ARMY OPERATIONS. 



123 



of cavalry was sent to protect that flank, and 

 the corps'retired to form position for the night. 



In the lines east of Petersburg comparative 

 quietness prevailed. The bridges across the 

 Appomattox, between Petersburg and Poca- 

 hontas, the village on the Richmond side of 

 the river, were shelled daily by the batteries of 

 Gen. Grant. On the same day, the 21st, a division 

 of the 10th corps, under Gen. Foster, crossed 

 the James, at a point between Allan's Landing 

 and Four Mile Creek, and occupied Deep Bot- 

 tom, about ten miles from Richmond. On the 

 opposite side of the river, about six miles from 

 Gen. Foster, the enemy had a battery at a 

 position called Hewlett's. In this position he 

 threatened, to some extent, the southeast ap- 

 proaches to Richmond. At the same time the 

 18th corps moved from Bermuda Hundred to 

 Petersburg, and occupied the position vacated 

 by the 6th corps. 



Early on "Wednesday, the 22d, the movement 

 against the railroad was resumed. The object 

 was to cut off the communication with Peters- 

 burg from the south. At the same tune a 

 cavalry expedition was sent about ten miles 

 further south, under Gen. Wilson, to destroy 

 the railroad. The general movement was de- 

 signed to consist of an advance of the 2d and 

 6th corps directly against the road. The 2d 

 corps was on the left of the Jerusalem road, 

 with Gen. Gibbon's division resting its right on 

 the left of the road. Gen. Griffin's division 

 of the 5th corps was on the further side. The 

 position of Gen. Gibbon was so near the works 

 of the enemy that any further Advance by him 

 would bring on a general engagement. The 

 advance was, therefore, ordered for the left of 

 the line, consisting of the divisions of Generals 

 Barlow and Mott, and the 6th corps. It was 

 to have been made at daybreak, but was de- 

 layed by each corps apparently waiting for the 

 other to lead. At length each corps was 

 ordered to advance independently, and to pro- 

 tect its own flank as connection between was 

 not made. The line was deployed in open 

 style, covering a large extent of ground, until 

 it approached the presence of the enemy, in 

 more intricate ground, when the left of the 2d, 

 under Gen. Barlow, was pressed well in tow- 

 ard the right, thus opening a gap between it 

 and the 6th corps. Gen. Barlow threw out 

 flanking regiments to protect himself. But no 

 sooner was the entire line of the 2d corps in 

 position, and Gen. Barlow's division had com- 

 menced to intrench, when it was attacked on 

 the flank by the enemy. In its advance, the 

 2d corps had separated from the 5th, on its 

 right, and the 6th was now far distant, on the 

 left and rear. The enemy took advantage of 

 the error. One entire division, with Mahone's 

 brigade, pushed through the interval. The 

 flank of Gen. Barlow was instantly rolled up 

 and a large number made prisoners. This 

 movement of Gen. Barlow's force quickly un- 

 covered the flank of Gen. Mott's division, and 

 exposed him to the same danger. Gen. Mott 



at once fell back, with the loss of many made 

 prisoners, and thus exposed the left flank of 

 Gen. Gibbon's division. The line of intrench- 

 ments occupied by Gen. Mott was now captured 

 by the enemy, who thus pressed Gen. Gibbon 

 in front and rear. Several regiments were 

 captured, with McKnight's battery, before the 

 enemy were checked by the bravery of the 

 20th "Massachusetts. The broken corps was 

 soon rallied and a new line formed, and further 

 attacks of the enemy repulsed. The 6th corps 

 was also attacked on its left flank by a division 

 of Gen. Hill's command, and its advance line 

 driven back, thus widening the gap between it 

 and the 2d. In the evening, Gen. Meade get- 

 ting both corps well in order, directed an ad- 

 vance. The 6th recovered its former line and 

 the 2d a part of its line, and intrenched for 

 the night. At daylight the enemy appeared, 

 strongly intrenched, before the Weldon Rail- 

 road. The loss of the day included about two 

 thousand made prisoners, four guns, and some 

 colors. 



On the next day, the 23d, Gen. Wright 

 moved out to the extreme left, and finding that 

 the enemy had not advanced so far, sent out a 

 reconnoitring force to the railroad. They 

 reached it unopposed and cut the telegraph. 

 The 3d, 4th, and llth Vermont regiments 

 were then sent forward to hold the road. But 

 they had hardly reached it when they were 

 attacked on their flank by a division of the 

 enemy under Gen. Anderson, and their position 

 was turned at once. Several hundred were 

 taken prisoners, and some were killed and 

 wounded. The enemy, elated with success, 

 pushed the troops back to the main body, and 

 then began a general attack. The* line was 

 withdrawn toward evening to the cover of 

 the breastworks. The loss of the enemy in 

 these two days was disproportionately small. 

 Elsewhere, during the day, nothing cf im- 

 portance occurred. 



On Friday, the 24th, the enemy opened with 

 artillery upon the position of Gen. Stannard's 

 division of the 10th corps. After an hour, a 

 charge was made, which was repulsed with a 

 loss to the enemy of one hundred and fifty 

 prisoners, besides some killed and wounded. 

 Xo important movements were made in other 

 parts of the line. During the evening, the cav- 

 alry force under Gen. Sheridan, while march- 

 ing" from the White House to the James River, 

 were attacked by the enemy and a bloody 

 struggle ensued. The enemy were finally 

 driven off, after a loss by Gen. Sheridan of 

 four to five hundred men. His trains were 

 saved from capture. 



On the next day, the 25th, the principal 

 demonstration was made in front of Gen. 

 Burnside's position. It consisted of the ad- 

 vance of a strong skirmish line, which Tras 

 easily repulsed. 



The cavalry expedition of Gen. Wilson set 

 out frcm the camps near Prince George Court 

 House, on the morning of June 22d. His 



