ARMY OPERATIONS. 



135 



works, and the enemy rushed through a gap in 

 the line, separating the divisions of Crawford 

 and Wilcox. A desperate engagement now 

 ensued. At the same time the left of the line 

 was attacked by the enemy under Gen. Heth, 

 and the temporary intrenchments carried. On 

 reaching the second line the enemy was brought 

 to a stand, and then driven back with great 

 slaughter. At this time reinforcements had 

 arrived, consisting of the 1st and 2d divisions 

 of the 9th corps. The lines were thus finally 

 rallied and the enemy driven back, retrieving 

 in a measure the disaster at the outset. The 

 Federal loss was estimated between 3,500 and 

 4,000. The enemy claimed to have captured 

 prisoners. The TVeldon Railroad was 

 thus recovered by the enemy as far as Yellow 

 Tavern, but the position first taken by Gen. 

 Warren was held. 



On August 28th, Gen. Grant issued the fol- 

 lowing order : 



HEADQCABTEB3 ARMIES OF TITE F. S.. IX THE FlELD, 1^ 



VIEGLXIA. August 2>th. 1564. j" 

 Special Orders j\7-. 



Hereafter deserters from the Confederate army, 

 who deliver themselves up to the United States 

 forces, will, on taking the oath that they will not 

 again take up arms during the present rebellion, be 

 furnished subsistence and free transportation to their 

 homes, if the same are within the lines of the Fed- 

 eral occupation. 



If their homes are within such lines, they will be 

 furnished subsistence and free transportation to any 

 point in the Northern States. 



All deserters who take the oath of allegiance will, 

 if they desire it, be given employment in the Quar- 

 termaster's and other departments of the army, and 

 the same remuneration paid them as is given to 

 civilians employed for similar services. 



Forced military duty, or services endangering 

 them to capture b'y the "Confederate forces, will not 

 be exacted from such as give themselves up to the 

 United States military authorities. 



By command of Lieut.-Gen. GRANT. 



T. S. BOWERS, A. A. G. 



Affairs now remained quiet until September 

 10th, when the brigade of Gen. De Trobriand 

 captured a portion of the enemy's pickets, in- 

 flicting a loss of one hundred to one hundred 

 and fifty. On the 16th a body of the enemy's 

 cavalry marched around in the rear of Gen. 

 Meade's left at Reams' station, and captured 

 the 13th Pennsylvania and a herd of 2,500 

 cattle. They were pursued by cavalry, but 

 the pursuit was repulsed and they retired at 

 leisure. 



On September 14th the Secretary of War 

 sent forward the following despatch :" 



WAB DEPABTME>-T, September 14 

 Major-General Dix, New Tori: : 



Lieutenant-General Grant telegraphs this depart- 

 ment in respect to the draft as foflows : 



CITY FOIST 10:30 A. ac, September 13. 

 Hon. Edicin, JI. Stanton, Secretary of War : 



We ought to have the whole number of men called 

 for by the President in the shortest possible time. 

 Prompt action in filling our armies will have more 

 effect upon the enemy than a victory over them. 

 They profess to believe, and make their men believe, 

 there is such a party North in favor of recognizing 

 Southern independence that the draft cannot be en- 



forced. Let them be undeceived. Deserters come 

 into our lines daily who tell us that the men are 

 nearly universally t'ired of the war, and that deser- 

 tions'would be much more frequent, but they believe 

 peace will be negotiated after the fall election. The 

 enforcement of the draft and prompt filling up of our 

 armies will save the shedding of blood to an immense 

 degree. U. S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General. 



The following telegram has been received from 

 Major-General Sherman on the same subject : 



ATLAJSTA, GA. 6:30 p. i., Sept 18. 

 Eon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War : 



I am very glad to hear that the draft will be en- 

 forced. First, we want the men ; second, thev coma 

 as privates to fill up our old and tried regiments, 

 with their experienced officers already on hand ; 

 and third, because the enforcement of the law will 

 manifest a power resident in our Government equal 

 to the occasion. Our Government, though a Democ- 

 racy, should in times of trouble and danger be able 

 to wield the power of a great nation. All well. 



W. T. SHERMAN, Major-General. 



The draft is ordered to commence in all the States 

 and districts where the quota is not filled by volun- 

 teers, on Monday, the 19th, and will go on until 

 completed. Volunteers and substitutes will be re- 

 ceived and credited to as late a period as possible- 

 Volunteering is still progressing with vigor in most 

 of the States. EDWIN M. STANTON, 



Secretary of War. 



A call for 500,000 men had been issued by 

 the President on July 18th. 



On Sept. 28th a movement was made by 

 Gen. Grant on the north of the James. It was 

 predicated on the belief that only a small force of 

 the enemy occupied the works on the north side 

 of the river, and a hope was entertained that 

 by a sudden movement and a rapid advance the 

 capture of Richmond might be the result. At 

 the same time it was assumed that if the ad- 

 vance was successfully resisted it could only be 

 accomplished by the withdrawal of a force 

 from the south side of the river, which would 

 materially aid the army of the Potomac in a 

 contemplated movement on the enemy in the 

 vicinity of Petersburg. Gen. Ord with the 

 18th corps was ordered to cross the James at 

 Aikin's Landing, eight miles above Deep Bot- 

 tom, and to mass his troops quietly on the 

 north bank, and at daylight to advance against 

 the enemy's works in his front with the utmost 

 celerity, in order that no reinforcements might 

 reach the enemy in time to oppose the move- 

 ment. After capturing the works on Chapin's 

 farm, it was designed that he should without 

 delay advance against the rear defences of 

 Chapin's Bluff, and, after capturing these, de- 

 stroy the bridges across the James and con- 

 tinue his advance toward Richmond, capturing 

 the enemy or driving them before him, and 

 effectually protecting his rear by the destruc- 

 tion of the bridges. At the same time Gen. 

 Birney, on the afternoon of the 28th, with the 

 10th corps, moved to Bermuda Hundred and 

 crossed the river during the night. A division 

 of colored troops of the 18th corps was added 

 to his force. Gen. Birney was ordered, by a 

 rapid movement at daylight, to capture the 

 enemy's work in front of Deep Bottom and 

 gain possession of the New Market road lead- 



