William Swinton, Campaigns of the Army of the Potomac

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[516] for its lines of communication were all open. Petersburg, in fact, was in the same situation as Sebastopol, when beleaguered by the Allies in the so-called siege—a term not applicable to the kind of operation practised in both these cases. This is of a character novel and modern, and may be better described as a partial investment, or an attitude of watching. There were, however, several manoeuvres and operations open to the Union commander.

1. The first of these was a move resulting from that peculiar strategic relation of the contending armies by which, while Richmond was the ultimate objective of attack and point of defence, the actual struggle was waged before Petersburg, on the south side of the James, and twenty-two miles distant from the Confederate capital, situate on the north side of that river. A lodgment for the Union force on the north side of the James had early been secured by General Butler at Deep Bottom, only ten miles south of Richmond. Here a force under Foster held an intrenched camp, and communication with Bermuda Hundred was established by means of a ponton-bridge. Thus it was always practicable for General Grant, by a movement to the north bank of the James, to threaten Richmond by its direct approaches. These were, however, ‘observed’ by General Lee, who, by pontonbridges across the James, near Drury's Bluff, a few miles below Richmond, preserved his interior lines, and held the means of rapidly re-enforcing either wing. Yet, since General Grant could at any time take the initiative, it was always in his power to outrun any immediate action of his opponent.

2. The next course open to the Union commander was to operate against the railroad lines that fed Lee's army at Petersburg. These lead into that city from the south and west. They could be acted against, either by a gradual extension of the left flank, or by cutting loose a column of active operations powerful enough to meet any force the enemy might bring to meet the menace. The Weldon Railroad was within the scope of the former course, and, as will presently appear, it was soon afterwards seized and held,