Chapter 43: Hatcher's Run. News of Lee's surrender.
From December 16, 1864, until February 5, 1865, the regiment remained at Fort Emory, on the Vaughan Road. On February 5, marching orders were received. At 5 A. M. the regiment joined the brigade and marched out on to the Vaughan Road to take part in the expedition which ended in the battle of Hatcher's Run.They tramped to within half of a mile of the junction of the Gravelly Run and the Vaughan Road, where the corps massed. Gen. Humphreys had succeeded Gen. Hancock in command of the corps. The division was commanded by Gen. William Hays, although at this particular time it was in charge of Gen. Thomas A. Symth, of the Third Brigade, while the Second Brigade was in charge of Col. William A. Olmstead of the 59th New York Regiment.
General Smyth was ordered to send one of his regiments out to find the enemy and feel their position. For this important work the Nineteenth Massachusetts was detailed. Col. Rice at once advanced the regiment as ordered and struck the enemy's skirmishers near the junction of the roads, where the enemy occupied a position naturally strong, which they had covered with strong earthworks. The salient of their position was the house and mill of Mr. Armstrong, where the enemy had concentrated their greatest force. Five companies of the Nineteenth deployed as skirmishers to the right of the house, two in its front, and one to the left; the remaining companies in support advanced, engaged the enemy's skirmishers and drove them back on their lines of battle, and carried the enemy's works near the ford, fighting heavily and constantly.
