The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1864-06-30


cluding both officers and men. But ATTY days have
wrought surprising change In seven weeks the corps
has experienced change something similar to that which
told s wrought In body in years.
In many instances where the Hed officers gone reg
ments arec commanded by captains ard brgades by reg
mental officers Of the field and line
This was the condition OF the corps when il arrived
In the vicinity Of Petersburg the evening Of the
day on which General Smith carried Of the forts
the saemys outer defensive line. But Notwithstanding
these internal disadv antages, has repeed repeated
assaults Of the enemy, stormed his inrencbments and
carried portions Of his line General Hancock beng
disabled by his wound and having his request,
been temporarily relieved, Major General Brney
signed to the command. In Hancock's absence Birney
has judicousy discharged tho duties of corps COM
mander While the fact that the corps has happened 70
be unsuccessful under his direction Is an unfortunats
circumstance, know from personal observation-and 10
10 but iustice efficient officer saythat bl,mo
can possibly attach 10 him. I field during ihe
progress Of those operations the facts concerning them
have received my careful consideration, and hence,
though tho main facts stated my first despatch,
the interest In tho subject Induces critically
review them hero.
The corps had withdrawn from It's position thoso
Of the main works OF the enemy In possessor audi
marching by the nauk took up position left
OF the Je usalcm plank ad, with the fh corps its
right and the Sixth corps It's Ieit As te ne OF ths
Second corps then established the Second div siou,
under General Gibbon, the right resting on tho
Jerusalem plank road, close to tho enemy, and
could not advance any further without bringing on .
general engagement The rnird ard First dIvsionsa
under Generals Mott and Barlow. extended tho Inns
further to the loft and rear.
On the morning OF the ed inst General Meade ordered
General Brney TO advance the left centre Of his
to enveop The enenys position. Birney accordingly
ordered the advance of tho First and Third divisions A.
the sixth corps, under General Wright was to move IN
conjunction with the Second General Brney at half pass
four IN the morning. informed General Barlow that the
Sixth corps was about move his left and
ordered him TO conform the movement advancing bis
line Wright pushed forward his, and at the time
the the line would be considerably con-
tractcdcosng in to the right In order to give General
Mott opportunity to contract his line also and eed
Of his troops in General Mott kewis
requested to forward 70 the position pointed I'd
him. Though early the morning received from
Gen. Wright and by Brney Barlow stating that
no about to advance and that the connection bo4
tween the could easily be made 1t seems that the
Sixth corps did not advance and consequently ncthes
did the Second 1t appears that the waiting fof
the other.
At length Gen. Meade, who displayed great energy In
pushing forward The investing movement, directed tnas
Of each other. Accordingly Birney ordered Barlow TO
his division forward connecting with Gen. Mott on
the right and swing forward his line until II came IN
proximity 10 that enemy. He said to Barlow,
you will not be dependent any movement Of the
Sixth corps and "K General Wright 10 not able to
with you you will have 70 look out for your s
In tho meantime Gen. Meade himself had been Bar
low and given him . similar order.
In obedience these orders, Gen. Gibbons line
maining the intreDchmests, Gen. Mott advanced to
the position shown him. connecting with Gibbon the
right, aud Barlow, following the movement of Mott,
wheeled his line forward The order Of formation the
advance two brgades In line and two in
Barlow division advanced through the dense woods
his front, comps,ey severng his connection with the
Sixth corps. Tho iet Of bis line was thus entirely exs
p's'a .aa ofseI y " he very judicously hsl
two small brigades follow the movcmcnt marching not
In ne but by the lank.
Con. Mott had taken hs position and intrenchcd IT, and
Gen. Barlow bad commenced intrenchng his line, which
nearly confomed 70 tho snemys position when large
body Of the enemy came sweeping through woods,
preceded by . heavy cloud Of skirmishers who i'm
mediatey opened brisk nre on the left and
Of the troops that were marching BY tho flank.
I. seems that HIS CORPS OF Lees army,
had marching tho lett flank OF army,
and by mistake had the interval between The
sixth and second corps That space bad become aras
consequence Of the wheeling round Of Barlow's dlv
sion that there was room of enemy 70
In without the sixth knowing anything aoout
II. The akrmishers Barlow's front checked
nrst but the re extending the left and rear
ing AZ il did, so sudden and unexpected, and from
enemy whom they could see troups that poR.
tion or iue speedily way and rapidly retired 10
the Noet OF them rallied In the breastworks and
showed disposition 70 calamity defend them. General
Niles brigade which In reserve, was ordered BY
Barlow double quick back to the breast
roestAbsh the connection with the Sixth corps.
This movements the double quick although executed
finely may created srroueous impression the
OF the scattered soldiers Of other brsades and led
them 70 behave that In retreas. The soldiers o
both armies recently acquired habit Of cehs,us
under cover Their strong desire 10 do 10 B aptIy Illus
.rassd by .ne fact that Bsrlow division
thus struck flank By the snony the troops msdo fog
their brcastwoks and us the rebels took the
the line OF rife pits that Mott was digging they
commenced reversing them them ~ cover
themselves Barlow lost several hundred prsonsrA
The enemy came sweeping on, and. when Barlow fell
back struck tho left and front Of General Motifs division,
which fell rapidly In considerable copfussons
with loss OF = few hundred prisoners Other dvisona
OF His corps indicated in the map, pressed down
General Gibbons ns the left and front. The move
meut OF each OF divisions Of Hs corps struck the
whole Of tho corps flank and body knows
that nanklng nre is deadly and DISASTROUS II at
this time that the a,tack was made on Glib
bon's front. The snemy ropolsed On the
right but the left OF Gibbons division, consisting Of
the Second brigade, under MJor o'Brien, which was
cx,oosa support Captain hcKnshts battery Of four
three rnns Ending nre front and rear fe hack
and sit the guns exposed Mcknight tough. bis battery
IN the most gallant manner not only IN replying 70 the
rebel batteries which IN The meantime had opened cs
hs,tl hix aftp
into tho rebel Infantry that fast closing Ia upoa
hs flank. Tbs lefl piece the only ene he could
turn upon the Infantry because the embrasures n
unotc had been constructed with Wow 10 meeting the
enemy 10 the trooi His isu,ensn,s and cannoosors
worked tho guns with great eesrity throwing canister
into u rebel ranks after being regea,edly sum.
mopc 10 surrender aud the rehal Gag had been planted