The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-11-24
GEN. WM. F. SMITH.

the entire party returned 10 camp. Inc
CORDS lost two men in November and ia in
December, 1864.
At about o'clock on the afternoon of
Feb 5, 1865, Gen. Hartranft, with the Third
Division, left camp to support movement
made by the Fifth and Sixth Corps toward
Hatcher's Run. The object of the move
ment was to dispossess the enemy of his
position near the Boydton plank road, but
after considerable fighting the movement
failed and the troops returned to their
former positions. During the months of
February and March the Ninth Corps occu-
pied the right of the intreBchments from
| the Appomattox to Fort Howard, distance
Of seven miles. Willcoxs Division occupied
the line from the Appomattox to Fort
| MeikIe; Gen. Potter's Division the line from
Fort Meikle to Fort Howard; Hartranft's
Division in the rear, in reserve.
1t having been decided by Gen. Lee to
evacuate Petersburg and Richmond and
effect junction with Johnston on the Dan
vile line, he made preparations which in
cluded the striking of a sudden blow in
direction which would cause Gen. Grant to
withdraw his left and relieve the proposed
| line of retreat.
| Accordingly he determined upon an attempt
| to break through the right of the line resting
| on the Appomattox east of Petersburg, his pur-
pose being to seize Fort Stedman and the
neghboring works, and lay hold of the mill
| tary railway to City Point. At Fort Stedman
| the opposing lines were not more than $50
| yards apart, and on the Union side the line was
held by troops of the Ninth Corps. At dawn
| of day on March % the column of attack,
consisting of two divisions of Gordon, with
abont 10000 troops in support, moved quietly
ont from their works, and in few moments
Fort Stedman was surprised and captured by
coup de main. Many of the garrison were taken
prisoners and the rest fed. The Confederates
Immediately turned the guns of the captured
redoubt upon the adjacent works. and Bat
teries 8. 10 and ii were abandoned by the
Union forces and occupied by the enemy. An
unsuccessful attempt was then made against
Fort Hascal, followed by rally on Fort Sted-
man. but on being met with counter assault
by Hartranft's Division of the Ninth Corps,
which had been brought forward the enemy
began to retire. The lines of retreat, however,
were covered by the cross fire of artillery from
all the adjacent works, and the Confederates
to the number of about 1000, finding them
selves hemmed in between the two lines, gave
themselves up prisoners. Gen. Meade, fol-
lowing up the advantage thus gained, threw
forward the Sixth and Second Corps which
were on the left of the Ninth, and captured
from the enemy his strongl y-intrenched picket
line.
The troops engaged in these movements
were under the immediate command of Gen.
Hart-anft, and in recognition of his galantry
and the skill and rapidty with which the
movements were executed, he was given the
brevet of Major. General. On the 9th, Gen.
Meade issued o congratulat0ry order, in which
he complimented Gen. Parke, and spoke of
"ths firm bearing of the troops of the Ninth
Corps in the adjacent positions of the line held
by the enemy, and the conspicuous gaantry
of the Third Division, together with the en-
ergy and skill displayed by Gen. Hartranft."
The total loss of the corps in this affair was
l,O44 killed, wounded, and missing.
AS indications now pointed to an early re-
treat of Gen. Lee from Petersburg and Rich
mond, Gen. Grant pushed forward his plans
for inflcting the final blow. Gen. Sheridan
with his cavalry was hastily sent to the ex-
treme left, and on the 9Th orders We're given
for the entire Army of the Potomac to get in
readiness to move. On the Goth the march
commenced with Gen. Sheridan in advance,
followed by Gen. Warrens Corps, with Gen.
Humphreys in support. The lines in front of
Petersburg were still held by the Sixth and
Ninth Corps. The lines held by the Ninth
Corps fronted the enemy's position and reached
to Fort Davis. On March 80 orders were given
to Gen. Parke to attack on the following morn
ing at O'clock the point OF attack being left
to his discretion. The divisions of Gems. Potter
and Hartranft were accordingly concentrated
In the rear of Fort Sedgwick, but when in
readiness for the movement the orders for the
assault were suspended by order of Gen. Meade
On April orders for the assault were renewed,
and at about 10 o'clock that night the artillery
opened. Gen. Griffin, with his brigade, charged
upon the enemy's position between Forts How
ard and Hayes, and captured the picket-lins
and some 200 or 300 prisoners; but finding the
enemy's main line strongly armed, withdrew.
During this night Gen. Hartranft's Division
was placed In front Of Fort Sedgwick, with
Harriman's Brigade Of Gen. Willcox's Division
on the riuht, and Gen. Potter's Division ON the
left
During the night ef April Gen. Parks