asked for volunteers to take the works at Hatcher's Run. The Major referred him to me as the only one whom he thought would volunteer to attempt such a dangerous task. I was then in comamnd of the right wing of the regiment, and was called upon to volunteer, but I told General Miles I would not volunteer to undertake a job of that kind, but if it was his orders to charge the works I would take them if I lived and was not disabled before reaching them. He then gave me the order and to select as many men as I wished from any regiment in his division. I prepared to take my own company, E, and the color company, C, of the regiment. General Miles then explained that two regiments of his division that had undertaken to capture the works had been driven back with many men killed and wounded, left where they fell, some of them being still in the water where they were shot down. The stream had been dammed up below, causing the water to overflow the banks on each side, and the men had to wade in water from one to three feet deep before they would reach the main stream, where they would step off the edge of the bank and suddenly go down, some men sinking out of sight with the heavy weight of cartridges, equipments, etc., they wore. While the men were in the water Johnny Reb was behind his entrenchments on the other side firing at the men of the first regiment who undertook the job of getting the works, and which, after getting into the bed of the stream, lost all hope, and instead of trying to crawl up into the works, did their best to get back to where they entered. Many could not swim. The Second Regiment charged. They acted as if they would go right into Richmond before they stopped, but they didn't. They only got out into the water a little way when the bullets buzzed like swarms of bees, and instead of trying to cross over, the whole regiment turned back. Then it was that General Miles became excited and called for volunteers; but the moans and cries of the dying and wounded who were covered by the guns of the rebels who were behind these entrenchments, and many being in the water, made it look like certain death for any human being to venture across. So the General could not get a volunteer. He told me he was confident of winning the day if a few of the men would only go into the works; that he would follow with his division and secure them. The signal was to be the firing of five guns, and at the fifth I was to charge. I marched down as near the works as I could, when the bullets began to come past us lively, when I ordered the men to lie down, and I protected myself as well as possible behind a big tree and took a view of the situation, which looked very discouraging, though I did not show my thoughts, but between the firing of the guns ordered the men to divest themselves of everything unnecessary to use in the charge; to fix bayonets and prepare themselves for a hand-to-hand contest, and if there was a man in the command who felt as if he could not go into the works to say so before we started, as I did not wish a man to turn back, and if there was but one more left I wanted him found in the works. Only one man of the command complained. His excuse was rheumatism, and a large family depended upon him, and if killed they would be in a terrible condition. I told the first sergeant he might leave Mr. (?) Carr in charge of the knapsacks and property left by the men. That order seemed to please Carr in spite of the boys reviling him. All my men seemed in the best of spirits, and at the sound of the fourth gun I commanded "Attention!" when every man sprang up, and at the fifth gun I gave the command "Forward, guide center, march!" After reaching the water we charged through it, crawling up and working our bodies through the obstacles placed in the space between the bank of the stream and the breastworks; then over we went into the works, many of our brave boys being shot or bayoneted through while dragging themselves with their heavy wet clothes up the steep embankment, behind which Johnny Reb thought himself secure, but to his sudden surprise found it necessary to let the Second New York Heavy Artillery take charge of them, while they thought it would be more beneficial to their health to be nearer Richmond, as the climate around Hatcher's Run was a little too warm. It must have been an interesting sight for the spectators to sit and watch Companies E and C struggling in the water with the bullets whizzing past like bees and spattering the water in our faces while we were endeavoring to cross over and charge up the ramparts, which we could not have held but for General Miles' Charge at Hatcher's Run, Va., 1864. promptness in following right after us with his division, which saved us, as I do not believe one of the Second New York would have been spared after he had got inside the works if the large force of General Miles had not followed us so close with his pioneers, who bridged the stream with the roofs of stables and sheds and old wagons, logs, benches and everything that could be thrown into it to aid the troops in crossing. I was unfortunately stunned in a hand-to-hand encounter with a "Johnnie" as I was going into the works, and after coming to, I have been since told, my first question was to know if we had captured the works. Your humble servant was bayoneted in the jaw and throat, and for some time left for dead, while many of the men were stabbed through and through while crawling into the works. Quoting from my diary of December 10, 1864, I said I am sorry we failed to go right into Petersburg, as the command made such a desperate effort to do so, but we have gained a good deal of ground with small loss on our side, but rather heavy for the other. The rest of the regiment crossed over and came into the works close after Companies E and C, Major Hogg commanding the regiment until it reached the water, but there he and his horse, I have been told, had some trouble about crossing. After my return to camp I soon discovered that I had not committed any offense by applying for a two days' leave, as the reason for not granting it was that my services were needed in the contemplated move General Miles had planned to take place December 9, 1864. The fact is, that within a week after the capture of the works at Hatcher's Run, to my utter surprise and without the least hint or expectation that I had been noticed any more than thousands of others who had been in larger-as I thought-and more severe fights or battles than Hatcher's Run, was the announcement of my name in General Orders No. 266 from the headquarters of the First Division, Second Army Corps, December 14, 1864, of which the following is an extract : The Brigadier-General commanding desires to express his gratification at the gallant manner in which the passage of Hatcher's Run was forced on the 9th inst., in the face of an entrenched enemy and other obstacles, by which he had made it so difficult. To Capt. George A. Armes and Second Lieut. O. F. Bliss of the Second New York Artillery, who crossed at the head of the troops, is credit due for their gallant conduct and example. The affair, with that of October 27, when 100 men of the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Capt. J. E. Brown, assaulted and captured a fort of the enemy opposite Fort Morton, proves that any position can be carried by resolute and determined soldiers, when led by skillful and gallant officers. Captain Brown's gallantry has been recognized by promotion to rank of Brevet Major, and it will give the General commanding pleasure to recommend for brevet the officers who distinguished themselves at Hatcher's Run. By order of BRIG.-GEN. MILES. W. R. DRIVER, Maj. and Asst. Adjt.-Gen. Headquarters First Brigade, First Division, Second Army Corps, Capt. and Asst. Adjt.-Gen. Headquarters Second New York Artillery, December 31, 1864. First Lieut. and Asst. Adjutant. From the fact that after two veteran regiments had failed to capture or get into the works ours in a charge not only took the works, but forced a general stampede of the whole rebel line, causing our side to win the victory of the day and BrigadierGeneral Miles to gain the extra star of a Major-General, being mentioned in general orders for one of the most gallant charges made during the war, our regiment was further confirmed in its gallant record. Not only will it be mentioned in history, but every man who was engaged there cannot but feel proud of the notice and complimentary orders by General Miles recognizing and giving them credit for performing their duty so faithfully. I was sorry not to see the names of Sergeants Musson and Oliver in the order of General Miles complimenting me for capturing the works, as those two brave and gallant soldiers followed close to me in the desperate charge, and deserve a medal of honor for their brave conduct, considering that this was one of the most desperate and dangerous assaults, which could not have been carried through but for the assistance and gallantry of the men who did the work and deserve the credit as much as myself; in fact, great credit is due every man who followed me on that desperate charge. As General Miles says in the complimentary order published to the Army, "It is proven that any position can be carried by resolute and determined soldiers when led by skillful and gallant officers." I must not fail to mention the name of Private Hector Hale. who, since the war, has made himself very popular and useful in purchasing and publishing the Oneida Free Press and keeping together the organization of the old Second New York Artillery. Among others I feel it my duty to mention Maj. O. F. Hulser, who proved his true friendship to me by acts and deeds in times |