HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., SECOND DIV., DIST. OF BEAUFORT, In the Field, March 11, 1865. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report the casualties in this brigade since a. m. of the 8th instant, as near as can be ascertained, as follows: On the 8th instant, killed, wounded, and missing, 23 officers and 861 enlisted men; on the 10th instant, wounded, 4 men; killed, 2 men; total, 890. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. H. H. THOMAS, CHÁS. L. UPHAM, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Div., Dist. of Beaufort. No. 268. Report of Col. Charles L. Upham, Fifteenth Connecticut Infantry, of operations March 2-8. HDQRS. FIFTEENTH CONNECTICUT VOL. INFANTRY, Kinston, N. C., April 15, 1865. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following as a partial report of the operations of this regiment during the month of March: Leaving Company K temporarily as provost guard, I marched from New Berue on the 2d with 20 officers and 700 men, reaching Core Creek about noon of the 3d, and picketed the crossing. The troops having come up, we were assigned to the Second Brigade, Second Division, District of Beaufort, of which brigade I assumed command. The Fif teenth, having a large number of recruits belonging to General Sherman's army assigned to it temporarily, was divided into two battalious for field service-the companies of the right wing and attached men forming the First Battalion, under Lieutenant-Colonel Tolles; the companies of the left wing and attached men the Second Battalion, under Major Osborne. On the 6th the army marched on Kinston, the Second Division, with the Second Brigade in advance, taking the Dover road. This road most of the way lay through swamps and was heavily blockaded by felled trees, which had to be cut through to allow the passage of the artillery and trains. No enemy was found until near Southwest Creek, when it was evident that they intended to dispute the passage of that stream, and held the crossing with the artillery and infantry well intrenched. About 2 p. m. of the 7th I was ordered to the left to relieve a portion of the Second Brigade, Second Division, then at Jackson's Mills. Arriving there, Companies A and I of the First Battalion were deployed as skirmishers, the remainder of the battalion furnishing the supports and the picket-line, connecting with the troops on our right, three-quarters of a mile distant. The other brigades of our division went into camp at Wise's Forks, a mile and a half in our rear; our left was covered by cavalry, who were directed to picket as far as the upper road, which would preclude the possibility of the enemy's passing our left unknown to us. There was occasional firing on both sides from artillery and on the skirmish line until dark. During the night the skirmish line, under Lieutenant-Colonel Tolles, was pushed forward to within 100 yards of the enemy's works and intrenched. About 10 a. in. of the 8th the enemy opened upon us with artillery, which was returned by our guns, and the skirmish line became briskly 174 engaged. Receiving information that a body of the enemy was moving From an aide-de-camp of General Bragg, who was present on the 8th and afterward taken prisoner, I learn that the rear attack was made by Hoke's (rebel) division, 6,000 strong. No information was received by me of the approach of the enemy, dispatches of the general commanding having fallen into the hands of the (rebels) enemy. I have to regret the loss of Captain Bassett. He was mortally wounded on the skirmish line just before the rear attack. He was a brave and faithful officer. Not having been able to receive reports from commanding officers, I am unable to give a more complete report. Will forward such casualties as are known. The regiment is at present on duty at this post. Brig. Gen. H. J. MORSE, CHARLES L. UPHAM, Colonel, Commanding Regiment. Adjutant-General, State of Connecticut. No. 269. Report of Lieut. Col. Henry Splaine, Seventeenth Massachusetts Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of operations March 8-10. HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., SECOND DIV., DIST. OF BEAUFORT, In the Field, near Kinston, N. C., March 13, 1865. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this brigade in the actions with the enemy at and near this position during the three days ending March 10, 1865: On the 8th instant Company D, Seventeenth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, commanded by Capt. Lewis Cann, which had the previous night been stationed on the British road, in rear of Colonel Upham's brigade, was attacked by the enemy in force, and after making a stout though prudent resistance retired, having suffered a loss of 2 non-commissioned [officers] and 3 privates. Captain Cann, with much skill and prudence, conducted his company in safety to the right, joining the command of General Palmer, and next day reached his regiment. On the same day, about 10 a. m., while the enemy was advancing on the main Dover road, I received an order to send a battalion of 200 men to assist in checking the advance of the enemy. I accordingly sent Maj. William W. Smith, Seventeenth Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, with Companies A, C, and F of that regiment, commanded, respectively, by Capts. James Splaine, John E. Mullally, and Charles O. Fellows. With this force Major Smith moved promptly toward the advance of the enemy, and engaged them with much spirit and effect. In the early part of this action Captain Splaine suggested the possibility of recapturing a piece of artillery lost by our retreating force, when Major Smith ordered him to make the attempt. He succeeded in reaching the gun and cutting the harness of the dead horses, but the enemy pressed him in such overwhelming force that the enter prise had to be abandoned. At this juncture the major commenced falling back from position to position, resisting the advance with varying success and, considering the heat of the fire, but slight loss on his part. During the fighting Lieutenant Sillars, Seventeenth Massachusetts Volunteers, in command of a pioneer and fatigue party from the brigade, was sent to the front to erect a breast-work in which our retir ing force might make a stand. This work was, however, only partially built when our force fell back to it, and a short stand was made, in which the working party bore an honorable part. This was the last stand made until our works were reached. From the report of Major Smith, I feel gratified in being able to make a favorable mention of Captain Splaine for his gallantry in the fight and his good management of his company. Though the major is too diffident to speak favorably of himself, I know from the reports of officers engaged, including an officer of General Carter's staff, that he behaved with the most distinguished gallantry and ability. Major Smith reports very favorably of Lieutenant Sillars. During the remainder of the day our skirmish line was kept busily engaged, and the enemy's artillery poured a steady fire on the line of works occupied by my brigade, killing a non-commissioned officer and seriously wounding one private of the Seventeenth Massachusetts Volunteers. On the 9th our skirmish line, composed of companies A, B, and C, Seventeenth Massachusetts Volunteers, a few men of Battery A, Third New York Artillery, and Captain Tucker's company (B), Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers, was busily engaged all day, sometimes driven by the enemy and sometimes driving him. On the 10th instant the skirmish line was hotly engaged offering a stubborn resistance to superior numbers. In the afternoon the enemy made an attack in force on the front of the line between the Trent road and my center. In this fight the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers was engaged, together with the left wing of the Seventeenth Massachusetts Volunteers, and all of Battery A. Third New York Artillery, which had been ordered to the Trent road to strengthen a part of the line at that point, which was fiercely attacked by the enemy. During this assault the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers lost 1 officer (Captain Forbes, who was severely wounded), 2 privates killed, and 2 noncommissioned officers and 2 privates wounded. The skirmishers of the Twenty-fifth Massachusetts behaved well, only retiring when forced back by the line of battle of the enemy. That portion of our line not engaged was still covered by skirmishers, who lost 5 men. When the enemy was assaulting our left I sent Captain Splaine with a squad of men to deploy a line of skirmishers perpendicularly to the enemy's line of battle. This movement, assisted by Lieutenant Smith's company (B), Seventeenth Massachusetts, opened on the enemy as he was retiring, and I think induced a number of the enemy's skirmishers to surrender who would otherwise have escaped. I am happy to report that all the officers of the brigade gave me their most hearty co-operation during these operations, particularly Captain Tucker, Twenty-fifth Massachusetts Volunteers, officer of the picket. Lieut. Col. Seventeenth Massachusetts Vol. Infty., Comdg. Capt. H. H. THOMAS, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Division, District of Beaufort. No. 270. Reports of Maj. Gen. John G. Foster, U. S. Army, commanding Department of the South, of operations January 1-February 1. HEADQUARTERS DEPARTMENT OF THE SOUTH, Hilton Head, S. C., January 8, 1865. GENERAL: I have the honor to report by this mail that everything remains in a satisfactory condition in this department. In Savannah and vicinity General Sherman's army is rapidly preparing for an offensive movement by getting in supplies, clothing, &c., and by a preparatory movement of troops. The full report of all that relates to this army will, without doubt, be fully communicated by General Sherman, for whose mail the Arago will be detained. Defensive works around Savannah for small garrisons are now in process of construction under the superintendence of Captain Poe, U. S. Engineers, and chief engineer of General Sherman's army. A landing for the supply of the army has been made at Thunderbolt on Wilmington River, from which point to the city a railroad is being rapidly laid. The draught of ten feet water at low tide can be carried up to this landing, which has the further advantage of so bold a shore as to enable vessels to land at wharves of only forty feet in length. The obstructions in the Savannah River are of so heavy a character that it will require many weeks to remove them. The most formidable are those at the head of Elba Island, crossing both the north and south channels. An opening had been made by the rebels in the south channel sufficient for the passage of a narrow boat, but these obstructions are continuous across the north channel, which is the deeper of the two, the south channel having on the flats below the mouth of Saint Augustine Creek only five feet of water at low tide. Although the passage of a vessel by the south channel as far as the mouth of Saint Augustine Creek, and thence through that creek can be made by a vessel drawing nine feet at low tide, yet the tortuous character of Saint Augustine Creek, between its mouth and Thunderbolt, where the stream receives the name of Wilmington River, the passage through the draws of two bridges that span this creek, and the getting around a large dry-dock which has been sunk in it, makes the navigation of this creek so difficult as to seriously interfere with anything like the rapid transmission of supplies through it. All heavy vessels, therefore, can better land at Thunderbolt until the obstructions in the north channel are removed. As great a quantity of supplies as can be lightered up in small steamers are brought from the heavy vessels anchored in the Savannah River below Elba Island. Some little delay has, however, been experienced in getting supplies to General Sherman's troops, arising in part from the novelty of the use of water transportation by General Easton, which, at the request of General Sherman, I have turned over to him for this purpose, and in part from the actual scarcity of these supplies. This latter, however, applies more particularly to forage which has not arrived as rapidly as was expected, nor in the quantity anticipated, from the notice in the letter of the Quartermaster-General of the amount to be shipped to this department. General Sherman proposes, on starting upon his contemplated march, to turn over the city of Savannah to my command, with such a force as will enable me, in addition to what I can spare, to hold the city. I propose to hold Thunderbolt Battery, Fort Barton, Forts Jackson and Lee, and Fort Boggs and the defenses in rear of the city, together with a small new work to be thrown up on the Union Causeway across the river. I propose to modify the old rebel works mentioned so that they may be held firmly by small garrisons. This can readily be done where the works are large, as in the case of Fort Barton, by cutting off a small portion of the work and forming it into an isolated citadel made by obstacles impregnable to assault. I propose to have a picket-line extending from the Little Ogeechee around to the Savannah River at a distance from the city varying from three miles and a half to twelve miles. I have no doubt that I can accomplish all that is required in the way of defense, especially as I hope to raise two or three regiments of colored troops from the negroes brought in with General Sherman's army. One army corps, the Seventeenth, has already been moved to Beaufort, preparatory to commencing its movement. As soon as this commences its movement, secures the first point, Pocotaligo, and commences the destruction of the railroad, I am, according to General Sherman's plan, to move my small force from the Tullifinny to Savannah in order to guard it when his whole army moves. As General Sherman's plan involves a thorough destruction of the Savannah and Charleston Railroad there will be no necessity for my maintaining a post on its line. In case of a future raid being attempted by a small force in this department, there are numberless points at which to land and commence forward movements. It is better to leave everything open so that the enemy may not know where we are coming. By holding a post in the interior we would give the enemy the advantage of barring by defensive works all avenues of advance from it. I have in another communication acknowledged in full your two letters of the 26th ultimo. The number of colored refugees, although not quite as great as supposed, is still very considerable. Several thousands have already been brought to this place and to Beaufort. As our islands are already as populous as the advantage of this people and their labor permit, I shall be forced to establish a colony on Edisto Island, extending to it military protection for this purpose. All these calls upon the small force of my command will so completely absorb it that I shall be forced to request leave to send all the prison |