HDQRS. SIXTY-FIFTH NEW YORK VETERAN VOLUNTEERS, April 14, 1865. CAPTAIN: In compliance with Special Orders, headquarters Second Brigade, April 9, 1865, I have the honor to report the Sixty-fifth New York State Volunteers were deployed as skirmishers at the engagement known as Sailor's Creek, Va., on the 6th instant, and that no individual cases of gallant conduct of either officers or men came under my observation. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. CHARLES H. WOODMAN, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Brigade. No. 111. Report of Brt. Col. Egbert Olcott, One hundred and twenty-first New York Infantry. HEADQUARTERS 121ST NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS, Captain WOODMAN, April 14, 1865. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Brigade: CAPTAIN: I have the honor to forward the report of the part taken by this regiment in the engagements of April 2 and 6. I am, captain, very respectfully your obedient servant, E. OLCOTT, Brevet Colonel, Commanding. Report of the part taken by the One hundred and twenty-first New York Volunteers in the engagement of April 2, 1865: The brigade being in two lines, the One hundred and twenty-first New York formed the left of the second. When the order to advance was given the regiment moved rapidly forward, maintaining a good line until within about 200 yards of the enemy's works, when the second line was moved a short distance by the left flank and then forward again. This, together with the darkness and the character of the ground, divided the regiment somewhat, most of the men with the colors entering the works farther to the right than intended, capturing two guns; one of these was immediately turned upon the enemy, loaded, and fired by Sergt. Redford Dustin, Company F. Sergeant Dustin served for nearly two years in the First Massachusetts Battery, and is a skillful artillerist. These guns were carried off, and a receipt obtained for them. The portion of the regiment engaged in taking the guns mentioned, with a part of the Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania, Second Connecticut, and Sixty-fifth New York, advanced along the enemy's works to the right for nearly a mile, capturing all the artillery in them and holding the works until ordered to join that part of the brigade to the left. The regiment in this charge captured about 200 prisoners. The regiment afterward was, with the brigade, sent to the support of the Ninth Corps, and occupied the first line of works taken from the enemy in front of Fort Sedgwick. On the morning of the 3d the regiment formed part of the skirmish line that advanced on Petersburg, entering that city about 4.30 o'clock. The regiment captured one 84-pounder cannon and about 200 prisoners during the morning. The casualties were 1 killed and 11 wounded; aggregate loss, 12. Report of the part taken by the One hundred and twenty-first New York Volunteers in the battle of Sailor's Creek, April 6, 1865: The brigade being in two lines, the One hundred and twenty-first New York formed the right of the first, the Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania being on the left. About 4 p. m. advanced across Sailor's Creek. Remained a short time under the crest of the hill to reform, the creek being quite deep and the crossing difficult. Charged with the rest of the line, drove the enemy, capturing a large number of prisoners. Pressing forward, the enemy were found to be on the right flank of the brigade, the troops on the immediate right having been repulsed. The regiment, by order of Colonel Olcott, rapidly changed front, forming on the road that, crossing the creek, runs nearly perpendicular to the original line of battle. Farther down the road, near the creek, a portion of the Thirty-seventh Massachusetts were striving to hold their ground. The One hundred and twenty-first New York having checked the enemy, who were endeavoring to get into the rear of the brigade, was ordered to charge, which it did, driving the enemy in confusion, capturing General Custis Lee and several other officers of high rank, together with two stand of colors. General Lee was captured by Private Harris S. Hawthorn, Company F, the proofs of which, there having been some controversy about the matter, accompany this report, marked A. It was near the road mentioned that Captain Howland was killed; no braver or more gallant officer ever carried sword. First Lieutenant Morton was also killed. The casualties in the engagement were, 2 officers and 7 enlisted men killed, and 1 officer and 12 enlisted men wounded; aggregate, killed and wounded, 22. The officers of the command displayed, without exception, great gallantry, particularly Captain Kidder, Captain Johnson, Captain Jackson, Captain Van Scoy, First Lieutenant Hassett, and Adjutant Lowe. The names of the men who captured the colors are Warren C. Dockun, and Benjamin Gifford, Company II. The regiment took at least 500 prisoners. [Inclosure A.] CAMP IN THE FIELD, VA., Private Harris S. Hawthorn, Company F, One hundred and twentyfirst New York Volunteers, being duly sworn, says, that he knows of his own knowledge that he is the first person (officer or enlisted man) who seized or captured General Custis Lee, of the Confederate Army, in the engagement of the 6th of April; and that he never lost sight or control of said General Custis Lee until he delivered him up to Colonel Olcott, commanding One hundred and twenty-first New York Volunteers; and that he, Hawthorn, was one of the men detailed by Colonel Olcott, on account of such capture, to conduct General Custis Lee to the headquarters of General Wheaton, commanding First Division, Sixth Army Corps. H. S. HAWTHORN. Subscribed and sworn to, at Malvern, near Burkeville, Va., this 14th day of April, 1865, before me. H. E. HINDMARSH, Lieutenant, Judge-Advocate, First Division, Sixth Army Corps. CAMP OF 121ST NEW YORK REGIMENT, April 14, 1865. I hereby certify that for more than two years I have well known Harris S. Hawthorn, Company F, One hundred and twenty-first New York Regiment, as a professed Christian, and have always regarded him worthy of confidence, by the uniform consistency of his religious life. I regard his testimony on any subject as unimpeachable, and that no assurance can be stronger than his affirmation under the sauctity of an oath. JOHN R. ADAMS, Chaplain of 121st New York Regiment. ADDENDA. HDQRS. 121ST REGT. NEW YORK STATE VOLUNTEERS, Capt. CHARLES H. WOODMAN, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General: April 4, 1865. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to forward a list of prisoners captured by this command in the late engagement: Number of enlisted men of this command that entered the fort, capturing 3 guns, in front of our brigade lines, 175; number that advanced still farther to the right and capturned 3 guns, 67 men. This command captured 1 gun in front of Ninth Corps on the 2d instant. I have receipts for 2 guns, 1 caisson and carriage, and about 140 prisoners. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, No. 112. Report of Lieut. Col. John Harper, Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry. HIDQRS. NINETY-FIFTH REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA VOLS., April 13, 1865. SIR: In obedience to orders, I have the honor of making the following report of the part taken by my command in the action of the 6th instant, Sailor's Creek: My command was placed upon the left of the One hundred and twenty-first Regiment New York Volunteers, forming, with that regiment, the front line of the brigade. At the command "forward" we proceeded steadily (notwithstanding a severe fire of musketry, by which I sustained some loss) across the open ground until we arrived at the creek, where some little delay took place, it being difficult to cross in some parts. After crossing, however, the line was reformed, and advanced to the foot of the hill upon which the enemy were posted; here we halted, by order, for a short time, during which the line was put in good shape for the charge. Very soon the order to advance was given, when we advanced to the top of the hill, where we were met by a terrific fire of musketry which, momentarily, staggered the line (I may here mention the gallant conduct of Bvt. Col. E. Olcott, commanding the One hundred and twenty-first New York Volunteers, who, by his example, did much to gain the victory which soon followed); with a cheer, however, the men pressed forward, and after a stubborn contest forced the enemy to retire in confusion, capturing many prisoners, who were ordered to the rear. Upon gaining the woods in which the enemy had been posted I found that a number of them had made a stand upon our left flank, and were becoming very annoying. I advanced upon them with my colors and fifteen or twenty of the men of my regiment and some of the One hundred and twenty-first New York Volunteers, and after some trouble drove them into a ravine, where they raised a white flag and surrendered. We continued our onward course, exchanging shots with the flying enemy until we crossed a line of breast-works, where more of them surrendered. We advanced still farther into the open field half a mile beyond the works, where we connected with the cavalry, which had apparently just started out. Soon after this Captain Gordon, of the Second Brigade staff, met us, and informed us that the brigade was reforming in the woods to our rear. We rejoined the brigade. I cannot but speak in the highest terms of all the officers and men of my command; one and all, they did well. I earnestly recommend Color Sergt. Albert J. Bannen, of Company C, for his gallant conduct in rushing ahead with the colors of the regiment whilst under a very heavy fire, and by his example urging the men to advance. I think him deserving of a medal. For honorable mention I report Sergt. Maj. James S. Day and Corpl. Albert W. Scott, Company C. I am, sir, very respectfully, JOHN HARPER, Lieutenant-Colonel Ninety-fifth Pennsylvania Vols., Commanding. Bvt. Capt. CHARLES II. WOODMAN, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Brigade. ADDENDA. HDQRS. NINETY-FIFTH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS, Bvt. Capt. CHARLES II. WOODMAN, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General: April 4, 1865. SIR: In obedience to orders, I respectfully submit the following report of guns captured by my command on the 2d instant on the left of the enemy's line: In the first fort, one gun, by Color-Sergt. Albert J. Bannen, Company C, and Sergt. John B. Cook, Company D. In the second fort, one gun, by Corpls. Francis A. Wilson and Hosea B. Taylor, Company B. In the third fort, one gun, by William R. Fox, Company A, and John McLaughlin, Company G. In the fourth fort, three guns, by Corpls. Albert W. Scott and Robert D. Wilson, Company C, they being the first of a number to enter. These guns were partly disabled; they were compelled to leave them, however, before fully doing so, and they were retaken by the enemy, but again taken by the Twenty-fourth Corps. Very respectfully, JOHN HARPER, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding. No. 113. Report of Capt. James T. Stuart, Forty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, commanding Sharpshooters. HDQRS. SHARPSHOOTERS FIRST DIVISION, SIXTH CORPS, April 17, 1865. COLONEL: In obedience to orders, I have the honor to report the operations of my command during the recent operations of this division. On the morning of April 2, having been ordered by the general commanding to report to General Hamblin, I was ordered to form those of my men who were armed with Spencer rifles as a skirmish line, the left joining the right of the Second Brigade, the line to be formed at an angle of about twenty-five degrees with the line of battle. The men armed with the telescope and globe rifles were ordered to remain in Fort Fisher. They were left there in charge of Lieutenant House. When the charge began the skirmish line moved forward, keeping connection with the Second Brigade, which very soon brought us in contact with the enemy's pickets; and as soon as the storming column entered the works and the Second Brigade wheeled to the right, my line conforming to their movements put me on the flank of the picketline of the enemy, the most of which I captured for the distance of about half a mile. The number captured on this line and sent to the rear was about sixty-five. As soon as the Second Brigade (which had been moving down inside the works) halted I ordered my men to make a left wheel, which brought them in front of a fort mounting three guns, and which was still occupied by the enemy, on which I ordered the line to charge, and succeeded in capturing the fort, 3 guns, 3 commissioned officers, and 25 men, who surrendered in a body as soon as my men got on the parapet of the fort. We sent the prisoners to the rear, and held the fort for half an hour, when our ammunition gave out, and I ordered my men to rejoin the Second Brigade, which was then in a fort a short distance to our left. We did not succeed in getting the captured guns to the rear, as the fort we took was commanded in the rear by an interior work, and it was impossible to get the cannon out of the fort, except by the rear. After rejoining the Second Brigade we accompanied [it] to the balance of the division. In this engagement Second Lieut. William Byron, Sixty-fifth New York, was severely wounded, and two privates were slightly wounded, but not severe enough to require medical treatment. As soon as Lieutenant House saw that the storming party had succeeded in carrying the works he moved the men armed with telescope and globe rifles to a position where they could fire on the forts that were yet in possession of the enemy, where good execution was done against the enemy's artillerists. The command accompanied the division through all its marches to Sailor's Creek, and at that point did but little fighting, and losing no men. In submitting the above report I have the honor to be, most respectfully, your obedient servant, JAMES T. STUART, Captain, Commanding Sharpshooters. Lieut. Col. GEORGE CLENDENIN, Jr., Assistant Adjutant-General. |