at were ditches from eight to twelve feet wide and six feet deep, and in
of these a line of good abatis. This line was well indicated, the batteries
d and infantry parapet two-thirds finished, the remaining work to be
er the troops occupied the line. Often the greatest difficulty has been
gan army to take up a proper and exact line of defence at first, each
, company, and man digging where they find their spades, without
to the fitness of things, indicating the necessity of more engineer officers.
tached works to this line, it was intended to hold those on New Market
nd Camp Holly, which would have given us the command of New Market,
d, and Darbytown roads. The necessity for this line never occurring,
ever occupied by troops.

the occupation of Fort Harrison and the rebel captured lines, the en-
in the construction of a new line of defence joining their water batte-
he river at Chaffin's farm with Fort Gilmer, and running thence east-
oin on to that portion of the captured line which we could not occupy
arles City road, and so on to new bridge on the Chickahominy.
ne that our forces occupied was made as strong as possible, and possessed
ntage of having but a short part exposed to an attack of the enemy,
art was strongly manned and guarded.

27th a movement was made on the Darby town and Williamsburg
th no other result than to keep the enemy from sending re-enforcements
ht of their army at Petersburg, which was then being attacked by the
the Potomac. During this movement General Weitzel's troops fought
me ground, in advance of Seven Pines, on which the army of the Poto-
ht in 1862.

ber-Details of both engineers and infantry were constantly employed is month in repairing the works of defence, and perfecting and comhose alluded to. During this season the roads used by the supply om the wharves and bridges became much cut up, and corduroying was ed. Wharves for the quartermaster, ordnance, commissary, and meditments were built at suitable places on the river. Frequent rumors at Fort Harrison that the enemy were mining the work, in order to allay of the garrison well-holes were dug on the glacis to serve for listening As the nearest approach of the rebel works was eight hundred yards, lley twenty feet deep had to be crossed before reaching the work, but ution was paid to these rumors.

attention was paid to the defensive operations, we also found time to epair, and put in working order three saw-mills, which were located in d forest in the Bermuda woods. By these mills from seven thousand ousand feet of lumber were sawed per day, the greater portion of which in the construction of a permanent hospital at Point of Rocks. Suffiobtained, however, to stock the engineer depot, build platforms and s in all the batteries, wharves and bridges on the river.

is a report of the engineer force of the army, and how employed, y be taken as a fair standard of each day's detail during the period of

ers, 80 men, building redoubts and corduroying roads; 2 officers, repairing 10th army corps front; 2 officers, 90 men, repairing 18thps front; 1 officer, 30 men, bomb-proof to dredge Dutch Gap and Fort officer, fifty men, corduroying roads; 2 officers, 30 men, engineer deermuda and Fortress Monroe; 2 officers, 143 men, various small de-12 officers, 489 men, 1st New York volunteer engineers. 4 officers, on duty at saw-mills, building wharf, pontoon bridges, repairing &c.

D

dy for winter use quite early in the month. e to the defences were repaired. Timber for a red in the woods, which bridge was to be built Engineer troops accompanied the expeditionary

uently opened a heavy mortar fire from in front rison, and as the artillery men were unable to continuance, it was deemed advisable to make ront of Fort Harrison. The mortars used by d outside of their works, and behind the line heir front by a strong line of abatis. It was ole front of the work, and put in casemates on the Hoxo plan, for the guns on the front. ntry on top, reached by broad, wide stairs in od cover, and enabled them to see perfectly tch was deepened and widened, and a fraise caling. But four of these casemates were consketch of which is shown on opposite page. lines of abatis and wire entanglement placed whole work quite formidable and easy to hold. ich at this time became very expensive, Lieuigned some loop-holes for riflemen, and for use admirably well adapted for their purpose, and he saw-mills, were used on all the works and d of boards, and of the form shown in the diar target for the enemy's sharpshooters, and at of fire. They were not easily discernible at e removed and replaced.

the same purpose consisted in placing logs of nches in diameter, hewn on two sides, with e in about six feet, along the interior crest of logs in front with earth. The notches which ng towards the outside, similar to our own, and ting the orifice was still further reduced by a ten inches square, with a hole in the centre f a musket. These plates were spiked to the he notches,) and in some cases were found with pon them, many of which were so near the ilets probably went through, and it is quite uck the plate would have struck the man in ag loop-holes been used.

d this expedient worthy his attention, observof the parapet are not suitable where artillery

s finished after a little more than two weeks' sixty-eight feet long. It became necessary ridge, owing to the great freshets in the river, 1 that came down the river at this time. It sting of three piles driven firmly into the bed ap piece, and the piers joined by strong pieces e. An inclined log was attached to each pier was securely attached to a pile driven a short ation of the pier, which pile was nearly sawed

ng the march there were rains, which would increase the weight. On h of March the moving column of the army of the James, consistTurner's division of West Virginia troops, of the 24th army corps, ster's first division of the same corps, commanded by Major General and Birney's division of the 25th army corps, all commanded by Major Ord, occupied the left of the army of the Potomac, intrenched lines on Hatcher's run.

he 30th an advance was made across the run by Turner's and Foster's , rebel picket line captured, and a position secured beyond Armstrong's with eight hundred yards of the rebel line of works. Turner's division the 2d army corps by a bridge built over the run. On Turner's right and Birney made the connexion with the 6th army corps, still in posihind their intrenched lines. Attempts were made during the night to atrenchments and cover for a battery, but the ground would not stand, aturated with water from recent heavy rains, and so spongy that it would r the weight of a horse.

7.-On the morning of the 2d the successful assault being made, and rapidly d up by an attack on Fort Gregg, which was taken after some desperate the troops occupied a position entirely surrounding Petersburg. During ht everything was got in readiness for a rapid march in the morning. g at 5 a. m., and taking the Cox road, our army made a rapid march toBurkeville-a part of the engineer force moved ahead to repair roads and -the pontoon trains followed headquarters, to be in readiness in case of ty. Burkeville was reached on the night of the 5th, and occupied during t day. A small force being sent out to burn the high bridge at Farmis met by the rebel advance and captured, after desperate fighting. The moved in that direction on the 6th, and engaged a portion of the advance enemy, while the cavalry headed them off on the Prince Edward Court road. On the afternoon of the 7th the troops entered Farmville, the enemy the bridges at this place and retreating across the river. The pontoon our army having been well kept up to the front, notwithstanding its ded condition, was fortunately able to be used to pass over the artillery ins of the sixth and second army corps and enable them to follow in ursuit of the enemy that night. The pontoons were relieved by those army of the Potomac before daybreak, and once more in position for a rch.

aylight on the Sth the 24th army corps moved from Farmville, taking ad running nearly with the south side railroad, and made a forced of nearly thirty-three (33) miles before midnight, resting for a few hours railroad where Sheridan had captured several cars loaded with bacon and At 33 a. m. on the 9th the infantry moved again, a on the extreme left of the army. The lea !*

m. were in Foster's