No 121: Report of Bvt. Maj. Gen. George W. Getty, U.S. Army, commanding
Second Division. April 17, 1865
Major: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the
Second Division in the assault on the enemy's works on the morning of the
2nd instant and in the subsequent operations which resulted in the
surrender of the rebel Army of Northern Virginia:
Leaving the pickets re-enforced by the division of sharpshooters under Bvt.
Maj. William H. Terrell, and the garrison of the forts, consisting of a
detachment from the Sixty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, in Fort Urmston, and
the Sixty-second New York in Forts Tracy and Keane, the command moved from camp
without knapsacks, shortly after midnight preceding the 2nd, filed
through the breast-works and abatis by openings made for the purpose on the
right and left of Fort Welch, and were massed in columns of regiments, each
brigade forming a column immediately in rear of the intrenched picket-line
captured from the enemy on the 25th of March, and since held by our
pickets. From this point, directly in front of Fort Welch, a ravine led straight
up to the enemy's works, a distance of 600 yards. The ground, gently ascending,
was partly open and partly obstructed by stumps and branches of trees. Grant's
(Vermont) brigade (Second) rested its left on this ravine, and was made the
directing column; Hyde's brigade (third) was placed in the center; and Warner's
(First) on the right. The First Division was in echelon in support on the right
of the division, and the Third, in similar order, on the left. Axmen to cut away
the abattis were placed in the front lines. It was strongly impressed upon
commanders to force their way through all opposition and obstructions into the
enemy's works, and the works once carried, the troops were to be halted and
reformed in readiness for any emergency. About 2 a.m., while the troops were
moving into position, the pickets commenced firing to cover, it is said, the
movement. The enemy's pickets replied vigorously, and a number of brave officers
and men were killed or wounded. The loss was heaviest in Hyde's brigade (Third),
in which two regimental commanders-Lieut. Col. E.D. Holt, Forty-ninth New York,
and Lieut Col. J.W. Crosby, Sixty-first Pennsylvania-were mortally wounded. Bvt.
Maj. Gen. L.A. Grant, commanding Second Brigade, was slightly wounded in the
head, but although compelled to retire for a time, resumed command at
night-fall.
At 4 a.m. the gun, the signal to advance, was fired from Fort Fisher. Owing,
however to the heavy cannonading on the Ninth Corps line, the signal was
imperfectly understood, but at the command the men rose to their feet, leaped
over the rifle-pits, and moved forward. The lines, being massed close together,
advanced successively, each moving forward as the preceding gained a distance of
100 yards. For several moments nothing was heard but the tramp and rustle of the
advancing columns; but just as the enemy's picket line was gained the silence
was broken by a scattering volley. The troops instantly responded with a ringing
cheer and pushed on in the face of the enemy's fire, which was now spitting
along the whole line. The artillery on our left also opened, throwing case-shot,
grape, and canister, most of which fell in rear of our troops. Although
considerable confusion was caused by the character of the ground and the
darkness of the night, resolute men from every regiment in the division rushed
gallantly forward, forced aside the abatis and swarmed over the works, capturing
nearly all the enemy behind them. It is impossible to determine to whom is due
the honor of first entering the works, or what regiment first planted its flag
upon them, but that this honor is due to the troops and colors of the Second
Division there can be no doubt. The position of the division in front of the
corps, having the shortest line to the enemy's works, and carrying those works
in the first charge without repulse, renders it physically impossible that it
should be otherwise.
Simultaneously with the assault just described, Lieut. Col. Charles A.
Milliken, division officer of the day, in compliance with instructions
previously given him, advanced the picket-line, which was on the right of the
main attack, seized the enemy's line of picket pits, and captured therein
between 400 and 500 prisoners. From this pint a farther advance was made, and
two forts, with three guns each, taken, one of which, known as Fort McGraw, was
soon after relinquished to a strong column of the enemy, the pickets and
sharpshooters having expended their ammunition. The enemy being afterward forced
back by the main advance on Petersburg, the pickets and sharpshooters were
withdrawn and rejoined the command about 9 p.m.
The troops, after breaking through the enemy's works, pressed forward with
the greatest dash and enthusiasm, and without order or formation, until at
length they were halted with great difficulty and lines reformed at a point on
the Boydton plank road over a mile from the rebel lines. The division was then
moved by the left flank, and put in position in one line-Warner on the right,
Hyde in the center, and Grant's (Vermont) brigade, now commanded by Bvt. Col.
Charles Mundee, assistant adjutant-general, on the left, with the left near the
captured works, and the line extending therefrom at right angles and facing
westward, or toward Hatcher's Run. A few skirmishers of the Third Division
joined the left with the breast-works, and two brigades of the First Division
were moving up in support of the right flank, when, the formation being
completed, the line was advanced. The enemy resisted stoutly from a fort a few
hundred yards in front of our left and fired several rounds of canister, but
being soon outflanked and enveloped, the work was taken, with several guns and a
number of prisoners, and no further resistance was made. For over two miles the
line moved forward over a wooded and difficult country, capturing flags, guns,
and prisoners at every step. In the eagerness of the advance many prisoners and
captures were sent to the rear and turned over without proper receipts or
credits being obtained for them.
Having advanced nearly to Hatcher's Run, opposite the front of the Army of
the James, and the enemy having disappeared, the line was halted, reformed, and
closed in to the left. The two brigades of the First Division and the Third
Division soon after came up and the troops rested. About 9 a.m., it having been
decided to advance on Petersburg, the troops were put in motion for that point,
retracing their steps and marching in parallel columns. After passing the scene
of the morning assault, the division was formed in two lines, on the left of the
Twenty-fourth Corps, with the right of the division on the Boydton plank road,
Mundee's (Vermont) brigade on the right, Warner's in the center, and Hyde's on
the left, with his left refused-and advanced under shell fire about half a mile,
when a temporary halt was made. This point is about two miles from the inner
lines about Petersburg. Much annoyance was experienced from the fire of a
battery on the Cox road, on our left, which, frequently changing its position,
completely enfiladed our lines. The shelling from front and right was also
severe. Allen's (Rhode Island) battery and Harn's battery, which were attached
to the division, were brought up and replied to the enemy's fire. At my
suggestion General Wheaton, commanding First Division, moved his division up to
extend and support the left; but observing the enemy moving guns and troops on
the Cox road and endeavoring to form, I advanced the command at once, without
waiting for the First Division, in order to attack before he was ready. This
advance was made about noon.
The troops moved forward with great spirit, although under a very heavy fire
of shell and a desultory musketry. The batteries, Harn's and Allen's, advanced
in fine style with the infantry, and kept up a hot fire, and the enemy was
forced rapidly back. The force maneuvering on the Cox road retired before our
advance, to avoid being cut off from Petersburg, until a last stand was made at
Edge Hill, Lee's headquarters, where the battery, being deserted by its support
and the horses killed, was captured after a brave resistance. The enemy now took
refuge behind the inner works about Petersburg. The division, much fatigued and
scattered by the rapid advances and hard work of the day, was in no shape to
assault the works. Accordingly the troops were collected and reformed, and
posted in two lines, with the left on the Appomattox; intrenchments were erected
and pickets thrown out. A desultory artillery firing closed the day's work.
The enemy having evacuated Petersburg and retreated during the night of the
2nd, the following day the troops advanced westward in pursuit by the
Namozine (or River) road, the Second Division in advance, and bivouacked on
Wipponock Creek, after a march of fourteen miles. On the 4th advanced
across Winticomack Creek, twelve miles; on the 5th, to near
Jetersville Station, sixteen miles, and camped in two lines on the right of the
Third Division, with the First Division massed in support on our right, the
lines extending nearly east and west, and facing north toward Amelia Court
House, where the enemy was reported in force.
At 6 a.m. on the 6th the line was advanced by the right of
regiments to the front nearly three miles toward Amelia Court House, when the
enemy being found to have retreated the troops retraced their steps, and,
marching by the camp of the night preceding, crossed the Danville railroad at
Jetersville Station and followed a road leading to Rices' Station on the South
Side Railroad.
The division being in rear did not participate in the struggle at Sailor's
Creek, although brought up and formed in line on the double-quick. After
crossing the creek the division was placed in the advance, and soon after
night-fall moved forward about two miles, when the troops were encamped for the
night. The Second Vermont Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel Tracy, deployed as
skirmishers, pushed forward nearly two miles farther, until the enemy's rear
guard was encountered, when a slight skirmish ensued without result.
On the 7th the command moved to Farmville, via Rice's Station,
crossed the Appomattox, and bivouacked on the north side, making a march of
fourteen miles.
On the 8th moved to New Store on the Appomattox Court House plank
road, fifteen miles; and on the 9th moved ten miles to the scene of
the surrender of the rebel Army of Northern Virginia. Having rested during the
10th, on the 11th the command retraced their steps,
marching through Farmville and Rice's Station to the present camp near
Burkeville Junction, which was reached on the afternoon of the 13th.
In these operations the officers and men of the division displayed their
usual gallantry, so conspicuous during the campaigns of the last year.
Recommendations of those who particularly distinguished themselves will be
forwarded at the earliest practicable moment.
Accompanying are reports of brigade commanders, lists of casualties, etc.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant.
No 129: Report of Col. Thomas W. Hyde, First Maine Veteran Volunteers,
commanding Third Brigade. April 15, 1865
Sir: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of my
brigade upon the 2nd of April and during the subsequent movements of
the division:
At midnight preceding the 2nd instant my command moved from camp;
filed out to the right of Fort Welch, where had been piled the knapsacks and
canteens, and took position just in rear of the picket-line of the Third
Division, on the right of the Second Brigade. My column of attack was formed in
four lines, each line nearly equal in numbers. The first line was composed of
the Forty-ninth and Seventy-seventh New York Battalions; the second of the First
Maine Veteran Volunteers; the third of the Sixty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers,
and the fourth of the Forty-third New York Battalion and the One hundred and
twenty-second New York Volunteers. Axmen were stationed in the first line to cut
away the abatis of the enemy. Regimental commanders had been carefully
instructed as to the direction to be taken, and as to the location in their
front of the passageway through the enemy's works and obstructions by which
their pickets passed out and in. While the brigade was being put into position
the pickets of the Third Division opened fire, which was replied to with vigor
by the enemy, occasioning the loss of several brave officers and men. About 4
a.m. the signal gun was fired and the first line ordered forward. After they had
advanced 100 yards the second advanced, the third in like manner, and the fourth
after the third had got 250 yards in advance. The first line got nearly to the
picket-pits of the enemy before their movement was discovered; swept over them
easily, followed by the second and the third. At the edge of the swamp, just in
front of the enemy's abatis, they halted a moment to form again, and again swept
on through the openings in the abatis and over the works. Some confusion
occurred on account of the intense darkness, but the colors of the different
regiments and those directly about them, guided by the fire of the enemy, went
straight on to their destination. Several regiments of the brigade claim their
colors as first on the works, but the darkness must leave that honor forever
undecided.
After crossing the works the men pushed rapidly to the front, the colors
ahead, and I succeeded in getting some 200 of the brigade in line at a point
near the South Side Railroad and a mile from the works. By this time a line had
been formed on a small road parallel to the works and the brigade was got
together in the center of the division, having the Second Brigade upon the left
and the First Brigade upon the right. An advance was ordered by Major General
Getty and the command swung to the left and front toward Hatcher's Run,
capturing many prisoners and driving all of the enemy in that vicinity not taken
into the hands of other troops of ours advancing from that direction. The
brigade, with the rest of the division, was then moved back to attack the inner
lines of Petersburg and formed upon the left of the division. I formed the three
left regiments in echelon, as orders had been given me to protect the left
against a line of battle and a battery upon the Cox road, and sent out a company
of the First Maine Veteran Volunteers to dislodge the battery that was already
enfilading the line. This was quickly done, and the advance was hastened under a
heavy artillery and scattering musketry fire. The enemy's batteries and force
were driven from crest to crest till they finally halted with some determination
upon a commanding position where were located General Lee's headquarters. Orders
were given to move to the left and front and take the battery. At this time my
three left regiments were wholly extended as skirmishers to the left and rear to
protect that flank, and were along the South Side Railroad and the bank of the
Appomattox. The rest of the command moved through a difficult swamp, under a
heavy fire of canister, and those first over, without much regard to formation,
were rushed upon the batter, which was taken by detachments from nearly every
regiment in the division. The command was then moved forward till its left
rested upon the Appomattox, and the enemy's artillery across the river was
driven away by my skirmishers. The command from these exhaustions did not
advance beyond this point. They had now been in motion some eighteen hours, and
had taken guns, colors, and a great many prisoners; it would be impossible to
estimate them.
The brigade marched with the division in the subsequent pursuit of Lee's army
till his surrender at Clover Hill and till the return of the Army of the Potomac
to this place (Burke's Station). Three times they were maneuvered to fight, but
did not have opportunity. They were double-quicked for over a mile to get in at
Sailor's Creek and were put in position as the last shots were firing.
For names of those killed and wounded and those recommended for promotion for
special service, see subjoined reports.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant.
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