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On February 5th Pegram’s division was deployed to support the picket line as a response to a Union advance at Hatcher’s Run near Petersburg. The next morning the regiment was deployed in two wings as skirmishers. The infantrymen dug half circles of dirt, big enough to protect three men. Just as this job was finished the Federals attacked. Captain Buck, who was in charge of the right wing, found his job difficult as a log house fifty yards behind his invited sulkers, so occasionally he had to go back a drive them forward, while at the same time attempting to hold the line. The Federals, however, finally worked their way around and to the rear of the 13th, which had to withdraw. The Regiment rallied and joined the rest of the Brigade. Later in the day the gray coats attacked and recovered some ground. The Federals then extended their trenches and on the night of the 7th the Confederates had to withdraw to their former position.
The Official Records O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLVI/2 [S# 96] UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN NORTHERN AND SOUTHEASTERN VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA (JANUARY 1-31), WEST VIRGINIA, MARYLAND, AND PENNSYLVANIA, FROM JANUARY 1, 1865, TO MARCH 15, 1865.--#20 CITY POINT. February 8, 1865—4.45 p.m. Major-General MEADE: The following telegram is from to-day's Richmond Whig: PETERSBURG, February 7. There was heavy firing on our right yesterday and to-day, which resulted favorably to our arms. During a reconnaissance made by General Pegram beyond Hatcher's Run yesterday the enemy attacked and forced his division back some distance. He was re-enforced by General Gordon's division, when in turn the enemy was forced back. A second time the enemy, being re-enforced by's corps, attacked and drove our men, until the latter being strengthened by Mahone's division, commanded by Finegan, a grand charge by the three divisions was made and the enemy's lines broken. A running fight was kept up until dark, when the Yankees took shelter in their new works on Hatcher's Run, from which they were not driven. General John Pegram was killed. Many of the enemy were killed and wounded, and a few prisoners. Our loss is several hundred. This morning the enemy advanced upon and charged our lines south of Burgess' Mill, but were handsomely repulsed. In a charge upon the enemy General Sorrel, of Georgia, was painfully wounded. Very heavy firing was heard late this afternoon in the same direction, but the cause is unascertained. U.S. GRANT, Lieutenant-General.
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