The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-01-06
IN THE TRENCHES.
Ninth Corps Man Tells of
Storming Petersburg.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: I was
pleased to find Comrade n. B. Spencer's very
ably-written and notwithstanding article in
the issue of Nov. %. giving an account of one
of the series of Gen. Grants struggles on
arriving at Petersburg from Cold Harbor.
COmrade Spencer narrates the 18th Of June,
1864 fight His regiment, 10th n Y, led
the charge of my brigade Second, First Di-
vision, Ninth Corps, in Il most gallant man
ner, my regiment the I'd Pa Prov, immedi-
ately following. The three days fight on the
arrival of Grants army June Is, II and 10,
1864, was for the possession Of the Weldon
Railroad and the ground near Cemetery Hill
and the Hare House. / often wished some
comrade would write an article on them
No corps in the army ever fought harder,
more calamity and with better spirit than
did the Ninth during those three days
Comrade Spencer brings graphically to my
mind memories of long ago-incidents that
become as vivid now as if of Yesterday.
They flash across me and harrow me with
fear and wonder, now that l am sitting in my
quiet home in peaceful times, and marvel at
the events that surrounded us in that the
toughest campaign Of the war, the GA cam
paign These events were gallant exploits to
pass thrOugh-cOntests dramatic and thrilling
and live only in the memories of survivors.
1t was march and build breastworks by
night and fight by day. BY the left flank ="
was the order each move. Army correspond
ents were still picking over the debris of the
Wilderness fields, and, besides, a LATHE charge
that didn't kill 1O, 600 men in a few minutes
was too Insignificant for Especial from the
front"
And yet the assaults of the Ninth and
T1pa
1864, cost more Union lives than did Burn
sides famous attack on Marye's flights at
Fredericksburg. The killed and wounded
in the two corps during the 18th and 18th
assaults would have made column "a large
as that which actually took part in Pickett's
charge at Gettysburg, and the troops who
made them were not fresh, like those of
Pickett's, or of Hancock's at Fredericksburg
The Confederates held the most favorable
points at Petersburg, juno II. The ground
in the immediate vicinity was most favorable
for defense. 1t was cut lengthwise by
numerous ravines between which were
stretches of open plain, with frequent ele-
waited knobs or ridges, from whence the Con-
tederate batteries could sweep the plain,
and could easily cross-fire or entilade the
ravines with she'll and canister
On the arrival of the army at Petersburg
from Cold Harbor Grant threw the full
weight OF the Ninth and Second Corps, sup
ported by the Fifth, against this formidable
position, hoping, probably, TO break through
the defenses and capture Petersburg before
Lees soldiers could march from Richmond to
strengthen the garrison.
Numerically Burnside and Hancock had
the prepOnderance, but as one man behind
good earthworks is the equal to five assail-
ants outside, the odds were in favor of the
rebels
CCmrade Spencer's regiment-179th n.
was part of the Second Brigade, First
Division, Ninth Corps. My regiment-2d
Pa. Provisonal-was in the Third Brigade,
First Division. Grants constant hammer
ing process so thoroughly depleted the Third
Brigade from the Wilderness battlefield
through to Petersburg that this Third Bril-
gade organization was broken up and sub
mesged into the Second Brigade with Com
rade Spenccr's regiment. The brigade then
contained the 179th n Y, I'd Pa. Proyis-
ional, Sd Md, and 14th n Y.
This First Division was commanded by Gen.
Stevenson when my regiment joined the
Ninth Corps, April /, 1864, at Alexandria,
Va This able and promising officer was killed
while leading the division in charge on the
third day at Spottsylvania. His loss cast a
gloom over the boys, who had early learned
to love and respect him. He was succeeded
temporarily by Gen. Thomas s. Crittenden
who had commanded n corps in the West
Gen. Ledlie became permanent commander Of
the division after the Cold Harbor fight.
The boys often wished for their old COM
mander, Gen. Stevenson. Ledlie did pretty
well, though up to the crater fight, July so,
1864
There Iedlie's Division led the charge, my
regiment being in the lead, 10th n Y, 18th
n. T., and Sd Md. following. Ledlie stepped
into bomb-proof between the lines The
division continued on the charge, through
the crater and on the plain beyond The
reverse fire from the intricate works in the