Battery L, 1st Artillery Regiment (Light) - George Breck Columns: Chapter 27: “Tired Of The War” Siege At Petersburg, June 29, 1864 – Sept. 12, 1864

“Five railroads converged on Petersburg, unerringly pointing out its strategic importance,” Noah Andre Trudeau has written. (1) Along these railroads came the supplies that kept Richmond and Lee’s army alive. After four days of assaults failed to capture Petersburg, Grant settled in for a siege. For the next nine months the two armies huddled in fortifications and trenches that eventually extended some 40 miles across the countryside, in some places only a few hundred feet apart. Throughout the siege, however, Grant continued to launch operations aimed at isolating the city, by trying to seize the railroads that entered the city from the south and west. Often this involved applying pressure both north of the James and south of Petersburg, at opposite ends of the Confederate defensive line, either simultaneously or in quick succession. These operations had the added benefit of forcing Lee to extend his lines farther and farther, tying down troops that might have been sent to help Johnston against Sherman. The first of these operations was hardly a success, however. It occurred as Breck wrote on June 22. II and VI Corps advanced west past the Jerusalem Plank Road to seize the Weldon Railroad. However, as II Corps pivoted northward, it became separated from VI Corps. Confederate Maj. Gen. William Mahone struck II Corps’ exposed left flank with three brigades, and routed three union divisions. The soldiers of both corps withdrew.

In the field, front of Petersburg
June 29th, 1864
(Appeared Wednesday, July 6, 1864)

Not a gun to be heard. No infantry firing, no artillery. The crack of the sharpshooters’ rifle nowhere within my hearing breaks the silence prevailing along the lines of the two hostile armies. This silence reigns just as I now write, but it may be broken at any moment by the booming of cannon, or the sound of musketry. This is one of the most quiet days the army has enjoyed. There was some little firing in front of Burnside’s corps this morning and distant cannonading in the direction of the Weldon railroad was heard. Heavy cannonading in the direction of the James has occasionally broken the ominous stillness of the day, but otherwise, both parties have been disposed to be very peaceful and quiet. The pickets in our immediate front, federal and rebel, are on the most friendly terms and have been since last Sunday morning. Not a single shot has been exchanged by either party since then, but on the contrary there has been an interchange of civil words, a shaking of hands, an exchange of commodities in the form of hard bread, coffee, tobacco, etc., and so amicable have been and are the relations existing between the Yankees and the Johnnies that it is reported they have actually mingled together and indulged in a social hand of “Euchre” or “seven up.” All this cessation of hostilities in our front is the result of an arrangement gotten up between the soldiers doing picket duty on both sides, for of course officers would not be countenanced in such a proceeding however pleasant and desirable to have such a state of friendliness. We certainly feel very much more comfortable (–) and withal, very grateful to the parties concerned for effecting an amicable adjustment, however temporary it may prove, – than we felt the day after we took position here, on Saturday the 25th inst. Then “from early morn till dewey eve,” and long after midnight it was crack, crack, crack, and we were complimented with hundreds of bullets and minnie balls, sent over to us by rebel sharpshooters, and sent in a most spiteful and savage manner. As they whizzed and zipped over and by us, the art of dodging and keeping low was necessary to be constantly practiced, or else the danger of being hit or popped over was sure to be incurred. Exposure of person above or from behind our breastworks was a hazardous experiment. Notwithstanding the shower of bullets we received that day, nobody was hurt, which is only another illustration of how many pounds of lead or iron it takes to wound, much more kill a man. I don’t think our pickets sustained any casualty, and it may be that they were induced from motives to save ammunition, and because it didn’t pay to fire, to suspend all further firing. At any rate, as before remarked, not a gun has been fired in our front since Sunday morning.

How very quickly this war would terminate if its settlement were left for the soldiers to make. “Tired of the war,” is the sentiment of both armies, echoed by that, “We want to go home.” And with such a friendly, generous feeling as is now existing and manifested between the two lines of pickets in our front, is it unreasonable to suppose that the two sides would come together, and that the two parties would coalesce and become one, reforming the Union that had been so long broken, and cementing it with stronger ties and bonds than ever? Would there be any hard, humiliating, unjust exactions demanded; a spirit of “I am right and you are wrong; you must listen to my terms and must agree to them, for I can’t have anything to do with yours?” Nothing of that sort, we venture to say, but mutual concessions, reasonable compromises, honorable negotiations, a yielding and giving on both sides.

Our position is near the left of the 5th corps, along the line of Gen. (Samuel W.) Crawford’s division, a little to the right of the Jerusalem plank road, in an open field between two woods. We are about two miles from Petersburg, a little southwest (southeast) of it, fronting what is known as Reservoir Hill and what was once the Gregory House, of which nothing is left standing but the chimneys. The plank road runs to our front and right obliquely, the left of Gen. (Charles) Griffin’s division resting on it. The road leads to the city. In our immediate front it is all clear and open, and the rebel works are in plain sight about 1500 yards distant. Some of Ewell’s troops confront us, and yesterday the “Louisiana Tigers” were on picket.

The 94th N.Y. regiment, Major (John) M’Mahon commanding, is picketing in our front. We had a pleasant interview with the Major yesterday, and enjoyed his escort on a visit to the picket line. The 94th has suffered considerably skirmishing and in a charge on a rebel battery made not long since. Major M’Mahon’s description of the charge reflects somewhat badly on the military operations of some of our Generals. About a hundred muskets with bayonets fixed were ordered to advance upon a battery of seven guns well fortified and supported. The sequel was a disastrous one, as any person unversed in military might imagine it would be.

Our battery has not been engaged since we took this position. Gen. Crawford regarded it a very critical one the other day, but our lines have been strengthened since then. Before we went into the position, the enemy had sixteen guns in front, which they used very effectively when our lines were being established here.

Our horses are kept back to the rear, unharnessed, it being unsafe to keep them here when we first took our position on account of exposure from the fire of sharpshooters. Were this point to be heavily attacked and our lines penetrated, Battery L might fall into rebel hands, as the batteries on our right and left, Capt. (James H.) Cooper’s Penn. Battery (Battery B, 1st Penn. Light Artillery), and Capt. (John) Bigelow’s 3d (9th) Mass. Battery. But we apprehend nothing of this kind, though our horses may not be available in case of an emergency.

The four guns which the enemy captured last Wednesday (June 22) were lost about a half a mile to our left and front. They were not recaptured, as was reported, and the number of troops lost by the 2d Corps on that occasion, in killed, wounded and taken prisoners, was in the neighborhood of three thousand. It was a surprise attack by the enemy, and a brilliant achievement, though we may be loath to acknowledge it. The rebels will probably call it an offset to the handsome success achieved by the 2d Corps at Spottsylvania C.H. (2)

What the plans of General Grant are, I do not pretend to know. I have been told that 32 and 64 pounder guns have been sent to the army, and now in position on the right. Also that large mortars are being or are ready to be used. This would indicate the taking of Petersburg by siege. Burnside is said to be at work mining a formidable rebel fort. (3) The cavalry are busily engaged.

The army is being supplied again with soft bread. Sutlers are making their appearance in profuse numbers. The paymaster is anxiously watched for as the last issue of greenbacks to the army is about consumed and thousands of empty pockets need replenishing.

The scarcity of water here is very much felt, by man and beast.

The weather continues dry and dusty. The cracked earth, parched leaves, and arid air bespeak for a good rain. G.B.

On July 10, Breck was mustered in as captain, filling a vacancy in the regiment’s officer corps created by the death of H.W. Davis during the fighting along the North Anna in May.

In the field , front of Petersburg
July 11, 1864
(Appeared Saturday, July 16, 1864)

We still occupy the same position as when I last wrote, just on the right of the Jerusalem plank road. The same quietude prevails in our front. The pickets of both armies maintain the same friendliness of manner, not a shot having been fired at each other since the agreement not to fire. Our guns have remained perfectly silent all the time we have been here. (4) Matters began to look a little stormy, however, on Friday afternoon of last week (July 8) about 5 o’clock, when an assault was made by the enemy in front of the 9th or 18th corps which occasioned a general firing along the lines, of musketry or cannonade. For a little while it seemed as if a furious battle would result, but the firing soon ceased and quiet again reigned. The attack of the rebels was repulsed. The particulars I have not been able to learn, so difficult a matter is it for (a) person in one corps to know what transpires in another, unless he makes a special mission to that corps for information or runs across some one who is “posted.” A battery in our front during the engagement flung a few shells at us, but no damage was done and no reply was elicited from our guns, though everything was gotten ready for a loud response.

Sharpshooting is almost entirely suspended along the whole line. Occasionally it is suddenly begun and continued for awhile, but both parties seem disposed to be as friendly as possible. Desultory cannonading may be heard day and night, and at times it is rapid and severe. Mortars are used on both sides and sometimes with damaging effect. When we began to use them, then the remark was made that it was a game that both parties could “play at.” Oh, no, was the reply, the rebels have nothing of the kind. This was the old leaven at work again, underrating the abilities and resources of the South. Will the North ever learn what a powerful antagonist she has in the so-called Southern Confederacy?

Fourth of July, as the papers have informed my readers, passed away in the army with the almost Sabbath-like stillness. No noisy demonstrations of any kind, with the exception of a little cannonading. There was a display of bunting on Union and Rebel works. The Stars and Stripes were thrown to the breeze from our earthworks and opposite us, on the enemy’s strong works, floated the stars and bars and the rebel battle flags.

Of course, the rebel invasion northward is a great topic of conversation in the army. There is a variety of opinions entertained as to the amount of force operating north of the Potomac, but from certain movements now going on in this army, which would be improper for me to develop, it is pretty certain that the invading force is quite formidable in numbers. We do not believe that Grant will let go of Petersburg, but we shall not be surprised if Lee interferes with Grant’s operations here by this northern invasion.

During the two months while Grant was steadily advancing against Lee, then laying siege to Petersburg, Union forces in the Shenandoah Valley fared poorly. Maj. Gen. Franz Sigel advanced down the valley, only to be defeated at New Market on May 15. He was replaced by Maj. Gen. David Hunter, who defeated a hastily assembled Confederate force at Piedmont, then threatened Lynchburg. Lee detached troops under Jubal Early, who defeated Hunter and began his own advance in the valley. In an attempt to divert Union troops from in front of Petersburg, Early marched his men into Maryland and advanced on Washington, D.C. The strategy worked: Grant was forced to send VI Corps from the Army of the Potomac and two divisions of the XIX Corps, just arriving from the Gulf Department, to turn back Early’s men, who had reached the very outskirts of Washington.

The health of the troops continues remarkably good, considering this very heated term. There is very little sickness.

Numberless wells have been dug within the army’s lines. Excellent water is found a few feet below the surface of the ground, and there is not that suffering for it that there was. Battery “L” was determined not to want for the article for men or horses, and the result is three wells of nice, cold water in the three different localities occupied by the company. G.B. (5)

Fifth Corps Hospital
July 29, 1864
(Appeared Wednesday, Aug. 3, 1864)

I did not think when I last wrote that three or four weeks would elapse before writing again, and that my next letter would be dated from a hospital. Your correspondent was congratulating himself on his fortunate exemption from sickness in the field, and was disposed to lay the flattering unction to his soul that he should escape while in the service the many “ills which flesh is heir to.” But this malarious region of the country was too much for him. Like hundreds, if not thousands, in the army who are or have been sick with the same complaint, he was […] with malarial fever, and this accounts for the delay in writing, and the place of date. A resort to quinine – the all-healing antidote for malarial fevers, and the great preventive, too, if used in season and judiciously – soon disposes of this fever, and puts a man on his feet again, though his steps at first after recovery must needs be somewhat “shaky” and few in number. Such is the experience of the writer, at any rate. (6)

The Fifth Corps Hospital, and particularly the Artillery Brigade portion of it, is very pleasantly situated, on high, dry ground, surrounded by scattering trees, a heavy woods extending to the left, airy, and free from dust. Across a narrow ravine in front is a number of old rebel huts, pretty well dilapidated, but giving proof of former comfort and substantiality. They were probably built during the Blackwater campaign in ’62. North of the hospitals, about a mile and a half, are the 10th and 18th corps, near which the enemy’s works were unsuccessfully assailed when operations first began here. Occasionally a stray shot or shell finds its way over in this vicinity, but seldom doing any harm.

There are at present about four hundred patients in the four division and artillery brigade hospitals of this corps, sick and wounded, all doing very well with few exceptions. The medical care, good nourishment and kind attention and treatment extended to the patients are all that can be asked in the field, judging from what I know and have seen here in the artillery hospital. The Sanitary and Christian Commissions have established stations here, whence are distributed in bountiful profusion stores, reading matter and various supplies. An order from the surgeon will procure almost any delicacy to be found in a large city. The two Commissions are both the Good Samaritan and the Good Shepherd.

An order has been received since commencing this to send a large number of the sick and wounded in the several corps hospitals to the general Hospital at City Point. It is the current report that there is to be a general attack by our forces on the enemy’s lines to-morrow morning, and the above order goes to confirm its correctness. Sure it is that the most active preparations for something have been in progress the past four weeks. New and large forts have been thrown up, the heaviest mortars have been put in position, and wherever it has been possible to plant a gun, light or heavy calibre, there one may be found strongly entrenched and frequently made bomb-proof.

Battery L, commanded at present by Lieut. Anderson, has gone into one of the large square forts recently built, a short distance to the left and in rear of the position occupied by the battery for the last four or five weeks. (7) This fort lies on the west side of the Jerusalem plank road, and is intended purely for defensive purposes. It is about four hundred feet square, contains a brigade of the 3d division and two batteries including our own. Battery L is now in position facing the opposite direction from what it was, fronting an imaginary or apprehended enemy instead of a real foe, its guns pointing away from Petersburg towards the South, in lieu of pointing northward in the direction of the city. This is to guard against an attack, which the enemy may possibly make in our rear. Battery L’s guns will necessarily be silent in the battle of to-morrow, if there be one.

We have been favored with two good, heavy rain storms since my last, and I need not tell my reader how joyfully acceptable they were. Sixty consecutive days’ envelopment in heat and dust had produced earnest longings for rain. August and September will doubtless be the severest months for the army.

The mining operation that Breck alluded to in a previous column was finally completed. A tunnel 510.8 feet long extended from the Union lines to a point directly under Elliott’s Salient, a Confederate strongpoint. Two lateral galleries branched off the end, into which were placed 320 kegs of powder containing 25 pounds each. On the morning of July 30, the fuse was lit…

July 30

The great attack took place this morning, lasting for three or four hours. The cannonading was as terrific as that at Gettysburg. The fighting I am told, was of the most desperate character, and yet, the enemy was taken so much by surprise, and was so panic-stricken at the explosion of the mine, that our troops at first took possession of the first line of works with comparative ease. The details of the fight I have not learned, further than that one, some say two, lines of works were captured in front of Burnside’s corps. How many guns and prisoners were taken, I do not know.

The action began at half-past four o’clock, the batteries first opening fire at a signal being given. This signal was the explosion of a mine under the Battery or fort in front of the advanced position of Burnside’s corps. The mine was sprung and immediately the batteries all opened a most galling and destructive fire. – The explosion of the mine is described, by eyewitnesses, as one of the grandest sights of the war, and yet, sad enough in its results to the enemy. A regiment of two or three hundred rebels, and a battery, are said to have been destroyed when the work blew up, ten or twelve men escaping only, two or three of whom were captured and reported the above. These prisoners stated that they had been told a mine was being dug under the fort, and they excavated to the depth of fifteen feet, but finding no mine, concluded there was none. By digging five feet further they might have discovered it. Twelve thousand pounds of powder were in the mine. – At the explosion, the earth was thrown up, like a great water spout, fifty feet in the air. It resembled a great cone, a mass of earth, mingled with smoke.

The plan was, as soon as the mine was sprung, for a storming party to advance over the ruins of the explosion, and so soon as entrance was effected a strong body of troops was to move to the right and left behind the enemy’s line, to clear out his troops, and move to the front to gain the crest of an important hill, and if possible to enter the town of Petersburg. This plan was carried out in part, but the crest was not taken and the city of Petersburg is not ours yet. About nine or ten o’clock orders were issued from army headquarters to suspend further action, and as I now write everything is very quiet, except the occasional firing of a gun or of skirmishers. Whether the attack will be renewed to-day or to-morrow, or postponed for a season, I do not know. What our losses have been I cannot tell, but must refer my readers to other correspondents.

The mine worked to perfection. The detonation created a crater 50 to 60 yards long, 20 yards wide and 20 to 25 feet deep in the Confederate line. The Union soldiers had only to advance through the crater, seize the high ground beyond and Petersburg would be captured. Unfortunately, the seeds of disaster had already been sown by last-minute changes in the attack plan. Gen. Burnside, for example, wanted a division of black soldiers to lead the attack, and had carefully trained them to not only advance through the crater, but clear the trenches to either side. Two days before the detonation, Meade ruled that black soldiers should not lead the attack, and was upheld by Grant the next day. The white soldiers who ended up leading the advance were poorly prepared for the mission and, moreover, were delayed by obstacles that had not been cleared from in front of the Union line. When they reached the crater, many stopped to gape at the destruction and help extricate half-buried Confederate soldiers. Soon the crater was packed with Union soldiers. The Confederates rushed reinforcements to the site – Meade had also nixed the idea of clearing trenches to either side – and began firing into the milling mass of soldiers. The crater became a slaughter pen. The Confederate defenders fought with even greater fury when Burnside’s black soldiers were finally thrown into the fray. Many of the black soldiers were shot or bayoneted while trying to surrender. The Union forces eventually withdrew after suffering 3,798 casualties.

“It was the saddest affair I have witnessed in the war. Such opportunity for carrying fortifications I have never seen and do not expect again to have.” Grant wrote to Halleck on Aug. 1. (8)

Battery L was not engaged, as none of the batteries or troops were on the extreme left of the 5th corps, and hence, fortunately, I have no casualties to record in the battery.

Major R. H. Fitzhugh, on Col. Wainwright’s staff of our regiment, was hit by a bullet in the right side while standing near a battery on the extreme right of the 5th Corps; but he escaped with a flesh wound, and is here at the hospital, lying on the left of your correspondent, doing well. We like the Major. He is a “good fellow” and a brave officer. We console him, or try to do so, by assuring him that his wound will take him home for thirty or sixty days, and that will “pay.” The regiment could ill afford to lose Major Fitzhugh permanently.

This is one of the hottest days of the season, sultry and oppressive. Fatigue admonishes me that I must close, and with the expectation of delivering this personally, I remain, etc. G.B.

P.S. – News has just reached the hospital that the rebels have retaken the works we took this morning, capturing a considerable number of our troops in the bargain. This is certainly not very encouraging. After weeks of the severest toil at sieging, mining, building forts, etc., after all the extensive preparations made for the taking of Petersburg, and after a partial success of the plans, which were first put into operation this morning, -- after all this, to lose all or the little we gained and the result of the most arduous labors, and be put back exactly where the army had position previous to the attack, this is not a very cheering thought, surely. Well, I suppose we must “up and at them” again. Endurance and pertinacity will conquer in the end, so it is said. But we predict a new base or line of operations in a very few days.

I am reliably informed that had our troops pushed vigorously on at the attack this morning after taking the first line of works, the second and third would certainly have been carried, the rebel forces would have been divided and a great victory would have been achieved. Petersburg would have been ours. There was blundering somewhere. Our troops were halted after taking the first line of works, and halted long enough to enable the rebels to rally to enfilade our forces with a murderous artillery fire, flank the negro brigade, which caused the “colored braves” to break and run, and then there was confusion, disorder and disaster. Perhaps it will be denominated another of those unfortunate “accidents” which we were told happened at the disastrous battle of Fredericksburg.

Breck returned to his battery from sick leave and furlough at the end of August. In the meantime, Grant’s strategy of gradually extending the Union lines below Petersburg, in order to cut the rail lines leading into the city, finally bore fruit. On Aug. 18, Warren’s V corps occupied the Weldon Railroad near Globe Tavern, then beat off desperate Confederate counterattacks on the 19th and 21st. As Breck notes below, this involved Battery L in one of its hottest engagements of the war. As a result of the Union success, the federal siege line crept farther west below Petersburg. Moreover, Lee had to run a “small army” of wagons along roads farther to the west, in order to keep Petersburg connected with the closest remaining Weldon Railroad depot still in Confederate control at Stony Creek. (9)

Battery L, Six Mile Station
Sept. 4, 1864
(Appeared Saturday, Sept. 10, 1864)

Indisposition and business have prevented me writing before since my return to the Battery. Leaving Rochester on Wednesday the 24th ult., I arrived in Washington the following Sunday, took passage in the U.S. mail steamer “Charlotte Vanderbilt” for City Point at 2 p.m., arriving there the next afternoon at 5 o’clock. We reached Fortress Monroe at 7 o’clock Monday morning, and stopped there three hours. Fortress Monroe has been so often described that my readers must be familiar with the place. I did not visit the fort. Its huge stone walls, and heavy guns mounted en barbette, stand out conspicuously, bidding defiance to all intruders or would be intruders. Quite a thriving business is done at the landing, there being two or three large stores which dispense supplies of all kinds.

On leaving the Chesapeake Bay and entering the James River, a great change in the air was almost immediately perceptible. The fresh, bracing salt-water breezes were exchanged for a sluggish, enervating air, and when we arrived at City Point and had proceeded a short distance towards the front, every breath of air we inhaled seemed to be impregnated with poison. A change indeed from the pure atmosphere of the North which we had been enjoying for a number of days, and which had helped so much to recuperate our health and strength.

On my arrival at City Point almost the first thing to greet my ears was the sound of cannon, a familiar sound to be sure, but so in contrast with the peaceful sounds of home which I had recently left. Louder and louder grew the peals of the death-dealing guns the further I advanced to the front, and it now being night, the air, at every discharge of the artillery, was reddened with its flash. The firing was in front of the Ninth Corps and continued at intervals all night.

I found the Battery encamped and in position along the Weldon R.R., a few yards on the west side of it, near where my letter is dated. This station is technically so called, because it is six miles from Petersburg. I can discover no traces of a station house of any kind, however. There is an old dilapidated building on the east side of the road, a little way from the Battery, where the Fifth Corps headquarters are located, called the Yellow Tavern. (10)

Battery “L” is in a large redan, that is, a field work composed of two faces meeting in a salient angle directed towards the enemy. It is a strong, well built work, and the enemy would have a sorry time trying to take it. The men are nicely encamped inside of it, have a fine well of elegant water twenty feet deep which they dug and which affords water not only for themselves but for all the horses. The battery is all together.

The Fifth Corps are enclosed in almost a circle, an immense redoubt. They are fully prepared for any attack the rebels may choose to make. Their position on the Weldon road was not accomplished without terrible fighting and a terrible loss of life, but it is now securely held for five or seven miles. The track to that distance, and perhaps four or fives miles more, has been effectually destroyed, the ties have been burned or used in the construction of field works, and the rails heated and twisted. The rebels have not been deprived of the entire use of the railroad, however, let none of my readers think. They are wagoning supplies to Petersburg from Reams’ station, a circuitous route and not a little inconvenient, but affording the very needful article of supplies, which the inhabitants of Petersburg are no doubt hard pressed for. A woman, grown up daughter and five children came into our lines the other day from Petersburg and reported that they were in a state of starvation, that they were obliged to leave Petersburg or starve to death. (11)

Whether we are to remain here for a considerable length of time I cannot say; perhaps this point is to be made a kind of base for future operations. The distance to City Point is about fifteen miles. An awful place this is, when it rains, and dragging supplies in wagons is next to impossible. The soil is composed of clay and a sort of quick-sand, and the roads are horrible after a heavy rain.

During my absence Battery L had one of the hottest and severest engagements it ever had. It occurred on Sunday, the 21st of August, when the enemy made such a desperate attempt to retake the Weldon railroad, which the papers have fully described. The Battery was engaged four or five hours, and fought under the command of Lieut. Anderson with great efficiency. How it escaped with so few casualties when it was exposed to a terrible fire from rebel batteries on all sides nearly, is a wonder. The same good Providence protected the company in this time of peril, as in days gone by when exposed to the danger of battle.

One man, Alfred Wood, a truly good and brave soldier, “brave as a lion,” was instantly killed by a piece of shell striking him in the back of the head. This is the first instantaneous death in battle the battery ever sustained. Henry W. Sherman was disabled by the concussion of a shot which struck at his feet, and Charles Brown was stunned and lost an eye by the same shot. These are the only casualties which occurred. The Fifth corps fought splendidly, and its artillery was never handled and served with more skill or better effect. Great praise is due the Chief of Artillery of the corps, Col. C. S. Wainwright, for his disposition of the batteries, and his management of the artillery fire. It was not left to brigade and division commanders to look after, who not unfrequently display very poor judgment in the direction of artillery movements and operations. The disposition and management of artillery in a corps should be entrusted to its chief of artillery, -- the corps commander of course having supreme control – and this is now being done, in both eastern and western armies.

The good news has just reached us of the fall of Atlanta and the great victory Sherman has won over Hood’s army. Glorious news indeed. A great and telling blow to the Southern Confederacy this must be. Would that Sherman now had 50,000 fresh, well disciplined troops to push forward his tide of wonderful and brilliant success. If he had, would it be long before the campaign at the south and southwest was virtually ended?

Atlanta was captured on Sept. 2 after a campaign that, in many respects, was just the opposite of the one waged by Grant against Lee in Virginia. At the start of the Atlanta campaign, Sherman was confronted by Confederate Gen. Joseph E. Johnston and the Army of Tennessee in northern Georgia. Whereas Grant kept edging to Lee’s right, Sherman usually moved to Johnston’s left. Whereas Grant ran up horrendous casualties in a war of attrition, Sherman relied primarily on maneuver, incurring relatively fewer losses. (12) On July 9, Sherman began crossing the Chattahoochee River and closing on the outskirts of Atlanta itself. Jefferson Davis, exasperated by Johnston’s failure to strike at Sherman, put John Bell Hood in command of the Confederate army. Hood launched two costly attacks that not only failed, but decimated his army, and forced him to fall back into the city. After a four-week siege, Sherman marched his forces south of Atlanta, severing Hood’s last supply line and forcing him to evacuate the city.

Of course, the army has heard of the nomination of Gen. Geo. B. McClellan for the Presidency. He has never forgotten his old soldiers, and think you, they will ever forget him? Let the ides of November declare. (13)

Half a ration (half a gill) of whisky containing quinine is issued to the troops of the 5th corps, -- and will continue to be as long as they remain in this locality, -- every night and morning, at sunrise and sunset. The malarious nature of the country about here requires that this issue be made to preserve the health of the men. G.B.

Weldon Railroad
Sept. 12th, 1864
(Appeared Monday, Sept. 26, 1864)

The quietude of four weeks camp life in our present locality was broken at a late hour last night by the appearance of an orderly with an order to be ready to move at day-light, but not to break camp. This order was soon followed by another, specifying the precise time when to be in readiness to move, and to have everything packed, tents struck, etc. Then came another order, similar to the last. Of course, the rapid succession of orders indicated that something important of a war like character availed, which the morning dawn was expected to develop. It was reported the enemy was moving on our left and a speedy attack was anticipated. At the required hour we were ready to move. A little after day-break picket firing was begun in our front, which was continued at intervals all the morning. We had sent out a reconnoitering party of cavalry and infantry to “feel” the enemy, and this, it is said, caused the firing.

The anticipated attack of the rebels was not made, however, and so we re-settled down into camp; but here we are again, four or five hours later, with the battery re-harnessed again anticipating an attack from the enemy, who has been moving troops to our left all day. It may be that he will attack us about evening, but he will take nobody by surprise, for the army is fully prepared to meet him.

There have been rumors for several days past that the rebels were moving on our left, and a severe battle might soon be initiated by them. If he does make another attempt to regain possession of this part of the Weldon Road, it will be made with an immense force and a determination to succeed at all hazards. He has already, as my readers doubtless know, made three attempts to dislodge us from this position, but with failure each time. It is doubtful about his success if he should make another, though with greatly superior numbers than he has used in previous efforts, for field works of a formidable and elaborate description now confront him, and, in or behind them are the iron “dogs of war,” ready to be let loose whenever occasion shall require, and thousands of brave men, with hearts full of spirit and confidence, stand prepared to receive the shock of battle be it ever so fierce and hard. A Union defeat is, of course possible, and if that were to occur, the consequences might be woeful, for the formation of our line is so weak, that if broken and pierced by a strong force, we would probably find ourselves “doubled up.” – There seems to be some doubt about the Weldon Road being connected with the Lynchburg or Southside Railroad below Ream’s Station. A reconnoisance made yesterday in that direction by our cavalry discovered no such connection, but it is not improbable that there is, and if so, our possession of this position of the Weldon Road does not deprive the rebels of supplies over that Road.

On Sunday morning last (Sept. 11), the extension of the railroad from City Point to the Weldon road was completed, and a locomotive ran over it to its terminus near the 5th corps headquarters, -- Its appearance was greeted with considerable enthusiasm by the soldiers who were suddenly notified of its coming by a shrill whistle which the engineer evoked from the great iron civilizer, -- The rebels have fired a few shot at trains of cars when passing over certain localities of the road, but no damage has been effected. (14)

On Tuesday afternoon a presentation of medals was made to three enlisted men belonging to Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Delaware regiments for bravery in capturing rebel battle-flags in the engagement on the Weldon road, Aug. 21st. The presentation took place at Gen. Warren’s headquarters in the presence of a large number of troops, and was a very interesting affair. The medals of honor were presented by Major General Meade, who made an eloquent address, and exceedingly gratifying it must have been to the recipients of the medals to know that their services on the field of battle were so publicly recognized and appreciated. This is the first presentation of medals that has taken place in pursuance of an act of Congress, passed some time since, awarding medals of honor to enlisted men for the performance of deeds of valor and bravery in the field. Its effect must be favorable, stimulating soldiers to act valorously and gallantly when in conflict with their brave foes, rebels though they be. Battery “L” fired a major general’s salute – 13 guns – on the occasion. (15)

Sept. 17—“The day we celebrate.” The anniversary of the battle of Antietam, a battle fought with the most consummate skill, under the leadership and direction of one of the greatest military geniuses of the age, Major General George B. McClellan, the man and general who above all others holds the hearts of the soldiers of the Republic with a grasp which nothing can shake, nay, which all the storms of abuse and calumny only tighten and make stronger.

The day when the capital of our nation was saved, when Maryland and the Northern States were freed from a mighty foe, who, flushed with success, had threatened dire disaster to our several cities and towns, our happy homes and firesides, but, who, beaten in the great conflict on the field of Antietam, fled, broken and disappointed to the shores of blood-stained Virginia. Our recollection of the scenes and contest of two years ago to-day are very vivid, and our emotions of love and gratitude to the Master Spirit who controlled the fortunes of battle on that memorable day, and won for the nation, with the blessing of God, the “battle of the war,” arise spontaneously in our heart and “will not down” at anybody’s “bidding.” Two long years have passed away since then, and what a record is theirs, and how significantly may we ask to-day, what about the close and settlement of the war? The skill and heroism of McClellan gave us the victory at Antietam, and without in the least intending to question the fitness of the present occupant of the Presidential chair, we look for a nation’s victory of Union and Peace in his successor, the hero and victor of Antietam.

We were again on the alert all day yesterday for the enemy, who drove in our pickets soon after sun-rise and made other hostile demonstrations along our line. We were kept harnessed till sun-set. It is thought that the enemy’s movements for the last two or three days in our front and on our left were made to cover the great and brilliant achievement the rebels accomplished in capturing the immense herd of cattle of the army of the Potomac at Cozzen’s (Coggin’s) Point, ten miles below City Point on Friday night (Sept. 16). Between three and four thousand head of cattle are reported to have been captured by Hampton’s brigade or division of cavalry, a success of the greatest importance to the rebel army, and one that they can feel elated over. Such an addition to the commissariat of Gen. Lee’s army will furnish his troops with fresh beef for several months, issued after the manner the rebels issue rations. A rumor is circulating in camp to-day that the cattle have been retaken and fifteen hundred of the enemy’s troops. We hope that the rumour may be verified by fact, partially, if not entirely. (16)

Yesterday morning a deserter from a Maryland regiment was shot, a little distance from our camp. He was a hardened wretch, apparently unconcerned about his guilty and fearful fate. – He had deserted twice, and met his doom as if defiant of death. G.B.

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