The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1914-06-16
THE WAR DAY BY DAY
Fifty Years Ago
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Having viewed the country before hiu.
"a region much broken with woods and
ravines-Hancock ordered an assault
The brigade Of Col Thomas W. Exan
took strong redan. In a second Ar.
| sault, delivered at p. m, three mora
were taken. There was very heavy fight
ing. in which Col Patrick Kelly, COM
naanding the Irish. Brigade, was killed.
Again the day closed without the Fed
erals penetrating to Petersburg.
Saved by Quick Work.
The city had been saved by rapid con.
centration of the Confederates. Gen. a.
T. Beauregard. conducting the defense,
mad made such urgent pleas for support
to Gen Lee that the latter, though not
knowing where Grants army was. had
sent MIN from across the James Gen.
Robert F. Hoke's division, which baa
arrived In time to confront Hancock
BY night on June Is Beauregard had a..
CO.. veterans In the works at Petersburs.
To get this force he had stripped the
works a: Bermuda Hundred BY which
Gen. Buffers. army was bottled up."
At daylight on June 1s they we've occu.
pied by men Of Buffers army. The
situation here had recalled Grant from
Petersburg to City Point. He ordereo
the Sixth Corps up the river to re-
inforce Bermuda Hundred. It arrived too
late. for at D. m, June Is. Picketrs
division. on its way to Petersburg, ar
rived before the works, which were a liz.
tie later regained by the Confederates
Gen Lee meanwhile had crossed thu
James, having arrived at 4 a. m. June
is. at Drewry's Bluff He was now but
eighteen miles from Grant at City Point,
yet up to $50 p. m, June II, he was
not convinced that Grants army had
crossed the river.
Yet Lee had continued to push men
on to Petersburg. On the morning OF
June IL the Federals resumed their as.
saults on the city's works Two brig
AIDES OF the Ninth Corps-Gen. s. G.
Grimth's and Col John !. Curtin's, OF
Gen Robert B. Potter's division-mak-
Ing a swift and noiseless advance OUT
OF ravine, with fixed bayonets and
without firing shot. had poured o.er
the works and surprised the Confederate~~
In their front asleep on their arms. Other
attacks had been calamity made and
repulsed.
So the day had passed with bloody
and gallant fighting. in which the Fed
erals gained much ground. But night
came with the Confederates still in a
position to cover Petersburg.
Grand Assault Too Late.
That night Gen. Lee ordered all his
army across the James. and with Lone
streets old corps marched to Peters
burg. where he arrived early on June IS
For that morning Gen. Meade hao
ordered an assault with strong columns
all along the line. There were DELAYS.
owing to the rough character of the
country. in getting the troops into posi-
ton. At last Gen. Meade ordered
general assault for noon.
When IL was delivered. calamity bu,
distointedly, the Federals found tn,
enemy had withdrawn from their ad-
vanced lines to new and shorter lines
in the rear
They had accomplished their familiar
feat Of building new and stronger works
while holding the Federals a bay.
When the Federals pushed forward
to these new works they were met with
the fire of the whole of Lees army.
Their repulse was quick and bloody.
The last hope of taking Petersburg by
assault had passed. and Grant now could
only sit down and starve Lee out.
The Federal operations of three day.
in front of Petersburg had cost them
more than 1000 men, The losses were.
Killed. l.ss; wounded. 7.474: missing.
]. sl4: total. l0.5sS
Tomorrow-sherma Campairu,
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