The Hillsdale standard. [volume] (Hillsdale, Mich.) 1851-1909, 1864-07-26
LETTER FROM G. W. WARREN.
NEAR PrrERsBuRa, Va
June 30, 1864.
DEAR STANDARD:

4
DEAR STANDARDS: eR gesa
AT the close Of my last, the Crane
Army of the Potomac had just com
lpleted one of themost significant move
ments in change of base and position
this war has known. On Sunday Tho
18th instant, at noon, suddenly and un
expectedly, orders came to the hospital
department to Hpack up'' and await or
ders to leave Cold Harbor. At 2,p. m.
all was life and motion, with all the
plantations, highways and by roads,
choked and crowded with thousands OF
baggage and supply trains coming in
from all directions and tending east
ward, but whittier, no one knew or cod
tell. Then the accumulating forces of
Infantry, Batteries, and Cavalry, of the
different Corps, all helped to swell the
wonderful tide, and fill the mind of eve-
ry one with the strongest sentiments OF
query and amazement as to such sud-
den movement. Yet our troops on du-
ty all along the lines Immediately in
front of the enemy and in their in
trenchmcnts knew nothing of "what
was up" until late hour Sunday night
when they also were ordered to retire
and follow the main army, to be guard
ed in rear by cavalry.
But with Monday came the reveal
ments Of our "change of base" and the
direction of our course. By every
available rout, road, and open field, for
many miles east and west, this great,
grand military concourse under its var
ious leaders took up its line of march
Southwark, for the "Chickahonliny
bottoms" and the James River. On
Tusday night (the llth) the Pontoons
were moored over the deep waters of
the James River and at early dawn the
first forces crossed over this strange
bridge in perfect safety, being over a
half mile across. AT I a. m. the hos
pital, supply and baggage trains of the
Sd division of the 9th corps crossed,
and was soon followed by the balance
of Burnside's forces, and several others
Other bridges Of the same structure
still further up, together with this, aft
orded the whole army an amazingly
safe and speedy transit to the south
side of the James River, where the reb-
el forces in 1862, looked down with
such successful defiance upon the Ar
my ofthe Potomac. On Thursday the
10th, l think, the work was accomplish
ed, and our weary soldiers, after their
forced marches in the dews of night
and under the scorching sun by day,
finally lay down in their new positions,
strung all along from City Point to
away south of Petersburg. But if
our brave boys lay down for rest in
their new lines, it became to them a
mockery. The enemy had been vigi-
liant in scouting out our course, and
having an open eye to our movements,
gave our forces no respit from severe
toll. Fighting-hard fighting-was
the only kind greeting til csc hardened
sinners could afford us poor weary
Yankees who have come all the W ay
from "America" to pay them sort of
military visit, and such other respects
as we thought due them. How un-
shivalric!
But so it was, as our way-worn ar
my came up and confronted the long
and strongline of forts and other earth
work defences, the rebels had not yet
completed on the highlands two miles
east of Petersburg and its valley. BY
well-timed and sudden engagement,
brought on by our forces, these strorg
and skillfully arranged defences of 9he
city, valley and Railroads below, all fell
into our possession, affording us a com
manding position Of incalculable i'm
portance. Had these Notifications
been completed-and fully occupied by
the rebels, our army could have never
approached them from the east and
gained the lines we now occupy, much
short of an annihilation: The whole
elevated plains and pine gloves laying
east Of Petersburg, which the 9th corp:
now occupy, have from the beginning
of the war, been used by the rebels a,
their camp of instruction. Vast mum
bers Of well built log huts and houses
arranged for garrison purposes, al
built of nice straight pine poles. Ant
thousands of clay chimnies and fir,
places, are still spread over the yer.
grounds we now occupy, and show u
with what skill and industry our enc
mics fitted out for themselves the taste
full winter quarters hitherto enjoyed b,
them.
So far, in this article, / have general
ized-but as you now find us fairly be
fore Petersburg, will be more spe
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