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Fort Harrison, Va., Sept. 29-30, 1864. 10th and 18th Army Corps, and
Kautz's Cavalry Division. Fort Harrison was a redoubt on the
Confederate line of defenses north of the James river, and about a
mile directly east of Chaffin's bluff. A short distance north was
another redoubt known as Fort Gilmer, both forts being connected with
the works at Chaffin's bluff by lines of intrenchments, while an
advanced line, held by the enemy's pickets, extended northeast from
Fort Harrison. On Sept. 28 Maj.-Gen. David B. Birney, commanding the
10th corps, was directed to cross the James river at the upper pontoon
bridge at Deep Bottom (q.v.) and advance upon Richmond by the
Newmarket and Darbytown roads. Kautz, with his cavalry division, was
to move on the latter road in support of Birney's movement, and as a
diversion Maj.-Gen. E.O. C. Ord, with the 18th corps, was directed to
cross the river by a pontoon 2 miles below Dutch gap and move up the
Varina road against the Confederate works about Chaffin's bluff. The
movement was made secretly, and by daylight on the 29th both corps
were north of the James. The Confederate pickets and skirmishers were
driven in and about 7:30 the head of Ord's column reached the open
fields of the Chaffin farm in front of Fort Harrison, when the enemy
immediately opened fire with artillery from the fort and the adjacent
trenches. Ord reconnoitered the ground and made dispositions to
attack. Stannard's division was directed to push forward on the left
of the road, advance at quick time across the open ground, and at the
double-quick upon arriving at the foot of the hill in front of the
fort, while Heckman's division was to move to the right of the road
and attack in front. Heckman went too far into the woods and when the
time came for him to assault his brigades were scattered and could not
be brought up in time to be of service. Stannard's men, Burnham's
brigade in the lead, advanced across the open ground in the face of a
severe fire, swept over the parapet, and after a sharp encounter
carried the fort, capturing 16 guns and a number of prisoners. The
guns were turned on the works to the right and left of the fort and
two lunettes, about 600 yards apart, with 6 more pieces of artillery,
fell into the hands of the Federals. Ord then tried to form his men to
swing round inside the trenches toward Fort Gilmer, but in the
excitement and confusion, and owing to the heavy loss in brigade and
regimental commanders, the attempt did not succeed. Burnham had been
killed early in the assault and two other officers that succeeded him
in command of the brigade were wounded in quick succession. While
trying to rally his men Ord was severely wounded and the command of
the corps devolved on Gen. Heckman, who was just about to attack Fort
Gilmer. Ord had been instructed to occupy such works as he took, after
which he was to push on with any spare force he had, and attack the
works toward Richmond. These instructions were imparted to Heckman
when he assumed command, and he afterward made an attack on Fort
Gilmer, but as that work had been strongly reinforced the assault was
repulsed with considerable loss.
The 10th corps, Foster's division in advance, moved forward on the
Kingsland road from Deep Bottom about 6 a.m. and shortly after 9
o'clock met the enemy's pickets along the line of works at the
junction of the Mill and New Market roads. Part of the 142nd N.Y.,
under Lieut.-Col. Barney, was deployed as skirmishers, and closely
followed by the remainder of the 1st brigade, charged the works,
driving the enemy in some confusion back to Laurel Hill Church, where
the Confederates had a battery of 12-pounders in position. This
battery was quickly dislodged and Foster formed his command along the
New Market road, his right resting at the church, where he remained
until about the middle of the afternoon, when the corps was ordered to
make an assault on Fort Gilmer and the main line of works as far as
New Market road. In this assault the only Union troops that reached
the fort were those belonging to the colored brigade. They jumped into
the ditch and endeavored to scale the parapet by climbing upon each
other's shoulders, but their determined efforts were finally defeated
and the brigade driven back with severe loss. The corps then fell back
to Laurel hill, where it intrenched. During the night of the 29th and
the forenoon of the 30th large parties of Stannard's division worked
arduously to made Fort Harrison an enclosed work in anticipation of an
attempt to recapture it. Gen. Ewell, who was in command of the
Confederate forces on the north side of the James, was joined by Gen.
Lee soon after Stannard's successful assault on the fort, and steps
were at once taken to recover the lost position. Troops were hurried
over from the south side of the river and by daylight on the 30th ten
brigades were concentrated near Fort Gilmer ready for an attack on
Stannard. About 2 p.m. the enemy opened fire with 12 pieces of
artillery on Stannard's center and left and Anderson, now in command
of Longstreet's corps, advanced on the right with the brigades of Law,
Anderson, Bratton, Colquitt and Clingman. Stannard ordered his men to
reserve their fire until the Confederates came out of the chaparral,
when the whole line opened a most effective fire, which drove the
enemy back to the cover of the underbrush. At this unfortunate
juncture it was discovered that the Federal supply of artillery
ammunition was exhausted and Stannard ordered the guns to be removed
by hand. Two subsequent attacks were repulsed in like manner and the
day closed with the Union troops still in possession of the fort.
The Federal loss during the several engagements about Fort
Harrison, Fort Gilmer, New Market Heights, Laurel Hill Church, etc.,
was 383 killed, 2,299 wounded and 645 missing. The "Medical and
Surgical History of the War" gives the total number of Confederates
killed and wounded at 2,000. In addition to this list of casualties
about 300 were captured, together with 22 pieces of artillery and a
large quantity of ammunition, camp equipage, etc. Although the
expedition was not entirely a success its principal object - that of
preventing Lee from sending reinforcements to Early in the Shenandoah
valley - was accomplished. Had it not been for Heckman's unfortunate
error in taking position and the destructive fire of the Confederate
gunboats in the river just at the time Ord was trying to rally his men
for an attack on Fort Gilmer, that work would have undoubtedly fallen
into the hands of the Union forces, thus opening the way for an entry
into Richmond.
Source: The Union Army, Volume 6, Cyclopedia of Battles,
1908 |