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Darbytown road. On arriving near the Gerhardt plantation, the regi ment was ordered by the colonel commanding brigade to deploy as skirmishers to cover the brigade front. I immediately deployed six companies, holding four companies in reserve. After making the deployment, and connecting my left with the Third New Hampshire Volunteers, the regiment advanced through a thick growth of underbrush and swamp to a thick slashing beyond. Upon arriving at the opening the line was halted, agreeable to instructions from the colonel commanding, in order to allow the line of battle to come up to a supporting distance. This being accomplished, the skirmish line was again advanced to the center of the open field, where I found the enemy's vedettes posted in an old line of works. After exchanging a few shots they retired to their skirmish lines beyond, posted in detached rifle-pits extending around our right flank. This being reported to the colonel commanding, two companies of the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers were sent to me as flankers. These companies I placed on my right flank. Subsequently a regiment of the First Brigade was deployed on my right. Advancing rapidly we drove the enemy's skir mishers from the advance pits to their main works capturing several prisoners. Here I found the enemy strongly posted behind their works, which were well constructed with abatis in front. This I reported to the colonel commanding, who instructed me to push my line forward as far as practicable. I moved my line forward to a distance of 150 yards from the enemy's works, where I was compelled to halt, being opposed by a strong line of battle. I remained in this position, keeping up a sharp fire until 4 p. m., when, my ammunition giving out, I was relieved by the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts Volunteers. My regiment joined the brigade and returned to camp with it at 3 p. m. to-day.

I cannot say too much in praise of the two commissioned officers present, besides myself-Capt. F. G. Hickerson and Lieut. James H. Linsley. They were prompt and efficient in the discharge of every duty. The men behaved with their accustomed coolness and bravery. I have to report 5 men wounded. The list of casualties is inclosed. I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant, E. S. GREELEY, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding the Regiment.

Brig. Gen. H. J. MORSE,

Adjutant-General, Hartford, Conn.

HDQRS. TENTH REGIMENT CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEERS,

In the Field, before Richmond, Va., October 29, 1864. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my regiment in the affair of to-day:

I received orders to move my regiment from camp and report at the sally-port in front of this brigade at 2.30 p. m. to-day. I reported as directed and joined the brigade, which had been put in motion, at 2.35 p. m., and marched without halting until the head of the column reached the open field near the Johnson place, where the brigade was formed in line. My regiment formed on the right near the edge of the wood, my right resting on the road leading to the Johnson house. At 3.15 p. m. the colonel commanding the brigade directed me to deploy skirmishers to connect with those of the Eleventh Maine Volunteers. deployed Companies F and I, under command of Sergeant Chapman, of

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Company F. The skirmish line then advanced into the open field, where they received a fire from the enemy's skirmishers posted in a line of earth-works extending from the Eagle house on the left across the Darbytown road on the right. Subsequently a detachment of the Eleventh Pennsylvania Cavalry formed on our right flank. At 3.30 p. m. the order to advance was given the skirmish line. Taking the double-quick, advanced in fine style across the open field and drove the enemy from the works, with some loss. I advanced with the reserve to the open field and halted by direction of the colonel commanding brigade. The skirmish line now occupied the works, keeping up a sharp fire upon the enemy, who had halted in a wood near their works, keeping up a desultory fire. I remained in this position until dark, and on being relieved by a squadron of cavalry, rejoined the brigade and marched to camp.

Owing to the prompt and rapid movement of my men, I am happy to say I have to report only 1 man wounded.

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. S. GREELEY,

Lieut. Col., Comdg. Tenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers.

Capt. FRANK HAWKINS,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 279.

Report of Capt. Edgar A. Nickels, Eleventh Maine Infantry, of operations August 3-4.

CAMP ELEVENTH MAINE VOLUNTEERS,

Deep Bottom, Va., August 4, 1864.

SIR: In accordance with Special Orders, No. 49, dated headquarters Eleventh Maine Volunteers, August 3, 1864, I have the honor to report that I reported to Captain Sanderson, Third Pennsylvania Volunteer Heavy Artillery, at 8.30 p. m., and was immediately ordered on board gun-boat Stepping Stones. Proceeded up the river and landed on the north side of the James River, this side and near the fleet, the object of the expedition being to march to Wilcocks' [Cox's?] Mill, situated across Dutch Gap, on the bank of the river, about three-quarters of a mile, to destroy the engine by means of a torpedo which had been furnished by the Navy Department. We moved across the open field in the following order: Company K, Lieutenant Small commanding, deployed as skirmishers; Company F, Lieutenant Holt, formed the right column, marching by the flank twenty paces in rear of the right wing of skirmishers; Company I, the left, Lieutenant Weymouth commanding, and forty men of the Third Heavy Artillery Pennsylvania Volunteers the center, which guarded the party in charge of the torpedo. Our skirmishers met the enemy fifty yards this side of the mill, and a charge was ordered. The right of the line drove the enemy 200 yards with but little firing. Strong guards were stationed on the several roads leading from the mill toward the enemy, and a search immediately made for the engine, which was not found, but signs discovered" which indicated plainly that it had been removed but a few hours previous. Two large iron wheels and shafts were found and the torpedo placed near them, the lanyard attached, and every man ordered out of danger of the explosion. After making three unsuccessful attempts,

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the friction primer failing each time, the fact was reported to the commanding officer, who ordered it withdrawn, and the whole force to return to the boat. In falling back, Corporal Gould, of Company K, having been ordered to go to the left of the line and notify a small party sent out to protect the flank of our movements, got lost. Thinking that he had or would soon find his way to the bank of the river, no search was made, and we immediately re-embarked and sailed for Deep Bottom, where we disembarked at 3.30 a. m.

Had this expedition been conducted by a sober infantry officer, I think it would have amounted to the capture of quite a number of pickets without the loss of a man. The company of Third Pennsylvania Volunteer Heavy Artillery behaved very shamefully, and were very badly commanded. After my skirmishers had gained the mill, a volley was fired into them from the rear from where the said company lay. The officers seemed entirely inefficient in the command of men in action, rendered so by intoxicating liquors, and a want of understanding infantry tactics.

I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. A. NICKELS, Captain, Eleventh Maine Volunteers, Commanding Company C. [Col. H. M. PLAISTED.]

No. 28).

Reports of Col. Harris M. Plaisted, Eleventh Maine Infantry, of oper ations August 3-4, 14-16, and 18-19.

HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH MAINE VOLUNTEERS,

Deep Bottom, Va., August 5, 1864. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that in obedience to Special Orders, No. 89, from your headquarters, August 3, to detail 100 men to report to Captain Sanderson, Captain Nickels, of my regiment, with Companies F, I, and K, reported to Captain S. for the special duty assigned them. He embarked on board Navy tug-boat at 8 p. m. and returned to camp at daylight August 4, with the loss of one man, an excellent soldier (Corporal Gould, of Company K), who it is hoped will yet come in. Captain Nickels' report* of the affair is inclosed as part of this report.

I have the honor to be, captain, your obedient servant,
H. M. PLAISTED,
Colonel, Commanding Eleventh Maine Volunteers.
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Brig., First Div., Tenth Army Corps.

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Captain DAVIS,

HEADQUARTERS ELEVENTH MAINE VOLUNTEERS,

Deep Bottom, Va., August 21, 1864. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report the part performed by iny regi ment in the engagements at Deep Bottom and Deep Run, Va., on the 14th and 16th of August.

At 4.15 a. m. August 14 I received orders from General Foster to be in readiness with my regiment to attack the enemy at daylight. Three

*See next, ante.

hundred and twenty-five of the Eleventh were on picket, extending from the Grover house to the Four-Mile Creek, a distance of more than one mile. The Deep Bottom road divided this front in about two equal parts-the Eleventh was to attack on the right between Deep Bottom road and Four-Mile Creek; the Tenth Connecticut on the left of the road. The few officers and men in camp for duty were ordered to join their respective companies on the picket-line immediately. That portion of the regiment on the left of the Deep Bottom road, all but one company and the vedettes, was thrown to the right of the road, and the regiment hastily formed in line, a thin skirmish line without reserves. Ordered to attack, the Eleventh was soon hotly engaged. At 5.15, among others, Major Baldwin and Captain Sabine were carried to the rear severely wounded. For more than two hours the Eleventh was hotly engaged along its whole front with a superior force of the enemy strongly posted, pressing him closely, all the time suffering and all the time steadily advancing. At 7.30 a. m. the One hundredth New York was sent to take a portion of my front and the Sixth Connecticut as a support to both regiments. At the same time I received the following order from headquarters brigade:

There is a general advance ordered all along the line. You will therefore press steadily forward, with as much rapidity as possible, and drive the enemy into his intrenchments. Let there be no more delay in the advance than is absolutely neces sary. Let it be done immediately. The Sixth Connecticut and Twenty-fourth Massachusetts, in reserve, will advance with the main line, keeping within supporting distance.

(To the commanding officers Eleventh Maine, One hundredth New York, Sixth Connecticut, Tenth Connecticut, First Maryland Cavalry, and Twenty-fourth Massachusetts.)

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Before the One hundredth New York had reached its position the general advance commenced. Requesting Colonel Rockwell to support me closely with the Sixth Connecticut, and not waiting for the One hundredth to take any part of my line, I ordered the Eleventh to charge. In an instant the line sprang forward and, regardless of numbers, over the enemy's intrenchments, and without halting even to gather up the prisoners, throwing down their arms and announcing their surrender, followed the fleeing rebels, with hurrahs, so closely they had not time to form behind their rear defenses, over two strong lines of which they were driven in succession. Through the woods some 400 yards the pursuit was continued to the open field at the foot of Spring Hill. Here, along the edge of the woods in a last line of rebel rifle-pits, the Eleventh was halted and the skirmish line reformed. The prisoners captured and sent in by the Eleventh were 26—a small proportion of the number captured by the regiment. Many were passed over by the regi ment and left to be gathered up by the One hundredth New York, and other regiments as they came up, the Eleventh dashing on to capture the reserves, who, leaving their arms in their stacks, took to flight with the greatest precipitation.

The loss of the regiment in this engagement, all of which occurred previous to the charge, was 9 killed and 40 wounded, including 2 commissioned officers. The conduct of the men and officers in this fight was beyond praise. Two companies (C and D) lost 11 and 12, respectively, killed and wounded; nearly half of their muskets. Company G losing heavily, had its commanding officer disabled, when the orderly sergeant took command. In a few minutes he was disabled and the next sergeant took charge, but never a man took one step backward. After the line had reached the edge of the woods the roll was called and 290 muskets were in line. The whole number of muskets engaged

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in the affair was 339; 47 had been killed and wounded, leaving but 2 men to be accounted for, and these were doubtless assisting the drum corps to carry off some of the wounded. The rebels had been driven into their main works around Spring Hill, which were now within easy range of our rifles. A constant fire upon them was kept up whenever and wherever they showed their heads. Some rebels, more bold, attempted to walk the parapets at first, but almost invariably were picked off by the sharpshooters of the Eleventh. Some were shot and fell dead upon the parapets; others attempting to take them off met the same fate, and several of their dead remained upon the parapets till after the regi ment left its position in the middle of the afternoon. About 4 p. m. a flank movement of the brigade to the right took place, which brought the Eleventh across the Kingsland road into the field near the FourMile Creek, the One hundredth New York holding the rebel battery of four guns which that regiment had captured, thus opening communication with the Second Corps below the creek. At dark the Eleventh was placed on picket across the open field to the Four-Mile Creek. At 10 p.m. the regiment was withdrawn, excepting the picket-line, and led the advance of the corps across the creek to Strawberry Plains, where it arrived at midnight and bivouacked in the open field.

Before daylight on the morning of the 15th the men left on picket and fifty men detailed at dark to construct a bridge came up, and the regiment was together again. At 7 a. m. Monday, the 15th, the brigade was ready to move and soon after moved in a northerly direction (the Eleventh in the advance) some four miles to a point near Fussell's Mill-Pond, so called. The Eleventh bivouacked in the edge of the woods until next morning with three companies thrown out as pickets during the day.

Soon after

At 3 a. m. the 16th the regiment was. ready to march. daylight it moved about a mile to the front and formed in line of battle on the right of the brigade and supporting the right of Hawley's brigade, then in advance. Soon after the line of battle was changed and the brigade formed in the woods, the Eleventh on the right, the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts and Tenth Connecticut to my left. Three companies were thrown out as skirmishers, under Captain Merrill. My orders were to look out for the right flank, keeping connection with the pickets of the Second Corps. Two companies were left in reserve on the right of the skirmish line to be put on the skir mish line, if the direction of the march necessitated it. The line of battle was then advanced in the direction designated by the general, but proved to be too far to the right. Direction was again taken to the left upon a line designated by Captain Davis, assistant adjutant-general, which direction proved to be still too far to the right. I then received orders from the general to advance without regard to my right flank (he would protect it with the Maryland cavalry) and to change the guide to left, pivoting on the Tenth Connecticut. The farther advance was made without difficulty. The enemy's pickets, or rather vedettes, were soon after met in a line of rifle-pits and driven in by the skirmish line. A few prisoners were captured by the Eleventh, but advancing across a second ravine, the enemy was soon met in strong force behind a line of breast-works of logs and earth, and the engagement with the skirmishers soon became hot.

While endeavoring to develop the enemy's position on my front I received an order from the general to "drive the enemy into his main works and ascertain whether the same could be carried by assault." The skirmish line was accordingly pressed forward very close, the

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