[509] Meantime, Hancock was admonished by General Meade to refrain from attack until the remaining corps of the Army of the Potomac should have arrived. Of these, the Ninth reached the front at noon, and the Fifth at dusk. An assault was ordered to be made about four P. M. by Hancock and Burnside-Smith on the right to demonstrate merely. At the appointed time the assault was made by Hancock, supported by two brigades of the Ninth on his left. The advance was spirited and forcible, and resulted, after a close struggle in which the troops suffered heavily, in driving the enemy back some distance along the whole line.1 The severe fighting ceased at dark, though during the night the Confederates made several ineffectual sallies to regain the lost ground. The same day an advance was made by Butler's force from Bermuda Hundred for the purpose of destroying the Petersburg and Richmond Railroad; but after reaching this point it was compelled to withdraw, in consequence of the pressure of a heavy Confederate column advancing towards Petersburg from the direction of Richmond.2
