Although not an example of shooting one's own men, at least one Union report alludes to the possibility that bayonets were at least used to prod "men into the works and [hold] them there until they were enabled to contribute to the defense." Another report notes that "panic-striken" retreating black troops were wounding Union troops with their bayonets in an attempt to escape the crater. It doesn't take much of an imagination to figure out what one may do if faced with injury or death from his own retreating troops, especially troops made up of individuals not considered peers by many at the time.
"SIR: In comp1iance with your orders, I have the honor to report the action of my brigade in the battle before Petersburg, Va., July 30, 1864.
I left my position in the trenches near the Hare house at 10 p.m. July 29, and marched in rear of the division to a point in front of General Burnside’s headquarters, where the brigade halted and rested until ordered forward, at 3 a. m. July 30, to the high cleared ground in rear of the artillery of the Ninth Corps. At 7 a.m. I was ordered forward through the covered way leading to the right and the line in rear of the enemy’s fort, which had been blown up. In reaching this position I was obliged to march a greater part of the way in single file and found the road continually obstructed with stragglers and parties of men returning with the wounded, carried in blankets, and by from four to ten men to each wounded man. Having worked my way to the head of this passage, was ordered to form my brigade in column, by battalion, in rear of our advanced earthwork, and there await further orders. While executing this movement, and before the right battalion was in position, the charge then being made by our troops from the crater in our front was checked and the troops came rushing back to their late position, thence to the rear and over the works behind which I was forming. A greater
part of the line I had formed at the breast-works, as well as those occupying the line in advance, unaccountably gave way and broke through my troops to the rear. The retreating force became so great that I
placed at this time but two regiments, the One hundred and forty-second and One hundred and twelfth New York Volunteers, in the position first ordered. The remaining two regiments, the Third and One hundred and seventeenth New York Volunteers, were halted in the covered way,
with direction to stop the stragglers. The conduct of the officers and men of my command in attempting to stop the retreating mass and check the advancing enemy was most satisfactory. With fixed bayonets they forced officers and men into the works and held them there until
they were enabled to contribute to the defense....
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant
MARTIN N. CURTIS,
Colonel 142d New York Volunteers, Commanding Brigade.
O.R. Series I, Volume 40, Part I, pg.701
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CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the
part taken by the brigade under my command in the action of July 30
before Petersburg:
The brigade moved from the line of works at 11 p. m. July 29, and
marched through the line of works occupied by the Ninth Corps. At
2.30 the brigade was formed in column of regiments, deployed en masse
in an angle formed by the trenches. After the mine was sprung, in
obedience to orders, I moved the brigade to the line of works next the
works of the enemy, and very soon after again formed column of regi-
ments, deployed. I received an order to move forward to the line we had
taken from the enemy, gaining as much ground to the right as practi-
cable. On arriving at the works I put the brigade in line as well as I
could do it under the severe fire, holding one regiment in reserve.
After remaining at this place for some time I sent a staff officer for
instructions, and received orders to gain as much ground to the right
as I could, and to assault the battery on my right when the Ninth
Corps advanced. I directed the regiment held in reserve to form on the
right. On this regiment moving they were met by a severe fire. At
this moment all the colored troops in my front broke and came back,
dashing through my men with arms at a trail and bayonets fixed. The
officers and men of my command tried to resist the dash of those re-
treating but to no avail. Quite a number of my men were wounded by
the bayonets of the retreating troops, and the brigade was disorganized
by the large number of fugitives passing through it. After vainly at-
tempting to reform the brigade under a severe enfilading fire from both
the right and left, the enemy being near us in front also, I fell back
from this line to the one I had previously occupied, and after holding
this line some three hours was relieved by other troops and marched
to the rear. Had my command not been run over and confused by the
mob of panic-stricken negroes I could have held the position I occupied
against any force then visible, though I should have met with a severe
loss in doing so, owing to the sharp fire, almost enfilading my line from
both right and left.
I have the honor to be, captain, most respectfully, your obedient
servant,
LOUIS BELL,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.
Ibid, pp.704-705
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