New York Volunteers. Enemy's loss not known. We took some 14 or 15 prisoners. Our loss was over 40 killed and wounded. Our pickets found on arriving at the crest there was another deep ravine in their front flooded with water, rendering the position alre, dy gained nearly an island. Mine Run, in our immediate front, for men singly on foot, was impassable. They sank in water and mud nearly to their shoulders in crossing. JOHN NEWTON, Major-General HUMPHREYS, Chief of Staff ADDENDA. Major-General. HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, Commanding Officer First Corps: SIR: The major-general commanding desires to know whether the rifle-pits which your troops carried were not the small separate pits of the enemy's pickets and not those of his line of battle. Also, where these rifle-pits were, relative to Mine Run and the line of battle of the enemy as displayed the first day of our arrival at Mine Run. Also, what force of the enemy held them when your troops carried them, what loss you suffered in carrying them, and what loss the enemy suffered. If you desire to make any corrections or additions to your report, please submit them and they will be added. Very respectfully, A. A. HUMPHREYS. Major-General, and Chief of Staff. No. 5. Report of Brig. Gen. Lysander Cutler, U. S. Army, commanding First Division. HDQRS. FIRST DIVISION, FIRST ARMY CORPS, December 3, 1863. COLONEL: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of this division during the last eight days, in accordance with orders received from time to time from the corps commander: The division left camp at Rappahannock Station at 6 a. m., on the morning of the 26th ultimo, and moved to Culpeper Ford on the Rapidan, where I encamped for the night. At 3 o'clock I moved across the Rapidan to the Germanna plank road, when I came up with the Fifth Army Corps, and followed across to the Fredericksburg and Orange Court-House plank road. Just before reaching the plank road, the train of the Fifth Army Corps, which was unguarded, was attacked by rebel cavalry at a cross-roads in the dense forest of that neighborhood. Hearing the firing, I ordered Colonel Robinson, commanding the First Brigade, to push two regiments through the woods to the front and repel them. He promptly sent the Sixth and Second Wisconsin, one on the right and the other on the left of the road. The Sixth soon came upon the enemy and drove 44 R R-VOL XXIX, PT I them from the road, killing 2 and wounding others. They had, however, killed 2 teamsters, a number of mules, and run off about 20 wagons, and might have taken off the whole train but for the men I sent forward to rescue it. In the skirmish, the Sixth Wisconsin had 1 man severely and 1 slightly wounded. After clearing the road of the wrecks of the train, I moved forward to Parker's Store, where I halted until 4 p. m., when I moved across to the old turnpike to join the Second Army Corps, arriving at 8 p. m. I moved forward at 3.30 a. m. of the 28th, and took position in line of battle, relieving a division of the Second Army Corps. At about 9 o'clock I moved forward in two lines, with a strong skirmish line, to find the enemy, the Second Corps moving on my right and the Second Division of this corps on my left. We came up with the enemy's pickets near Mine Run, and found the enemy in position. I immediately took the position assigned me in line of battle, and remained so until the afternoon of December 1, when I pushed forward a force composed of a detachment of sharpshooters from the First Brigade, commanded by Captain Shipman, and 200 men from the Seventh Indiana Volunteers, under Major Welsh, across Mine Run, and dislodged the enemy from his rifle-pits and established my picket line far enough in advance to enable me to build two bridges across the run for the crossing of troops to attack the enemy's main position. I held the advance position until 3 o'clock the next morning, when I was ordered to fall back and destroy the bridges I had built. I should add that the picket line, composed of detachments from the Ninety-fifth and One hundred and forty-seventh New York Volunteers, and Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Volunteers, moved forward with the sharpshooters and the Seventh Indiana. I lost in the attack 3 killed, 33 wounded, and 7 missing (supposed to be killed or wounded). At 4 o'clock of the 1st, I moved back to Germanna Ford, and on the 2d to Stevensburg, thence to this place (Paoli Mills). Major Welsh, of the Seventh Indiana, and Captain Shipman, of the sharpshooters, are entitled to credit for their conduct. Captain Shipman charged the rifle-pits of the enemy, occupied by infantry, and drove them out, he being only armed with Sharps' rifles. The conduct of the whole command was satisfactory during the campaign, both officers and men being at all times ready to respond to any call or to execute any order which they received. I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, L. CUTLER, Brigadier-General, Commanding Division. Lieut. Col. C. KINGSBURY, JR., No. 6. Report of Lieut. Col. John E. Cook, Seventy-sixth New York Volunteers, Second Brigade. HDQRS. SEVENTY-SIXTH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS, SIR: I have the honor to report that this regiment broke its camp near Rappahannock Station at daylight on the 26th of November, and marched with the Second Brigade to Richardsville, and bivouacked for the night between that place and Culpeper Ford, on the Rapidan. Early the next morning it crossed the river, and marched southward to the plank road leading from Wilderness to Germanna Ford, where the column headed toward Fredericksburg. Passing Wilderness, a more southerly direction was again taken until the plank road to Orange Court-House was reached, when the march was directed to the latter place. After a halt the head of the column moved northward again, and then in an easterly direction, finally striking the Fredericksburg and Orange turnpike, about 2 miles east of Locust Grove, where it bivouacked for the night. On the following morning it moved forward to Locust Grove, and took a position in the line in the woods south of the pike. Soon after daylight the brigade was formed in order of battle in two lines, the Seventy-sixth New York Volunteers (on the left), Fourteenth New York State Militia (in the center), and the Ninety-fifth New York Volunteers (on the right), under the command of Col. E. B. Fowler, of the Fourteenth New York State Militia, forming the second line, and a general advance was made. The enemy, having fallen back, was followed to Mine Run, where he made a stand, and a halt was ordered. It was now raining, and the regiment was soon posted in the woods at some distance to the left of the pike and a few rods behind the artillery. Here it remained during the 29th and 30th of November, and until late in the afternoon of December 1. On the 28th of November, 1 officer and 45 men were sent out as pickets, and 45 more on the 29th. On the 1st of December, 3 officers and 135 men were sent out on picket, and about 4 in the afternoon the regiment started for Germanna Ford, and bivouacked at a late hour near that place. Early the next morning, December 2, it recrossed the Rapidan and marched to Stevensburg, near which place it bivouacked for the night, and the next day marched to [Paoli] Mills, on Mountain Creek, where it went into camp. On the 4th, it moved to near Kelly's Ford, and there went into camp. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOHN E. COOK, Lieut. Col., Comdg. Seventy-sixth N. Y. Volunteers. Capt. I. N. BURRITT, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 7. Report of Col. Edward B. Fowler, Eighty-fourth New York Infantry. HDQRS. FOURTEENTH REGIMENT N. Y. S. M., Near Kelly's Ford, Va., December 5, 1863. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report, as follows, the part taken by this regiment during the recent operations: The regiment marched, with the brigade, from camp near Beverly Ford at 6.30 a. m. on November 26. Crossed the Rappahannock on pontoon bridge at Rappahannock Station, and marched to Richardsville, near which place the regiment bivouacked in a dense pine woods at 8 p. m. Distance marched, about 15 miles. Aggregate of 230 officers and men present at morning and retreat roll call. On November 27, reveille was sounded at 2.30 a. m., and the command marched at 4 a. m., crossed the Rapidan River at Gold Mine Ford on pontoon bridge, and marched via Fairmount Gold Mines, Germanna Ford, and Fredericksburg plank road, a cross road bearing southerly, and the Fredericksburg and Orange plank road to Carter's [Parker's] Store. Halted at this place for dinner. After which, marched, via a wood road leading to Germanna Ford and turnpike road, to near Robertson's Tavern, and went into bivouac at 7.45 p. m. Distance marched, about 18 miles. Aggregate present at retreat, 222. On November 28, reveille was sounded at 2.30 a. m. Marched at 4 a. m., and at 5.30 a. m. formed in line of battle on the left and perpendicular to the road leading to Orange Court-House. The brigade was formed in two lines. I was assigned the command of the second line, which consisted of the Fourteenth New York State Militia, Seventy-sixth and Ninety-fifth New York Volunteers. At 8.30 a. m., during a severe rain-storm, the line was advanced, our skirmishers driving those of the enemy before them through swamps, dense woods, and over two lines of the enemy's earth-works to Mine Run, where the enemy was discovered in force in a strong position, and line of battle was formed by the army on his front. At 5.30 p. m. 1 captain and 13 men were detailed from this regiment for picket. Aggregate present at retreat, 229. On November 29, remained quiet in line of battle all day. No fighting except by the pickets. At 5 p. m. 1 lieutenant and 18 men detailed for picket duty. Aggregate present at 8 a. m., 225. On November 30, aroused at 4 a. m., to be ready to march at 5. At 8 a. m. the artillery on our front opened fire, which was not replied to by the enemy. A 9.30 a. m., by order from General Rice, I advanced with this regiment to make a reconnaissance of the stream on our front. I deployed the right wing as skirmishers, holding the left wing in reserve, advanced to the stream, crossed it with the line of skirmishers, and advanced to the brow of the hill, driving the enemy's pickets from their pits. I found the stream to be impassable for artillery, columns of troops, or horsemen, but that, it being only from 10 to 15 feet across, and there being much heavy oak timber growing on its banks, it could be easily bridged. I held this position for about half an hour, when, the enemy's pickets advancing on my flanks in force, I was ordered to withdraw and join the brigade. In withdrawing my skirmishers, I deployed the reserve along the banks of the stream to protect their recrossing, and succeeded in making the reconnaissance and returning to the brigade with the loss of only one, Sergeant Cookson, of Company C, slightly wounded. December 1, aroused at 6 a. m., to be ready to move at daylight. Aggregate present at 9 a. m., 226. Relieved by regiment of Fifth Corps, and at 4.45 p. m., with brigade, left Mine Run and marched via plank road to Germanna Ford, to cover crossing of Fifth and Sixth Corps. Bivouacked 11.30 p. m. Distance marched, about 10 miles. December 2, aroused at 5.30 a. m., to be ready to move at daylight. At 8 a. m. crossed Rapidan River at Germanna Ford or pontoon bridge, and massed in woods near Culpeper and Fredericksburg plank road. At 12 m. marched via plank road, and bivouacked near Stevensburg at 4.30 p. m. Distance, about 10 miles. Aggregate present at 6.30 p. m., 229. December 3, reveille at 7 a. m. Left bivouac at 8.30 a. m., and marched to near Paoli Mills, and encamped 11.30 a. m. Distance, about 5 miles. At 4 p. m. Major Head was detailed as field officer of the picket, also 18 men for picket duty. Aggregate present at retreat, 229, it being the same number present as when the regiment left camp near Bealeton Station, November 26, excepting one man wounded. December 4, reveille at 6.30 a. m., and at 9 a. m., marched and encamped near Kelly's Ford. Respectfully, E. B. FOWLER. Colonel, Comdg. Fourteenth New York State Militia. Capt. IRA N. BURRITT, Acting Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 8./ Report of Brig. Gen. John C. Robinson, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division. HDQRS. SECOND DIVISION, FIRST ARMY CORPS, December 3, 1863. COLONEL: On the 22d of November, this division was posted at Bealeton, Liberty, and Licking Run, and on the 23d it was concentrated near Rappahannock Station. At daylight on the 26th, it started on the march, crossed the Rapidan at Culpeper Ford after dark, and bivouacked until 3 o'clock next morning, when the march was resumed. About midnight I took up a position about a mile and a half to the left of Robertson's Tavern, and picketed one of the roads leading to the front. At daylight I moved the division about 1 mile to the right, and formed on the left of the First Division in two lines, with a reserve of four regiments and a double line of skirmishers. In this order the division advanced to the line afterward occupied by the army in front of the enemy's works on Mine Run. At this time there were no troops on my left, but the Third Corps, coming into position toward night, relieved my pickets on that flank. The enemy's works in my front appeared to be strong, and between us was a wide open space, with ravines, through which ran two streams, Mine Run and one of its branches. On the 30th, I was directed by the major-general commanding First Corps to advance my pickets across the stream in front, and build two bridges suitable for the passage of artillery and troops in column. The enemy's pickets occupied the crest of the hill immediately in front, and it became necessary to dislodge them. This was handsomely done by the Ninety-fourth Regiment of New York Volunteers, under Major Moffett, which advanced to the stream, exposed to severe musketry fire, crossed it, and, charging up the hill, drove away the rebel pickets, and took possession of the crest. Working parties were immediately set at work, who by night had completed two bridges, and were proceeding to build others, when I received orders to suspend the work, and, during the night, to withdraw my pickets to the position they occupied in the morning. The only casualties in the division are a few men wounded. At 4 o'clock on the afternoon of the 1st of December, the division |