September 29
Headquarters contented itself by getting up about half-past
five, which was plenty early enough, as turned out. We rode down to General
Hancock's about 9.30. He was camped not far from us, or had been, for
now his tents were struck and packed, and there lay the familiar forms of
Lieutenant-Colonel Morgan and Major Mitchell, on some boards, trying to make up
for their loss of sleep. The cheery Hancock was awake and lively. We here were
near the point of the railroad, which excited General Meade's indignation by
its exposure. Now they have partly sunk it and partly built a bank, on the
enemy's side, so that it is covered from fire. Here we got news that Ord and
Birney had crossed the James, the first near Dutch Gap, the other near Deep
Bottom, and advanced towards Richmond. Birney went up the Newmarket road, took
a line of works, and joined Ord, who took a strong line, with a fort, on
Chapin's farm, which is before Chapin's bluff, which again is opposite Fort
Darling. We got sixteen guns, including three of heavy calibre, also some
prisoners. General Ord was shot in the thick of the leg, above the knee. There
was another line, on the crest beyond, which I do not think we attacked at all.
We went down then to the Jones house, where were Parke's Headquarters, and
talked with him. I saw there Charlie Mills, now on his Staff. Finally, at 1.30
we got to Globe Tavern where was the astute Warren. Everything was “set,” as he
would say, for an advance by Griffin's and Ayres's divisions, while Willcox's
and Potter's divisions of the 9th Corps were massed at the Gurley house, ready
to support. General Gregg made an advance west of Reams' station, and was
heavily attacked about 5 P.M., but repulsed them. Their artillery blew up one
of his caissons and we could see the cloud of smoke suddenly rise above the
trees. This was all for that day in the way of fighting.
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 233-4
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