Report of Maj. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, U.S. Army, commanding Second Corps.
I continued holding the line during the 29th with the remaining divisions of my corps, Birge's brigade, of the Tenth [Nineteenth] Corps, and Sheridan's cavalry. Having attracted to my front so large a portion of Lee's army, Lieutenant-General Grant thought it a favorable time to assault at Petersburg, and I was therefore instructed to proceed to that place with the remainder of my command.
Soon after dark on the 29th, in accordance with instructions, I withdrew the entire command from Deep Bottom and reported with the two divisions of my corps at Petersburg on the morning of the 30th in time to witness the explosion of the mine. General Birge was directed to report to his proper command, and General Sheridan crossed the Appomattox at Broadway Landing and proceeded to carry out the special instructions given him by the major-general commanding.
Having received no reports from Generals Sheridan and Birge I am not able to give more than a general statement of their operations.
General Sheridan's command deserves particular commendation for its successful affair with the enemy's infantry on the 28th.
In my own command special mention is made by subordinate commanders of the Ninety-ninth and One hundred and tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, under Colonel Biles, for good conduct in the skirmish on the 27th, in which they suffered severely. Also of the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts, Twenty-sixth Michigan, and One hundred and eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, under command of Colonel Lynch, of the One hundred and eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers. The last-named regiments captured the enemy's battery of four 20-pounder Parrotts as heretofore mentioned.
I append herewith a statement of casualties in my own corps during the foregoing operations. I regret that the absence of reports from Generals Sheridan and Birge makes it impossible for me to include a statement of the casualties in their respective commands.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Major-General of Volunteers.
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