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BATTLEFIELD
or

REAMS’ STATION,

August 25th, 1864.

A AVIS.. STANON..

Z5 AUGUST, 1864.

By MAJOR CHAS. M. STEDMAN, Forry-Fourrs Reaiment, N. C. T.

Upon the investment of Petersburg, the possession of the
Weldon road became of manifest importance, as it was Lee’s
main line of communication with the South, whence he drew
his men and supplies. On 18 August, 1864, General G. K.
Warren, with the Fifth Corps of Grant’s Army and Kautz’s
Division of Cavalry, occupied the line of the Weldon road
at a point six miles from Petersburg. An attempt was made
to dislodge them from this position on the 21st, but the effort
failed. Emboldened by Warren’s success, Hancock was or-
dered from Deep Bottom to Reams Station, ten miles from
Petersburg. He arrived there on the 22d, and promptly
commenced the de&truction of the railroad track. His in-
fantry force consisted of Gibbon’s and Miles’ Divisions, and
in the afternoon of the 25th, he was reinforced by the divis-
ion of Orlando B. Wilcox, which however, arrived too late
to be of any substantial service to him. Gregg’s Division of
cavalry, with an‘ additional brigade, commanded by Spear,
was with him and abundant artillery.

On the 22d Gregg was assailed by Wade Hampton with one
of his cavalry divisions, and a sharp contest enstied. Gen-
eral Hampton from the battle field of the 22d, sent a note to
General R. E. Lee, suggesting an immediate attack with in-
fantry; that great commander realizing that a favorable op-
portunity was offered to strike Hancock a heavy blow,
directed Lieutenant-General A. P. Hill to advance against
him as’ promptly as possible. General Hill left his camp
near Petersburg on the night of the 24th, and marching south,
halted near Armstrong’s Mill, about eight miles from Peters-
burg. to

On the morning of the 25th he advanced to Monk’s Neck
bridge, three miles from Reams Station, and awaited advices