Jim Martin
Account of engagement at Watkins' House (Petersburg)
Tue Jul 24 09:19:14 2001


Watkins' House, Va.,
March 25, 1865.


Parts of the 2nd and 5th Army Corps.

Early in the morning Gen. Mott, commanding the 3d division of
the 2nd corps, ordered Gen. McAllister to send out a part of
his brigade to drive the enemy from a line of rifle-pits in
front, and directed Gens. Pierce and De Trobriand to hold their
brigades in readiness to assault the enemy's works.

Simultaneously Gen. Miles, commanding the 1st division, sent
forward part of Scott's brigade for a similar purpose, the rest
of the 1st and all of Hays' (2nd) division being massed in
support of the movement. McAllister first sent forward a
reconnoitering party of 50 men under Capt. Holmes, who reported
the line occupied by a strong force - 4 or 5 men in each pit.

Lieut.-Col. Schoonover was then despatched with the 11th N. J.
to drive the Confederates from the pits, but at 9:50 reported
that the enemy was too strong for his regiment to overcome.
Col. Lockwood, with the 120th N. Y., was ordered to his support
and by a gallant charge carried the line, capturing about 100
prisoners.

The two regiments held their positions until about 3 p. m.,
when the enemy attacked their left flank and recaptured part of
the line. After retreating a short distance the men were
rallied upon De Trobriand's brigade and again drove the
Confederates from the pits, after which McAllister strengthened
his line by the addition of the 11th Mass., which was placed on
Schoonover's left to guard against another assault from that
direction.

Scott had attacked the pickets in his front, but owing to the
dense thicket, through which his men had to work their way, the
assault was repulsed. He then ordered his detachment farther
to the left, where a weak place was found in the line and
carried, about 20 prisoners being taken. About 1 p. m. he
advanced his brigade in line of battle to the front, but found
the works too strong to be carried by direct assault, and by
direction of Miles drew back a little to a more advantageous
position.

Shortly after the attack on McAllister's flank the Confederates
charged Scott's front, but the charge was fairly repulsed.
Early in the day Gen. Griffin, commanding the 1st division of
the 5th corps, had sent Gregory's brigade to occupy the works
directly on the left of the 2nd corps, and when the
Confederates became aggressive in the afternoon ordered
Chamberlain to report with his brigade to Mott.

He was pushed well to the front, but did not become actively
engaged until nearly dusk. Gen. Humphreys, commanding the 2nd
corps, had ordered Hays to make a demonstration on the enemy's
right, and three regiments under Col. Moore assaulted and
carried the works on the opposite side of Hatcher's run,
capturing 70 prisoners. Brig.-Gen. Smyth, commanding the 3d
brigade of Hays, division, accompanied Moore, and now sent back
word that if the remainder of his brigade were sent to him he
could hold his position.

The other regiments were therefore ordered to join him and he
held his advanced position until 10 o'clock that evening, when
he retired to his old picket line. Just before dark heavy
firing was heard on Mott's right and Chamberlain was ordered to
that part of the field. The skirmishers were already falling
back in confusion and the enemy was pressing forward with
spirit upon the main line, when part of Chamberlain's brigade
came up at the double-quick to the edge of the woods
immediately in the rear of Mott's line.

The sight of these fresh troops aroused the courage of Mott's
men and a heavy fire was opened upon the advancing
Confederates, causing them to waver for an instant, w firing
was kept up until a late hour, when the Union troops returned
to their camps.

This action opened the way for the extension of the Federal
lines to the left and had a marked bearing on the battle of
Five Forks a few days later. Incomplete returns of losses show
28 killed, 229 wounded and 152 missing. Some of the brigade
commanders did not report their casualties, but the above
statement includes by far the greater number.

The enemy's loss in killed and wounded was not ascertained, but
757 prisoners were reported.


Source: The Union Army, Vol. 6, p. 911