Petersburg Assault Part 2
1st Maine Heavy Artillery
During the night, Beauregard withdrew back to a new defensive line. Meade ordered an attack for 4AM on the 18th, but the Yankees found the enemy lines unoccupied. The Confederates were consolidating behind a new line with good fields of fire. Further, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia was on the way. At noon, the Federals attacked. See lower right of the West Point map. Here at Hare House Hill, men of the II Corps advanced about one hundred yards and entrenched. Two additioanal attacks in the early afternoon failed. The men were disgusted at the needless waste of life and were nearing mutiny. When an attack was ordered for 4:30PM, the men yelled for the 1st Maine Heavy Artillery, a former garrison regiment fighting as infantry. The veterans derided their fellow soldiers but did not support them in the attack. The 1st Maine formed into three lines and charged the Confederate lines. In about ten minutes, the regiment lost 632 of its 850 to 900 men Confederate losses were light. The following four photos illustrate the attack.
Park Service Sign of 1st Maine Heavy Artillery's Attack
View From Park Service Sign
Looking west toward the Confederates lines the 1st Maine charged, which have since been lost to development.
From Area of Monument Looking Back Along their Path