Fall of Petersburg

H.M. Abbott

SUNDAY 2

Charged on the Rebs at 4 A.M. carried the works. Took 2 guns & 1 Battle flay. Then moved down on their flank towards the left. Drove them to within sight of Petersburg. This days work has been a splendid success. The 6th left ful good over it. 42 killed wounded & missing (3 killed). JW Norton. MD Whitman, M Shippee [?] O Warren of Co. F wounded.

April, MONDAY 3, 1865

The Rebs evacuated Petersburg last night. He city was surrendered to the 6th Corps. The Niggers were the first troops in the city. The 39th went into the city & stayed about 1 hour. The people appeared very [illegible] to see us & were very civil

Oliver Edwards

We received orders the evening of April 1st, and we formed on our skirmish line in front of Fort Fisher at 11 P.M. We laid on our arms until 4 A.M. Apr. 2nd when the signal for attack was given by two guns from Fort Fisher, when the Corps rushed for the enemy’s works.

               Outside of the regular formation for the attack, each brigade commander was allowed to make his own arrangement of details, and I detailed 75 sharpshooters (with their repeating Spencer rifles) under Captain Robinson and Lieut. Cushman with my brigade Pioneers under Lieut. Donaldson carrying only axes- as a forlorn hope- This detail I had crawl in front as near to the enemy’s skirmish line as

[page 129] they could get, and gave them orders when they heard the signal guns to make a dash for the enemy’s line, and when the obstructions were reached, for 75 sharpshooters to lie down and cover the parapet of the enemy’s works with a rapid fire from their Spencer repeaters, while the Pioneers cut and removed the Chevaux de fois and abbatis so that my brigade could storm the works.

               The 1st line of my brigade was commanded by Brevt. Brig. Gen. Tom Allen, and consisted of the 37th Mass. and 5th Wis. regiments. The 2nd line was made up of the 119 Penn. and 2nd R.I. Regiment, and my third line of the 82 Penna. and 49th Penna. The commander of my Forlorn Hope, Capt. Robinson, was badly wounded, and the enemy poured upon them a heavy fire, which mostly passed over them, though many were wounded.

               Sergt. Tracy of the Pioneers was wounded three times, one shot shattering his knee joint, and as he lay helpless he still cheered on his Pioneers. My brigade came on with a rush through the obstructions and over the works, a hand-to-hand fight over the guns by my first line, and we were in possession of the works in my front; the 37th Mass. capturing a fort and three guns, leaving Company “E” to hold the fort forward to the left with the first line, and charge down the left inside the works. The line came out in front of Hyde’s brigade, 2nd division, and met Col. Hyde as he came over the works. Col. Clark commanding the 119 Penna. and 2nd R.I., and was badly wounded losing a leg, and Lieut. Col. Rhodes charged in front forward to my right, and captured all the works, and guns in the front of Hamblins and Penrose’s brigades, while Brvt. Brig. Gen. Basset advanced my third line directly to the front; to the South Side railroad, and cut the telegraph line to Richmond.

               The 6th Corps now formed inside of the enemy’s line and swept down inside the works for two miles toward Hatcher’s Run, covering Ord’s front. A part of Ord’s command stormed and captured an enclosed work or fort. The 6th corps were countermarched and moved

[page 130] on Petersburgh. The enemy repeatedly tried to get a line into position to stop our advance, but could not succeed, as before they had time to form they would break under fire. At last when we were within 500 yards of the city our advance stopped, and the corps prepared to bivouack in line. Gen. Wright asked me if I could put my brigade into Petersburgh, and I told him yes. He replied, “I have orders to halt and you will be General Officer of the day for the Corps; establish your skirmish lines and watch the enemy.” I established my skirmish line with its left on the Appomattox, and its left about 200 yards from the city. About 4 A.M. I was satisfied the enemy had nothing but videttes in my front, and I ordered my skirmish line to advance, when we moved forward into the city. Just outside, we met a hack with a white flag, and Major Towne, Alderman Paul, and two other aldermen surrendered the city to me. The credit of receiving the surrender of Petersburgh has been given to an officer of the 9th Corps who received the surrender in front of the 9th Corps, and entered the city capturing a flag floating over the court house. I considered that the receiving the surrender was any great personal credit to me; it was certainly due to the corps which carried the enemy’s works first, and let in the other corps. As soon as I received the surrender, I halted the 6th Corps skirmish line, and sent the 37th Mass. into the city as Provost Guard.