The War of the Rebellion: v. 1-53 [serial no. 1-111] Formal reports, both ... - United States. War Department

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
July 30, 1864. (Received 6.30 p. m.)

Lieutenant-General ANDERSON:

Kershaw's division can march to the position indicated in previous telegram, Heth's to take the cars for Dunlop's.

W. H. TAYLOR, Assistant Adjutant-General.

CHAFFIN'S FARM, July 30, 1864.

Hou. J. A. SEDDON, Secretary of War:

SIR: Yours of the 29th was received last night on my return from Darby's below Deep Bottom. Several respectable looking and intelligent ladies told me they saw and spoke with Sheridan there; that he advised them how to secure themselves in case of a fight, and said all his cavalry was present-6,000. At Goodman's and near Fisher's bodies of cavalry, whose numbers could only be guessed, had penetrated between Anderson's forces and Gary's on his left, and there seemed every possibility that they would endeavor to push toward Richmond, as the infantry already over was more than enough to occupy Anderson's command. In addition, the troops from the lines south of James were under special instructions for a definite object, and I could not take from them, nor would there have been time. The enemy were within ten miles of our lines, and we cannot trust always to his want of euterprise. The lines on this front were held by an unusually thin line of skirmishers, and even the Engineer Regiment had to be in the works to give that much show of force. There were two brigades kept here for the defense of the city, but they were moved to the south side six weeks ago, and now Johnson's brigade of Tennesseeans are the only troops of field experience permanently stationed at this point; besides these are a small body of Lieutenant-Colonel Maury's artillery and the City Battalion, untried, I should judge. I am aware of the objections, as shown in your letter of the 29th, to employing the Local Defense troops, and beg leave to intrude these statements on the time of His Excellency the President and yourself, in order to explain my action, and if necessary receive such instructions as may be thought necessary for my future guidance. Ever since being on my present duty I have felt the want of something like a regular garrison for the city, in addition to the artillery of General Pemberton and the detachments above mentioned at this place, and it has occurred to me that if these locals were confined to the limits of the city fortifications, and then only when absolutely necessary, the place would be safer against a coup de main, and as far as they were concerned with less interruption to the Government business. As soon as I can leave this part of the lines I will confer with General Custis Lee on this subject.

Respectfully,

R. S. EWELL,
Lieutenant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ENGINEER TROOPS,
Blandford, July 30, 1864.

Col. W. H. STEVENS, Chief Engineer, Army of Northern Virginia: COLONEL: Inclosed please find report of Sergeant Smyth, in charge of the working detachment at Pegram's salient. At Colquitt's salient

extended the gallery 3 feet. The day detachment was returned to camp. The crater at Pegram's seems to have been formed from two or three mines; the enemy's mine passed between mines Nos. 1 and 2 and was extended to a point between our front and rear line. The parapet of the front line although much injured was not destroyed. The parapet of the second line is slightly injured, but the ground between the twolines has been heaved up, forming a crater 125 feet in length and from 20 to 25 feet deep and about 50 feet wide.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

HUGH THOS. DOUGLAS, Captain, Engineer Troops in Charge of Mining, &c.

Capt. H. T. DOUGLAS:

[Inclosure.]

CAPTAIN: Having charge of the night detachment which worked on the mines at Pegram's salient on the night of the 29th of July, I divided the men into three reliefs of eight men each, putting one relief at mine No. 1 and the other two at No. 2. The first relief worked until 1.30 a. m., when they were sent back to camp, leaving only one party of eight men to work at mine No. 2. Having occasion to be down in the gallery the greater part of the time, I was in it at about 5 a. m. the 30th instant, when I was startled by the sound of a very heavy explosion and thrown from my feet by the shock, the ground or rather gallery heaved and waved as if from an earthquake. After recovering from our surprise I took the three men out, who were at work in the mine, and on reaching the outside saw that the works had been utterly destroyed for a distance of 100 or 150 yards as near as I could judge. We passed around the portion of the line which was destroyed as rapidly as pos sible, in order to avoid capture, there being a squad of from fifteen to twenty-five of the enemy who had come through the gap and were pursuing us, and as a consequence my observations upon the character of the injury done were very imperfect and uncertain, but my impression was that both lines had been destroyed nearly the whole distance of the gap. The injury done to the works did not extend to mine No. 2, which is uninjured so far as I was able to judge. Those men of my party who were at work above ground had all left when I came out of the pit, but subsequently reported at camp, except one man, Leigh, who has not yet reported.

I extended the gallery in mine No. 1 2 feet 3 inches and in mine No. 2 extended it 3 feet 5 inches. A. H. SMYTH,

SPECIAL ORDERS,

No. 32.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY, ARMY OF N. VA.,

Major Owen, at present on duty with the Washington Artillery Battalion, is hereby relieved of command in that battalion. He will report for duty to Lieut. Col. F. Huger for assignment to the command of Gibbes' battalion.

By command of General Pendleton:

D. D. PENDLETON,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA,
July 31, 1864. (Received 7.20 p. m.)

Lieutenant-General EwELL:

Please send back both divisions of cavalry at once to their former positions.

General R. H. ANDERSON:

DUNN'S HILL, July 31, 1864.
(Received 12 o'clock.)

There will be a cessation of hostilities for three [four] hours, beginning at 5 a. m. to-morrow, to enable the enemy to remove their wounded and bury their dead.

W. H. TAYLOR, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Col. W. H. STEVENS,

HEADQUARTERS ENGINEER TROOPS,
Blandford, July 31, 1864.

Chief Engineer, Army of Northern Virginia: COLONEL: Capt. John H. Mickler, Company E, Eleventh Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, Hagood's brigade, Hoke's division, has been represented to me as having experience in mining, charging mines, &c., and would be a valuable assistant in our mining operations at this time. I respectfully request that Captain Mickler be ordered to report on this duty. Corpl. R. T. Bennett, Company K, Forty-ninth Regiment North Carolina Troops, Ransom's brigade, is a miner. He states that he has been working in and has had charge of iron, copper, and gold mines for fifteen years. I request that Corporal Bennett be detailed, and ordered to report for duty with this command. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

HUGH THOS. DOUGLAS,

Captain, Engineer Troops, in Charge Mining, &c.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF N. CAROLINA AND SOUTHERN VA.,

Maj. Gen. GEORGE G. MEADE,

Commanding Army of the Potomac:

July 31, 1864.

GENERAL: Your letter to General R. E. Lee, asking a cessation of hostilities to enable you to remove your wounded and bury your dead between the lines has been received. Your proposition is acceded to, and hostilities will be suspended for the purpose to-morrow morning at 5 o'clock. The cessation will continue for four hours.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

GARD

G. T. BEAUREGARD,

General.