Riders in the Storm by John D. Warner Jr

Author:John D. Warner Jr.
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Stackpole Books
Published: 2022-01-24T00:00:00+00:00

General Smith, after describing the taking of the enemy’s earthworks at Petersburg, had these words for his soldiers: “Too much praise cannot be awarded to the troops for their gallantry of yesterday, and the colored troops are deserving of special mention.” Smith thought the conduct of XVIII Corps worthy of notice. He sent a circular on 17 June wishing “to express to his command his appreciation of their soldierly qualities as have been displayed during the campaign of the last seventeen days.” The general commended his men for enduring “all the hardships of a soldier’s life” and facing up to all of its dangers. “Marches under a hot sun have ended in severe battle; after the battle, watchful nights in the trenches gallantly taken from the enemy.” Smith felt that “the crowning point of the honor they are entitled to” was won on 15 June when the soldiers of XVIII Corps carried “a series of earth works, of most commanding positions and of formidable strength,” along with cannon, prisoners, and Confederate battle flags.

This victory was “all the more important” because the troops had been hastily summoned and quickly put into brigades and divisions; they had “never been regularly organized in camp where time has been given them to learn the discipline necessary to a well-organized corps d’armee.” The honors won by XVIII Corps, wrote Smith, “will remain imperishable.” Once again, Smith singled out the African American troops: “To the colored troops comprising the division of General Hincks the general commanding would call the attention of his command, with the veterans of the Eighteenth Corps. They have stormed the works of the enemy and carried them, taking guns and prisoners, and in the whole affair they have displayed all the qualities of good soldiers.”

On 20 June, Brigadier General Hincks sent in his report to General Butler. Of particular note is his description of the advance on the Confederate earthwork at Baylor’s Farm:

Having reported the state of affairs to General Smith, I was ordered to deploy in two lines of battle, with skirmishers in front, and force a passage of the swamp. Considerable delay was occasioned by the difficulty in getting the Fifth Massachusetts Cavalry into line by reason of its awkwardness of maneuver, it being composed of new recruits, and drilled only in Cooke’s single rank cavalry formation, which entirely unfitted it to act as infantry in line.

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