Alfred Roman, The military operations of General Beauregard in the war between the states, 1861 to 1865

[568] with the loss of one howitzer. During that gallant stand of Dearing's command time was gained to make all possible preparations on the lines, and at about 10 A. M. the skirmishing on the left began to be serious.

At 12 M. the enemy's cavalry approached our centre, dismounted, deployed skirmishers, and moved up as infantry. Reinforcements had already been called for, from the north side of the Appomattox. The repeated reply was to hold on—that reinforcements would be sent.

From 12 M. to 2 P. M. the enemy pressed on the centre, apparently threatening the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad. The line was, in consequence, closed from the right to support Colonel Goode and 34th Virginia. At the same time Hood's battalion was sent to reinforce Colonel Page, on the left.

Again additional troops were called for, the reply being that one brigade from Johnson's division had been ordered on, and that Hoke's division, which had left Drury's Bluff at 12.15 P. M., would arrive in Petersburg at 5 P. M. Orders to hold on at all hazards were given all over the lines.

From 3 to 5 P. M. the enemy continued to press the centre, and, as was expected, concentrated upon batteries 5, 6, and 7, where the works were ‘ineffably and contemptibly weak.’ At 7.10 P. M. they entered a ravine between Nos. 6 and 7 and flanked No. 5.

The line then broke, from No. 3 to No. 11, inclusive. The whole line on the right was then ordered to close to the left, up to Battery No. 14; batteries 1 and 2 being still ours. The 59th Virginia arriving at that time, was sent on the City Point Road towards Battery No. 2, to arrest the retreat of the line on the left. Between 8 and 9 P. M. General Hagood's brigade of Hoke's division arrived, and, soon after, General Hoke himself, who took command.

A new line was formed during the night from Battery No. 2, through Friend's field to the woods, and thence through them across the road leading to Dunn's house, and thence on the road to Webb's house.

Hoke's division was placed on the left, Clingman's brigade forming its right. On Clingman's right was Wise's brigade. The right of Wise's brigade terminated on the apex of a high hill, between which and Webb's house there is a deep ravine. An interval of a quarter of a mile was left across this ravine. General Wise called the attention of General Hoke and General Johnson to that fact. He was told that a regiment would be sent from Elliott's brigade to fill it. But on the night of the 16th, as late as 10 P. M., that gap had not been filled.

At daybreak next morning it was announced that the enemy had driven back the brigade on the right of Wise's, leaving its right entirely exposed, except as far as protected by Blunt's battery.

Wise's brigade stood firm and aided in restoring the lines, but sadly suffered from an enfilade fire. Colonel Page was killed, Captain Wise, Brigade Inspector, wounded. The command of the brigade then devolved upon Colonel Goode.

The casualties in Wise's brigade, on June 15th, amounted to 12 killed, 62 wounded, and 129 missing. Only three regiments engaged.

Ten guns were lost from batteries 3, 5, 7, 8, and 9. No other reports were sent in. Every officer and man under General Wise's notice behaved with gallantry,