General Hartranft, of Ninth Corps, says in answer to the question “Driven out?” “They were driven out the same time, the same time I had passed the word to retire.  It was a simultaneous thing.  When they saw the assaulting column within probably one hundred feet of the works I passed the word as well as it could be passed for everybody to retire.  And I left myself at that time.  General Griffen and myself were together at that time.  The order to retire we had endorsed to the effect that we thought we could not withdraw the troops that were there on account of the enfilading fire over the ground between our rifle pits and the ‘Crater’ without losing a great portion of them, that ground being enfiladed with artillery and infantry fire.  They had at that time brought their infantry down along their pits on both sides of the ‘Crater,’ so that their sharpshooters had good range, and were in good position.  Accordingly we requested that our lines should open with artillery and infantry, bearing on the right and left of the ‘Crater,’ under which fire we would be able to withdraw a greater portion of our troops, and, in fact, everyone that could get away.  While we were in waiting for the approach of that endorsement and the opening of the fire, this assaulting column of the enemy came up and we concluded—­General Griffin and myself—­that there was no use in holding it any longer, and so we retired.”

This proves beyond doubt that Mahone’s charge was after 9.15.  It probably took Burnside some minutes to receive this order and some minutes for him and Griffin to send it down the line, and to send orders to the artillery to open on their flanks to protect them.  This would bring Mahone’s charge to 9.30 or 9.45.

* * * * *

SMITH AND CRAWFORD SAVE PETERSBURG.

I ordered Smith to take his regiment, the Twenty-sixth, and Crawford with Companies K, E, and B, to lie down in the ravine.  Every General was ordered to charge to the crest.  Had the enemy gotten beyond Smith’s line fifty yards they could have marched in the covered way to Petersburg; not a cannon or a gun intervened.  General Potter says his men charged two hundred yards beyond the “Crater,” when they were driven back.  Colonel Thomas said he led a charge which was not successful; he went three or four hundred yards and was driven back.  General Griffin says he went about two hundred yards and was driven back.  Colonel Russell says he went about fifty yards towards Cemetery Hill and “was driven back by two to four hundred infantry, which rose up from a little ravine and charged us.”  Some officer said he went five hundred yards beyond the “Crater.”  There was the greatest confusion about distances.  General Russell is about right when he said he went about fifty yards behind the “Crater.”  When they talk of two or three hundred yards they must mean outside the breastworks towards Ransom’s Brigade.