The Petersburg Campaign by Edwin Bearss

Author:Edwin Bearss
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi
Publisher: Savas Beatie
Published: 2012-10-18T16:00:00+00:00

Brigadier General James Ledlie

Library of Congress

Meade departed. Burnside then sent for the third commander of his white divisions, James Ledlie, who arrived soon thereafter. The four men discussed who should now take the lead in the upcoming attack. None felt particularly confident although Potter’s division was arguably in the best shape. Then Burnside unwisely decided to choose the attacking division by having his commanders draw straws. Perhaps the worst division commander in the Union Army won the lottery.

James Ledlie, a New York lawyer, was by all evidence both a drunk and a coward. A high ranking acquaintance had somehow assured Burnside that Ledlie was capable for the post, and Burnside had even praised Ledlie to Grant for action on June 17. Burnside appeared unaware of Ledlie’s pronounced shortcomings. It is probable that Ledlie’s staff concealed their commanders’s myriad problems. Whatever his standing, Ledlie’s men had not been trained for the assault so Meade had to write out detailed directives for them.

Meanwhile, when Hancock’s expedition launched on the 26th north of the James had produced few results, Meade decided to withdraw Hancock’s forces and incorporate them into Burnside’s assault. Meade’s battle plan called for operations to begin at dusk. Burnside would withdraw Ledlie and Willcox from between the Norfolk and Jerusalem Plank Roads and place them in his front. General Warren would reduce the troops holding his front to a minimum and concentrate them on his right to support Burnside. General Mott of the II Corps would relieve Maj. Gen. E. O. C. Ord’s XVIII Corps and form his troops behind the IX Corps and be ready to support Burnside. Hancock would move from Deep Bottom and form his men behind Mott and be prepared to follow up the attacking and supporting columns. Sheridan would likewise withdraw from Deep Bottom and be ready at daylight to move against the Rebel right. Major Duane would have the pontoon bridge ready to cross the Appomattox River. Despite having never visited the area of the attack, Meade insisted on commanding all the troops from the II and V Corps. If Burnside wanted their assistance, he would have to funnel all correspondence through Meade.

In preparation to move troops to the front, Burnside had built two covered ways. They began in the Taylor’s Creek ravine and zig-zagged their way 1,000 yards to the Union front lines. They were deep enough to protect the men from enemy fire and wide enough for a regiment to pass forward in column of twos, perhaps even a column of fours.

Sometime after dark, Ledlie met with his brigade commanders and issued orders. The Second brigade was to secure the lines north of the fort while the First brigade captured those to the south. Engineers would then connect both lodgments back to the Federal works. The next two divisions would expand upon these gains and extend the battle lines west toward the Jerusalem Plank Road. The coup de grace would be applied by the United States Colored Troops (USCT) division. With both

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