The Confederate columns were strong enough to repel the attack of two divisions,—were put there for that purpose,—but so far from breaking up and pushing back the ninety thousand men in front of them, they were not so handled as to check two divisions long enough for the forces to get back to their lines.
The artillery fire not only tore the Confederate ranks, but crossed fire in their rear, cutting off reinforcements and retreat. Our side was without artillery, except captured guns, which were handled by infantry. As the sortie was noised along the line, General Humphreys and General Wright advanced the Second and Sixth Corps against the Confederate lines along their fields to learn if troops had been drawn from their fronts to join the attack. Batteries 11 and 12 were recovered before eight o’clock, and General Parke ordered Hartranft’s division to regain Fort Steadman and Battery 10, which was done with slight loss before nine o’clock.
Many Confederates got back to their lines in disordered flight, but 1949 prisoners and nine stands of colors were taken by the Ninth Corps.
The aggregate of Union losses was reported as 2107. Confederate losses are not reported in detail or in numbers. General Meade’s estimate of our loss was 5000.
General Humphreys captured the intrenched picket line in front of him, but found the Confederate works in front well manned. General Wright got well in on the front of his line to favorable position, from which he assaulted and carried the Confederate works on the 2d of April.
Corse’s and Terry’s brigades of Pickett’s division remained in wait under arms until a late hour of the 25th, but were not called to take part in the sortie.[205]
The result calls for little comment upon the adventure. For an army of forty thousand veterans, without field batteries, to dislodge from their well-chosen and strongly-fortified lines an army of ninety thousand well-armed and thoroughly-appointed veterans was impossible.
Pursuant to previous orders, General Grant started on his move around the Confederate right on the 27th. General Ord was called to the south side with fourteen thousand men of the Army of the James, leaving General Weitzel with twenty thousand on the north side.[206] In front of that force we had ten thousand men of Field’s and Kershaw’s divisions and G. W. C. Lee’s division of local defence troops (not including Gary’s cavalry, the sailors and marines) holding the forts at Drury’s and Chapin’s farms. General Grant’s orders were that his troops at all points should be ready to receive orders for assault.
Duly informed of the enemy’s movements, and understanding his purpose, General Lee marched to his right on the 29th. Fitzhugh Lee’s cavalry was called in advance to march for Five Forks. General Lee marched with fifteen thousand infantry, three thousand cavalry (including Fitzhugh Lee’s division), and a quota of artillery, along the White Oak road to his right.
The purpose of the enemy was to overreach the fortified grounds and call the Confederates to field work, and General Lee thought to anticipate him by aggressive work as soon as he was in the open field, and ordered battle for the 31st.