Indulging the hope that I shall be better able to command the entire strength of the brigade hereafter, I respectfully ask that this may be taken as an apology of a report. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. CHARLES A. CARLETON, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 257. A. C. VORIS, Commanding Brigade. Report of Capt. Lewis T. Whipple, Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, of operations August 13-20. Report of the Thirty-ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteers, of operations on the north side of James River: The night of the 13th instant [August] left our camp near Hatcher's, Va. Marched to and crossed James River at Deep Bottom. At daylight formed in line of battle and charged the enemy across an open field; drove them into their forts, and held the position, skirting the edge of the woods, until noon, when we were ordered to the right to support a charge. Then ordered to the center, built breast-works, again ordered to the right, and at dusk placed on picket. At 3 a. m. the 15th instant quietly withdrew, crossed the James River, and recrossed on the lower pontoon. At daylight marched out toward Malvern Hill; was used as a support for a battery all day and night. The morning of the 16th moved up to what is known as Deep Run, and charged the enemy's works at that place. After a short but bloody struggle captured and held the works, with 2 stand of colors and near 300 prisoners, which were sent to the rear. Held the works about two hours, when rebel re-enforcements arriving and having gained our left, driving back the regiments there, and leaving us exposed to a galling flank fire, we retreated as best we could, and, forming the regiment out in the open field, marched back to the front and built breast-works, &c. Lay in the pits the 17th and 18th instant. The 18th the rebels made an attack on our lines, and were handsomely repulsed. At night evacuated and moved to the right, where we were until the evacuation of the place, when we crossed to the south side of James River. Our total loss during the expedition was 104 killed, wounded, and missing. Respectfully, LEWIS T. WHIPPLE, Captain, Commanding Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteers. No. 258. Report of Lieut. James Hannum, Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, of operations October 27-28. HDQRS. THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS, Near Richmond, Va., October 28, 1864. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of my command during the late reconnaissance in frout (the 27th and 28th instant): On the 27th instant, at about 10 a. m., four companies from the right wing of the regiment were detached and sent, under the command of Lieut. Samuel Gilmore, to the right and advanced to learn what we had in our regiment front. In execution of this order Lieutenant Gilmore deployed his command and advanced in line of skirmishers, found the fort upon our extreme right front to contain five pieces of cannon, supported by a strong line of battle upon its flanks. His loss in this movement was 1 killed and 2 wounded. About 4 p. m. I proceeded in person with four companies from the left wing and advanced as skirmishers to within 150 yards of the enemy's lines, finding them supported by a single line of battle. Remained in this position until relieved early October 28. In crossing the slashings in our front, the enemy opened upon us from the fort in our extreme right, resulting in two casualties. The men in all that was required behaved well. I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, Capt. W. NEVIN, First Lieutenant, Commanding Regiment. Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 259. Report of Lieut. Col. Samuel B. Taylor, Sixty-second Ohio Infantry, of operations August 13-14. HDQRS. SIXTY-SECOND REGIMENT OHIO VOLUNTEERS, Near Petersburg, Va., September 2, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report the part taken in the expedition to the north side of the James River by this regiment from the 13th to the 21st ultimo. The evening of the 13th ultimo the regiment received orders to move with three days' cooked rations. Marched to the James River and crossed on the pontoons and marched to within a short distance of General Foster's picket-line at Deep Bottom, where we bivouacked till morning. At 4 a. m. the morning of the 14th General Foster's skir mishers moved forward and engaged the enemy one-fourth of a mile in our front. I received orders to have the movements of my regiment to conform with those of the Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteers on my right; also the brigade was to move by regiments in echelon. The brigade was formed in this manner and moved forward to the field occupied by the enemy, where the line was halted and aligned preparatory to advancing on the enemy's works. In a short time Colonel Pond, commanding brigade, gave the order to "charge with a yell." The enemy were driven to their main line of works. In the charge my ankle was thrown out of place, which rendered me unable for further service. I relinquished the command of the regiment to Maj. F. M. Kahler. The loss in the charge was two men wounded. S. B. TAYLOR, Lieutenant-Colonel Sixty-second Ohio Volunteers. Capt. R. O. PHILLIPS, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., 1st Brig., 1st Div., 10th Army Corps. No. 260. Report of Maj. Francis M. Kahler, Sixty-second Ohio Infantry, of operations August 14-16. After taking command of the regiment, and remaining in view of the enemy's works for two or three hours, I received orders to move the regiment to the right about one mile, where we remained until near sunset, when we were ordered to the left and near our old position. In regaining this ground we lost two men killed on the skirmish line. Two colored regiments advanced and took position on our left, occupying our old position, relieving us. We were then ordered to the rear about one mile, where we remained under arms through a drenching rain until about midnight, when we were ordered to the right of the Second Corps, near the James River, arriving at 3 a. m. 15th instant. Here we rested until 9 o'clock. I then received orders to move, and marched in the direction of Malvern Hill. The column was halted near Deep Run, when I was ordered to support the Fourth New Jersey Battery, which was then engaging the enemy. We remained in this position during the day, and in the evening received orders for a detail of 2 commissioned officers and 100 men for picket. These men were not relieved until the evening of the 17th instant. About 9 a. m. of the 16th I received orders to move to the right and support of General Foster's brigade, which was then briskly skirmishing with the enemy. We moved forward in line of battle through a dense wood to near the slashing in front of the enemy's works. Halted and doubled our columns, and were ordered to charge the works, which we did successfully, carrying their main pits and driving them through a field some distance beyond to a thick woods, where we halted, and fought them about a half hour. Their number being superior, and our right flank being exposed, we were ordered to retire to the pits we had taken. We fought them in this position about an hour, when the enemy regained their former position in the pits on our right and left, thus exposing us to an enfilading fire, which compelled us to fall back into the woods. In retiring into the woods I became prostrated from heat, and relinquished my command to Capt. Henry R. West. In this engagement we lost 13 enlisted men killed, 42 wounded, including 3 commissioned officers, 1 commissioned officer taken prisoner, 6 enlisted men missing. I had in the engagement of the 16th instant 118 enlisted men and 10 commissioned officers. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, F. M. KAHLER, Major Sixty-second Ohio Volunteers. No. 261. Report of Capt. Henry R. West, Sixty-second Ohio Infantry, of operations August 16-21. HEADQUARTERS SIXTY-SECOND OHIO VOLUNTEERS, Near Petersburg, Va., September 2, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report the following as the action of the regiment on the north side of the James River whilst under my command: The 16th ultimo, whilst holding the rifle-pits at Deep Run, Major Kahler was prostrated with the heat and relinquished the command to me. At 4 p. m., in accordance with orders, we fell back from the captured works through the woods, where I reformed the regiment. At 5 p. m. we advanced and formed line of battle on the right of the Second Brigade, Colonel Hawley. I was ordered with the regiment on picket. Was relieved the evening of the 17th, and ordered to take position in the rear of the rifle-pits, which were occupied by the Thirty-ninth Illinois Volunteers and Sixty-seventh Ohio Volunteers. The evening of the 18th the enemy advanced upon our works in two columns, driving in our pickets. I was ordered to move the regiment into the pits, when we opened on them, causing them to retire behind their works. At 11 o'clock was ordered to fall back with the regiment; moved out and marched three miles, and was ordered by Colonel Howell, who had relieved Colonel Pond, to occupy a line of rifle-pits, the right of which rested on the Charles City road and connected with the left of the Second Brigade. Remained in this position until the 20th, at 1 o'clock, when the brigade moved to the front half a mile and formed line of battle across the Charles City road, where we remained till 8 o'clock, when orders were received to fall back to Deep Bottom and recross to the south side. Crossed over on the pontoons at 12 m., and occupied our old camp in front of Bermuda the morning of the 21st ultimo, where I relinquished command of the regiment to Colonel Pond. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. R. O. PHILLIPS, HENRY R. WEST, Captain, Sixty-second Ohio Volunteers. Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., 1st Brig., 1st Div., 10th Army Corps. No. 262. Report of Lieut. John C. Edwards, Sixty-second Ohio Infantry, of operations October 27-28. HEADQUARTERS SIXTY-SECOND OHIO VOLUNTEERS, Before Richmond, Va., October 28, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report in regard to operations of the Sixty-second Ohio Volunteers during the time from the morning of the 27th of October to the afternoon of the 28th of October, 1864: The regiment, pursuant to orders, left their camp at 4.30 a. m. October 27, 1864; moved to near the enemy's line of defenses; there the regiment was deployed as skirmishers. Remained on the skirmish line until about 10 o'clock October 28. Were at this time called in from the skirmish line. During the time on skirmish line the line was advanced until the enemy were driven in from their inner line of picket trenches. The loss while skirmishing was four men severely wounded by musketballs. At about 1 p. m. October 28, 1864, commenced to move to camp. Arrived at camp at about 3 p. m. October 28, 1864. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN C. EDWARDS, First Lieut., Sixty-second Ohio Volunteers, Comdg. Regiment. Captain NEVIN, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 263. Report of Col. Alvin C. Voris, Sixty-seventh Ohio Infantry, of oper ations August 14-20. HDQRS. SIXTY-SEVENTH REGIMENT OHIO VOLS., August 30, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report the part taken by my regiment in the late movements and operations on the James between the 14th and 20th instant, inclusive, as follows: Four companies, to wit, B, D, H, and I, commanded, respectively, by Capt. H. J. Crane, Capt. William Nixon, Lieut. John J. Parsons, and Capt. Charles P. Schaefer, were all of my command that took part in the demonstration on the north side of the James. I took command of these four companies in person, and on the morning of the 14th led the battalion in the assault on the first line of rifle-pits. My men charged gallantly upon the rifle-pits, taking several prisoners. On the evening and night of the same day accompanied the brigade to the left bank of the Four-Mile Run, and on the 15th marched toward the right of our lines, the excessive heat of the day prostrating with coup de soleil some thirty of my men and two officers. On the 16th instant my battalion occupied the left of the brigade in the movement in line of battle toward the enemy's position. On approaching their line of pits my command was deployed as skirmishers to open the way for the attacking columns, and led the brigade in the assault on their works. As the skirmish line emerged from the thick woods into the abatis of the enemy in front of their works my skirmishers delivered a deadly fire at the heads of the rebels as they stood behind their earth-works, at the same time receiving a heavy volley from them, and then dashed through the abatis and over the rifle-pits. The fire of my skirmishers caused the death of the rebel general Girardey. We also took one stand of colors and a number of prisoners. During the succeeding days of our operations my men did their duty heroically and well. The battle casualties amounted to 41, nominal report of which has been forwarded. I have to regret the death of Actg. Lieut. J. J. Parsons, one who gave promise of becoming a fine officer. He was commanding Company H at the time he was killed. Officers and men did everything that could be expected of veterans. I take pleasure in calling attention to the conduct of Capt. Henry J. Crane, who throughout, by his patient constancy, set an example of the true officer to the men of the command, he being in command of the battalion while I was in command of the brigade. I assumed command of the brigade by order of General Terry at 4 p. m. of the 16th, and remained in command thereof till the morning of the 18th, when I was relieved by Colonel Howell, its ranking officer. I have not thought it necessary to make special report of the operations of the brigade during this term, as no action took place other than affairs on the picket-line. I might say that this time was full of anxiety to the men, as we were in close proximity to the enemy and at any moment liable to attack. I must, before closing this report, say that the conduct of the officers and men of my battalion, while at the front of the attacking column on the 16th, was of that dashing, heroic kind that could not but inspire the columns following with that heroic vigor that always wins. Permit me to say that I am proud, proud, proud of the conduct of these four companies of the Sixty-seventh. A. C. VORIS, Colonel, Comdg. Sixty-seventh Regiment Ohio Vol. Infantry. Capt. R. O. PHILLIPS, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. |