Excerpt from Report of the Committee on the Conduct of the War on the Attack on Petersburg: On the 30th Day of July, 1864
The Committee on the Conduct of the War, in pursuance of the foregoing resolution, submit the following report, with accompanying testimony:
In the attack upon the enemy"s lines before Petersburg, the 16th, 17th, and 18th of June, 1864, the ninth corps gained an advanced position beyond a deep cut in the railroad, within about one hundred and twenty-five yards of the enemy"s lines. Just in rear of that advanced position was a deep hollow, where work could be carried on entirely out of sight of the enemy.
Within a few days after that position had been gained, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Pleasants, 48th Pennsylvania volunteers, made the suggestion to General Potter, commanding the division, that a mine could be run under one of the enemy"s batteries, by means of which it could be blown up, and an opening made in the enemy"s lines. The suggestion having been submitted to General Burnside, it was approved by him, and work was commenced upon the mine on the 25th of June.
It will be seen from the testimony of Lieutenant Colonel Pleasants that he labored under disadvantages in the successful accomplishment of this important work, which would have deterred a man of less energy and determination. It was not merely the evident lack of faith in the success of the enterprise shown by all the officers of high rank but his division and corps commanders, but that lack of faith was accompanied by an entire failure to furnish the assistance and implements necessary to the success of the undertaking within a reasonable time. And your committee take pleasure in commending the zeal, energy, and persistence displayed on that occasion by Lieutenant Colonel Pleasants and the men of the 48th Pennsylvania regiment, under his command. And the failure of the attack, resulting from causes with which Colonel Pleasants could have no connexion, should not be allowed to detract from the meed of praise due to that officer.
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