. He was mounted and the probability is that he lost his way, strayed into the rebel lines and was taken prisoner or else he fell into the hands of some guerrillas. G.B.

More fighting flared on May 30 when Warren’s corps crossed Totopotomoy Creek and pushed west down two parallel roads – Shady Grove Church Road and Old Church Road, the next road south. Confederate Maj. Gen. Jubal Early, commanding Ewell’s corps, hurled his soldiers down Old Church Road to try to turn Warren’s left flank. Early’s attack initially succeeded, routing Crawford’s division and driving it back to Shady Grove Church Road. However, when Early then halted to strengthen his own lines, the Federals were able to reform. When the Confederates resumed their attack, they were repulsed with heavy losses. Battery L was brought up in support of another battery covering Crawford’s retreat and was briefly engaged with a Confederate battery that had been placed on Old Church Road. The battery fired 76 rounds of shot and shell. (19)

Tuesday, May 31 – As anticipated, the heavy picket and skirmish firing yesterday morning resulted in quite a severe engagement before night. The First division of the 5th corps had been gradually advancing to the left all the morning, when about 2 or 3 o’clock in the afternoon the rebels were seen about in front of the line of the 5th corps, drawn up for battle. They constituted a part of Ewell’s corps and soon became engaged with our troops. They made a furious charge on battery D of our regiment, approached within one or two hundreds yards of it, when the deadly and fearful effects of canister charges, and the volleys of musketry, caused the rebels to break and run. Then ensued an awful carnage. Hundreds were slain and wounded, and many were taken prisoners. Among the killed was a rebel Brigadier General and a number of line officers. I visited the field this morning where the charge was made, and the ground was strewn with the dead, presenting one of War’s most horrid sights. A large pioneer corps has been employed all the forenoon burying the rebel dead and taking off their wounded.

In the midst of yesterday’s conflict, and when it seemed as if the enemy would drive our troops, our battery was ordered to the front on a double quick – or a “trot,” in artillery parlance – under the fire of a rebel battery. We took position on the left of where the charge was made, and immediately opened fire on the battery that was throwing its destructive missiles into our lines. Half an hour’s engagement sufficed to silence our hostile neighbor, and we heard no more from it. We suffered no casualty.

There was heavy cannonading on the right of our lines, by Burnside’s corps, I believe. There has been more or less firing in that direction all this forenoon. We seem to be massing troops there. The flanks of our army are now more exposed in this more open, level country, and will have to be watched carefully, or Lee will be apt to attack one or the other with an overwhelming force. Our right wing is said to rest within six or seven miles of Richmond. We wonder where the close of another month will find the army? This is the last day of May. The last day of June and what, and where then? G.B.

Near Gaines’ Mill
June 7, 1864
(Appeared Thursday, June 23, 1864)

The name of Gaines’ Mill must sound very familiar to my readers, for it is the name of the first great battle that was fought at the commencement of Gen. M’Clellan’s preparations to change his base of operations against Richmond from the Peninsula to the James river. Two years ago the 27th of this month this battle was fought, and although Gen. Porter was defeated it was a defeat which cost the enemy one of the severest and deadliest struggles to accomplish that have taken place during the war. All day long the conflict raged, the rebels numbering two to one against the Union troops, and attacking every point of our lines in superior force and the most determined manner. Seventy thousand troops against thirty-five thousand, how was it possible to contend successfully against such overwhelming numbers, and yet, the point aimed at and desperately fought for by the enemy was not obtained, and owing to the unequaled bravery, valor, and discipline of our men. And then the series of sanguinary engagements which followed that of Gaines’ Mill in daily succession have made the ground all about this locality memorable and historic. Coal (Cold) Harbor is near here, where army headquarters have been established for about a week past. I think they were moved further to the left yesterday.

We have been here, encamped, since late Sunday night (June 5). Nearly all the 5th corps was in this vicinity yesterday morning, enjoying a season of rest, but two, if not three divisions are now in position, or are moving to take one. The first division, Gen. (Charles) Griffin, with three batteries, has gone to Bottom’s Bridge, and I understand that the whole army is soon to cross the Chickahominy. It seems to be the general impression among the troops that military operations are to be transferred to the James River, but it is next to impossible to ascertain with any degree of positiveness what is transpiring in the army, outside of one’s own immediate command, much more, what is going to transpire. There has probably never been a campaign when so little was known what was going on in the field, or what movements were likely to take place outside of the commanding General. Corps commanders have been kept in the dark, absolutely so, very frequently as to the main designs and plans of the General commander. It has been a matter of almost as great conjecture to them at times as to what general army movements meant, as to subordinate officers. Perhaps the success that has attended this campaign is due in a measure to the secrecy with which it has been carried on by Grant and Meade.

After repulsing Early’s attack on May 30, Warren consolidated his position around Bethesda Church. The two armies were again maneuvering to control a vital crossroads, this time at Cold Harbor. However, the two armies lay in such close proximity that Grant had to shuttle VI Corps from the extreme right of his line while the rest of his army confronted Lee. And so, on the night of May 31-June 1, Wright’s soldiers made a forced march to relieve Sheridan’s beleaguered cavalry at Cold Harbor, three miles southeast of the point where Warren held down the left flank at Bethesda Church. Simultaneously, Gen. William F. “Baldy” Smith’s XVIII Corps, brought up from Butler’s army at Bermuda Hundred, was also advancing on Cold Harbor from the White House Landing. On June 1, Wright’s and Smith’s men filed into position at Cold Harbor and launched a late-day attack designed to gain a foothold from which a general assault could be launched the next day when Hancock’s II Corps was also expected to arrive. Hancock’s men arrived too late and too exhausted to attack on the 2nd. The attack was postponed to dawn the next day. In the meantime, with the bulk of the army concentrating at Cold Harbor, Warren’s V Corps and Burnside’s IX Corps now constituted the right wing, rather than the left wing, of Grant’s army. On June 2, while his other three corps prepared to assault Cold Harbor, Meade decided to tidy the right end of his line. He shifted Burnside’s troops to Bethesda Church and ordered Warren to move farther left to connect with Smith’s Corps. Battery L was sent to fill a 500-yard gap between Warren’s and Smith’s corps and became hotly engaged with Confederate artillery. That afternoon, Early, detecting the movement by Warren’s and Burnside’s soldiers, attacked with his corps, overwhelming a picket line before being repulsed. (20)

Since last writing our battery has been engaged two or three times with the enemy’s batteries, but no casualty has occurred. Last Thursday (June 2) we took position from the right to the extreme left of the 5th corps, the right of the 18th corps resting on our left, about a mile distant. We advanced to the position under a heavy artillery fire and exposed to the fire of sharpshooters. It was a very difficult matter to get range of the rebel guns, some of them 20 or 23 pounders, they being very much under cover and concealed by two belts of timber. After a pretty hot artillery duel, both sides seemed to suspend firing as if by mutual consent, though we gave the last shot. The firing was renewed occasionally during the following day, we beginning it early the next morning. A general attack was to be made that morning (June 2) along our lines, so I was informed, but the fighting was confined chiefly to the right, between Burnside’s and Warren’s corps and a large force of the rebels. It was a desperate battle, the enemy trying to turn our right flank and cause a disastrous defeat to our army. He was driven back, however, with great slaughter, but not without inflicting a severe loss on our side too. The afternoon previous, when the Fifth corps was advancing to the left, the rebels attempted to break our lines, but Burnside was near by and saved the day.

Battery L remained in position on the left flank of V Corps, “ duelling daily until the night of June 5, expending 350 rounds of ammunition, and were subject to a fire of sharpshooters, and fighting 10, 12, and 20 pounders,” Lt. Anderson reported. (21)

All through this campaign, whenever a flank movement has been made, or when the lines have been extended to the left, the plan has been to move the corps which was on the right to the left, then the next corps to the left of that, and so on until the first corps thus moved became the right of the line again. A kind of telescopic plan of field manoeuvering.

I regret to say that during the engagement of last Friday, about 9 a.m., Lieut. Charles De Mott was struck by a case shot, it passing thro’ his body and killing him instantly. His battery was hotly and closely in action at the time, and while observing the effects of firing from one of his guns, he was struck as above mentioned. Lieut. De Mott was formerly 1st Sergt. of Battery L, a position he occupied for over a year, when he was promoted to a lieutenancy and assigned to Battery D. I have spoken in previous communications of Lieut. De Mott’s patriotism, his […] soldierly qualities, his manliness of character, and how faithful and devoted he was in the service of his country. His death has deeply grieved the hearts of his old comrades and associates in the army, and is a loss to the cause which he so strongly loved and faithfully served. We would pay to his memory the tribute of our greatest respect and highest esteem, and most sincerely do we extend to his bereaved wife and family, and friends at home, our earnest and heartfelt sympathies in their great loss. The remains of Lieut. De Mott were embalmed and have been sent North.

Battery D has sustained many severe losses during the campaign, has been on several occasions in many of the hottest and most desperate conflicts, and has been served with the greatest skill and efficiency. It has helped to repulse a number of furious assaults of the enemy.

It is reported that the 4th heavy N.Y. Artillery have been formed to work or man a siege train. It may be a mere rumor, for I have not heard it authenticated.

The 5th corps has been reorganized. Regiments and brigades have been transferred from one division to another. The four divisions are commanded by Gens. (Charles) Griffin, (Romeyn) Ayers (Ayres), (Samuel W.) Crawford and (Lysander) Cutler. Six of the batteries in the corps have been assigned to two of the divisions in command of Griffin and Ayers, three to each division. The remaining six batteries constitute the artillery reserve of the corps. Battery L is in the reserve, a position unaccustomed to by said battery. These changes have been made by Gen. Warren, commanding the corps.

The three night attacks of last Friday, Saturday and Sunday by the rebels on the lines of the 2nd and 6th corps, have probably been made known to my readers. They were not of long duration, but while they did continue, they were furious and deadly in the extreme – furious in the manner of assault and deadly, more particularly, to the attacking party than the party attacked. The war of artillery on each occasion was terrific. These night assaults possess a particular terror.

The weather is quite moderate for this vicinity and season of the year. G.B.

Warren’s and Burnside’s corps, still holding the Union right, did not participate in the horrible attack that unfolded on June 3 at Cold Harbor. At first light, Union soldiers of three corps – Hancock’s II, Wright’s VI and Smith’s XVIII – left their trenches and advanced across open ground against withering fire. The Confederates had been given too much time to perfect their defenses; the ground in front of them had been turned into a perfect killing field. In a matter of minutes, an estimated 7,000 Union soldiers were killed, wounded or captured, with thousands of others pinned down in front of the Confederate trenches. Grant later conceded the attack should never have been made. However, he followed up this blunder with a brilliantly conceived and executed maneuver. He sent Warren’s V Corps and a cavalry division across the Chickahominy, feinting towards Richmond as if that were the real target. The rest of the Army of the Potomac was marched to the James River, and then across it, driving for Petersburg, the hub for most of the railroads that kept Richmond – and Lee’s army – alive. The maneuver worked brilliantly. Lee was frozen in place. When the Army of the Potomac arrived in front of Petersburg, the city was only lightly defended, ripe for the picking . . .

Near Charles City Court House, Va.
June 15, 1864
(Appeared Friday, June 24, 1864)

Another movement of the Army of the Potomac by the left flank. Another change of “base.” The line of operations which Gen. Grant tho’t and declared he would use if it took all summer has certainly been abandoned, and that line is in process of adoption by which Gen. McClellan first proposed to operate against Richmond, but which, for well known reasons he had to abandon for the Chickahominy. We all believed that Grant was too much of a soldier and too great a general to adhere to a certain line of military operations when it became necessary to change it for a better and more practicable one, even though he had made a public and official declaration that he should operate on such a line only. The change of base and operations to the south bank of the James River is proof of Gen. Grant’s wisdom and strategical abilities in accommodating himself to circumstances, and conforming his conduct to such movements as will best insure the capture of Richmond and the defeat of Lee’s army.

Before this reaches you, the whole army will doubtless have crossed the James River and begun operations on the south side of that famed stream. Already a portion of it has crossed, part of the 2d corps and some of the 6th. I have been informed (Gen. William F.) “Baldy” Smith’s troops (XVIII Corps) have also recrossed, taking transports at the White House. My letter, you perceive, is dated near Charles City Court House. It lies about a mile directly east of our camp and is the present location of Grant’s and Meade’s headquarters. – South of us about half a mile is the “beautiful James;” beautiful in itself and in its surroundings, a broad and placid stream with picturesque banks, reminding us of the beauties of our own “beloved Hudson.” Sitting at our tent we can see the smoke of steamers or propellers lying at the landing – called Wilcox’s – or moving up and down the river, and the occasional whistle of their engines breaks the stillness pervading in camp.

We arrived at this point Monday night (June 13) about 12 o’clock, leaving the Chickahominy that afternoon at 4 o’clock, and making a very rapid march. Our own battery, with two or three others, and a brigade of the 4th division of the 5th corps, moved in rear of the 5th corps train, the remainder of the corps waiting till a later hour to move and taking a different route. We were on the south side of the Chickahominy near Bottom’s Bridge on Monday for a few hours only, having crossed that war-historic stream early Monday morning at Long Bridge, or between long and Bottom’s Bridge, I don’t know which. We moved up the river about two miles, halting for the time above mentioned. The Chickahominy is too familiar to my readers to require any attention from my pen. Suffice it to say that we saw all we wished of it, had no desire to remain and operate in its swamps, and were glad enough when we escaped its unattractive and malarious district and entered upon the healthy and open fields in the direction of James River. What the Chickahominy must have been when McClellan was operating along it and its vicinity, I never fully imagined, until I came to see the sluggish stream buried in an almost impenetrable thicket of woods surrounded by huge swamps. Now, the grounds on which McClellan’s operations were conducted, are dry and easily traversed, in consequence of the splendid weather which has characterized this campaign; but then, the heavy and constant rains made the soil vast beds of mud and slough, and the wonder is how Gen. McClellan was ever able to conduct military operations at all, why he didn’t give up in despair with such an array of obstacles and elements to contend against, political and natural. His lofty and devoted patriotism, and his great military genius, saved the army and saved the country.

The onward course of Grant from the Rapidan to the James is due not a little to the bright suns and genial air, to the incomparably good roads with which the Lieut. General has been favored from the commencement of the campaign. And then, who will say that mischievous politicians have not been kept at bay, that they have been allowed to interfere with the operations and movements of the Army of the Potomac, counseling and advising Gen. Grant to do this and not to do that, and setting up their peculiar views as to how military matters should be conducted, in opposition to men of military education and science. And then again, aid has not been withheld, but men and material have been given without stint, reinforcements have been furnished in full, responsive to all demands for them, and in a word, most happily and rejoicingly, the conduct of the war has been entrusted, on the let alone principle, to Lieut. General Grant, who has proved himself eminently worthy of the trust and responsibility committed to him, and who, we devoutly hope, will become the hero of Richmond as he now is the hero of Vicksburg.

As I write, distant cannonading can be heard in the direction of the Chickahominy apparently. It has been exceedingly quiet for the past few days. The enemy has not been disposed, seemingly so at least, to impede the army’s movements, and few demonstrations have been made. I suppose it is about time to hear from our cavalry who started off the other day on a general raiding and destructive tour towards Gordonsville, Charlottesville, etc. (22)

John G. Minnamon of our battery, wounded in the foot at Spottsylvania C.H., necessitating amputation, is reported to have died in the hospital at Washington. His death is a severe loss to the battery, as he was one of its best and truest members, a good, brave and veteran soldier, a boon companion, beloved by his comrades and officers, who deeply mourn his loss. Precious indeed is that country upon whose altar is voluntarily offered such a life as that of our late friend and comrade.

The weather continues beautiful and the troops are in the very best of spirits. The country about here is the finest I have seen in Virginia, the greatest wheat growing district in the State, I understand. We are encamped in a large wheat field, or what was once such, constituting part of an extensive and elegant plantation. A mansion across the road is said to have been the residence of President Tyler. The infantry are crossing the river on transports, and the batteries and trains, I have been told, are to cross over on pontoons. G.B.

On June 16, the artillery brigade of V Corps crossed the James River by pontoon bridge, and marched all that day and night to join the Union army in front of Petersburg. (23) The first Union troops to reach Petersburg on the15th, Gen. “Baldy” Smith’s XVIII Corps of 16,000 men, were confronted by only 2,200 Confederate defenders. However, after overrunning sections of the fortifications guarding the city in early evening, Smith turned cautious and failed to advance, thereby committing one of the great blunders of the war. For the next three days, Union soldiers were committed piecemeal in a series of bloody assaults. Confederate reinforcements bolstered Gen. Beauregard’s meager force to 14,000; he skillfully fell back on a second, and third line of defense and succeeded in keeping Grant’s men from taking the city before Lee’s army arrived.

Near Petersburg, Va.
June 22d, 1864
(Appeared Thursday, June 30, 1864)

The Army of the Potomac is not in Petersburg, as has been extensively reported by the Northern press, based on an “official announcement,” but near the town – about two miles distant – between the inner and outer lines of intrenchments which seem to surround the place. Its church spires and steeples, and some of the buildings are visible; but the city is not ours, though it lies at the mercy of our cannon, exposed to a furious rain of shot and shell, and rumor has it that Gen. Grant has ordered all the non combatants to leave the town, as it is his purpose to shell it. I doubt this, however, as the destruction of the place – of its buildings, factories, etc., would not necessarily oblige Lee to evacuate it, and as long as the rebel general holds possession of Petersburg, no particular object is to be gained in the mere destruction of the place. It may be that, if it is taken at all, it will have to be done by a siege. The inner works in front of the city are said to be much stronger than the first or outer line; and I can bear witness that these (of the outer line) are of the most formidable nature, consisting of redoubts, salients, traverses, etc., of the greatest thickness, made of sand and clay, and so constructed and covered as to admit of the passage of artillery in and out of them without being seen, and, of course, a protection to the men. And these works, built, I should think, one or two years ago, were taken with comparative ease, and with little loss of life, considering the brilliant achievement accomplished. I have interested myself to learn how it was that they were carried so easily, and the truth, as near as I can ascertain, is that they were taken by a sudden flank movement, encountering not a very stubborn opposition, for the enemy had but a small force behind the works to withstand the superior numbers of Smith’s gallant men. And this force, or at least that portion of it attacked by the colored troops, was composed of a great many boys and old men, what we might denominate at the North as home guards, known as the “Wise Legion.” They did not exceed five regiments, and taking almost unawares, the colored troops, led by their officers, rushed upon them, capturing, not them, however, but six guns which the enemy abandoned. The Wise Legion escaped. Let us give all due credit to the black soldier for his fighting qualities, but this rendering to Caesar the things that don’t honestly belong to Caesar, and extolling Pompey above the white soldier, for courage and dash, valor, bravery and endurance, may delight some of the devoted worshipers of the ebony idol, but we fail to “see it” ourself. No objection to our darkly-hued “comrades in arms” assaulting the heaviest works, and rushing into the hottest places of attack, -- rather he would than not, but don’t seek to make him the superior of the American soldier of American or European descent. (24)

The easy and successful capture of the first line of works in front of Petersburg shows pretty conclusively that Lee was unprepared for Grant’s army at this point, otherwise he would have had a much larger force, if not the greater part of his army. The sudden movement to the south side of the James really appears to have been a surprise to Lee, and in it, I think we may truthfully say, Lee was brilliantly outgeneraled by Grant. It was surely a most rapid and brilliant movement, attended with complete success, executed right in the face of Lee’s veteran army, almost without a particle of serious molestation. The passage of the army across the James was a magnificent sight, with its heavy columns of infantry, its trains of artillery, white-covered supply and baggage wagons, ambulances and everything pertaining to an immense and mighty war-host. The pontoon bridges over which the army crossed were probably the longest ever constructed during the rebellion, being a mile, or nearly that, in length.

By 9 o’clock on Thursday morning (June 16) of last week, we had crossed the James, and after going into park till 4 p.m., we began moving towards Petersburg. Our route was over excellent roads, very dry, and too dusty for comfort – through a wooded country, though not without many open and clear fields. The soil in this vicinity is sandy, and has not the appearance of being very rich. Our march was a rapid one, continuing all night, with a rest of one hour. Cannonading could be heard in our front nearly all the way. At 5 p.m. (a.m.?) on Friday (June 17), we had reached within a mile or two of the rebel works, a portion of which they still held and hotly contended for against the attack of our troops. About noon we were ordered to advance with our battery, and took position on the extreme left of the 5th corps, which constituted the left of the army’s line. We soon became engaged with a rebel battery, posted behind a most formidable and well built fort or redoubt, with every advantage on the enemy’s side. We fired at different intervals for two or three hours, sustaining no injury and very likely inflicting none, though we could see the missiles from our guns strike the enemy’s works. Part of the time we were engaged in firing at some buildings to rid them of sharpshooters, who were badly damaging our troops. (25)

On the night of June 17, Beauregard withdrew his soldiers to a third and final line of defense. When the Army of the Potomac moved forward the next morning, it found empty trenches where it expected to find the enemy, causing more delays before the advance was resumed. Lee’s army, in the meantime, finally began arriving in Petersburg. Breck’s battery and two others advanced with Cutler’s division “to the Avery house and the edge of the woods beyond,” Wainwright wrote, taking position “ to the right of the woods along a ridge opening on the enemy's batteries and troops beyond the railroad.” (26) Meade’s efforts to finally coordinate an all-out assault came to naught. “Somewhere in the strained machinery of the army, a gear wheel went askew, and the various pieces of the Army of the Potomac and the Army of the James lurched piecemeal into battle,” Noah Andre Trudeau notes. (27) The staggering losses incurred during six weeks of almost continuous fighting – some 65,000 killed, wounded or missing – had clearly dulled the army’s fighting edge. The third and final Confederate line held. Petersburg would not be taken by direct assault.

On Saturday morning (June 18) it was discovered that the rebels had evacuated the fort and intrenchments in front of us, and fallen back to the second line of works, thus giving our army possession of the entire first. On the discovery of this fact, the 5th corps was pushed forward, Battery L advancing with Gen. Cutler’s division, and again becoming engaged with the enemy’s guns. We took position at a trot, under fire, in an open field and had a pretty sharp artillery duel. Our troops gradually advanced to the front and left, other batteries taking position, and with our own advancing by section and battery and firing while advancing. Some six or eight batteries, numbering about thirty guns, were thus in action, and as they approached nearer and nearer the rebel works flinging their iron projectiles in hot profusion at them, the occasion was not a little exciting. Our infantry drew closer and closer to the works, preparatory to making a charge. Battery L was getting out of ammunition and no more of the kind we used could be obtained then, and so after the expenditure of a few more rounds we had to retire. (28) The charge was made after we left the field and repulsed, though the ground was held that had been gained, a little beyond the Norfolk and Petersburg railroad which is now in our front. In this engagement we were fortunate again in escaping without harm, except in one instance, a member of Battery E attached to our company, James Reynolds, was wounded by one of our own guns, he very carelessly passing in front of it just as it was fired off. It was a severe flesh wound from which he will doubtless recover.

In my last, I stated that Battery L was in the reserve artillery of the corps. More properly it has been in the advance since we crossed the James, as it was the first to be in action on Friday and Saturday last. Twenty-two of its men, including a part of battery E, men and two non-commissioned officers, have been detailed to serve some Cohorn mortars under command of Lieut. (James B.) Hazelton of our regiment. The number of mortars is six, but there are men enough to serve only two at present. These mortars are brass, with a bore of five and a half inches in diameter and carry a twenty-four pound shell. They are carried in wagons or carts, and have been used several times during the campaign with more or less success. Properly worked, they will drop a shell very accurately in the enemy’s forts or intrenchments, and must prove demoralizing if not destructive. They are made after the pattern of larger mortars and loaded and fired similarly. Between the serving of 3 inch rifle guns, and 5 1/2 inch mortars, battery L may be said to be doing its share towards the capture of Richmond. The mortars have to be posted in close proximity to the skirmish line where there is generally uninterrupted music of the zipping of bullets.

Another movement is being made by the “left flank” as I now write. The 2nd corps moved yesterday in a northwesterly direction, followed by the 6th corps last night. The army appears to be swinging around in the west of Petersburg, and probably an attack will be made on that side, above the city, and if successful will effect every purpose as the capture of Petersburg, so far as severing railroad communication with the rebel capital is concerned. But this movement, I venture to say, is fully known to the enemy, for they could not help seeing our troops in motion from the position they occupy, and then the clouds of dust signaled the moving of heavy columns of troops. A brisk skirmish or picket firing is going on in our front, with now and then the report of cannon.

The losses of our army since it began operations against Petersburg have been quite heavy, not far from four or five thousand in killed and wounded. The 5th corps has lost about fifteen hundred, and the 2nd corps suffered badly in the engagement of Thursday or Friday last, and was pretty severely handled by Beauregard’s troops.

Two officers in the artillery brigade of our corps have been killed and wounded here, Lieut. (Peleg W.) Blake of a Mass. battery (5th Mass. Battery), being killed by a sharpshooter on Sunday last, and Lieut. (Benjamin F.) Riddenhouse (Rittenhouse) of Battery D, 5th U.S. Artillery, being severely wounded on the same day by one of their unerring riflemen. This makes fifteen or sixteen officers out of twelve batteries constituting the brigade, who have been killed and wounded since the commencement of the campaign; almost fifty per cent.

Were I to state the total loss of the army up to the time the change of base was made to the north side of the James river, as reported from headquarters of the Provost Marshal General of the army of the Potomac, the statement would certainly appall my readers. The true figures will come to light one of these days. It doesn’t become us to indulge in any comments, but we can’t well avoid keeping up a “terrible thinking.”

The weather continues very pleasant. Occasionally we have the full benefit of Sol’s hottest rays, but the temperature is remarkably mild at this season, for this southern clime. I heard an officer remark the other night, who was in McClellan’s Richmond campaign, that this campaign as compared with that in point of weather, roads, etc. had been one continual holiday, a real pic-nic excursion, over beautiful roads, through a magnificent country, under a smiling sun, but alas attended with what fighting, what strife, and carnage, and bloodshed! May the ultimate achievements of the campaign prove commensurate with its cost.

President Lincoln, it is reported, is visiting the army. An officer jocosely remarked to your correspondent that the President had come down to look after the “Copperheads” in the army, of whom there is a large sprinkling in the thousands of commands, both small and great, composing the army of the Potomac and fighting, and ready to fight till the “bitter death” – paradoxically as it may appear to the real “fanatics” of the land – for the not forgotten “object” which first called them to the field, the Union, the Constitution and the laws, in all their original purity and integrity. G.B.

Cooper’s and Breck’s batteries held their positions near the front of the woods, in front of the Avery house, until June 20, according to Wainwright, when they were assigned to Crawford's division, and on the 26th relieved two batteries of the II Corps in “the small works west of the plank road.” (29)

Transcribed And Donated By Bob MarcotteTranscribed And Donated By Bob Marcotte
​​​​​​​Robert E. Marcotte
Rochester, N.Y.
February 2005