Karen Lips said: I have heard that some Confederates cried when their commanding officers ordered them to shoot at the trapped Yankees and begged their commanding officers not to make them do so. Has anyone else heard this and if so, could you post the source. Click to expand...

I'm not familar with that story however there is at least one Union report that alludes to the possibility that bayonets were 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 other 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 if those troops are made up of individuals not considered peers by many:"HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., SECOND DIV., TENTH ARMY CORPS,Near Bermuda Hundred, Va., August 3, 1864.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 greaterpart 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.I am, very respectfully, your obedient servantMARTIN N. CURTIS,Colonel 142d New York Volunteers, Commanding Brigade."____________________________________________________________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 regiments, 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 practicable. 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 theright.After vainly attempting 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 obedientservant,LOUIS BELL,Colonel, Commanding Brigade.