On approaching with nine regiments of infantry and cavalry, and at least four pieces of artillery, they searched our lines from battery Number 1 to battery Number 29, a distance of nearly six miles.How true that is will be seen, as nobody but Kautz was in sight of the fortifications that day, and Kautz made his entry into Petersburg. General Kautz reported that near City Point he separated himself from the infantry and marched down Jerusalem plank road
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at the point where he was to make the attack.
Then he halted his troops and went to a “secesh” lady's house to get his dinner.
While there, as he afterwards averred, he was informed by her that Petersburg was full of troops.
He also halted Hinks' division so far off as not to be in supporting distance of him, he says, but only the same distance from the enemy's lines.
Both columns rested there and went no further.
The position of affairs will explain itself to one looking at the very accurate map showing their relative positions.
Gillmore got his dinner, picked his teeth, waited until half past 3 o'clock on a still fair day, with a three quarter moon at night, and then turned about and marched home, encountering the same opposition that he met in marching out, leaving Kautz and his cavalry to take care of themselves.
Kautz had charged up the Jerusalem plank road, driven the force opposing him away, captured a piece of artillery and forty prisoners, and ridden into the town as far up as Jordan's, and then, not hearing anything from Gillmore, although he was within the sound of musketry, he came leisurely back, and without being interfered with.
Gillmore reported to me on his return that the expedition had not succeeded, and that he had not heard of Kautz.
I had the sorrowful pleasure of answering that I had heard of Kautz, as Kautz had been into Petersburg and waited for him as long as he could, and had reported to my headquarters, and brought in his prisoners.
Upon the examination of some of the prisoners captured, I found there was almost no effective force at that time in Petersburg.
I think I cannot better state the condition of the troops of the city of Petersburg than by quoting from the very extraordinary congratulatory order of Brigadier-General Wise, to his command:--
A. M. Thayer and Co. 1892.
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