Petersburg Assault, Report of Colonel William Tilton, 22nd Mass.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report the part taken by this brigade from the day I took command, June 18, 1864, until the end of the fifth epoch, July 30, 1864:
At about 12 m. on the 18th of June the Second Brigade had advanced down the Norfolk turnpike road and crossed the railroad to a ravine, which was immediately under the enemy's works, and the First Brigade, then under command of Colonel Chamberlain, went forward soon after and formed upon the left of Sweitzer's brigade. There it was, just before dark, that I was placed in command with orders to charge when troops on my right and left did. In making the movement, which was done under a heavy fire, the loss had been severe. Colonel Chamberlain was wounded. I immediately proceeded to reconnoiter the ground, and communicate with the brigade commanders upon my right and left. Colonel Hofmann on the left, commanding a brigade in Cutler's division, assured me of his co-operation at the right moment. The Eighty-third Pennsylvania, Forty-fourth New York, and Sixteenth Michigan Regiments, of Bartlett's brigade, were now sent me as a support. I removed the One hundred and eighty-seventh Pennsylvania, which had formed my second line, to the left of my front line, and placed Bartlett's three regiments in my second line, with orders to intrench and clear up the bushes in their front. After waiting anxiously the movement of the brigade on my right, I finally received notice that it had been suspended.
June 19, at 4 a.m. I withdrew my troops and took up a new line in rear of Bartlett's brigade. This day quiet, excepting the loss of several men by sharpshooters' fire.
June 20, at dark went to the rear and bivouacked near corps headquarters.
June 21, at 4.30 p.m. received orders to take up a position on left of General Ayres at dark and intrench. On reaching General Ayres' left I found General Bartlett there, when I was ordered by General Griffin to take up one line, with my left resting on the plank road and my right running toward Bartlett's left. After the skirmish line became established, which was after 9 p.m., I moved in my brigade upon that line and intrenched before morning.
June 22, the Second Corps, on my left, was attacked to-day. Took precautionary measures to prevent the enemy getting upon our left flank across the Jerusalem road.
July 4, at night broke ground for a redan in front of my line, the left face near to and parallel with the Jerusalem road. Major Roebling laid out the work. The work was continued during the night time (it having been impracticable to work by daylight on account of the enemy's fire) until July 16, when it was ready for the engineers. They cut the embrasures, erected traverses, and excavated magazines. There were embrasures for eighteen guns. My brigade furnished 5,500 days' and nights' labor upon it. During all this time the men were in the trenches, excepting one regiment, and exposed to shell fire, but they bore their hardships with fortitude, not a murmur being heard.
July 30, at 2.30 a.m. the men were called to arms to take part in the assault upon the enemy's works, which was to follow the springing of a mine in front of General Burnside's line. During the preceding night the redan in our front had been armed with six siege guns, served by the Fourth New York Artillery, and two batteries of field pieces. At 4.30 a.m. all these guns opened upon the enemy's works, and continued firing more or less until noon. I also opened with musketry fire by order. By this means the enemy's pickets were kept in their rifle-pits. The rebels made no response to our fire, but directed theirs chiefly upon troops at my right. Very little was to be seen of them in our front all day. At one time, however, in the morning (after the explosion), I observed a movement of their infantry from their right to their left.
During all these operations mentioned herein I was greatly assisted by Lieutenant Davenport, chief of pioneers, and Lieutenant Funk, aide-de-camp.
I wish to bear testimony, also, to the cheerful co-operation in all my plans of Captain Osborne, inspector-general, and Lieutenant Harder, aide-de-camp. Lieutenant Walters, aide-de-camp, ought also to be mentioned.
Respectfully submitted.
WM. S. TILTON,
Colonel Twenty-second Massachusetts Vols., Comdg. Brigade.
ASST. ADJT. GEN., FIRST DIVISION, FIFTH CORPS.
The casualties during this period number 10 men killed. 53 wounded, 1 officer wounded. A nominal list of the same is appended.
WM. S. TILTON,
Colonel, &c.
Series I, Volume XL, Part 1, Book 80, Pages 456-8