The Washington herald., 1915-02-07
BATTLE OF HAfCHERS
RUN CONCLUDED.
February Z.

Fifty years ago today a series Of oper-
atoms against the right Of Gen. Lees
line at Petersburg, known as the Battle
of Hatchers Run, was concluded after
three days OF hard work by Grants
army without material gains for either
side.
The operations were undertaken when
Grant was informed that the Confeder-
ates in Petersburg were receiving large
quantities of supplies from the Carolinas
BY a .wagon-train route from Hicksford
on the Weldon Railroad about forty
miles south Of Petersburg. II was re-
ported that wagon-trains passed from
Hicksford up the Meherrin River TO the
Boydton plank road and thence along
that road. through Dinwiddie Court
house, to Petersburg.
Grant at once ordered part of his army
into action. The cavalry, under Gen. d.
McGregg, marched from the rear Of the
Federal lines at o'clock on the morning
Of February 5, and, passing through
Reams Station, struck the Boydton road
at Dfnwiddie, and managed to capture
few wagons and some prisoners. Gregg
learned that Lee was making little use
OF the road. He then well back upon
his supports. the Fifth Corps, under
Gen. @. K. Warren, which had moved
half way from Petersburg to Dinwiddie
Courthouse by Grants order.
Gen. Warren's movement was support
ed in turn by part OF the Second Corps.
under Gen. A A. Humphreys, who had
succeeded Gen. Hancock, which had
crossed Hatchers Run at the Vaughan
road, near the left Of the Union line.
This detachment had crossed early in
the day and had taken position to check
the Confederates should they attack.
Gen. Humphreys was convinced that he
T.-N1 III
lines and believed that Lee would GER
tainly attack him. So he sent for re-
endorsements, and by o'clock IN the
afternoon, was in sufncient strength to
meet any emergency. Shortly after 3
he was sharply attacked by detachments
of Gen. A. P. Hills and ]. II. Gordon's
Confederate Corps. which had been sent
by Lee to check the threatening Federal
movement.
The first attack was repulsed and the
Confederates withdrew to re-enforce.
warren's Line Pushed Back.
EARLY the next morning, February S.
Warren's Corps and Greggs cavalry.
who had early moved in from their ad-
vanced position of tne night before,
Joined Gen. Humphreys and took up new
positions along Hatchers Run and the
Vaughan road. Gen. Warren personally
supervised the placing of the troops and
the erection OF rude bresystworks.
About 1 o'clock in the afternoon Gen.
Warren began a reconnaissance, which
ended in Gregg's becoming heavily en-
gagged with a part OF Pegram's division
Of Gordon's Corps on the Vaughan road
Aided by his infantry supports, Gregg
forced the Confederates to give ground.
Subsequently the balance Of Pegram's
division under Gen. John Pegram him
self attacked Gen. s. W. Crawford's d.
vision of Warren's Corps near Dabnys
Mill, south OF Hatehers Run. In the
first fighting at this point Gen. Pegram
was killed and his division pushed to the
rear; but the Confederates received sup
ports and for while the tide of battle
rose and fell.
Finally the Confederates began a gen
eral attack and in spite Of almost a uni
versally good conduct of the Federal Of
ficers, some Of the men gave way and
Warren's line was pushed back rapidly
but without sustaining a very heavy loss
At this critical moment the leading bri-
gade Of Maj. Gen. Frank wheaton's d.
vision Of the Sixth Corps came up to the
battle front and. rallying other units
checked the Confederate advance.
Might ended the struggle with the
Union troops reformed and ready for
service the next day.
A Terrible Night.
February and 8 had been bitterly
cold and by far the severest days In
which Grants army had ever undertaken
extensive operations. On the night OF
the second day the Thermometer was
close to zero, yet the tired soldiers on
both sides threw themselves on the
ground and slept on their arms.
During the night II rained." says one
account. land as the water fell Il troze
on the mems overcosts and on the blank
cts In which some Of them had wrapped
themselves. A few small chip and twig
fires were all that the men had 70 warm
them. Huddled together upon the
ground. they shivered with the cold
through the long night The heavy log
within 800 yards OF the line did not IN
crease their comfort"
During the greater part Of the next
day. February Z. there was little action.
Finally Gen. Warren ordered q general
reconnoisance Though some Ccnfedsr-
ates were met. no strong force was de-
veloped, and the Federals at once set 70
work on formidable intrenehments
When these were completed the Union
line IN front Of Petersburg extended to
the Vaughan road crossing OF Hafchers
Run warren's losses In the operations
were about LIS killed and wounded and
ia MISSING. These ngurss include the
losses Of 0regEs Cavalry. TIE Second
Corps losses were 10 killed and wound
ed: those Of Wheaton's division. II killed
and wounded, making Federal total OF
approximately Laoo killed and wounded
and 1H missing. The Confederate losses
are believed 10 have been nearly a.
large.