The First Brigade of the First Division immediately followed the Second. The two filled the crater, seized part of the line of pits to the right, and began to cover themselves from the fire of the enemy's artil lery, now opening from the crest in their immediate front. Before all of the regiments of the last brigade of the First Division had left our line, at about 5 a. m., the Second Division commenced it advance on the right, the Second Brigade (General Griffin) leading The distance to be traversed to reach the line of rebel works was 130 yards. The head of the column was somewhat deflected by the enemy' fire, and borne to the left, so that it struck the line near the crater and the men of the two divisions became, in some degree, intermingled Several attempts were made to advance, which resulted only in the gain of a little ground to the right. General Willcox had, meanwhile thrown in part of a brigade to the left of the crater, the remainder halt ing till the First Division should advance. Part of the Second Brigade Colonel Bliss (Second Division), was also thrown forward into the enemy's line. The other regiments were held until the lines should be partially cleared. At about 6.30 a. m. orders were again sent to the division commanders not to halt at the works, but to advance at once to the crest without waiting for mutual support. General Potter's division (the Second) was at that time forming for an attack on the right, but under these orders its direction was changed to the front. Its formation in front of the lines was exceedingly difficult, owing to the heavy fire from the crest and from the troops the enemy had now brought up and placed behind the covered way in the ravine. The division charged and almost reached the summit of the hill, but, unsupported, it fell back, taking shelter behind another covered way on the right. Meanwhile the few regiments of that division that had not previously left our lines advanced, seizing for a considerable-distance the enemy's lines on the right. General Willcox, on the left, found an advance impossible; his men dug from the ruins two guns and held the left flank. Peremptory orders from the commanding general directed me to throw in all my troops and direct them against the crest. Under these orders I directed the Fourth (colored) Division to advance, which division I had hitherto held back, under the belief that those new troops could not be used to advantage in the crowded condition of the portion of the enemy's line held by us. The column was thrown forward and advanced gallantly over the slope of the crater, though by this time the ground was swept by a steady fire of artillery and infantry. A part of the column was deflected to the right and charged and captured a portion of the enemy's line with a stand of colors and some prisoners. The division, disorganized by passing the pits, crowded with men of the other divisions, then reformed as well as was possible be yond the crater and attempted to take the hill; were met at the outset by a counter-charge of the enemy, broke in disorder to the rear, passed through the crater and lines on the right, throwing into confusion and drawing off with them many of the white troops, and ran to our own lines. The enemy regained a portion of his line on the right. This was about 8.45 a. m. But not all the colored troops re tired; some held the pits, from behind which they had advanced, severely checking the enemy till they were nearly all killed. I believe that no raw troops could have been expected to have be haved better. Before reaching the point from which they had formed to charge they had been shattered by the enemy's fire, broken by the exceedingly difficult passage of the enemy's lines, and disheartened by the inability of the other divisions to advance. At the time of the assault of the Fourth Division General Willcox threw out his Second Brigade, Colonel Humphrey's, and took an additional portion of the line on the left. Soon after the repulse, an assault from the front was made on the crater; it was gallantly repelled with great loss to the enemy, none of them advancing to our lines except those who surrendered themselves. At this time the enemy had planted artillery at several points on the hill, and had gained the range of the crater and lines with great accuracy, his mortar firing being especially destructive. At 9.15 a. mn. I received with regret a peremptory order from the general commanding to withdraw my troops from the enemy's line.. The order was sent into the crater at 12.20 p. m. with instructions to brigade commanders on the spot to consult and determine the hour and manner of retiring. I directed General Ferrero to immediately commence a covered way to the crater, to meet one already begun from there. Themen in the crater and lines adjoining had become exhausted with the severity of the day's work. They had made several and had repulsed three distinct assaults, and had fought hand to hand with the enemy for the possession of his pits. They were suffering severely under a hot sun from want of water. Finding that their position was not to be held, the general determined, in order to save further loss of life, upon an evacuation of the lines. A message to that effect, requesting that a heavy fire of infantry and artillery to right and left should be opened from the old lines, to distract the attention of the enemy, was on its way to me when another assault of the enemy was made. Seeing its preparation, and knowing their men to be discouraged by the proposed relinquishment of all the advantages gained at such cost, and disheartened that they were to expect no further support, Generals Hartranft and Griffin directed their troops to withdraw. It is feared the order was not clearly understood in the crater, as most of the troops, and all of the wounded, then lying there in great number, were captured. During the engagement the batteries of the corps did efficient service, especially in keeping down the fire of the rebel fort on the left and in annoyance of the enemy's guns on the right. Twenty-three commanders of regiments were lost on that day-4 killed, 15 wounded, and 4 missing; 2 commanders of brigades-General W. F. Bartlett and Col. E. G. Marshall-were taken prisoners. In a report so hurriedly made up, it will be impossible for me to mention the many acts of heroism which characterized the action; and I will only say that my entire command, officers and men, did all that gallant men could do under the circumstances. To my staff-Brig. Gen. Julius White, chief of staff; Lieut. Col. Lewis Richmond, assistant adjutant-general; Lieut. Col. C. G. Loring, jr., assistant inspector-general; Lieut. Col. J. A. Monroe, chief of artillery; Surg. John E. MacDonald, medical director; Surg. James Harris, medical inspector; Maj. E. M. Neill, assistant adjutant-general; Maj. Philip M. Lydig, assistant adjutant-general; Maj. J. L. Van Buren, aide-decamp; Maj. William Cutting, aide-de-camp; Capt. W. H. Harris, U. S. Army, chief of ordnance; Capt. H. R. Rathbone, commissary of musters; Capt. Duncan A. Pell, aide-de-camp; Capt. J. C. Paine, signal officer; Capt. Charles E. Mallam, volunteer aide; Lieut. D. S. Remington, acting assistant quartermaster-I must express my thanks for their activity and gallantry during the action. 34 R R VOL XL, PT I Colonel Loring, Major Cutting, and Major Van Buren were detailed to accompany divisions, and discharged their duties in the most faithful and gallant manner. I must again express my thanks to Colonel Pleasants and the men of his regiment for their skillful and meritorious services. I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major-General. Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac. ADDENDA, GENERAL ORDERS, No. 24. HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, The commanding general takes great pride in assuring this command of the high appreciation in which their services, after the fatigues of the recent movement, are held at the headquarters of the army, and quotes with pleasure the expression used by the commanding general of the Army of the Potomac in speaking of the brilliant assault on the morning of the 17th. He writes: "It affords me great satisfaction to congratulate you and your gallant corps on the successful assault on the morning of the 17th. Knowing the wearied condition of your men from the night march of over twenty two miles and the continued movement through the night of the 16th, their persistence and success is highly creditable." The commanding general can only add that in this, as in the previous and succeeding events of this unexampled campaign, the Ninth Corps has through every trial invariably proved true to its history and to its promise. By command of Major-General Burnside: LEWIS RICHMOND, Report of colors captured by the Ninth Army Corps from May 4 to November 1, 1864. HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, Brig. Gen. S. WILLIAMS, November 11, 1864. Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac: GENERAL: In compliance with paragraph 6 of Special Orders, No. 279, current series, from headquarters Army of the Potomac, I have the honor to submit the following report of guns captured or lost from May 4 to November 1, 1864, by this corps: First Division-No guns captured or lost. Second Division-Two guns captured by the Thirty-sixth and Fiftyeighth Massachusetts Volunteers and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Vetran Volunteers, one by the Eleventh New Hampshire, and one by the Seventeenth Vermont Volunteers, before Petersburg, Va., June 17, 1864. Third Division-No guns.captured or lost. I have the honor to be, general, your obedient servant, JOHN G. PARKE, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Maj. Gen. A. E. BURNSIDE, * August 3, 1864. GENERAL: Herewith I inclose a copy of the charges and specifications this day sent to the lieutenant-general commanding for transmis sion to the President of the United States. I have also to inform you that owing to recent occurrences I have felt myself compelled to ask that you be relieved from duty with this army.t Very respectfully, your obedient servant, GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General, Commanding. HEADQUARTERS NINTH ARMY CORPS, THE SECRETARY OF WAR OF THE UNITED STATES, August 6, 1864. Washington: Whilst I have the greatest respect for the officers composing the court ordered by Special Orders, War Department, No. 258, to examine into the affair of the 30th instant [ultimo], I beg to submit that it should be composed of officers who do not belong to this army.. Whilst I am most willing and feel it to be my due to have the fullest investigation, I should not under the circumstances demand one, nor seek to press the matter to an issue in any degree adverse to the general commanding the Army of the Potomac. I am ready to await the verdict of time. But if an investigation is to be had, I feel that I have a right to ask that it be made by officers not in this army and not selected by General Meade. All of the officers constituting the court held command in the supporting columns which were not brought into action on that day. The judge-advocate is a member of General Meade's staff. General Meade has also preferred charges against me upon which I desire to be tried. As the court convenes on Monday, the 8th instant, I respectfully request an answer may be returned as soon as possible. Major-General. Major-General BURNSIDE: WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington, August 8, 1864-11 a. m. Your telegram of the 6th has been laid before the President, who directs me to say that while he would like to conform to your wishes, the detail for the Court of Inquiry having already been ordered he does not see that any evil can result to you. The action of the Board of Inquiry will be merely to collect facts for his information. No charges or even imputations have reached him or the Department in respect to you. It is not known here except by your telegram that General Meade has made against you any charges. He directs me further to assure you that you may feel entire confidence in his fairness and justice. EDWIN M. STANTON, Secretary of War. No. 176. Reports of Brig. Gen. James H. Ledlie, U. S. Army, commanding First Division, of operations June 17 and July 30. HEADQUARTERS FIRST DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS, Near Petersburg, Va., July 1, 1864. SIR: I have the honor, very respectfully, to transmit a report of the operations of the First Division of the Ninth Army Corps on the 17th of June, 1864: About 5 p. m. on the 16th of June my division arrived, after a long and tedious march from the James River, and was placed in position at right angles to the Petersburg and Suffolk State road, covering a wood road running through a piece of timber in front of the main line of the enemy's works. During the night I constructed breast-works in front of my lines, and at daylight on the morning of the 17th I was ordered to move forward in support of General Potter, who was then advancing on the enemy's works, comprising Battery 14, with its connecting lines of defense. I immediately ordered forward my division, and occupied Battery 15 and Battery 16, with the earth-works connecting. With the exception of several slight changes, my division remained in the last. named position until about 4 p. m., when I was ordered to support an attack to be made by the Third Division, under General Willcox, and accordingly moved my command to the ravine in front, and to the right of the Shands house. The Third Division hot having succeeded in its attack, I was ordered about 5.30 p. m. to form my division for a charge upon the enemy's works, which were from 300 to 500 yards west of the ravine. I ordered the First Brigade, under Col. J. P. Gould, and the Second Brigade, under Lieut. Col. Joseph H. Barnes, to form in line of battle below the crest of the hill west of the ravine, and placed the Twenty-first Massachusetts Volunteers on the right of the line, the left |