Benjamnin F. Butler, Butler's Book: Autobiography and Personal Reminiscences of Major-General Benjamin Butler

[1084] then after picking off some of the gunners to charge into the works with the whole line. Having directed me to execute these preliminary details, but not to assault the works until his return, General Smith rode towards the right. After an hour or two he returned and personally inspected every part of my advanced line, and expressed himself as satisfied that everything was in readiness on my line for a successful assault; he then directed me to await a signal from the right, and on receiving it to push forward with my whole command. It was 6 o'clock P. M. or after when the signal was received and the troops were immediately in motion,--dashing forward at a run — the centre was momentarily repulsed, but was promptly rallied by its field officers and mounted the works with a shout of triumph. Having gained the worksin their front, the regiments of the Second Brigade swung to the left and successfully assailed the redoubts in flank and rear, the enemy making a brief stand in each and then retiring to the next on the left until we had captured five or six redoubts and their intervening defences, and twelve additional field-pieces, all thoroughly equipped and in excellent condition.

General Smith rejoined me a little before sunset, if I remember correctly, and extending his hand his first exclamation was: “Why, Hinks, this is a stronger position than Missionary Ridge.” He then cautioned me to hold my troops well in hand, and on my asking him if he proposed to move forward he replied: “Oh, no; if we attempt to capture more we may lose all we have gained,” or words to that effect. I then asked if any further movement should be made towards the left and he replied in substance, rather emphatically: “Not at all. We have already captured as much as we can securely hold;” and then directed me to set my command at work, reversing the captured works as rapidly as possible. He then again rode towards the right, and about half an hour later while I was engaged in stationing my command and in giving instructions for reversing the works, a staff officer approached and informed me that the commander of the Second Corps wished to see me on the Jordan Point road some distance to the rear. I at once rode to near the intersection of the roadway from Baylor's farm with the Jordan Point road, and there found General Birney (or was it General Gibbons) in command of the Second Corps (General Hancock having, for some reason, remained behind); he said to me that he had been ordered to march the corps to the support of the troops that were operating against Petersburg, and I explained to him as briefly as I could what had been accomplished and the existing situation, and suggested that he move directly forward to the rear of my division, then deploy to the left in the open field and continue the occupation of the enemy's works in that direction, as I thought he would meet with but slight resistance, if any at all; this he objected to, saying that he would not move his troops at night in presence of the enemy upon grounds with which he was not familiar. I then suggested that he move his command forward towards my division and await instructions from General Smith who was in command, and I had no authority to give any instructions. To this he made no definite response, and as 1 felt that my presence at the front was important, I hastened back to my command, and at once sent information to General Smith of the proximity of the Second