CHAPTER XXXII.

SOUTH OF THE JAMES.

THE CROSSING OF THE JAMES.-PETERSBURG.-GILLMORE retires.-KAUTZ ATTACKS.— SMITH'S NEW ASSAULT.-THE CORPS COME UP RAPIDLY.-BUTLER MOVES FORWARD. -THE NEW ASSAULT ON THE CITY-NOT SUCCESSFUL.-SHERIDAN'S EXPEDITION.NEW MOVEMENT OF THE ARMY.-AGAINST THE WELDON ROAD.-DEEP BOTTOM.WILSON'S RAID.-TEMPORARY REST.

THE grand crossing of the James was next in order. Transports having been assembled, the Second Corps began crossing in them at noon. Under the direction of General Butler, General Godfrey Weitzel, the chief-engineer of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina, had selected points; and General Benham, arriving on the 14th, had laid ponton-bridges near Wilcox's wharf, and opposite Windham's Point. The bridges were a triumph of pontoneering skill. They were two thousand feet long, and the channel-boats were anchored in fifteen fathoms. They were ready by midnight. The army had been well massed around Charles City Courthouse; and the crossing, which was made both by the bridges and by the ferry-boats, was effected in a most admirable manner, and was not materially molested by the enemy: it occupied Tuesday and Wednesday, the 14th and 15th of June. We did not lose more than four hundred men in all its casualties.

We must return now to the promised aid which Grant was to have in the attack by Butler's troops upon Petersburg, which, it will be remembered, was a part of Grant's new plan.

Before doing so, let us cast a glance at the city and its environs. It is situated on the south bank of the Appomattox, and through it the great Southern railroad runs. It is twentytwo miles from Richmond, and about ten from City Point, where the Appomattox empties into the James. Vessels of one hundred tons go up the river to the wharves of Petersburg, while those of larger tonnage unload at Walthall's, six miles below the city. A canal takes smaller vessels past the falls, just above the city. It is the third city in size in Virginia; but it was to have a remarkable military value as the grand strategic southern outpost to Richmond. Indeed, in all the military operations, it was quite as important as the capital. There is a railroad from it to City Point; another to Norfolk; the third, already mentioned, runs south to Weldon and beyond; while the Southside Railroad runs to Lynchburg. Of these roads, the vital ones were those connecting it with Richmond and the Southside roads. The enemy's dispositions were admirably made to cover them both. The works, weak at the first, were rapidly strengthened. These consisted of continuous lines commanding each other, and flanked by strong batteries, square redoubts, and other inclosed works. Southeast of the city a gentle ridge rises, shutting it out from our view and our guns, except at a few points, and this was strongly occupied by the rebel lines.

Grant had gone in person to Bermuda Hundred to arrange the plan which contemplated the seizure of the town, before these works had become so strong. The result was, that General Butler had dispatched Gillmore with a small force— thirty-five hundred men-on the 10th of June, to cross the Appomattox near the Point of Rocks, to move by the riverturnpike directly upon the city, and capture it, if possible, while it was yet too weak to resist a coup-de-main.

Simultaneously with this movement two gunboats and a battery were to attack Fort Clinton below the city; and thirdly, Kautz, with a detachment of cavalry, fifteen hundred strong, was to move across the Norfolk Railroad and effect an entrance on the south. On the 10th, Gillmore moved without molesta

tion until he came upon the works two miles from the city. He drove in the enemy's skirmishers, but on account of the small number of his own command, and the apparent strength of the works, he was deterred from assaulting, and marched back to his camp. Kautz, the hero of this assault, crossed the railroad, and marched so rapidly and secretly, that he penetrated into the town; but the enemy, unemployed on Gillmore's front, concentrated, fell upon Kautz's troopers, and drove them away.

Gillmore's force should have been double, and the attack could not have failed. As to the propriety of his withdrawing without an attack, we have not the necessary knowledge to consider the question. In such reciprocal movements it is the greatest of pities, whatever the cause, that either party should fail the other.

With characteristic energy, unimpaired by these failures, Grant hurried in person to Bermuda Hundred, and there gave Butler verbal instructions to dispatch Smith with the Eighteenth Corps, just arrived from White House, at one o'clock in the morning, and with all the troops which could be spared, without endangering the safety of his position, to Petersburg. He said he would hurry back to the Army of the Potomac, and pour it down, division at a time, without delay, and thus could re-enforce Smith more rapidly than the enemy could concentrate there. This the enemy was attempting to thwart; he was in great force south of Richmond, A. P. Hill's corps in advance. Smith was at once set in motion. He crossed the Appomattox on a ponton-bridge near the Point of Rocks, and following Gillmore's route, moved upon the northeast defences of Petersburg, from the Appomattox round for a distance of two and a half miles, reaching his ground before day on the 16th. A partial attack was made on some advanced lines by the colored troops under Hincks, who behaved with commendable gallantry, capturing a line of rifle-pits and two twelve-pounders. But we are ignorant of the causes which led Smith to delay his attack on the main works until late in the afternoon.

Just before the setting of the sun he moved to the attack of these, and his gallantry and impetuosity were rewarded by the capture of the entire line of rifle trenches. The enemy, routed, left behind as trophies for Smith three hundred prisoners, sixteen guns, and a battle-flag. Our loss was not more than six hundred. In ignorance of what lay behind these captured works, Smith did not pursue his advantage. It is now known that there were no works of importance between these and Petersburg. The night was clear, and there was a brilliant moon. Smith, however, made no further offensive operations that night. General Hancock came up just after nightfall with two divisions of the Second Corps, and courteously waiving his right to take the command from a general who had studied the ground, and already obtained a brilliant success, he placed the divisions of his corps under Smith's orders. Portions of these divisions were sent, at Smith's request, to relieve his own troops in the captured works, and there was a cessation of hostilities until morning. The auspicious moment for capturing Petersburg by a coup-demain had passed. The enemy was now pouring down troops to defend it. Grant had fulfilled his promise of sending down the Army of the Potomac without a moment's delay. Hancock had moved without supplies. On the same day, the 15th, he had also ordered Warren to cross at early daylight by the ferries, and push forward. He reached Petersburg on the evening of the 16th. The Sixth, under Wright, was thus moved: the artillery and one division to Petersburg, and the other two divisions to City Point. Burnside, with the Ninth, reached Petersburg about noon on the 16th. These dispositions having been carried out by General Meade, that officer proceeded to City Point, and from thence to Petersburg. He met General Grant on the road, and, after consultation, was directed by him to assume the immediate command of the troops in front, and to assault at once. The position of our troops was just in front of the works captured by Smith on the 15th. After that capture, Martindale had been on the right, against the river, Brooks and Hincks occupied the

centre, and Kautz covered the left with his cavalry. As the Army of the Potomac arrived, the Second Corps had come on Smith's left, and the Ninth on the right of the Second. Warren had taken post still on the left, to extend our line around the city. Meade, on leaving Grant, returned to the front at two P. M., and after consultation with the corps commanders, he ordered the Second and Ninth corps to assault. The attack began at six o'clock, and the fighting continued until six in the morning, with varying success. It was a terrible battle-night! Birney, of the Second Corps, stormed the advanced crest in his front. Barlow made a vigorous attempt, but was unsuccessful, losing a portion of his skirmish line. The brigades of Miles and Griffin, of the Fifth Corps, which came up during the night, succeeded in taking and holding a portion of the line in their front. Smith's (Eighteenth) corps only made a demonstration, as an assault was not thought by him to be expedient in his front.

During the night of the 16th, Neill's division, of the Sixth Corps, came up as expected-the others remaining at City Point and at once relieved Brooks' division, of the Eighteenth, which, with General Smith, returned to Bermuda Hundred. Martindale was left in command of the remainder of the corps. Burnside, at the beginning of the assault, had encountered so terrible a fire, that he was unable to attack; but the next morning, at the earliest dawn, he directed Potter to take the work in his front, which was gallantly done. With the work were captured four guns, many prisoners, and several colors. Ledlie, who relieved Potter's stormers, pushed on to an additional success, and occupied the enemy's lines, distant one mile and a half only from the city. From this point, a few shells were thrown into Petersburg. Had the enemy permitted us to occupy these lines in peace, he could not have long held the town. But he did not. His troops were now pouring in in great numbers. He organized an overwhelming counter-assault for that night; and after heavy fighting, recaptured his works. Petersburg was now in condition to resist any attempt by a sudden storming.