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Ayres's divisions, while Willcox's and Potter's divisions of the 9th Corps were massed at the Gurley house, ready to support.
General Gregg made an advance west of Reams' station, and was heavily attacked about 5 P. M., but repulsed them.
Their artillery blew up one of his caissons and we could see the cloud of smoke suddenly rise above the trees.
This was all for that day in the way of fighting.
[Colonel Lyman wrote on October 4 the following paragraph:]
October 4, 1864
To-day I have ridden along the new lines with the General, no fighting but a picket skirmish.
I see by the papers funny accounts of the operations on the left; “desperate fighting,” when there was only some trifling skirmish; “our troops going to take Petersburg next morning,” which indeed didn't enter their minds.
Mr. Stanton (who, I will confess, beats everybody for inaccuracy) puts our forces on the south-side railroad!
Even the Associated Press man, McGregor, makes such a hopeless muddle, that I despair of seeing any common observation in any one of them.
However, here is your accurate account.
Friday, September 30. At 8.30 in the morning, the General, with the combative Humphreys and all the Staff, rode towards the left, stopping of course at the irresistible Hancock's. At noon we got to Globe Tavern, which is some six miles from our old Headquarters.
Crawford's division still held the works on the Weldon road, while Warren, with two divisions, followed by Parke, with two divisions of the 9th Corps, had moved out to the west, and already we could hear the Rebel artillery shelling our advance. . . . At the Poplar Grove Church the Rebels began to throw shells, with a good deal of accuracy, into