October 4.-The command returned to its old camp on Jerusalem plank road and re-established picket-line. October 5 to 10-Quiet; in camp. The Twenty-first Pennsylvania Cavalry reported for duty and assigned temporarily to Second Brigade. October 11 to 18.-A third brigade, organized by authority of majorgeneral commanding Army of the Potomac, composed of the Twentyfirst Pennsylvania and First Maine Cavalry, transferred from the First to the Third Brigade; Col. C. H. Smith in command of the Third Bri gade. October 25.-Quiet. October 26.-At 3 p.m. command moved out and concentrated in the vicinity of Perkins' house and bivouacked. October 27.-At 4 a. m. moved out on left of Second Army Corps on Quaker road; skirmished with the rebel cavalry and drove them back and joined the Second Army Corps, which was engaged with the enemy on Boydton plank road, at Hatcher's Creek; division attacked in rear by the rebel cavalry in force. Our line held its ground. The enemy retired after darkness set in. October 28.-Returned to old camp on Jerusalem plank road and re-established picket-line. October 29 to 31.-Quiet; nothing unusual occurred. November 1.-General Gregg in command of division; Col. M. Kerwin, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, commanding Second Brigade; Col. C. H. Smith, First Maine Cavalry, commanding Third Brigade. November 2 to 6.-Quiet. November 7.-Division moved out at 8 a. m. on reconnaissance to ward Stony Creek. November 8 and 9.-Quiet. November 10.-Quiet; Col. J. I. Gregg, Sixteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, returned from absence on account of wounds received in action, and assumed command of Second Brigade. November 21 to 30.-Quiet; nothing unusual occurred; pickets harNovember 11 to 20.-Quiet; scouting parties sent out almost daily. assed very much by guerrillas and bushwhackers. Station via Lee's Mill and Jerusalem plank road, and after the destruction of the station and a portion of the railroad the command started on return march, First Brigade in rear. The enemy's cavalry made several attacks on the rear guard (First New Jersey), which were gallantly repulsed. Arrived in camp same night about 11 p. m. December 2 to 6.-Quiet. ments, left to guard camp and picket, marched out on Jerusalem plank December 7-At 4 a. m. the division, with the exception of two regiroad in advance of the Fifth Corps and bivouacked near Sussex Court House. toward Jarratt's Station, Weldon railroad, and bivouacked at that December 8.-About daybreak the command resumed the march point. December 9.-At 4 a. m., taking the Belfield road, the division marched to Three Creeks, First Brigade in advance, and found the enemy posted on the south bank of that stream, with two field pieces in position, with which they opened fire on our column. The Tenth New York Cavalry (First Brigade) was dismounted, crossed, and drove the enemy from their position, when the First New Jersey (First Brigade) crossed, mounted, and forced them to fall back on their works in front of Belfield, from which they opened a heavy fire on our column. Skirmishing was kept up at this point until dark, when the command bivouacked. December 10.—At 4 a. m. the command recrossed Three Creeks on the return march, the enemy harassing the rear. December 11.-The division moved back in camp. December 13 to 21.-General Gregg received leave of absence; General Davies commanding division. December 22 to 31.-Quiet; command picketing left and rear from Jerusalem plank road to James River. First Brigade, Second Division. [August.]-The brigade was engaged in picket duty from the commencement of the month up to the 13th, when it moved across the James River in conjunction with the rest of the division, taking position on the left of the Second Corps; engaged the enemy near Malvern Hill, driving his cavalry from their breast-works, with but slight loss to the command; remained in position before the enemy for three days, being engaged each day. The division being relieved by the Tenth Corps, it (the First Brigade) recrossed the river and marched to the left wing of the army again, arriving and at once taking position on the left of the Fifth Corps, on the Weldon railroad. August 20.-A heavy engagement ensued for the possession of the railroad held by us, but all the efforts of the enemy proved fruitless and he was driven back, with a heavy loss. The brigade was then engaged in working and protecting working parties in tearing up the railroad and rendering it perfectly useless for a considerable distance toward Reams' Station. August 25.-Advancing beyond the station, on the Darbytown road, met the enemy in force and drove him until obliged to fall back by the breaking of the line of a portion of the Second Corps, on the right; engaged in picket duty at the end of the month. [September.]-The brigade was picketing around the left of the army at the beginning of this month, and continued doing that duty without a change of headquarters until the 15th [16th], when the command moved down the Jerusalem plank road after a raiding party of the enemy that had been capturing our cattle; had quite a sharp fight toward night, but were obliged to withdraw on account of the superiority of numbers of the enemy; again settled down in the old camp and did picket duty until September 26, when this brigade moved to Prince George Court-House to extend our picket-lines; remained there one day, when the brigade again moved across the Weldon railroad and up the Wyatt road as far as the intersection of it with the Vaughan road; there met the enemy and drove him. September 30.-Secured the Vaughan road in the morning, and the night of the same day made a reconnaissance to Armstrong's house, on the telegraph road, and there headed and turned Dunovant's brigade of rebel cavalry, capturing his assistant adjutant-general. The brigade returned to its division about 2 a. m. of October 1. October 1.-The brigade was lying on the Vaughan road, having been there about forty-eight hours, and skirmished almost continually. About 10 a. m. commenced skirmishing heavily with the enemy, and continued so until about 3 p. m., when four brigades of the enemy's cavalry charged upon the brigade, and were gallantly repulsed. The fighting continued until dark, and several other charges were made by the enemy, all of which were repulsed with heavy loss, while the loss of the brigade was slight. October 2.-Established a picket-line beyond the field of the day before. October 4.—The command moved back to its old camp on the Jerusalem plank road, and re-established the picket-lines previously held by this division, from the plank road to the James River. Continued doing picket duty until the 26th, when the brigade moved to the Weldon railroad; encamped for the night. October 27-Covered the rear of the division until arriving at the intersection of the Vaughan road with the military road, when an attack was made on our column by the enemy, but was easily repulsed by the First Pennsylvania and Tenth New York Cavalry. The brigade then followed on after the division, the First Pennsylvania Cavalry covering the rear and skirmishing with the enemy; crossed Gravelly Run and encamped near the Boydton plank road, and formed a picket-line covering the rear and left flank of the division. October 28.-The command withdrew from its advanced position, this brigade covering the rear, and returned to its former camp without any event of importance, and resumed its old picket-line. October 29.-The brigade broke camp near the Jerusalem plank road, where it is at present [October 31] encamped. the Petersburg and Norfolk Railroad. November 1.-The brigade was encamped near McCann's Station, on November 7.-In connection with the division a reconnaissance was made down the Jerusalem plank road in the direction of Stony Creek, driving in the enemy's pickets, capturing a few; the command returned to camp the same ing duty. night, without loss. a quarter of a mile to the Westbrook house, where it is now encamped. November 17.-The brigade moved camp from McCann's Station, about The brigade has been engaged during the month in picket and scoutDecember 1.The brigade broke camp and took up its line of march via Lee's Mill and Jerusalem plank road. The brigade arrived and massed at Duval's Station, on the Weldon railroad. About 12 m., after the destruction of Stony Creek Station by the Second Brigade, the column commenced to fall back, this brigade taking the rear. The Tenth New York Cavalry skirmished with the enemy and then retired through the lines of the First New Jersey Cavalry, which covered the rear of the brigade, held in check and repulsed several charges of the enemy, while the remainder of the brigade recrossed the Nottoway River. The brigade then returned to camp without any further molestation of the enemy. other brigades of the division and a column of infantry under MajorDecember 7.-The brigade again broke camp and massed with the General Warren, on the Jerusalem plank road, and marched in rear of the Second Brigade to Sussex Court-House, where it bivouacked for the night. At an early hour this morning the march was resumed, with this brigade in the advance and the First New Jersey Cavalry as the advance guard. The command arrived and encamped at Jarratt's Station, on the Weldon railroad, about dark. At 4 a. m. the next day the column marched, taking the Belfield road, this brigade in the advance and the Tenth New York Cavalry in the extreme advance, At Three Creeks the enemy were found posted on the southwest bank with two small pieces of artillery. The Tenth New York Cavalry were dismounted and directed to cross the stream and drive them from their position, which they did. The First New Jersey Cavalry were then sent across mounted to relieve the Tenth New York. This regiment, after relieving the Tenth New York, made a mounted charge and drove the enemy into their works in front of Belfield, from which they operated upon our column with artillery, the number of pieces being variously estimated from nine to fourteen. The First New Jersey, having been dismounted, were soon hotly engaged with the enemy. The First Pennsylvania and Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry were dismounted and sent in on the right, where they did excellent service. The First Massachusetts and Tenth New York Cavalry were dismounted and brought up to act as reserve. The brigade held its position until after dark, when it was ordered to retire and bivouac for the night, leaving one regiment, the Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, to picket the front. At daylight the column retired across Three Creeks stream, the First brigade covering our rear. On our return the enemy were encountered at Jarratt's Station, but were quickly driven away by the Tenth New York Cavalry. The next day the command retired to its camp near the Westbrook house, and continued doing picket and scouting duty the balance of the month. Second Brigade, Second Division. FIRST MAINE CAVALRY. The work performed by the regiment during the month of August has consisted chiefly in picketing on the left and in rear of the army; the expedition across the James River in co-operation with the Second and Tenth Corps, and in scouting and picketing the roads from the left of the Fifth Corps to below Reams' Station, while the Second Corps was destroying the railroad. The regiment has done no very heavy marching, but its work has been constant and very wearing to men and horses. The regiment has been on picket ten days during the month, supporting a line from three to five miles in length. It has marched six days and been in camp fifteen. Much of the time spent in camp has been in close proximity [to the enemy], requiring the horses to be saddled and allowing but little rest to the officers and men. It has been actively engaged six times during the month, involving a loss to the regiment of 49 men killed and wounded, and 1 missing, and 21 horses killed, 44 wounded, and 10 lost. The following are the most important movements in which the regiment has been engaged during the month: August 13.-Broke camp near Prince George Court-House at 4 p. m., with four days' rations and two days' forage; marched all night, crossing the Appomattox at Point of Rocks and the James River near Deep Bottom. August 14.-Took position on the right of the infantry, and were employed during the day in scouting the country between New Market and Charles City roads. A small reconnoitering party advanced within half a mile of White's Tavern. The regiment had a slight skirmish on the Charles City road this afternoon; captured 1 officer and 5 men. August 16.-Regiment moved out on Charles City road with the brigade; was slightly engaged with the enemy in the advance to White's Tavern; brought up the rear in falling back; suffered severely in men and horses. August 18.-Regiment went on picket as support to Second Pennsylvania Cavalry; picket-line was attacked at 5 p. m. before it was fairly established and was drawn in; lost a few men and horses killed and wounded. August 20.-At 6 p. m. regiment withdrew from picket and crossed the James and Appomattox Rivers; marched all night to near Prince George Court-House; halted a few hours and resumed the march to the Temple house on the Jerusalem plank road. At 10 p. m. marched to Gurley's house, one mile from Weldon railroad. August 22.-Took the advance of brigade down the railroad; had a slight skirmish with the enemy on the Dinwiddie Court-House road; moved to Reams' Station, and in the afternoon were heavily engaged with the enemy one mile west of Reams' Station. August 25.-Regiment engaged in battle at Reams' Station; loss slight; retired from Reams' Station during the night to Jerusalem plank road. August 26.-Went on picket on plank road. August 29.-Went into camp. September 1.-In camp near Jerusalem plank road. September 2.-Went on a reconnaissance, passing through the infantry lines at Yellow Tavern, driving in the enemy's pickets on the Vaughan road, and then turning to the right, taking Poplar Spring road, finding nothing more than pickets until within half a mile of Boydton plank road, where the enemy was posted with artillery; withdrew and returned to camp same day. September 3.-Went on picket on plank road. September 6.-Relieved from picket; returned to camp; moved camp same p.m. September 12.-Went on picket on the left of plank road. brigade as far as Stony Creek, on the opposite side of which they were September 16.—Went in pursuit of rebel cavalry with the rest of the it was impossible to cross the creek; made an unsuccessful attempt. September 17.-Returned to camp. a strong pickets of the enemy and re-established former picket-lines. September 29.-Broke camp; marched to Yellow Tavern and from there to Wyatt's house, where the enemy's pickets were found and driven in. The regiment went on a reconnaissance to the Vaughan via Wyatt road, but were obliged to retire, as the enemy drove the line on our left back to the Wyatt road. September 30,-The regiment advanced on the Wyatt road and made a connection with the First Brigade, on the Vaughan road. No force was found in our immediate front; regiment picketed on flank of divis ion during the night. The regiment has marched 100 miles during the month [September]. SECOND PENNSYLVANIA CAVALRY. August 1.-Moved east of Prince George Court-House three miles, on the road to Fort Powhatan, and encamped; picketed the country and road in vicinity. |