First, a summary of the movements of the two detached brigades from V Corps, in support of the II and VI Corps on June 22-23, 1864; then the primary source quotes pertaining to these actions; then three maps showing the Chieves, Jones, Williams, and Gurley houses, as well as the network of roads and the Weldon Railroad. I hope this helps.

On June 22, Gen. Meade ordered Gen. Warren to send two brigades to support a possible attack by the II Corps. The brigade commanders were instructed to report to Gen. Birney, II Corps, near the Jones house, which was just west of the Jerusalem plank road. The two brigades chosen for this assignment were Sweitzer’s 2nd brigade from Griffin’s division, and Dushane’s 2nd brigade from Ayres’ division. They were ordered to support General Barlow. In this deployment, they are said to have moved approximately ½ mile to the left from their original position east of the Chieves house, on the east side of the plank road.
The two detached brigades were returned to Warren’s V Corps command on the evening of June 22.
In the late afternoon of June 23, the same two brigades were ordered to the Williams house on a road traveling west from Jerusalem plank road somewhat farther to the south, to support Gen. Wright, VI Corps, against a threat on his left from Confederate troops that were advancing eastward from the Weldon railroad. Oliver Knowles says the 21st PA Cav. of Sweitzer’s brigade went to the extreme left of the army and threw up fortifications on that date. I am assuming these fortifications may have constituted part of the “old line of the II Corps,” depicted on Map 1.

June 22, 1864. Orders to General Warren, Commanding V Corps - OR XL (2), 312:
HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, June 22, 1864, 4 p.m.
General WARREN: I think it would be advisable to move the two brigades you can spare to the rear of Griffin's left. Gibbon and Barlow have both been broken, but now repaired, but if a formidable attack is made we shall require support. Let the brigade commander report to General Birney, who is near the Jones house on the plank road. G. G. MEADE.
June 22, 1864 (Sent 9.03 p.m.) Major-General WARREN, Commanding Fifth Corps: The major-general commanding directs me to inform you that your two brigades will be returned to you to-night. General Birney and General Wright will attack to-morrow morning at 3.30 o'clock. They advanced this evening successfully. A. A. HUMPHREYS

Report from 2nd Division (Ayres), 2nd Brigade (Dushane), V Corps (Warren) - OR XL (1), 187-188:
June 18. - At 3 a.m. the brigade was ordered to support General Cutler (4th Division), occupying the extreme left of the army; were ordered by General Cutler to form in line of battle, throwing out skirmishers, and advanced on the line to find the enemy; pressed forward and found him. We sustained a loss of 6 killed and 19 wounded. At 2 p.m. we joined our division (2nd Division), and took position on the south side of the Petersburg and Norfolk Railroad. Remained in camp until 5 p.m. of the 22d, when the brigade was ordered to report to the Jones house, and from there to General Birney, commanding Second Army Corps, who ordered the brigade to the support of General Barlow; returned to camp during the night.
June 23.- At 5 p.m. the brigade was ordered to report to General Wright, commanding Sixth Army Corps, at Williams' house; were placed in line on the extreme left of the army, protecting the flank; threw up earth-works. At 12 o'clock, midnight, the brigade was ordered to take position on the left of Williams' house, where it remained until 5 p.m. of the 24th, when it rejoined division.
Regimental Reports from 1st Division (Griffin), 2nd Brigade (Sweitzer), V Corps (Warren):
On the 22nd of June, went left about half a mile in support of the Second Corps (Maj. Burt, 22nd Massachusetts, No. 117).
June 23, 4 a.m. We were relieved by the 1st Brigade. Ordered to the left of the Jerusalem Plank road in position on the ground where a portion of the Second Corps had been driven the night previous. Remained until 9 a.m., was relieved by the 4th N.Y. Heavy Artillery, and returned to camp half a mile east of Chieves’ House (Lentz, No. 119)

June 23, 1864. Orders to General Warren, commanding V Corps:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, June 23, 1864-3.50 p.m. Major-General WARREN, Commanding Fifth Corps: General Wright reports at 3.15 p.m. that the enemy have moved infantry down the Weldon railroad that have driven in his detachments of cavalry and infantry on that road, and are advancing in two lines on his left. The commanding general directs that you send two brigades at once to the Williams house on road leaving plank road to support Wright. (OR XL (2), 343)
June 23, 1864-5.40 p.m. Major-General WRIGHT: The two brigades Fifth Corps are now near the Williams house. Duane and Hunt [have]gone to post them with some batteries (OR XL (2), 355).

June 22-23. 1st Division, 2nd Brigade (Sweitzer) - The Letters of Major Robert Bell, 21st Pennsylvania Cavalry:

June 22. We are lying in a nice grove of timber, and two weeks later we could be feasting on huckleberries. Our brigade teams have come up with us and we have a chance to purchase rations from the officers’ wagon of the Brigade Commissary. Judging from the movements that are taking place, we are flanking the Rebels out along the Roanoke and Weldon railroad, but as fast as we move, they move, each one throwing up entrenchments as they go along. We hear the cars whistle quite plainly on the Road. We are living between the Norfolk [Rail]road and the Weldon [Rail]road. Just as I closed, the artillery is opening along the lines.

June 25. 4:00 AM. We have been very busy since I last wrote to you, and have been through one of the hottest fires we have been exposed to, but fortunately our Regt. suffered very little loss. On the evening of the 22nd, one Division of the 2nd Corps was separated by the Rebels and driven from their works with a loss of four pieces of artillery. Our Brigade was ordered to retake the Battery, but we decided we did not like being wiped out. We have been on the left tearing up the Weldon N. C. Railroad. There are over three miles of it completely ruined, and some ten miles partly torn up. Where we are lying now is pretty near the place we fought a few days ago. Brigades take their regular turns in going to the front. It will be ours again tomorrow. We stay in a day or two, and then are relieved by some other Brigade.

June 22-23, 1864. 1st Division, 2nd Brigade (Sweitzer) - Report of Oliver Knowles, 21st PA Cavalry – OR XL (1), 463-64.
On the evening of the 20th we moved to the rear and remained there until next morning, when we moved near the Jerusalem road and encamped in the woods. We remained here until the afternoon of the 22d, when we advanced to the support of the Second Corps, where we remained until the next morning, when we were relieved and returned to our old camp. The casualties on the 22nd were: wounded, 7; among them being Lieutenant Devens.

In the evening of the 23rd we marched to the extreme left and threw up fortifications to protect the flank. June 24, returned to camp, where remained, doing fatigue duty until July 12.
June 22-23, 1864. 1st Division, 2nd Brigade (Sweitzer) - Report of John Lentz, 91st Pennsylvania – OR XL (1), 461-62:
[19th] retired on the railroad and bivouacked. Left the railroad 9.30 p.m. 20th, moved southeast of the railroad half a mile, and bivouacked for the night. Left again 10 a.m. 21st, moved toward the left of the line, halted 12 m. on the Chieves farm; the left wing of the regiment sent out as skirmishers on the right of the Jerusalem plank road, the balance of the regiment, with the Sixty-second Pennsylvania Vo

Bryce A. Suderow
streetstories@juno.com