At 8.30 in the morning, the General, with the combative
Humphreys and all the Staff, rode towards the left, stopping of course at the
irresistible Hancock's. At noon we got to Globe Tavern, which is some six miles
from our old Headquarters. Crawford's division still held the works on the
Weldon road, while Warren, with two divisions, followed by Parke, with two
divisions of the 9th Corps, had moved out to the west, and already we could
hear the Rebel artillery shelling our advance. . . . At the Poplar Grove Church the Rebels
began to throw shells, with a good deal of accuracy, into the road; for they
had the range, though they could not see for the woods. Near here was a swampy
run, where our skirmishers drove those of the enemy across, and the division
then got over and kept ahead. General Meade, meantime, staid at the Globe Tavern,
waiting for the movement to develop. He sent out an aide or two, to tell Warren
he was there and to bring news of the progress. Warren sent in word that;
having got across the run, he would soon see what could be done. At 12.45 we
could hear pretty brisk musketry, which continued a short time and then ceased.
Some time after, an aide came in from General Warren, with news that Griffin
had captured a strong line and a redoubt, in handsome style. Not long after,
the General rode to the front, where we arrived at 2.45. Most of the road was
through a pleasant wood, chiefly oak. Passing the “church” (a little, old,
wooden building that might seat forty persons), we turned to the right and came
out on a large, open farm. On a roll of land, just ahead, was the Peeble house
(pretty well riddled with bullets), and hence you looked over more open land
ending in a fringe of wood. Perhaps 400 yards in front was the captured line
and the redoubt: the former very strongly and handsomely made; the latter not
quite finished inside, wanting still the platforms for the guns; otherwise it
was done, with a ditch outside and an abattis. So far as I can learn, the
occupying force was about equal to the attacking; but they did not make as good
a fight as usual. The two assaulting brigades advanced very handsomely and
rushed over the works. The enemy began at once to draw off their cannon, but
the horses of one piece were shot, and it fell into our hands. The loss was
very small in the assault, not over 100, which shows how much safer it is to
run boldly on: the enemy get excited and fire high. I went into the redoubt. A
Rebel artillery-man lay dead on the parapet, killed so instantly, by a shot
through the head, that the expression of his face was unchanged. In front they
were burying two or three of our men and a corporal was marking their names on
a headboard, copying from letters found in their pockets. Parke was now ordered
to form on the left of Warren (Ayres being on the right of Griffin), and it was
understood that the whole line would then advance from its present position,
near the Pegram house, and see if it were practicable to carry the second line,
which lay perhaps three fourths of a mile beyond. As I understand it, General
Meade's orders were not properly carried out; for Griffin did not form, so as
to make an extension of Parke's line. At 5.30 we were sitting in the Peeble
house, waiting for the development of the attack, when we heard very heavy
musketry beyond the narrow belt of the woods that separated us from the Pegram
farm; there was cheering, too, and then more musketry, and naturally we
supposed that Parke was assaulting. But presently there came from the woods a
considerable number of stragglers, making their way to the rear; then came even
a piece of a regiment, with its colors, and this halted inside the captured
works. The musketry now drew plainly nearer, and things began to look ticklish.
I watched anxiously a brigade of the 5th Corps that stood massed in the edge of
the wood, beyond the redoubt. Suddenly it filed to the left, at a double-quick,
the brigade colors trotting gaily at the head, then formed line and stood
still. In another moment the men leveled their muskets, fired a heavy volley
and charged into the wood. The musketry receded again; a battery went forward
and added itself to the general crash, which was kept up till darkness had well
set in; while we sat and watched and listened, in comparative safety, just
beside the captured redoubt. Potter had been taken in the flank by the Rebels
charging, and had been driven back in confusion. Griffin had advanced and
restored the retired line. And who rides hither so placidly? It is General
Humphreys: he has stolen off and, bless his old soul, has been having a real
nice time, right in the line of battle! “A pretty little fight,” said he
gingerly, “a pretty little fight. He! he! he!” Poor Potter! it wasn't his
fault. Our extreme advance was driven back, but the day was a great success,
with important strategic bearing.
SOURCE: George R. Agassiz, Editor, Meade’s
Headquarters, 1863-1865: Letters of Colonel Theodore Lyman from the Wilderness
to Appomattox, p. 234-7
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