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| "5th Corps, 7th of February" by Alfred Waud (Library of Congress)
Description on back of the sketch: "The 1st Div 5th Corps charging some temporary breastworks of logs
piled against trees on the morning of Tuesday 7th Feb. Thick pine woods.
The ground smooth and covered with fine leaves. A.R.W. Near Hatchers
Run."
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Second Hatcher's Run . . . Is Missing Its Monograph
In early February 1865, Federal forces launched an offensive south of Petersburg to gain ground and threaten Confederate supply lines. Two corps from the Army of the Potomac, the Second and the Fifth, marched south and west and, over the course of several miserable winter days, fought William Mahone's division under temporary command of Joseph Finegan. The offensive, called variously "Hatcher's Run," "Second Hatcher's Run," and "Dabney's Mill," is covered in various books about the overall campaign. In addition, Brett Schulte has posted a detailed summary over at Beyond the Crater. However, there is no book treatment out there. Hopefully, someone will fill this hole in the campaign's historiography.
Thursday Feb. 9, 65
Back at camp again after a very
severe five days campaign beginning Sunday afternoon, ending yesterday
afternoon. Monday evening our division led by Gen. Finnegan charged the enemy
& drove them beautifully for more than a mile. The engagement took place in
a body of woods on the right of Hatcher’s Run & about 3-1/2 miles below Burgess
Mill. The enemy had first attacked Pegram’s division, turning it back, and had
been in turn driven by Evans’s division, which they then drove back & were
driven just as we were put in line of battle. We lost in our reg’t 23 kd &
wd. The kd were Billy Willson of our company, a good fellow & a fine
soldier, Geo. Spence of Co. H, a good soldier, Pattaway of Co. K and Baughn of
Co. G. Among the wd were “Billy” Scott & Hamilton Martin of our
company, both excellent soldiers. Lt. Ben Grasswit & Doncey Dunlop of Co.
C, Bob Eckles & Jackson Bishop of Co. A, I myself received a slight scratch
on the cheek, the position of my head only saving me from a dreadful wound or
perhaps death. In company E several others were struck--David Meade, Thad Branch,
Ben Peebles & Ello Daniel. I hope to return to my friends as safe guard
today.
- George S.
Bernard, 12th Virginia in Civil War Talks