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History of Cambria County, V.2

HISTORY OF CAMBRIA COUNTY. 363
    On June 21st, Hancock's 2d Corps (Capt. Fite), Warren's 5th (Capt. Ryckman) and Wright's 6th, marched to Globe Tavern, and on the 22d attempted to seize the Petersburg and Weldon railroad and the South Side railroad, in order to cut off Lee's communications with Lynchburg. By referring to the history of the 54th Regiment it will be observed that Grant had sent Gen. Hunter to Lynchburg about the middle of June to destroy the railroad which was carrying supplies to Lee's army from the entire South. There Hunter had been defeated and had retreated across the mountains. Grant believed it would be easier to cut the communications at Lynchburg than near Petersburg, but within four days after Hunter's defeat this attack was forced upon him. It was ordered, made and failed. Hancock lost about 2,000 men, 1,700 of them being taken prisoners. On July 20, 1864, Grant had about 59,000 effective infantry and 12,000 cavalry, while Lee had about 38,000 of the former and 8,300 of the latter.
    At this time Willcox's 9th corps was on Grant's right; Warren (Capt. Ryckman) in the center, and Hancock (Capt. Fite) on the left. Wright's 6th corps had been sent to interpose between Washington and Gen. Early, who was making a raid in that direction. On August 12, Grant directed that a movement be made on the north side of the James river to threaten Richmond. The troops designated for this purpose were Hancock's Second corps (Capt. Fite), part of the Tenth under Gen. Birney and Gen. Gregg's division of cavalry. Hancock's corps marched to City Point and there took steamers for Deep Bottom, sixteen miles up the river, where they landed on the morning of the 14th. The plan was for the infantry to open the way and Gregg to make a dash on Richmond, if he could reach that point, and if not, then to destroy the railroads. The effort resulted in a Union repulse and on the night of the 20th the troops were withdrawn. In this battle, known as Deep Bottom, Grant lost 2,161 in killed and wounded and 625 missing, and Lee lost 1,100.
    Under cover of the Deep Bottom engagement Warren's corps (Capt. Ryckman) on the 23rd, after four days' severe fighting, succeeded in gaining and holding the Weldon railroad at Globe Tavern. Gen. Warren destroyed about seven miles of that road, which extended three miles south of Ream's station, when he was attacked by A. P. Hill's corps and driven back with a loss of 2,442 men, 12 stands of colors and 9 guns, and the


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Created: 25 Mar 2003, Last Updated:
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Lynne Canterbury, Diann Olsen and contributors