Summary of Primary Sources

Reporting Officer: Butler commanded the Army of the James
Date: September 28, 1864
Unit: Army of the James
Location: In the field
Summary: This document constitutes Butler's orders to his subordinates for the operations against Chaffin's Farm and New Market Heights, September 29, 1864. He describes the objective, which is to surprise CS forces and "to get possession of Richmond." He orders a pontoon bridge constructed near Varina or Aiken's Landing to be used by the 1st and 2nd divisions, XVIII Corps, for crossing to the north side of the James River. He orders the X Corps and the 3rd(Colored) division, XVIII Corps, to cross the pontoon bridge at Deep Bottom. He describes the positions and strengths of the CS defenders. He cites specific place names associated with the X Corps front, including Deep Bottom, New Market, Kingsland Road, Ruffin's house ("in front of our position at Deep Bottom"), "a height commanding New Market Road," Drill Room, and Sweeny's Pottery. He describes the manner of attack, ordering the XVIII Corps to cross at Varina and to mass on the Varina Road, and ordering the X Corps column to mass at Deep Bottom, to endeavor to carry the New Market road and the heights adjacent, "if he cannot turn them to the left without too great loss." Kautz's cavalry was to follow the infantry, strike out across the New Market Road to turn the enemy's left flank, and to reach the Central or Darbytown Road by which he can strike directly at Richmond. The infantry columns are to carry the works in their front and reunite to advance on Richmond.
Defining Features: Varina or Aiken's Landing, Varina Road, Deep Bottom, New Market, Kingsland Road, Ruffin's house ("in front of our position at Deep Bottom"), "a height commanding New Market Road," Drill Room, and Sweeny's Pottery.

Reporting Officer: Butler commanded the Army of the James
Date: September 29, 1864--8:30 a.m.
Unit: Headquarters, Army of the James
Location: Grover's House
Summary: "Birney has advanced from Deep Bottom and taken the main line of works at the signal tower, New Market Heights, which commands the road, and is advancing.
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, signal tower, New Market Heights and road.

Reporting Officer: Grant was Commander-in-Chief of U.S. Armies
Date: September 29, 1864--10:45 a.m.
Unit: Headquarters, U.S. Army
Location: Chaffin's Farm
Summary: "General Ord's corps advanced this morning and carried the very strong fortifications and long line of entrenchments below Chaffin's farm, with some 15 pieces of artillery and from 300 to 300 prisoners. General Ord was wounded in the leg, though not dangerously. General Birney advanced at the same time from Deep Bottom, and carried the New Market road and entrenchments and scattered the enemy in every direction, though he captured but few. He is now pushing on toward Richmond."
Defining Features: Chaffin's farm, Deep Bottom, New Market Road and entrenchments.

Reporting Officer: Not stated
Date: September 29, 1864
Unit: Headquarters, X Corps
Location: Not stated
Summary: "Crossed the James; carried the enemy's lines at New Market Heights, and, advancing on the New Market road, took their line of entrenchments near the junction of the New Market and Mill roads; made reconnaissance within three miles of Richmond; returned to Laurel Hill and entrenched."
Defining Features: James River, New Market Heights, New Market Road, Mill Road, Richmond, Laurel Hill. (Laurel Hill was on New Market Road, west of Varina Road, and served as a staging area for the afternoon assaults against Fort Gilmer.)

Reporting Officer: Not stated
Date: September 29, 1864
Unit: Headquarters, First Division, X Corps
Location: Not stated
Summary: "The division took part in the successful movement against the enemy's lines on the New Market Heights in the morning, and in the afternoon pushed forward in support of Kautz's cavalry to a point three miles from Richmond, on the Central road, whence it was withdrawn at sundown, by order of the corps commander,, to the enemy's lines on the New Market road near Laurel Hill. "
Defining Features: New Market Heights, Richmond, Central road, New Market road, Laurel Hill.

Reporting Officer: Not stated
Date: September 29, 1864
Unit: Headquarters, 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, XVIII Corps
Location: Not stated
Summary: The brigade "advanced, assaulting the works of the enemy at New Market Heights, carrying them."
Defining Features: New Market Heights

Reporting Officer: Abbott commanded Second Brigade, First Division, X Corps.
Date: October 10, 1864
Unit: Brigade comprised 6CT, 7CT, 3NH, 7NH, 16NY Heavy Art.
Location: Formed initial line of battle on Kingsland Road
Summary: Crossed the pontoon over the James about 2 a.m. At 4 a.m., "marched out from Deep Bottom toward the Kingsland Road, and came into line of battle on that road, fronting New Market road and heights." 7CT deployed as skirmishers "toward the enemy's works on the New Market road. Between my first position and those works there was a difficult ravine and swamp, and my line was enfiladed by a sharp artillery fire from the enemy's battery on the right." 3NH reinforces the picket line. Then the entire line is advanced in conjunction with Paine's division on "my left." Enemy withdraws their artillery and evacuates their works as Abbott's line advances into the open ground. 3NH occupies deserted battery "on the right." After regrouping, takes up the march on New Market Road to Laurel Hill.
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, Kingsland Road, New Market road and heights, CS works on New Market Road, difficult ravine and swamp, CS battery on the right.

Reporting Officer: Rockwell commanded the regiment
Date: October 29, 1864
Unit: Assigned to Second Brigade, First Division, X Corps
Location: Regiment formed right of brigade line
Summary: Crossed the James River at Deep Bottom. Advanced at 4 a.m. as enemy skirmishers are being driven in. Formed line of battle "upon the Kingsland Road." The regiment formed the right of the line. Advanced across an open field, through a deep ravine, halted at edge of open field in front of the enemy's works "on the New Market Road." Subjected to artillery enfilade from the right. Works were taken by the skirmish line. The column then marched up New Market Road.
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, Kingsland Road, works on the New Market Road, first open field, deep ravine, second open field adjacent to enemy's works.

Reporting Officer: Atwell commanded the regiment
Date: October 9, 1864
Unit: Assigned to Second Brigade, First Division, X Corps (134 men)
Location: Skirmished before brigade advance
Summary: Bivouacked at Deep Bottom. Advanced at dawn "passing through our earthworks" for "nearly a mile," then deployed as skirmishers to advance toward enemy's works. Passed an open field, through a deep ravine. Halted 800 yards from the enemy's works. Reinforced by the 3NH, then advanced to occupy works "without ftirther resistance." Halted an hour, resumed the march toward Richmond.
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, US works at Deep Bottom, "advanced nearly one mile," first open field, deep ravine, "800 yards to enemy works."

Reporting Officer: Prince commanded the regiment
Date: October 12, 1864
Unit: Assigned to Second Brigade, First Division, X Corps (134 men)
Location: Deployed in brigade line, main attack occurred on his left
Summary: Bivouacked at Deep Bottom until 4 a.m. At 6 a.m. skirmishers are engaged, brigade ordered into line of battle. Advanced through light woods into a thicket that "bordered a ravine." Halted in the ravine, exposed to fire from "a battery of the enemy on our right." Advanced again, halting in the "underbrush on the edge of the open field, across which we were to charge on the rebel line." "A flank movement of the troops on our left had the effect of driving the enemy out of his breastworks, and, at the same time our brigade skirmishers entered the battery on the right." Formed column and marched to Laurel Hill.
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, light woods, thicket, ravine, open field adjacent to enemy line, enemy battery on the right.

Reporting Officer: Randlett commanded the regiment
Date: October 13, 1864
Unit: Assigned to Second Brigade, First Division, X Corps
Location: Deployed as skirmishers in front of brigade, main attack to his left.
Summary: At 4 a.m., moved with brigade from Deep Bottom toward New Market Road. Before the heights, ordered to reinforce and take command of the the skirmish line. Advanced about 200 yards across a ravine and light woods, came to an opening, "from where I discovered the enemy's position to be in continual line of breast-works and rifle-pits at the foot of the hills and running with New Market road." Advanced to within 500 yards of enemy's works, lay down, protected by the "rolling ground." Colored troops advanced to "relieve my left flank." Success on the left caused resistance in front to collapse. Randlett advanced to take possession of the "heights," leaving 7CT in possession of the "work on the road," led 3NH to possession of the heights "pushing out a few skirmishers." Captured a Mr. Libby, owner of the "farm we occupied." Ordered to rejoin the brigade after half an hour.
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, New Market Road, the heights, ravine, light woods, enemy works along New Market Road, rolling ground 500 yards from rebel works, Libby Farm.

Reporting Officer: Rollins commanded the regiment
Date: October 13, 1864
Location: Formed left of the brigade line
Unit: Assigned to Second Brigade, First Division, X Corps
Summary: Halted inside fortifications at Deep Bottom at 2 a.m. Daylight, moved out on the "New Market Road." The regiment formed the left of the brigade line. Advanced upon the enemy's works at New Market Heights against slight resistance. One man wounded while crossing a ravine and brook. Marched on toward Richmond.
Defining Features: Deep Bottom fortifications, New Market Road, CS works at New Market Heights, ravine and brook.

Reporting Officer: Foster commanded the Second Division
Date: October 5, 1864
Unit: lst Brigade (Daggett/Barney), 2nd Brigade (Pennypacker), 3rd Brigade (Bell)
Location: In support of Birney's division
Summary: Reached Deep Bottom 1:30 a.m. 203PA Vols. detached to garrison roads in vicinity. Moved forward at 5:30 a.m., formed in "column of battalion in mass, the head of the column resting on the Kingsland Road about 300 yards on the right of the Grover House, in support of General William Birney's division of the Tenth Corps." At 8:30 a.m. moved forward to Signal Hill and took the advance up the New Market and Richmond road......"
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, Kingsland Road, Grover House, Signal Hill, New Market and Richmond Road.

Reporting Officer: Barney commanded the First Brigade, Second Division, X Corps
Date: October 3, 1864
Unit: Brigade comprised 3NY, 112NY, 117NY, 142NY (970 enlisted men)
Location: In support of Paine's brigade, Third Division, XVIII Corps
Summary: Crossed pontoon bridge at Jones Neck to Deep Bottom. Brigade camped just outside of works at Deep Bottom. At 4 a.m. moved forward to a position on high ground 'in rear of General Paine's brigade of colored troops." About 8 a.m., "the colored troops having carried the enemy's lines in our front,' the brigade advanced to New Market Road and moved on toward Richmond.
Defining Features: Jones Neck, Deep Bottom, Deep Bottom works, high ground in rear of Paine, enemy works carried, New Market Road.

Reporting Officer: Pennypacker commanded Second Brigade, Second Division, X Corps
Date: October 3, 1864
Unit: 47NY, 48NY, 76PA, 97PA, 203PA
Location: Held in reserve near Deep Bottom
Summary: Crossed to Deep Bottom on north side of the James. 203PA detailed to Brig. Gen. Paine. 7 a.m. the remaining four regiments proceeded to the front on the New Market Road.
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, New Market Road.

Reporting Officer: Bell commanded Third Brigade, Second Division, X Corps
Date: October 3, 1864
Unit: 131N, 9ME, 4NH, 115NY, 169NY
Location: Held in reserve near Deep Bottom
Summary: Reached Deep Bottom at 3 a.m. Not engaged. Followed Second Brigade on New Market Road.
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, New Market Road

Reporting Officer: Shaw commanded the regiment
Date: October 9, 1864
Unit: Assigned to William Birney's Brigade, X Corps
Location: Brigade held in reserve near Deep Bottom
Summary: Arrived at Deep Bottom at 3:30 a.m. At 6 a.m. marched down the road in front of works and formed in column of regiments in mass in the woods to the left. Not engaged. Crossed over to New Market Road.
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, works at Deep Bottom, road leading out of Deep Bottom, woods to left (west) of road, New Market Road.

Reporting Officer: Babcock commanded the regiment
Date: October 1, 1864
Unit: Assigned to William Birney's Brigade, X Corps
Location: Brigade held in reserve one mile north of Deep Bottom
Summary: Left bivouac at Deep Bottom at 5 a.m., moved toward New Market Road nearly a mile, formed in brigade column of battalions in the edge of the woods "while the enemy was dislodged from his first line." Under some artillery fire. March resumed on the New Market Road.
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, New Market Road, woods

Reporting Officer: Ward commanded the regiment
Date: October 10, 1864
Unit: Assigned to William Birney's Brigade, X Corps
Location: Brigade held in reserve, detached to support batteries
Summary: At sunrise, marched out of the lines at Deep Bottom and moved toward the New Market Road. After reaching the road, "detached to support batteries on Spring (or Signal) Hill."
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, New Market Road, Spring (or Signal) Hill.

Reporting Officer: Wagner commanded the regiment
Date: October 6, 1864
Unit: Assigned to William Birney's Brigade, X Corps
Location: Brigade held in reserve
Summary: Moved to Deep Bottom, massed in woods to the right, under some artillery fire, moved out on the New Market Road.
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, woods, New Market Road

Reporting Officer: Ord commanded XVIII Corps during operations
Date: June 15, 1865
Unit: 1st Division (Stannard), 2nd Division (Heckman), 3rd Division (Paine)
Location: Ist and 2nd divisions crossed James at Varina, 3rd division crossed at Deep Bottom
Summary: "I selected from my corps ... about 4,000 men from Generals Stannard's and Heckman's divisions, for a movinent on the north side of the James against Richmond, in co-operation with another column under Major-General Birney, composed of his corps and Paine's division of mine; in all, that column was about 10,000 strong, and was designed to reach Richmond via Deep Bottom and the New Market road, while I was to engage the works nearer the river, and prevent the interruption of General Birney's column by re-enforcement which the enemy might send across from the south side of the James River......"
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, New Market Road

Reporting Officer: Janes commanded the regiment
Date: October 17, 1864
Unit: Assigned to Ist Brigade, 3rd Division, XVIII Corps
Location: Supported first assault, made second assault
Summary: Moved with the brigade from Deep Bottom toward the enemy's lines. "His pickets were encountered on the edge of a woody ravine (through which runs Four Mile Creek) by the skirmishers of the Third Brigade (Duncan's), prepatory to a charge." The brigade moved in column to support the center of this line. Duncan's assault is repulsed and the brigade advances, preceded by 22nd USCT as skirmishers. Heavy artillery fire from right nearly enfilading the line. Line advanced through a dense tangle of underbrush and felled trees into an open plain. First fire encountered from woods line on opposite side of the field. Advance continued. "the enemy was found to be in force beyond the woods in rifle-pits covering the New Market road. The rifle-pits had an abatis in front. As the charging column came up to the support of the skirmish line a part of the regiment assembled on the right and moved forward into the works, driving the enemy in confusion from them." The regiment followed the enemy a few hundred yards across the road, regrouped, and marched toward Richmond on the New Market Road.
Defining Features: Deep Bottom, woody ravine, Four Mile Creek, CS artillery on the right, area of underbrush and felled trees, open plain, woods opposite plain, CS works covering the New Market Road, New Market Road.

Reporting Officer: Draper commanded the 2nd Brigade, Third Division, XVIII Corps
Date: October 6, 1864
Unit: 5USCT, 36USCT, 38USCT (1,300 electives)
Location: In support of 3rd Brigade, assaulted CS works
Summary: Massed in column in rear of the woods near Ruffin's house before daybreak. Third brigade preceded for half a mile. Ordered to advance. 'We advanced immediately across the open field, leaving Ruffin's house on our left. On this field we received a skirmish fire from the woods. When nearly down to the ravine I received an order from Brigadier-General Paine to move my brigade to the right, as 'we were getting the worst of it there.' We immediately moved by the right flank and again by the left (by proper evolutions), and formed at the ravine, where the troops lay down in line. We were here subjected to the fire of the New Market batteries, which did little damage. After lying here about half an hour I was ordered to form my brigade into line of double columns and assault the enemy's works in front." 22USCT skirmished on the left but did not continue to the works. "After passing about 300 yards through young pines, always under fire, we emerged upon the open plain about 800 yards from the enemy's works. Across this the brigade charged with shouts, losing heavily. Within twenty or thirty yards of the rebel line we found a swamp which broke the charge, as the men had to wade the run or stream and reform on the bank. At this juncture, too, the men generally commenced firing, which made so much confusion that it was impossible to make the orders understood. Our men were falling by scores. All the officers were striving constantly to get the men forward. I passed frequently from the right to the left, urging every regimental commander to rally his men around the colors and charge. After half an hour of terrible suspense, by starting the yell among a few, we succeeded in getting them in motion. The entire brigade took up the shout and went over the rebel works. When we reached the palisades the rebels fell back to the woods on the side of Signal Hill. We again assaulted and drove them out."
Defining Features: Ruffin's house, open field, ravine, woods (300 yards of young pines), New Market batteries, open plain adjacent to CS works 800 yards wide, swamp/run/stream 20-30 yards from CS works, Signal Hill, woods on the side of Signal Hill.

Reporting Officer: Gregg commanded a division on the Confederate left flank
Date: October 4, 1864
Unit: Bass's, DuBose's, and Gary's brigades
Location: Defended CS works covering New Market Road
Summary: 'After strict inquiries among the officers of the forces composing my command on the 29th ultimo, I can state that Benning's brigade captured 433 prisoners, the Texas brigade captured 43, and Johnson's brigade 9, making in all 485. Besides others dead (and there were many) Colonel DuBose's command have buried 119 in front of Ft. Gilmer. These were near the lines."
Defining Features: Fort Gilmer

Reporting Officer: Not stated
Date: September 29, 1864
Unit: Headquarters
Location: Not stated
Summary: "Move to north side early and find the enemy holding Fort Harrison, which he had taken by a coup de main. One battalion of reserve (150 men) were in the fort. Gregg had previously repulsed an attack near Four-Mile Run."
Defining Features: Fort Harrison, Four-Mile Run

Reporting Officer: Acting Chief Engineer
Date: October 10, 1864
Unit: Engineers Office, Hdqrs., Dept. of Virginia and N. Carolina
Location: Armies in the Field, City Point, Va.
Summary: A report of engineering operations for the week ending October 1, 1864. "A tracing of a rebel map found on the body of General Chambliss was made from the original, which was lent to this office by Major