The National tribune., 1904-09-29
GEN. ORD'S REPORT.
A Prompt, Secret Movement.

l have the honor to report that on the
18th day of September, 1864, in obedience
to orders, | selected from my corps-then
on duty between the James and Appomat-
tox rivers-ab0ut 1000 men, from Gems.
STANDARDS and Heckman's Divisions, for
movement on the north side of the
James against Richmond, in cooperation
with another column under Maj. Gen. Bir-
ney, composed of his corps and Paine's
Division of mine; in all, that column was
about 10000 strong, and was designed to
reach Richmond via Deep Bottom and the
New Market road, while l was to engage
the works nearer the river, and prevent
the interruption of Gen. Birney's column
by reenforcements which the enemy might
| send across from the south side of the
James River, where they had heavy force.
The movement was TO be a surprise, there
fore l issued no written orders and my
verbal orders were not communicated to
the troops until after dark, when all COM
munication should have ceased with our
own picket line. This precaution was
deemed necessary to prevent the spies
which abounded in our regiments from de
sorting and giving information of our
movement to the enemy. My move began
about 8 o'clock on the night of Sept. %;
when the men were drawn out of the
trenches and marched to the river OPP
pOsite Aiken's, where, between 8 and IL
p. M, bridge was thrown across the
James. BY II p. m. my troops were at
the bridge, and before daylight were across
the river and formed.
At the dawn OF day l attacked the
enemy's skirmish line with my skirmish-
ers, and though the rebels were reinforced,
we drove them right along toward Rich
mond, up the hills, and for three miles
through the woods. until about 80 a. m,
| when we reached the open ground in front
of Fort Harrison, the strongest rebel work
on that front, which Immediately opened
upon us with several heavy guns. Here
l reconnoitered and rapidly made DISPOSE
| tions to attack this work. STANDARDS Di-
| vision. Burnham's Brigade leading, was d.
| rected TO push forward in column by divi-
sion over the open in front of the fort
on the left Of the varina road, covered
with the same regiment which had so far
and so well driven the enemy's skirmsh-
ers. Hickman was directed, as soon as
it could be brought up, to move with his
division through and along the edge of the
| timber, which skirted the Varina road on
| the right, keeping his men under cover I'M
til he came opposite to the fort (Harri-
SOM, and then attack it on the front
toward the wood (that is, the east 'front.'
as rapidly as possible. This would have
enveloped the principal work of the south
and east, and had Gen. Hickman obeyed
my orders many valuable lives would have
1 DccH Sdfcu, dHu Ills ulVS1O0, reaching the
work after STANDARDS had taken it, would
have been available to have attacked the
only other work which interviewed between
us and Richmond in the rear; but he went
| too far into the woods, got his brigades
scattered. and when found was not avail
able in the right place. STANDARDS Dvi-
sion was ordered to advance across the
open at quick time directly to the attack,
and at dOuble-quick when they had reached
the hill. This they did beautifully, wayer-
ing little just at the foot of the hill
| which the fort crowned when the fire of
musketry and artillery was very severe.
But dispatched all my staff Gust then
around me- TO urge the men forward. and
followed them. The hill was assembled with
into the ditch. followed along round so as
to cut OFF and capture the rebels in the
extreme bastion. and helped each other up
the parapet at that point. AS soon as we
entered the bastion or salient caused the
guns to be turned upon the nearest ada
cent parts OF the enemy's works, and drove
them out; and accommodating, saw
through the smoke and fire what / sup
posed for some minutes was Gen. Heck
mans column entering the work next be.
yOnd Fort Harrison-Fort Gilmer: but il
soon proved to be large reinforcement
of the enemy
The men who had got into the fort were
l c,dtlclSu ucuiuu paTdpeLS ana It's
bitches fighting the rebels who had no,
left the adjacent parts. tried to gather
a party and form them With a view tc
swing round inside the rebel parapets be-
hind them and drive the rebels out from
the inside. but there were but few mer
to collect: all was confusion and excite
ment. The brigade which led in had los,
mortally and badly wounded two command
ers in succession. Nearly all the persons
in the work were company officers and
with such as | could collect l pushed to
ward the river, inside the work still oc
cupied by the rebels. with a view to re-
eonnoiter and, IL possible. get possession OF
the pontoon bridge by which any reen.
forcements would have to cross to the fort
While doing so I was hit in the upper
part OF the leg, inside. stanching the
wound with an improvised tourniouet.
continued in command until a Surgeon
coming up demonstrated, and I sent for
Gen. Hickman. turned the command over
to him. and told him to gather all the divi.
sion (Stannard's), and occupy the work
with It. He reported his own division
(which had not az yet engaged the enemy
| to the risht Of and ahort half q rniIa az