...their corps were actually assaulting the Petersburg lines. General Hancock, the ranking Federal officer present, had been instructed by General Meade not to begin operations before the arrival of Burnside 's command. Hence the tardiness of the enemy's attack, which was not made till after 5 o'clock P. M., though Burnside had reached Petersburg, according to his own report, at 10 o'clock A. M. The...