Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Brett Schulte.
The Fight at Dabney’s Mill.
The Petersburg Express says that the fighting on Monday [February 6, 1865] is represented to have been very severe at times. The timber and undergrowth was literally cut to pieces by balls and bullets. The scene of the battle was on the west side of Hatcher’s Run, some two or three miles from Vaughan’s Road, and ten or twelve miles south of Petersburg. The ground was fought over four times in consequence of successive reinforcements reaching either side. The Yankees had the greater part of four corps on the field, and the fighting was done on our side by Pegram and Evans’ Divisions of Gordon’s Corps, and Mahone’s Division of A. P. Hill’s Corps.
The charge of those troops which broke the Yankee line late in the day, is said to have been one of the grandest scenes in military annals. The enemy fled in great confusion, and did not stop until they reached their breastworks at Hatcher’s Run.
The Yankees lost, in this day’s engagement, between 1500 and 2000 men, killed and wounded, and about one hundred in prisoners. Our loss will not reach five hundred. General [Moxley] Sorrell [sic, Sorrel] was wounded by a stray ball through the left lung. His wound is dangerous, but we are gratified to learn not considered mortal. About one hundred prisoners, taken from the enemy, have been brought in the city.
The dead on both sides have all been buried and the wounded brought from the field. Most of our men are but slightly wounded. The enemy are creating two or more observations opposite prominent points on our right. One of these is in front of Cook’s [sic, Cooke’s] Brigade, nearly opposite Pegram’s house. It has already reached the height of between one hundred and two hundred feet, and it is said will be run up to three hundred feet. It is located about two miles from our lines. There was no fighting yesterday [February 8, 1865?], both sides being engaged in strengthening their lines.1
Source:
- “The Fight at Dabney’s Mill.” Philadelphia Inquirer. February 13, 1865, p. 1, col. 1-2 ↩