one, Colonel White, was captured. By this time a very large propor tion of my men were either killed, wounded, or captured, and the enemy had possession of the pits north of the crater. Holding the remainder of the ground in conjunction with Generals Hartranft and Bartlett, and the fragments of regiments and scattered men, we sent for re-enforcements and instructions. Peremptory orders came to abandon the place, and while making arrangements to do so with the least loss the enemy were discovered advancing in force to make another assault. Not deeming it prudent to defend the place longer under those orders we withdrew. Both officers and men behaved in the most gallant manner throughout, and no blame can be attached to any in my brigade. All were anxious to succeed, and were animated with a spirit of determination and devotion, and did all that could be done to insure success, and, when success failed, to prevent disaster. Inclosed you will find a list of the casualties of the day.* I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. SAMUEL WRIGHT, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Division, Ninth Army Corps. No. 194. Reports of Lieut. Col. Charles Cummings, Seventeenth Vermont Infantry, of operations June 12-July 30. IN THE FIELD, Near Petersburg, June 20, 1864. SIR: The Ninth Army Corps left their intrenchments near Cold Harbor at dark on the night of the 12th and with but four hours' sleep. arrived near James River on the night of the 14th. We here halted until 8 p. m. of the following day, when we moved toward the river, crossing at 11 p. m. At noon of the 16th we reached the present battle-ground, after a march of twenty-two miles, during which our ranks were rapidly depleted from hard marching on very short rations. At 6 p. m. the Second Brigade, Second Division, was drawn up in line of battle in support of a portion of the Second Corps, then about to make a charge. This charge proving unsuccessful we were, moved around on the right flank to hold ground wrested from the enemy by Birney's division, of the same corps. In the night it was determined to assault the enemy's position on the center, where a battery, supported by strong rifle-pits, was protected by a house and outbuildings and supported by a sixgun redoubt a little way toward our left, and at a point where the enemy's line turned nearly a right angle. This assault was confided to the Second Division, Ninth Army Corps, and Frank's (formerly Owen's) brigade, of the Second Corps. When the time came for the assault, however, the Second Division alone had the work to do. Accordingly three regiments of the First Brigade, supported by the other three, were assigned to the easterly side of the angle and the same disposition of the Second Brigade was made on the northerly side. *Embodied in return of casualties, p. 247. The regiments selected to lead in the latter were the Seventeenth Vermont, Ninth New Hampshire, and Thirty-second Maine, the Seventeenth on the right, with instructions to take the battery. At 3 a. m. the line was put in motion, the Seventeenth leading off. Marching up a steep hill over Frank's brigade and the earth-works protecting their skirmishers I reformed my line and gave the order to charge. The men (only numbering 135 guns) rushed impetuously forward, driving the enemy's skirmishers, and carrying a strong line of earth-works fully manned. In less time than I can write this we had captured 2 cannon, a caisson, 6 horses, 70 prisoners, and the colors and adjutant of the Seventeenth Tennessee. The other 2 guns fell to the Ninth New Hampshire, their position having been changed during the night. Our casualties in this engagement were 5 killed and 16 wounded. Among the killed, I regret to record, was First Lieut. Guy H. Guyer, one of the most gallant and faithful officers in the regiment. He fell early in the charge, shot through the left breast. The gallantry of my officers and men in this charge would be worthy of especial mention were it not that on that occasion there was no deviation from their usual conduct before the enemy. I cannot refrain from noticing the coincidence that on the anniversary of the 17th of June, the Seventeenth Vermont captured the colors of the Seventeenth Tennessee, Colonel Fulton's brigade, Bushrod Johnson's division, Buckner's (formerly of Hardee's) corps, together with guns and prisoners numbering more than half their own men. To us the 17th of June will hereafter have a double significance. I understand that the First Brigade captured 2 guns (the others having been removed) and quite a number of prisoners. This charge by the Seventeenth was warmly complimented by our brigade and division commanders, and the entire assault has elicited a general order,* of which the following is a copy. As the regiment has been in advanced works and under a hot fire most of the time since the morning of the 17th, I append a list of casualties since last report till this morning. I remain, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, PETER T. WASHBURN, HDQRS. SEVENTEENTH REGIMENT VERMONT VOLS., Near Petersburg, Va., August 1, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to inform you that the Seventeenth Vermont Volunteers participated in an assault made by the Ninth Army Corps, under the enemy's works in front of Petersburg, Va., on Saturday morn ing, July 30, losing very heavily both in officers and men. The blowing up of one of the enemy's forts, previously mined for the purpose, was the signal for a terrific bombardment, under cover of which the assault was made. The first line of works in clearing the demolished fort was carried with but little loss, but the enemy's batteries, instead of replying to our guns, reserved their fire for our advance, and now commenced pouring in a withering fire of case and canister that compelled our men to seek protection in the trenches and the ruins of the fort. Very soon our troops were thrown in confusion, and the enemy, advancing through *No. 24, headquarters Ninth Army Corps, June 18, 1864; see p. 530. June 18, the division had a severe engagement, lasting nearly all day, moving up to, across, and beyond the deep cut of the Norfolk railroad, in front of the Taylor house, driving the enemy into his new works, notwithstanding our very heavy loss, and finally establishing ourselves nearer to the enemy than any other portion of the army. A full report of the affair on the 30th of July has been forwarded;* also report of the action of the 19th and 20th of August, on the Weldon railroad. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. JOHN C. YOUNGMAN, Assistant Adjutant-General, Ninth Army Corps. HDQRS. (LATE) THIRD DIVISION, NINTH ARMY CORPS, MAJOR:t FIFTH EPOCH. June 12, in the night marched for the James River, via Tunstall's Station. Crossed the Chickahominy on the 13th at Jones' Bridge and the James on the 15th near Wilcox's Landing, and came up on the left of Second Corps, in front of Petersburg, on the afternoon of the 16th. On the night of the 16th one brigade (Hartranft's) was ordered to the support of Barlow's division, Second Corps, and Christ's brigade held -the extreme left. On the morning of the 17th Hartranft reported back, and I was ordered to attack the enemy in their works on the right of the Avery house and in front of Shands' house. At the latter point there was a good position for a battery, which I requested to place there, but time would not allow. My two brigades were formed partly in the ravine in front of Shands' and partly on the crest beyond. Major-General Burnside indicated the point of attack on the enemy's breast-works in an open field. Fixing this required point caused a little delay, by the necessary movement of troops, in the tangled ravine, farther to the right than that at first indicated by General Parke, chief of staff. Maj. J. St. Clair Morton, chief engineer of the corps, accompanied the commander of my leading brigade (General Hartranft), and verified the point, compass in hand, after Hartranft's line was formed on the edge of the field. The direction indicated was so unfortunate that, as soon as my lines started from the brow of the ravine, they were swept by an enfilading fire of canister from a rebel battery, nearly opposite Shands house. Our artillery did nothing at the critical moment. My troops advanced at a double-quick, unsupported in any manner whatever. A cloud of blinding dust was raised by the enemy's artillery missiles. Hartranft's left struck the enemy's pits, but melted away in a moment. But eighteen out of ninety-five survived in the ranks of the left companies of the left regiment, and out of 1,890 men, which composed his lines, but 1,050 came out, and a few afterward through the Second Corps works on my right. Among the killed was the gallant Morton. Hartranft's line having thus melted out of sight, See p. 574. For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 12, 1861, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 942. |