No. 201.

Report of Capt. Adolph Becker, Forty-sixth New York Infantry, of operations September 30-October 8.

HDQRS. FORTY-SIXTH REGT. NEW YORK VET. VOLS.,

Near Poplar Spring Church, Va., October 10, 1864.

SIR: In obedience to orders received from headquarters Second Brigade, I have the honor to make the following report of the history and casualties of the Forty-sixth Regiment New York Veteran Volunteers since the 30th day of September, 1864:

The regiment, as a part of the Second Brigade, marched September 30 west of Weldon railroad to the extreme left of our position. The Fifth Corps had already taken the first line of rebel works near Poplar Spring Church, when the brigade and regiment was ordered to advance in line of battle on the left of the Fifth Corps toward the second line of the enemy's works. We advanced within a distance of 200 yards from the same, where we were ordered to halt and to be ready to fire. There was one line of skirmishers in front of the brigade. Within ten minutes the brigade was flanked by the enemy and ordered to fall back, which was done in good order; it was about 6 p. m. when the line was formed and the men were gone to rest. On or about midnight we marched a short distance to the rear of our position and built breastworks, in which we remained until morning of the 1st of October, when we were extended on the right and ordered to fortify ourselves, which was done in a very short time. We remained in that position (it was on the open field near Peebles' farm) until the next morning, when the brigade, as a part of the Ninth Corps, advanced in line of battle in a northwestern direction, then after a short stopping we turned to our left and built a breast-work, the front toward west. In the afternoon we marched back in the second line, changed front to the left, and were ordered to build another breast-work in the night, in which position we remained until the 8th of October, when, with the division, [we] were sent on a reconnoitering party. We advanced on the extreme left of our position as far as the rebel works, which were evacuated. In the evening we went back to our camp.

No casualties had taken place on the 2d of October, neither on the Sth; the casualties have taken place on the 30th of September and are as follows: 1 officer and 29 men wounded, 27 men missing.*

ADOLPH BECKER,

Captain Company D, Commanding Regiment.

Capt. THOMAS MATHEWS,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 202.

Report of Lieut. Col. Martin P. Avery, Sixtieth Ohio Infantry, of operations September 30-October 6.

HEADQUARTERS SIXTIETH OHIO VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,

Pegram House, Va., October 17, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this command in the engagements from the 30th of September to the 6th of October, inclusive:

On the 30th the regiment was the sixth battalion in the brigade and marched with it during the day. When the brigade fell back to the

*But see revised statement, p. 141.

second line it formed the extreme left of the front line, the battalion on the left having been placed to protect the left flank. It remained there until the line on the right had fallen back. Owing to the formation of the ground we could not see the enemy until he was in rear of both our flanks, when we fell back to the third line formed by the brigade. In doing so the regiment got into considerable confusion, owing to the nature of the ground over which we had to pass and the fact that we were receiving a galling fire from both flanks and the front, which we were unable to return. The regiment was not under fire again that day. Our loss was wounded (which were brought off the field) and missing. (See inclosed list of names.*) On the 1st of October we marched with the brigade and that night were on picket duty, but had no casualties. On the morning of the 2d Major Stearns took command and continued to have command until after the 6th, but during the time there were no casualties.

Respectfully submitted.

Capt. THOMAS MATHEWS,

M. P. AVERY, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., 2d Brig., 1st Div., 9th Army Corps.

No. 203.

Report of Capt. George W. Brumm, Fiftieth Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations September 30-October 8.

HDQRS. FIFTIETH PENNSYLVANIA VETERAN VOLUNTEERS,

Near Pegram's House, Va., October 17, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that the Fiftieth Regiment, in compliance with orders received, marched from the Yellow House, Va., on the morning of the 30th ultimo, to the Peebles house, Va., where it formed the first line of battle with the First Michigan Sharpshooters on the right, Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry on the left, then marched by the right flank near to the Pegram house, where ordered to throw out skirmishers. The line advanced to the crest of a hill beyond the Pegram house, where the regiment first opened fire upon the enemy, who were rapidly advancing in front and right flank, driving before them the troops of the division on the right, who rushed through our line, causing great confusion. At the same time, seeing the Twentyfourth New York Cavalry retiring on my left, I ordered the regiment to withdraw, which was accomplished in good order, and again formed line behind a fence at the Pegram house, Va. The troops on the right again breaking and rushing through our lines, causing it also to break; being mixed up with them, it was impossible to rally until falling back about half a mile; again formed line,where we remained until about 12 m. Received orders to move off to the rear of the Peebles house, Va., where the regiment then threw up works. On the morning of the 1st marched near to the Peebles house and threw up works. On the 2d instant advanced near the Peebles house, and again threw up works and encamped. Casualties: Two killed, 6 wounded, and 11 missing.t

On the 9th [8th] instant, receiving light marching orders, the regiment moved off with the brigade on a reconnaissance to the Hawks house, having detached two companies to throw up lunette for a section of artillery in the field beyond our line of pickets, the remainder of the regiment moving to the Hawks house as a reserve of the skirmishers until the troops were withdrawn and returned to camp. I beg leave to say that the regiment behaved splendidly, there being but two officers present, the rest having been mustered out on the morning of the 30th. Your most obedient servant

Lieut. Col. B. M. CUTCHEON,

GEO. W. BRUMM, Captain, Commanding Regiment.

Comdg. Second Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps.

No. 204.

Reports of Col. Napoleon B. McLaughlen, Fifty-seventh Massachusetts Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of operations September 30– October 8 and October 27-28.

HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., FIRST DIV., NINTH ARMY CORPS,

Near Pegram House, Va., October 16, 1864. CAPTAIN: In compliance with circular from division headquarters, dated October 16, 1864, I have the honor to report that my command left bivouac on the morning of the 30th of September, near the Gurley house, moved in the direction of the Yellow House, passing through the works and moving in the direction of the Peebles house by Squirrel Level road. The Fifth Corps were in our front and soon became engaged with the enemy. My brigade was placed in reserve. I was soon ordered by General Willcox to put my brigade in position in the woods to the right of Pegram house. I immediately deployed the One hundredth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers as skirmishers and sent them into the woods, with orders to connect General Potter's right and with the left of the Fifth Corps, and I followed with the balance of my command in line of battle. Just before my skirmishers became engaged I was ordered by a staff officer of General Willcox to return outside the woods with my command, which order was quickly obeyed. Was then ordered across the field to the left of Pegram's house as a support to the front line, then fighting. At this point a very severe shelling commenced, and my command was in exact range, when I moved to the left under cover of a small hill. Went into column of battalions closed in mass; remained in this position until I discovered the front line had given way, when I deployed my brigade to stop the running soldiers from the first line, and succeeded in stopping very many. At this time I received, from General Willcox in person, the order to throw forward my right and advance, which order was promptly obeyed, and moved up to the right and left of the Pegram house, when we united on the right with the Fifth Corps line. Considerable firing was kept up during the night. When it ceased, about 10 p. m., received orders to move to the left and unite with Colonel Harriman's (First) brigade on the left, and with the troops of General Potter's division on the right near the rebel works that they captured. I attempted to obey this order; united on the left with General Hartranft, but could not find General Potter's troops. During the night I was ordered to throw up breast-works, but

as I could not tell the direction to establish a line and could not find the troops on my right I moved forward to the crest of a hill-a very good position; advanced a strong picket-line 150 yards and went into bivouac for the night.

October 1, threw up a line of works, connecting on the left with Colonel Harriman and on the right with General Hartranft. October 2, advanced from intrenched position in two lines of battle about one milé to the line left on the night of the 30th of September. Was ordered to the left to support a division of the Second Corps that was to assault the enemy's works. Returned to the vicinity of Pegram's house and threw up breast-works. From October 3 to October 8 remained in same position, continually strengthening our works by slashing and abatis. On the night of October 7, at 12 m., received orders to be ready to move in light marching order at 7 a. m. Moved, as ordered, on a reconnaissance about two miles to the left near the Hawks house and the rebel Fort McRae. Advanced in two lines of battle, my left resting on the Squirrel Level road and my skirmishers connecting on the right with Colonel Harriman, of the First Brigade. I deployed the Fifty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers as skirmishers, and ordered the Third Maryland Battalion to their support; advanced nearly half a mile, driving the enemy's pickets until we passed beyond the house and woods in rear of house. Here the skirmishing was very sharp, and the Fifty-seventh Massachusetts was compelled to fall back to the house, having had 2 men killed and 9 wounded at one volley from the enemy's line of battle. Discovered the enemy's works about a quarter of a mile from where their line of battle was found, consisting of breast-works, redoubts, and abatis. Remained at the house, continually skirmishing, until dark, when I withdrew my skirmishers without further loss and returned to our old camp, having advanced our picket-line about 200 yards. Appended please find a list of casualties.

Respectfully submitted.

N. B. MCLAUGHLEN,

Colonel Fifty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers, Comdg. Brigade. Capt. JOHN D. BERTOLETTE,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

Report of casualties in Third Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps, from September 30 to October 9, 1864.

a Second Lieut. W. B. Frothingham, Fifty-ninth Massachusetts; Second Lieut. C. C. Eddy, Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery; Second Lieut. H. M. Backus, Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery.

N. B. MCLAUGHLEN,

Colonel Fifty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers.

Men.

Aggregate.

512

a3

8

3

8

3

8

3

9

12

66

69

HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., FIRST DIV., NINTH ARMY CORPS,
October 29, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report the operations of my command during the advance of the corps on the morning of the 27th instant: Struck camp at 3 a. m. and moved to the left by Squirrel Level road; passed beyond the picket-line and moved my command to the right of the road between the picket and vedette line. I ordered Major Doherty, with forty men from his regiment, to pass to the right and rear of the enemy's vedette post at the old rebel redoubt and capture the vedettes. He made the attempt but failed, owing to the premature discharge of a gun of one of his party, and he only succeeded in killing one man of the four stationed there. I immediately moved up the head of my column to the old redoubt and halted for General Hartranft to pass, when I followed, as directed by General Willcox. The First and Second Brigades having got into position, my command was placed in the second line to support General Hartranft and Lieutenant-Colonel Cutcheon. Remained in this position until about 5 p. m., when I was ordered to move one wing of my command to right and rear and support Roemer's battery, and move the other wing to the right to support General Ferrero's colored troops. About 12 m. 28th instant received orders to advance a picket-line and remain until the colored troops had withdrawn and uncovered my front, when I was to withdraw by the main road, the left of my skirmish line resting on the breast-works and the right connecting with General Hartranft. I then moved to the rear of the Smith house and went into line of battle; waited until the skirmishers were up, when I returned with my command to my old camp. My skirmishers arrived about twenty minutes after, without loss.

Appended please find list of casualties during the move: 1 enlisted man One hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers killed; 1 enlisted man One hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers wounded; 1 enlisted man Fifty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers wounded; Lieutenant Stocking, One hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, wounded; Lieutenant Johnson, One hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, wounded. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

N. B. MCLAUGHLEN. Colonel Fifty-seventh Massachusetts Vet: Vols., Comdg. Third Brig. Capt. JOHN D. BERTOLETTE,

Assistant Adjutant-General, First Division, Ninth Army Corps.

No. 205.

Report of But. Col. Gilbert P. Robinson, Third Maryland Infantry, commanding Provisional Brigade, of operations December 8-14.

HDQRS. THIRD MARYLAND BATTLN. VET. VOL. INFANTRY, Before Petersburg, Va., December 14, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith a report of the operations of the late Provisional Brigade, of which I assumed command December 9, 1864, in compliance with Special Orders, No. 115, headquarters First Division, Ninth Army Corps, dated December 9, 1864.

The brigade rendezvoused December 8, at 6 p. m., in the field designated, in rear of the line, and remained at that point, with orders "to be ready to move at a moment's notice," until the afternoon of December 10, at which time the brigade took the line of march along the Jerusalem plank road, in the direction of Hawkinsville, Va., located near the