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[502] by a strong line of redans, and connected, though incompletely, by very formidable rifle-pits; while the approach was over a broad low valley perfectly swept by the artillery of the works, and cut up by ditches and ravines. In the centre the line formed a salient, covered by a powerful profiled work, heavily flanked by earthworks and rifle-trenches en échelon. General Smith had been informed that the fortifications were such that ‘cavalry could ride over them’—a representation that did not turn out to be justified by experience; for Kautz, who, with his mounted division, essayed to work his way round on the left, found himself completely estopped by a heavy fire, and in front the approaches were discovered to be so covered by the play of artillery from the works, that from every point on which Smith attempted to place batteries to silence the enemy's fire the guns were speedily driven off.1 It could not be detected that any heavy force of infantry was manning the fortification; but it was not judged probable that so considerable an artillery force would be there without support. After surveying the ground and making his dispositions, which consumed all the afternoon, General Smith, thinking that the assault of the works by a column would, from the fire of the enemy's guns, cost too great a sacrifice, determined to try a heavy line of skirmishers. Accordingly, towards seven P. M.,2 a cloud of tirailleurs was advanced from the divisions
1 ‘Wherever I went on the line, I found a heavy cross-fire of artillery from the enemy. The few artillery positions I could find I tried to get our guns to open from; but they were always driven in by the superior fire of artillery from earthworks.’—Smith: Report of Operations before Petersburg.
2 The determination to attack in the manner above described was formed by General Smith at five P. M., but a delay of above an hour occurred here, owing to the fact that ‘the chief of artillery had, upon his own responsibility, taken his guns to the rear, and unhitched the horses to water.’—Smith: Report of Operations before Petersburg. Now, as an interval of five or six hours had passed between the time of Smith's arrival and his resolution to assault, it may be a point of inquiry what he was doing during this time. General Grant makes this delay the ground of implied censure. ‘For some reason that I have never been able to satisfactorily understand,’ says he, ‘General Smith did not get ready to assault the enemy's main line until near sundown.’ Now, although this censure partially rests on the ground that General Smith reached the position ‘before daylight’—an assertion traversed by the fact that he did not arrive until noon—there may still remain a residue of blame. General Smith might possibly have assaulted several hours before he actually did, had he chosen to take the risk of attacking without reconnoissance. It is likely enough that Sheridan, had he been present, instead of Smith, would have done so. But this involves no foundation for a charge of dereliction of duty—it is only a question of choice between two different methods of action—the method which, taking great risks, may either lose greatly or greatly gain, and that which works by methodical procedure.
1866.
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