History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

706 SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT. 1865
needed. Two weeks ]ater it returned to the north bank of the James, and
after several days of severe duty moved back to the lines in front of Petersburg, and on the 23d to Ream's Station, on the Weldon Railroad, to the support of the cavalry. Three days later the enemy under A. P. Hill made a furious attack upon the Second Corps. Repeated assaults were repulsed; but he
finally'carried the first line of works and turned some of the captured cannon
upon the Second, using canister and shrapnell with fearful effect. An attempt
was made to re-capture them, in which the Sixty-ninth participated, but was
unsuccessful. The regiment was re-formed and again advanced, and this time
with better results; for the enemy gave way, leaving one of the captured batteries, which during the night was brought in. The loss was five killed, twenty-one wounded, and ten taken prisoners. Colonel Davis was among the
wounded. He was succeeded in command by Major Tinen.
On the 25th of October it was again engaged at Hatcher's Run, near the
point where the iun crosses the Vaughan Road. Some advantages were gained,
but the enemy was found to be well posted and in strong force. The loss was
eleven, in killed, wounded, and missing. Again on the 5th of February, 1865,
the Second and Fifth Corps, with Gregg's Cavalry, moved out to Hatcher's
Run and extended their lines to Dabney's Mills. At four o'clock P. M. the
Sixty-ninth became engaged and until dark maintained the conflict, losing two
killed and two wounded, Lieutenant James M'Ginley being of the killed.
On the 25th of March the Second Corps under General Humphreys was
sent to the left to reconnoitre. Crossing the Vaughan Road and Hattcher's
Run. it advanced to Dabney's Mills, where it came upon the enemy. Smyth's
Brigade, which embraced the Sixty-ninth, was selected to lead the assault,
and succeeded in carrying, and possessing a portion of his works. The loss in
the regiment was three killed and eleven wounded. On the 29th the regiment
moved finally on the spring campaign, and on the 3d of April it entered the
city of Petersburg; on the following day it was at Jettersville, where it was
employed in intrenching; on the 7th it reached High Bridge across the
Appomattox, and fording the stream under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery, drove the enemy and captured a number of his pieces, General Smyth
being mortally wounded while on the skirmish line; and on the morning of the
9th was halted on Clover Hills to await the result of an interview between Generals Grant and Lee, the skirmishers of the two hostile armies, in the interim,
exchanging keepsakes. At three P. M. General Meade and Staff came riding
along the lines announcing the news of the surrender, and were greeted with
hearty rounds of applause.
After the surrender the regiment returned to Burkesville where it remained
until the 2d of May, when it proceeded to Richmond and was reviewed by
General Halleck. It moved thence to Ball's Cross Roads, opposite Washington, where on the 1st of July it was mustered out of service.