Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-09-22
0EN. RTTIFR

Y TX Nm M
GEN. BUTLER
dispatched his first troops across the James at
Chaffin's Bluff toward Petersburg. Bu; Grant
and Butler, and Smith also. supposed his
troops were arriving at Petersburg two days
before He did not arrive at Petersburg him.
self until June Is
AT BERMUDA HUNDRED.
Gen. Smith arrived at Bermuda Hundred
from the Chickahominy in the evening OF the
l4th- His troops were debarked near Gen.
Buffers poontoon bridge just below Point Of
Rocks as rapidly IS possible. Gen. Butler, in
whose department Petersburg was situated.
added to the eighteenth corps the division of
colored troops under Gen. Kinks. four bat
teries Of artillery, and about 5000 cavalry
under kautz, raising Smiths force to from
10000 TO $1,000 electives. The Appomattox
was crossed on the pontoon bridge and the
direct advance on Petersburg was initiated
nom Broadway. not more than seven miles
from the city, on the morning Of the 18th
Gen. Smith in his short report of these opera
uons, dated June is, 1854, says the head q his
Column left Broadway at 4 a. M; Gen. links
officially reported at the time that he left
broadway about O'Clock. In a letter TO Gen.
Butler in 1891 he asserts that he did not move
until Z a. m, but had been ready since 1
O'Clock. Gen. kautz probably moved with the
cavalry about the time stated by Gen Smith,
as he reports having crossed the river between
midnight and daylight
The march was directly south from the
Appomattox TO the roads leading from the
James at City Point and Jordan's Point into
Petersburg on the east and northeast Kautz's
cavalry leading, then Kinks colored division,
followed by the divisions OF Brooks and Mar
tindaie OF the eighteenth corps About three
.al.a a.
crossed the City Point railroad and arrived in
the vicinity of Baylor's farm, 1t was stopped
early IN the day by a email confederate force
supported by battery Gen. Kautz lea.es the
Inference in his report that he carried this
line, but Kinks says the cavalry was driven in,
and Gen Smith states positively that kautz
failed to clear the road
Gen. Kinks deployed a line on each side of
the road which he pushed through swamp in
front OF the enemy's position. Getting on their
flank, the enemy thereupon quickly abandoned
their hastily constructed defenses, ana with
them one cannon. as a trophy to Kinks. He
lost several men In the affair, and reports that
the rebel line was carried little after a m
and that by 3 he had resumed the advance.
But it Is evident some time was lost as Gen.
Smith says In the dispatch to Butler dated
l:SO p. m, that the affair at Baylor's broke up
his arrangements temporarily, but that his
lines would be Strengthened at once.
The march was resumed southwark to the
Jordan's Point road, which il appears was
reached by Kinks between 10 and il O'Clock.
Martindale's division, according to the plan,
had turned to the right at Baylor's farm, NOV
ing along the City Point wagon road. in order
to strike the enemy's defcnses well toward the
river, with Brooks between himself and Kinks
hautz $ cavalry moved to the left, demonstrate
ing in division toward the Norfolk railroad and
around to the south of Petersburg. Smiths
general dispositions for the advance seem "a
a
When Kinks struck into the Jordan's Poin,
road he turned to the right toward Petersburg
and advanced with little opposition to the
main line of rebel defenses near Jordap's
house, where he says he arrived at IL a. N.
smith says his troops did not get into position
until 80 p. m. About 2ep. m. Kinks con-
neeted with BROOKS, on his right, and the skir-
mlsh line was pushed well up to the enemy's
works. Here the federals remained in line
several hours subjected to warm artillery
fire, which silenced the national guns
WHY HE DELAYED.
Gen. Smith says the delay In making the at
tack was caused by the formidable front the
enemy's works presented. which he was Obliged
to reconnoiter thoroughly in person before he
could determine where and how to assault
The enemy's line was a series of rife pits along
the ridges in zig-zag form from the Appomat-
tox at point two miles or more from the city
around to the southeast, strengthened here ano
there with a fort or redoubt. The ground in
front was lower and open, afrording good PLAY
for artillery on an attacking line. Smith per-
ceiyed that he had pretty heavy contract on
his hands to break through this fortified line.
1t was fully pm. before his preparations
were finally completed for making the assault
1t Is possible this consumption of time yas
necessary to a proper understanding of the
situation by the Union commander, but il
proved fatal to the enterprise. GEN Smith
was an engineer officer ana his instincts doubt
less made him too painstaking before Peters
burg. Lis operations had alarmed the confed-
crates on the north side of the Appomattox
confronting Buffers lines, and Beauregard was
already bringing troops to the support of the
Petersburg garrison before Smith attacked
Smith himself knew that other troops were
moving to oppose him and consequently real
lzed that IT was critical situation. Some
risks should, therefore, have been taken
When the assault was made the works were
carried IN twenty minutes, Notwithstanding
the fact that the columns of attack had 20
cross ravine and go up q sharp ridge The
colored troops fought nobly, entering the works
first The line was met with a heavy artillery
and musketry fire, but speedily overcame ali
opposition. Gen. Kinks SAYS he captured 1--WE
forts or redans, six cannon and some prisoners.
Brooks went over the line at the same time on
Kinks right, capturing cannon and prisoners,
and Martindale, between Brooks and the AID.
pomattox, also broke through, getting two
guns Neither Brooks nor Martindale made an
official report Of their operations.