GEN. GRANT’S ARMY: Burying the Dead Under Flag of Truce; The Rebels Claim to Have 1,200 Prisoners (8/4/1864)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 8/4/1864

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Special Dispatches to the New-York Times.

HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Wednesday, Aug. 3 -- P.M.

A flag of truce was allowed by the rebels from 9 until 5 o'clock this morning, to bury the dead and bring off the wounded.

Very few were found alive. The most of those who were living yesterday died last night. Not more than a dozen were brought in, and but few of these are expected to recover.

The ground in front of the crater for a distance of about two hundred yards was thickly covered with the dead, the greater proportion being colored.

I counted 180 of the latter, and about 55 whites -- all of whom were buried on the spot.

The reason of the great disparity in killed, between the white and colored troops, is the fact that the fire from the rebel guns, on both flanks, was concentrated upon this ground, after the white troops had charged across it, and when the colored division crossed the spot, they were actually mown down with grape and canister, and when they retreated, they fell in dozens, our sharpshooters being unable to disturb the rebel gunners.

The work of burying the dead was not completed until half past ten o'clock, when the truce ceased.

Firing was opened by the rebels ten minutes afterwards.

The rebel Gens. A.P. HILL, BUSHROD JOHNSON, MAHONE and SANDERS, were on the field, besides numerous officers of an inferior grade.

Maj. GERARDY, of Gen. MAHONE's staff, had charge of the flag on the rebel side, and Maj. JOSEPH E. DORAN, of the Twenty-second New-York dismounted cavalry, had charge of it on ours, and conducted the affair very much to the satisfaction of all concerned.

The rebels buried their dead on their side of the line,

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

Gen. Grant’s Army: Burying the Dead Under Flag of Truce – 2
Indian Depredations: Emigrant Trains Robbed on the Santa Fe Road – 2
From Sherman’s Army: The Battles Before Atlanta – 2-3
From the Mississippi – 3
The Rebel Raid: Particulars of the Burning of Chambersburgh – 3-5
Department of the Gulf: Sudden Movement of Troops Up the River – 5-6
Base Ball: Mutual, of New-York, vs. Eureka, of Newark – 6
News from Washington – 6
Editorial: The National Fast – 6-7
Editorial: The Niagara Peace Plot – 7
Editorial: Rebel Losses at Atlanta – 7-8
Editorial: The Duty of Capital – 8
An Armistice between the German and Danish Belligerents – 8