First Brigade, First Division, Department of West Virginia (attached). December 19.-Left Opequon Crossing, Va., by cars, at 12 m., en route for Washington. December 20.-Took transports at Washington in the morning. December 24.-Formed camp here by order of Brigadier-General Terry, and temporarily attached to the Twenty-fourth Army Corps, Army of the James. Second Brigade, First Division, Department of West Virginia (attached). December 19.-The Fourth West Virginia Volunteer Infantry was permanently detached from this brigade, and the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry and Twenty-third Illinois Veteran Volunteer Infantry added to it, all by order of Major-General Crook, commanding Department of West Virginia. The same day the brigade moved via Washington, D. C., to the camp of the Twenty-fourth Army Corps, Army of the James. Distance traveled, 260 miles. Third Brigade, First Division, Department of West Virginia (attached). December 1.-The command-comprising the Tenth, Eleventh, and Fifteenth West Virginia Volunteers, Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Volun teers, and Twenty-third Illinois Veteran Volunteers-was encamped at Camp Russell, Va., in the Army of the Shenandoah, until the morning of the 19th. December 19.-Broke camp and took up line of march via Winchester to Stephenson's Depot, on the Harper's Ferry and Winchester Railroad. Before embarking on the cars the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania and Twenty-third Illinois Volunteers were transferred from this brigade to the Second Brigade of the division. The command then proceeded by rail via Summit Point, Charlestown, and arrived at Harper's Ferry at night; from thence via Sandy Hook, Monocacy, and Relay House, arriving in Washington on the morning of the 20th. December 20.-Embarked on board transports at Washington and left the city at night, proceeding down the Potomac; the weather very cold and rainy, subjecting the men to some exposure. After crossing a portion of the Chesapeake Bay the command proceeded up the James River. December 23.-Arrived at Bermuda Hundred in the morning, a portion of the command not arriving. The same day Col. Milton Wells, Fifteenth West Virginia Volunteers, then in command, reported withi that portion of his command which had arrived to General Ferrero. December 24.—The remainder of the command arrived, when we went into camp and commenced building winter quarters. Remained until the end of the month. Distance traveled during the month, 480 miles. TWENTY-FIFTH ARMY CORPS.* [December.]-The Twenty-fifth Army Corps was organized per General Orders, No. 297, War Department, dated December 3, 1864. Organized by General Orders, No. 297, War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, December 3, 1864, and composed of the colored troops of the Department of Virginia and North Carolina; commanded by Maj. Gen. Golfrey Weitzel. SR R-VOL XLII, PT I The larger portion of the First Division, commanded by General C. J. Paine, formed a part of the expeditionary corps that sailed from Fort Monroe, Va., on December 10, under command of Major-General Butler, contemplating an assault on Wilmington, N. C. December 30.-The troops returned, having suffered little or no loss. Maj. Gen. G. Weitzel was in command of the infantry force of the expedition. The infantry troops of the corps have performed the usual fatigue, picket duty, &c.; have been instructed in company, battalion, and skirmish drills, and are rapidly improving in discipline and efficiency. This corps holds the line of works near Chaffin's farm, Va., which has been heretofore held by the Eighteenth Army Corps. First Division. [December.]-The division was organized, by confidential order from headquarters Department of Virginia and North Carolina, December 1, 1864. December 7.-The division headquarters, the Second Brigade, with the Thirtieth Regiment of the First Brigade, temporarily attached, left camp before Richmond, and accompanied the expedition to Fort Fisher. December 29.-Returned to camp before Richmond. First Brigade, First Division. [December.]-The brigade was organized on the 2d instant. During the month a portion of the command (First and Thirtieth Regiments) has been absent with the expedition against Wilmington, N. Č. Second Brigade, First Division. December 7.-The brigade, being part of the expeditionary force against Wilmington, N. C., left camp at Chaffin's farm, Va. December 8.-Embarked on transports at Bermuda Landing at night. December 25.-About 150 officers and men of the Fourth U. S. Colored Troops landed above Fort Fisher and immediately re-embarked. On the return of the expedition the brigade disembarked at Bermuda Hundred. December 30.-Reached its old camp at Chaffin's farm. The Thirtieth U. S. Colored Troops was temporarily attached to the brigade for the purposes of the expedition, joining December 7. Third Brigade, First Division. December 31.-Moved from the defenses of Bermuda Hundred to a point on the left of Fort Burnham, across the James River. Third Brigade, Second Division. [December.]-The Twenty-eighth U. S. Colored Troops on detached duty at City Point, Va. The Thirty-first U. S. Colored Troops on an expedition between the Rappahannock and Potomac Rivers, for the purpose of driving out guerrillas. They left camp on December 14 and returned on the 24th without any casualties. December 30.-The brigade left the defenses of Bermuda Hundred, and arrived at present camp, near Bailey's house, Va., same day. Second Brigade, Third Division. [December.]-The Second Brigade was organized on December 5, and has occupied the line of breast-works between Fort Burnham and Battery No. 3 since that date. December 10.-Capt. E. C. McFarland and one private of the Fortyfirst U. S. Colored Troops were wounded on the picket-line in front of the Forty-first. CAVALRY DIVISION. First Brigade. [August. This brigade has been doing picket duty during this month from Petersburg and Weldon Railroad toward Fort Powhatan, on the James River. Second Brigade. The brigade performed picket duty in the neighborhood of Lee's Mill from July 31 to August 2. August 3.-Marched from Lee's Mill to the line of Mount Sinai Church and Cocke's Mill, Prince George County, Va. August 4 to 18.-Performed picket duty on that line. August 18.-Left the picket-line and reported to Major-General Warren, Fifth Army Corps, near Reams' Station, on the 19th. August 21 to 25.-The brigade participated in the following engagements: 21st, on Weldon railroad and skirmish with cavalry on Vaughan road; 22d, skirmish on Vaughan road; 23d, cavalry action at Reams' Station; 24th, skirmish with cavalry on the Weldon railroad below Reams' Station; 25th, battle of Reams' Station, under command of Major-General Hancock, Second Corps. August 26 to 31.-Brigade doing picket duty on line from Mount Sinai Church to Cocke's Mill, Va. [September.]—The brigade performed picket duty on the line of Mount Sinai and Sycamore Churches, Va., until September 16, when the line was broken by a dash of rebel cavalry, resulting in the killing and capturing of 216 officers and men from this brigade; pursued the enemy until the morning of the 17th, when the brigade, returning, established a new line from Rollins' house to Cocke's Mill, Va. September 26.-Changed picket-line; established a new line, extending from Bland's house to Coggins' Point, Va., on the James River. September 27.-Were relieved from picket-line by Brigadier-General Davies, Second Cavalry Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac, and moved to Jones' Neck, Va., via Prince George Court-House and pontoon bridge across the Appomattox River. September 29.-Crossed James River and participated in expedition against Richmond, Va. September 30.-Established headquarters near Johnson's house, Va. [October.]-The brigade has been constantly on picket duty for the last month; engaged the enemy at Johnson's farın, Va., October 7 and 13, and on the Williamsburg pike on the 27th; brigade constantly on hard and arduous duty. [November. The brigade has been performing arduous picket duty for the past month in the face of the enemy on the line north of the James. Command. SECOND ARMY CORPS. Maj. Gen. WINFIELD S. HANCOCK. t ESCORT. 1st Vermont Cavalry, Company M. FIRST DIVISION. Brig. Gen. FRANCIS C. BARLOW. ‡ First Brigade. Brig. Gen. NELSON A. MILES. [December.]-The brigade has performed picket duty during the month on the line designated by the division commander. December 10.-In the morning the enemy made their appearance in front of the line, and after a slight skirmish was driven away; all quiet since. Third Brigade. October 13.-The brigade marched out to the Darbytown road, where they became engaged with the enemy and where they suffered a loss of 24 killed and wounded. October 27.-The brigade marched out to the Charles City and Williamsburg roads, and returned with a loss of one officer wounded, Capt. J. K. Buckley, Company C, First Maryland Cavalry, shot through the head. No. 7. Return of Casualties in the Union Forces.* [Compiled from nominal lists of casualties, returns, &c.] DEEP BOTTOM, VA., AUGUST 13-20, 1864. Total First Brigade *All organizations participating in the operations are included in this table. † Also in command of all the troops engaged. In command of the First and Second Divisions; sick from August 17. Aggregate. |