The Washington herald., 1914-07-27

Fifty years ago today the Second Corps
OF the Army Of the Potomac. numbering
! about 1900 infantry. under Maj. Gen.
Winfield s. Hancock, with 5000 cavalry
Of Gen. Philip II. Sheridan's command.
crossed the James River at Deep Bottom.
above City Point. in a movement against
! the left OF Gen. Lees defensive lines. that
was intended to draw Confederate troops
away from Petersburg.
The movement Of this force was an
important feature in a plan formulated
by Gen. Grant to break through Lees
works at Petersburg. A mine had been
completed under one of the important
salients in the works. and 1t was Grant $
purpose, when the garrison had been
sufficiently depleted by the dispatch OF
troops TO cover the threatened left, to
explode the mine and throw heavy as
saulting columns upon the resulting
breach.
The mine had been completed in a
most skillful manner and on June q
was ready for charging.
On June . Gen. Grant issued his
orders for the diversion on the other
side Of the James. The Second Corps and
the cavalry were to cross at two pom
toon bridges that had been thrown across
the river, under cover OF ironclads 'of
the navy, at bend twelve miles, by land,
from Petersburg.
The troops were TO march at night in
the expectation of effecting a surprise.
In that event it was expected that the
enemy would fall back to Chaffins Bluff,
on the James. eight miles below hch-
mond. This would open the Chickahom-
my, by which Sheridans cavalry could
advance on Richmond. or against the
railroads running out Of 1t to the north
west.
The railroads were the main object of
the movement by the cavalry. for Grant
never lost view OF his original purpose
of wearing down Lee by cutting on his
supplies.
Two Birds with One stone.
All orders for the movement across
the James were given without its un-
derlying purpose, the weakening OF the
enemy at Petersburg. being revealed
to the officers Of the Second Corps. They
supposed they were making a genuine
advance toward Richmond.
Gen. Lee took the same view. With
the unwaking vigilance that always
characterized him, he had noted the ac-
tivity of the Federals at the bridges at
Deep Bottom, where they had erected
works at the bridge heads. Gen. Lee had
a way OF divining from slight signs the
intent Of the enemy. Gen. Grant counted
on this trait. and knew that Lee would
strengthen his left as soon as the slight
est evidence was given that a movement
might be made in that direction.
Still Grant aimed at the same time TO
effect a surprise, thus killing two birds
with one stone.
The Second Corps marched in the night
q I'll. ~
rived at the upper OF the two bridges
at Deep Bottom The bridge heads
were held by a portion of the Tenth
Army Corps, under Gen Robert S.
Foster. Gen. Hancock. finding that the
enemy had works and a considerable
force in front OF Gen. Foster. decided
10 cross by the lower bridge, as an
assault was not contemplated bye Gen.
Grant.
Lee in fact had anticipated the move
ment. Two days before Hancock
for the James, the division OF
Gen. c. NJ. Wilcox crossed 1t from
Drewrys BlufI, few miles further UP,
and marched to Deep Bottom, to re-
Ihforce a brigade already there. Will |
shaw's division OF Longstreet's corps. |
i Kershew had extended his force to
the left, along a stream, Bailey's
Creek, that entered the James between |
the two Federal bridges.
Gen. Hancock, by moving rapidly up |
the south side OF this stream-whieh |
near the river was impa passible-hoped |
TO turn the left Of the enemy's line, and |
force him back on Chaffin's Bluff.
Before daybreak the Second Corps and |
he cavalry were over the river. The enemy |
was found south of the creek. and q |
ykirmish line from Gen. Nelson A. |
Miles brigade. Of Gen. Francis c. Bar |
Iow's division. consisting Of the ls2d