Eyewitness Accounts and Reports
It was General Grant's design, by a flank movement of the Army of the Potomac, to pass rapidly around the extreme right of the rebels, and then, by a vigorous march towards the north, to seize the Southside Road. To assist this flanking column in slipping around, the attention of the enemy was to be occupied by a fierce attack on their intrenchments. The movements on the right and left were essentially the same. General Butler had attemped to accomplish his flank march of the Eighteenth Corps around to Fair Oaks, while the Tenth Corps was making a direct attack on the enemy's works, just what General Meade sought to bring about by a similar device. The great object, however, as we have mentioned, of both enterprises, was the successful transfer of Meade's flanking column, by a wide southern circuit, around to the Southside road.
Great secrecy was essential to success. The march was to be conducted with silence and rapidity. Obscure roads were to be selected, as far as possible from observation. No drum beats or bugle calls were to be allowed. No large fires were to be kindled. This flanking column consisted of Hancock's Second Corps and Weitzel's Eighteenth Infantry, and the calvary corps of Kautz and Gregg. The Fifth and Ninth Corps were to occupy the rebel troops by a strong demonstration against their works. Enough men were left behind the intrenchments to hold them firmly against any rebel attack.
There is a small stream, called Hatcher's run, which rises near Sutherland Station, near the Southside road. and, flowing in a southeasterly direction, empties into the Nottaway, through Rowanty Creek. The whole force started before daylight Thursday morning for Hatcher's run. Hancock and Gregg, after considerable skirmishing, crossed at the ford. The First Maine, with their sixteen shooters, carried the works on the opposite banks. But the enemy was found ready to meet us in unexpected numbers. Our troops were assailed on all sides. The road was obstructed by felled trees, and batteries frowned from all commanding positions. But the men forced their way along a road running parallel to Hatcher's Run, until about noon, where they encountered three regiments of dismounted calvary, with two batteries. The importance of this movement was such that Generals Grant and Meade were both on the ground. They could be heard, far off on the right, the Fifth and Ninth Corps pressing the enemy's works.
The road perplexed us. The foe annoyed us. New forces were appearing in our front. We were assailed from every point. Our men fought bravely. We lost heavily in officer and men, without inflicting corresponding loss on the foe. It began to rain. Most of our ammunition was expended. Gloomy, stormy night set in. There were no tents but weeping clouds, no couches for repose but the spongy sod. Our loss during the day, in killed, wounded, and missing, counted fifteen hundred. We had marched resolutely, and fought bravely, and yet had made little progress. The prospect for the next day was no more encouraging. After dark the order for retreat was given. All night long, through the darkness and the rain, our wayworn, war-exhausted troops toiled back to their old camps. The expedition had proved an utter failure. By some means the enemy had detected our movement, and he was all prepared to thwart it. Our whole loss in the Army of the Potomac was about three thousand.
Taken from "History of the Civil War in America," by John C. S. Abbott. Published 1866 ************************************************************
General Griffin's Report of the Battle of Hatcher's Run
HEADQUARTERS, FIRST DIVISION, FIFTH CORPS, Before Petersburg, Va., October 29, 1864
COLONEL: I have the honor to report that, in accordance with orders from the commanding general, The First Division took the advance of the corps on the morning of the 27th instant. When it had followed the course indicated about four miles the advance met the enemy. The Second Brigade was formed in two lines in the woods on the left of the road--the One hundred and eighty-eighth New York Battalion and Ninety-first Pennsylvania in the first line, and the One hundred and eighty-seventh New York Battalion and One hundred and fifty-fifth Pennsylvania in the second line. Skirmishers from the Ninety-first Pennsylvania were thrown out in front, and from the One hundred and fifty-fifth Pennsylvania , on the left flank. The brigade advanced under quite a lively fire from the enemy until it arrived within 100 to 200 yards of the enemy's works, when a portion of the line encountered the slashing of woods and were exposed to a sharp fire from the enemy in his works, which were found to be difficult to reach on account of the fallen timber and a strong abatis. A line was established here and temporary entrenchments thrown up. Later in the day, in obedience to orders of the commanding general, two regiments of the Third Brigade were sent to strengthen the left, connecting with the Second Brigade and left resting on a creek. The rest of the Third Brigade was formed in line of battle in rear on the road crossed by the advance in the morning. The First Brigade was formed in the line on the right of the road, midway between the Second and Third Brigades. The enemy attempted an advance on the morning of October 28, just at daylight, but were promptly driven back to their works by the Second Brigade. During the forenoon of the 28th instant the Third Brigade covered the retirement of the corps without much loss, the enemy following only with calvary; the First Division returning to its former camp near the Squirrel Level road. The casualties during the movement were 22 killed, 170 wounded, 27 missing, as per report furnished this day. Many of the missing have since joined the command.
I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant. CHAS. GRIFFIN Brigadier-General, Commanding.
Lieut. Col. Fred T. Locke, Assistant Adjutant-General, Fifth Army Corps.
