No. 322.

Report of Brig. Gen. Adelbert Ames, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division, of operations August 5.

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS,

Near Petersburg, Va., August 6, 1864.

MAJOR: In pursuance of instructions from corps headquarters I have the honor to render the following report of operations in the front of our command:

About 6.30 p. m. an explosion was observed to have taken place on the left of our line. I immediately hastened to the point and ascer tained that the enemy had exploded a mine about forty yards in front of the extreme left of our advanced line, and immediately upon the explosion delivered a volley of musketry toward the breast-works, which was returned by some shots from our line, and was followed by considerable cannonading, both on the part of the enemy and our own troops. The explosion resulted in no injury to our line, and produced no alarm among the troops. I am of the opinion that the design of the enemy was either to frustrate some supposed mining operations on our part or to effect a lodgment in advance of their present line. After a cannonading of some half an hour's duration everything became quiet, and the reserves, which had been ordered forward, were relieved. A list of casualties has been transmitted.*

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Maj. WILLIAM RUSSELL, Jr.,

A. AMES,

Brigadier-General.

Assistant Adjutant-General, Eighteenth Army Corps.

No. 323.

Report of Brig. Gen. Charles A. Heckman, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division, of operations October 27-28.

HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, EIGHTEENTH ARMY CORPS,

In the Field, Va., October 29, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to report that pursuant to orders from corps headquarters, dated October 25, 1864, the Second and Third Brigades of my division were moved from the intrenched line at 6 a. m. on the morning of the 26th instant and massed in Cox's field, in rear of corps headquarters. At this point Col. A. G. Draper, commanding Second Brigade, Third Division, Eighteenth Army Corps, reported. At 5 a. m. on the 27th instant took up line of march, in rear of First Division, on the Kingsland road, marched to New Market road, thence by crossroads to Darbytown, Charles City, and Williamsburg roads. Proceeding along the Williamsburg road, we soon came upon the enemy strongly posted behind their fortifications. At once ordered Colonel Ripley, commanding Second Brigade, Second Division, and Colonel Draper, commanding Second Brigade, Third Division, to form line of battle on

* Shows 1 officer and 5 men killed and 1 officer and 7 men wounded.

the left of the First Division, the Williamsburg road being the interval between the commands. Col. H. S. Fairchild, commanding Third Brigade, Second Division, composed of the Nineteenth Wisconsin Volunteers, Eighty-ninth and One hundred and forty-eighth New York Volunteers, was then ordered into position in advance of the main line, with his right resting on the Williamsburg road, to act as a charging party, in conjunction with Colonel Cullen's brigade, of the First Division. At 4 p. m. (27th instant) moved forward, charging the enemy's line of works, but found them too strongly defended by artillery and infantry to be carried. To avoid a raking fire from the enemy, the charging party took shelter in a gully or ditch and held their position until ordered to retire. When the order to retire was given it was obeyed without confusion. The troops retired in good order, bringing off, with few exceptions, all the killed and wounded. Our loss was: Killed-officers, 3; enlisted men, 9. Wounded-officers, 7; enlisted men, 91. Missing-officers, 6; enlisted men, 380. Of those reported missing large numbers have been and are coming in. Darkness coming on, accompanied with a most violent rain, formed a rear guard and moved during the night (27th) to the Charles City road and bivouacked. All transportation, wounded and stragglers (the latter in exceedingly large numbers), were brought up by daylight. My staff labored during the entire night in accomplishing the above object, and to them, for their untiring efforts in the discharge of their duties in delivering orders, and superintending their execution, I am deeply indebted.

Soon after sunrise on the morning of the 28th formed line of battle, my left resting on Charles City road, and immediately after received orders to take up the line of march toward camp, following the roads traveled the day previous. Reached Fort Burnham about 4 p. m., and, in compliance with instructions, my command reoccupied their previous positions in the intrenchments. And here, general, permit me to inform you that before leaving camp on the morning of the 27th, the First Division being in my front and the Third Division in my rear, I detailed skirmishers for my flanks only. In our march toward the enemy the necessity for using said flankers did not present itself; but on returning from the Williamsburg to the Charles City road said flankers were invaluable, in that they brought safely into camp our 1,000 stragglers, the most, if not all, of whom would have become an easy prey for the enemy's forces but for the indefatigable energy and tact of said flankers.

The officers and men of my command displayed their usual coolness and bravery, particularly those of the assaulting column, among whom I take pleasure in mentioning Lieut. Col. W. M. McArthur, of the Eighth Maine, who commanded the skirmishers and charged at the head of the assaulting column, displaying great courage, gallantry, and ability, for which he has before been complimented and richly deserves again.

My inability to obtain reports from brigade commanders makes it impossible to make a more detailed report.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Capt. D. D. WHEELER,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Eighteenth Army Corps.

No. 324.

Report of Col. Josiah Pickett, Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Infantry, First Brigade, of operations June 18-December 16.

SIR:*

HDQRS. TWENTY-FIFTH REGT. MASSACHUSETTS VOLS.,

New Berne, N. C., December 16, 1864.

From this period [June 18] until August 25 the regiment remained in the trenches exposed to an incessant infantry and artillery fire, with constant skirmishing. Our casualties during this time were 6 killed, 1 officer and 24 men wounded. August 25, regiment, in connection with the brigade, recrossed the Appomattox, taking position on the left of General Butler's line of works, remaining in the trenches then until September 4; the regiment then received orders to proceed to North Carolina, reaching New Berne on the 10th of September. On the 5th of October that portion of the regiment whose term of service had expired were ordered to the place of enrollment, Worcester, Mass., and there on the 20th mustered out of the service of the United States. The regiment is consolidated into four companies, with headquarters at camp near Fort Spinola, detachments doing guard and picket duty at Brice's Ferry and on the line of railway to Morehead City. From the 9th to 13th of December the regiment participated in a demonstration on Kinston, N. C.

During the past year the regiment has lost some of its best officers. Captain O'Neil, Lieutenants Daley, Upton, Matthews, Pelton, and Graham, have nobly and gallantly fallen in the faithful discharge of their duties; the adjutant, Lieutenant McConville, a brave and accomplished officer, also died of wounds received in the battle of Cold Harbor, Va., 3d of June, 1864. The excellent conduct of both officers and men under all circumstances elicits my entire approbation. Their vigilance, fidelity, fortitude, with the unsurpassed and unflinching valor at all times displayed, entitles them to the highest and most unqualified praise.

I append a statistical table of the alterations and casualties in the regiment from the date of its organization to the expiration of its original term of service, October 7, 1864:

*For portion of report here omitted see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 1016, and Vol. XL, Part I, p. 719.

The total number of wounded in the regiment since its organization has been 21 officers, 382 men; of the men returned as deserters none are known to have deserted to the enemy.

At this date, December 16, there are borne upon the rolls of the regiment 10 officers and 367 men, the gain arising from recruits received from depot since October 7.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. PICKETT, Colonel Twenty-fifth Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. Brig. Gen. WILLIAM SCHOULER,

Adjutant-General Massachusetts.

No. 325.

Report of Lieut. Col. John B. Murray, One hundred and forty-eighth New York Infantry, of operations October 27.

HDQRS. 148TH REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS,

Fort Harrison, Va., October 30, 1864.

CAPTAIN: In pursuance to request, I have the honor to report that on the morning of the 26th instant this regiment was transferred from the First Brigade to the Third Brigade of this division, and marched to Cox's farm and bivouacked until 5 o'clock on the morning of the 27th. We then marched to Deep Bottom, from thence to Williamsburg road, which road we struck nine miles west of Bottom's Bridge and half a mile south of Fair Oaks Station. We then moved up the Williamsburg road three-quarters of a mile, and there formed in line of battle on the south side of the road in rear of the Second Brigade of this division, with the Eighty-ninth New York on our right, and the Nineteenth Wisconsin on our left. A charge was immediately ordered. The regiment moved forward over the prostrate forms of the men of the Second Brigade of this division toward the enemy's redoubt commanding the Williamsburg road. After moving some twenty rods they struck the open plain within about 800 yards of the enemy's line of works. Here they opened upon us with musketry, whereupon the colonel commanding the brigade ordered the brigade to charge on the double-quick, which was immediately taken up and carried forward most enthusiastically by the men, until they reached a rise of ground about 400 yards of the enemy's works. Here they met a withering fire from musketry and artillery, from the front and both right and left flanks. The fire at this point staggered the men for a moment, but being enthusiastically cheered on by the officers of the command, they rallied with a yell and rushed forward to the slope under and within 150 yards of the enemy's redoubt. Here the line became so broken and cut up as to prevent its pushing forward any farther, and the men fell upon the ground for protection from the enemy's fire under cover such as the ground afforded. Here they remained until ordered to fall back, when some fifty of the regiment arose and retired to the line re-established by the colonel commanding brigade, at the brow of the hill. Here they waited until the wounded of the brigade within reach (or that it was possible to get at) were removed. After which the regiment fell back and formed a line in front of the Second Brigade, where we remained until about 8 o'clock in the evening, when we came off the ground and returned to near Fort

Harrison, Va., when we were transferred from the Third to the First Brigade of this division, and ordered to report to the commanding officer at Fort Burnham, which we did.

Our loss as reported shows 84 men, viz, 1 killed, 19 wounded (brought off), and 64 missing. We lost one of our most efficient of ficers, Capt. E. Darwin Gage. He had been with us in the early part of the campaign, was wounded in front of Petersburg on the 15th of June so severely that his life was despaired of for a long time, but having recovered from his wounds so far as to enable him to rejoin his regiment, he was with us on the day of the fight and commanded the regiment in the charge. His loss is severely felt and deeply mourned by the officers and men of this command. Among those who are known to be wounded of this regiment are 1 of the color bearers and 5 of the color corporals. The color bearer of the national colors being wounded in the head, the colors were taken and carried forward by one of the color corporals until he was wounded and fell with them at the place where the line stopped. Two more of the color corporals were wounded while endeavoring to bring off the colors. Our State colors were brought off by the bearer, Corpl. Harmon Van Vleck, he crawling on his hands and knees backward, and dragging them after him under a most terrific fire.

In conclusion, I would state that it is difficult to particularize the acts of gallantry performed by the officers and men of this command. Suffice it to say that each and every one of them seemed to vie one with the other in the performance of every duty required of them. I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. B. MURRAY, Lieutenant-Colonel 148th New York Volunteers.

Capt. OTTO PUHLMANN,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 326.

Report of Maj. Joseph C. Brooks, Ninth Vermont Infantry, Second Brigade, of operations September 29-October 7.

HEADQUARTERS NINTH VERMONT VOLUNTEERS,

Chaffin's Farm, Va., October 8, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith a complete list of casualties* in the Ninth Regiment Vermont Volunteer Infantry, since the advance of the Eighteenth Army Corps to the north side of James River, on the 29th ultimo.

I wish to take this opportunity to express my entire satisfaction with the conduct of the officers and men of this regiment. Notwithstanding many of the men were raw recruits, they all behaved with the greatest courage and gallantry. We left our old camp near Point of Rocks about 1 a. m. September 29, and crossed the James River at Aiken's Landing about daybreak. We then advanced about four miles to Chaffin's farm, when our brigade (Eighth Maine and Ninth Vermont) was ordered to charge one of the enemy's works. The Eighth Maine got entangled in a swamp, leaving the Ninth to accomplish the work unaided. We charged over a half mile, over very uneven ground,

* Embodied in return of casualties, p. 135.