Hide Article Text (OCR)
THE BATTLES AROUND RICHMOND.When it was reported to Gen. Grant that the . Confederates were in force at Deep, Bottom, Hancock was ordered to suspend active operations, and on the Aug, 20 whoMhconrauind returned to Petersburg. Following this withdrawal of Hancock to- the south hank of the Jametf the Confederates stripped the lines be* fore Richmond until there were but four brigades remaining, under Gott. Fields, of Longbtreet’s corps.Some .engagements took place on the Weldon railroad, sautb»of St, Petersburg, during the latter part of August, and while the at* teution of the Confederates was drawn to that point another attempt was made to capture Richmond by direct attack. On the 28th of September Gen, E. O. C. Ord, commanding the Eighteenth corps, and Gen, Sir-ney with the Tenth, moved from the old position near Bermuda Hundred and advanced in two columns along the roads parallel to the river. The column nearest the river was Ord’a and numbered 4,000 men. In two divisions, under Gena George J. Btonnard and Heckman. The outer column was Blrnoy*» and numbered about 10,000 men* under Gena Adalbert Awea, A. H. Terry and Paine, the division of tho tatter being composed of colored troops. Gen, William Birney had a brigado of colored troop* in the column. The advance was made on the 29th.The strongest works to be encountered wore Ports Harrison and Gilmer, guarding twomain roads, tho'l.’rfrm'tiiUinn- on HIUAM tWKftBAM.first a mile and a quarter from the James, at Chapin's Bluff, and the other three-fourths of a mile farther north. The columns moved rapidly, and having operated thus far secretly, the enterprise promised welL Btannord'e division advanced on Fort Harrison, and, Burnham's brigade loading, ran up the billIn ffvctj of a hot lb*© from cannon and muskets, and took the work with fourteen guns and many prisoners, Including the commander. Gon. (Hiratm Burnham was killed. Col Btevona, who succeeded to Burnham's command, was severely wounded. Tb# division lost 60S killed and wounded.Gen. Ord now turned his column to the left and swept down the Confederate ititrenchment* toward Chapin's Bluff. He reached the river, but found the position commanded by Confederate gunboats and a battery across tho river. Ora was wounded and Heckman took command of the corps, Gen. Heckman now moved to the right from Fort Harrison and attacked Fort Gilmer, but was repulsed with heavy loss,Gen. Birney was now moving up farther Inland to coma abreast of Ora's command, and his advance took him directly to Fort Gilmer. The cavalry of Kauti was advano* Ing still Farther inland abreast of Bflraey, with Terry's infantry division in support. Geiu Biruey now sent forward Ames' whole division, with Gen. William Biruey1* colored brigade, to attempt Fort Gilmer. At this time the whole Confederate force waa In and around this work. Ames' men pushed their way through throe ravines, obstructed with tellea trees, but as toon as they pfmed the third and climbed the slope in view of tho garrison, they were mot with a storm of shots that tore the ranks apart and nearly destroyed tho column. BErney% colored brigade advanced on the right of Arne*, moving over level ground,Thuli* mi if a trmlr fchnm In fmnft nf t.ha
Newspaper Details
Decatur Daily Despatch
Decatur, Illinois, US
Tue, Jul 30, 1889
Page 3
Full Page
Clipped by
Badgerlink
WI, USA 06 Sep 2017
Other Publications Near Decatur, Illinois
Decatur Daily Review
Decatur Morning Review
Decatur Evening Herald
Decatur Republican
Decatur Weekly Republican
