The National tribune., 1883-06-21
WASHINGTON THURSDAY,
CHARGING THE CRATER.
The Gallaatry OF Grin's Brigade at the Petersburg
Ene Explosion,
he Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE I:

To the Editor NATIONAL TRIBUNE:
j notice that General A. A. Humphreys in
his history of the :. Virginia Campaigns of "a
and 90, Just published by Scribners Sons
as the concluding volume of their campaign
serIes,--states, in his account of the mine ex-
plosion before Petersburg, July 30, 1864, that
soon after the explosion General Lediie's di-
vision, the Second brigade leading, moved up
TO the crater, and that General Potter's fled
out soen after General Ledlie's commenced adj
vaneing. As was present and took part In
that engagement feel it duty | owe to the
brave men who made that charge and were the
first III the enemys works, to state the facts as
saw them. The night before the explosion I
was informed By General Griffin, commanding
Second brigade, Porters division, that the
First division was to make the charge, and ne
directed me TO take my regiment-the Thirty
first Maine-and the Ninth New Hampshire
| and Seventeenth Vermont, form in rear of our
works, and when the mine exploded charge
and 1rotect the right flank of Lediie's division.
Accordingly. about 3 o'clock q. M, I moved
with the three regiments out in rear of our
works, formed III three lines, regimental front,
with pioneers with axes to cut away the abatis.
The instant the mine exploded / gave tho
| order to charge. Passing the right of the mine,
we gained the first line and Immediately
| charged the second. Here sharp contest oc-
Cured, but the works were handsomely carried,
the rebels falling back into the ravine. The
enemy then seeing bat a small force charged
US, but were repulsed and driven back. At this
junction, Observing that the First division had
not come forward, hastily wrote the following
note to General Griffin, commanding the brig
ade:
GENERAL: We have taken the enemy's works
and hold them. How are our lines doing the
right aud LEFT? We much advance, ami are
getting short of ammunition. Quite force Of
DANIEL WHITE. Col, 31st Me.
sent an orderly with this note TO General
Griffin. General Griffin wrote on the same
piece of paper and returned it TO me, as follows
COLONEL: We hold the fort. and are all right
Hold what you have gained. First division is
advancing. All looks well IA far rs we have gone.
(Signed) 5. G. GRIFFIN,
Brig.-Genersl
That piece of paper I put into my pocket,
and, as / was afterwards taken prisoner, it
remained there during my seven months So
lourn In one Of those delightful retreats called
rebel prison pens, and is now in my possession.
General Griffin, with the balance of the brig
ade, came up on my right, and portion of
the Thirty-sccond Maine, under Captain Sar-
gent. reported to me and were placed in line
with the other troops. At this time the First
division crossed our works. We held the line
until O'Clock when the division from Peters
burg, commanded, l think, by General Hoke,
formed in the ravne and charged and retook
the line, and most of us with it. Among the
brave and gallant officers of the Thirty first
who were killed at this time was Capt4in Gill
more of Brewer; Lieutenant Thompson, of
Dover; and Adjutaat Alline, of Belfast. I
viii mention one incident that created some
| amusement. When We had gained the first
line on the right of the mine we heard some
one calling loudly for help. Casting our eyes
to the left. we discovered that it come from
rebel at the edge of the mine, with only his
head and right ARA above ground. The boys,
seeing his position, sang out: You are all
right, Johnny" and. giving cheer, charged
| the second line, and took it. That the charge
on the Both of July 1864, was not success is no
fault of the brave men of General Griffin's
brigade. DANIEL WHITE,
Lats Col, 31st Me. Vols.
BANGoR. Me-. June IL