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[581] Confederate right, southwest of Petersburg. The present operation was confined to one powerful effort, directed against Lee's right and vulnerable flank. Former moves had presented the anomaly of a turning column pivoting on a force stronger than itself. The present operation was made by a turning column so weighty that it contingently embraced the whole Army of the Potomac, with the exception of the Ninth Corps, which alone was to be the pivot of the manoeuvre. Moreover, to this column was to be added not only the important accession of Sheridan's cavalry, but nearly the whole of the Army of the James, three divisions of which were to be transferred to the lines before Petersburg, leaving in the works on the Richmond side of the river only a minimum force. Sheridan, coming in from his expedition, joined the army before Petersburg on the 27th. The same day, General Ord, at this time commanding the Army of the James, moved over from the Richmond front to the lines before Petersburg. His active force embraced two divisions of the Twenty-fourth Corps, under General Gibbon; one division of the Twentyfifth Corps, under Brigadier-General Birney, and a small division of cavalry, under Brigadier-General McKenzie. These troops took position along the left of the intrenched lines lately held by the Second and Fifth corps, which being now relieved were foot-loose to manoeuvre by the left. The movement was begun on the morning of the 29th of March, as had been appointed. In order to attain the point against which the turning column of infantry was directed, it was necessary to pass to the west side of Hatcher's Run. Breaking camp early on the morning of the 29th, the corps of Warren and Humphreys moved by the rear and left (that is, to the southwest), so as to make the movement without observation. Hatcher's Run was passed without opposition of moment, and the two corps, facing northward, advanced to effect the initial manoeuvre of the campaign.1
1 A reliable map of the region in which the movements to be described took place will be found opposite page 578. This will enable the reader to follow the details of the initial operations of the 29th of March, which I here add
the Fifth Corps.—Warren moved at three A. M., and turning southwestward crossed Rowantry Creek at a point a short distance below where that stream is formed by the junction of Hatcher's and Gravelly runs. A few shots were fired by the enemy's videttes, probably as an alarm signal, but no opposition was made to the crossing. While a bridge for the vehicles was being laid, the troops scrambled across on fallen trees and the wreck of a former bridge. Warren's route then led westward by the stage-road. At a distance of four miles from Hatcher's Run, the Quaker road runs northward from the stage-road to the Boydton plankroad. Warren was directed to move up this road, which, at a distance of two miles, crosses Gravelly Run. This stream could not be readily forded, but the skirmish line succeeded in crossing, and drove off a small force of the Confederates. A bridge was then laid and the northward movement continued. the Second Corps.—While Warren was making this wide detour, Humphreys' corps had passed Hatcher's Run by the Vaughan road-crossing, four miles above Warren's point of passage. Turning northward it followed the ran up-stream. This movement placed Humphreys' corps on the right of Warren, and both corps pushed northward—the latter moving on the Quaker road, the former through the woods between that road and Hatcher's Run. But as Humphreys' advance was made in an extended line through very difficult woods, the connection was made and broken continually. The enemy's skirmishers were driven in, but no main line was encountered, and darkness stayed further advance. Sheridan's cavalry.—Sheridan moved by way of Reams' Station and Malone's crossing on Rowantry Creek, where he had to construct a bridge. At this point the cavalry encountered a Confederate cavalry picket, which was driven to the left across Stony Creek, capturing a few prisoners, from whom and from scouts it was learned that the Confederate cavalry was at Stony Creek Depot on the Weldon Railroad, twelve miles to Sheridan's left and rear. Believing that by pushing on to Dinwiddie Courthouse, he would compel the Confederate cavalry to make a wide detour in order to rejoin Lee's right, he continued the march from Malone's, where Custer's division was left to protect the trains, to Dinwiddie Courthouse, distant twelve miles. This point was reached at five P. M., after encountering only a small picket of the enemy. At Dinwiddie, Sheridan bivouacked.
1866.
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