the same manner. Majors Hudson and Wailes, of my staff, still suffering with more than one wound received at my side, nevertheless continue to render most gallant, efficient, and untiring service. Captains Rawle and Ryan had also won more than ordinary commendation. Colonel Grigsby, my chief of staff; Captain Steele, chief engineer; Major Norton, chief quartermaster; Major Thomas, chief commissary, and Surgeon Lewis, medical director, and Colonel Messick, provostmarshal, had been efficient in their several departments. To all these officers I tender my most heartfelt thanks. With great respect, your obedient servant, J. WHEELER, Lieutenant-General. No. 305. Report of Capt. William L. Church, Ninth Georgia Cavalry, commanding Mounted Detachment, Army of Northern Virginia, of operations January 3-17. HEADQUARTERS MOUNTED DETACHMENT, ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA, CAPTAIN: I have the honor hereby to transmit through you to the major-general commanding the subjoined report of the operations of this command while in the vicinity of Pocotaligo, S. C.: Arriving upon the 3d day of January and having been assigned to Colonel Colcock, commanding cavalry, I was by him given for picket the line from the Mackay's Point road, south of Pocotaligo River, north to the Tullifinny, and in front of that portion of the line held by the brigades commanded by Colonels Hardy and Fiser. My line was kept up without molestation from the enemy, and the duty performed with vigilance and attention by both officers and men. Upon the morning of the 14th instant, the enemy having effected a landing at Port Royal Ferry, I was moved with my command down toward that point, and placed with Lieutenant-Colonel Johnson, commanding Third South Carolina Cavalry, in the works at Horspa Creek, near Garden's Cross-Roads. The enemy appeared in my front at 10 a. m., when skirmishing at long range took place, without loss to either side, and continued till 3 p. m., when, the enemy having brought up their artillery and were heavily shelling us, and our flank having been turned by the force on the Sheldon road having been driven back, we were ordered to retire by Colonel Johnson, which we did in good order and without being pressed by the enemy. Upon arriving at the fort at Old Pocotaligo, we were again placed in position. One of my companies, having been thrown forward as skirmishers, engaged the enemy until nightfall, when they were withdrawn to the fort. Half of my command was then dismounted and the others sent to the station to feed the horses, by orders from Colonel Colcock. I remained in the fort until 3 a. m. 15th instant, when I was ordered by Colonel Colcock to withdraw my command on the McPhersonville road, after destroying the rice on Heyward's plantation. I withdrew my command as directed and retired without being annoyed by the enemy, reaching McPhersonville at daylight the 15th. Here I established my pickets from Coosawhatchie River to the Salkehatchie road. My scouts were driven out of Pocotaligo Station at about 8 a. m. the 15th instant. Upon the same evening I was relieved and ordered to report to Major-General McLaws, which I did January 17. No casualties occurred in the skirmishes in which I was engaged, owing to the works we occupied and the long range at which we were engaged. 1 am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. L. CHURCH, Captain, Commanding. Captain ELLIOTT, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 306. Report of Col. John N. Whitford, Sixty-seventh North Carolina Infantry, commanding brigade, of operations April 5-7. HEADQUARTERS WHITFORD'S BRIGADE, In the Field, April 9, 1865. COLONEL: I have the honor to respectfully report that on the 5th instant Lieutenant Marshall, Company F, Sixty-seventh North Carolina Regiment, burned the steamer Mystic, near Maple Cypress. On the same day Captain Tolson, Company A, Sixty-seventh Regiment, destroyed a transport loaded with commissary stores near Cowpen Landing, and on the 7th instant four privates of Company A, Sixtyseventh Regiment, viz, George Hill, Turner May, William Salter, and R. Brewer, captured and destroyed (burned) 1 side wheel steamer, the Minquas, and 2 barges, all loaded with quartermaster's and commissary stores. Very little was saved from the boats. On the 5th instant Capt. Joseph M. White, Company E, Sixty-seventh Regiment, captured 15 negroes and 2 Yankees at Biddle's Ferry engaged in trying to raise a sunken craft. The reason I have not forwarded to you a report of my command is because the companies and regiments are scattered so far apart that it is impossible to get a report from them. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Col. J. B. SALE, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Raleigh, N. C. No. 307. Report of Capt. John A. Simon, C. S. Army, of operations January 15. TORPEDO BUREAU, Richmond, Va., January 26, 1865. Hon. JAMES A. SEDDON, Secretary of War: SIR: I have the honor to inclose herewith the official report of Capt. John A. Simon, in charge of Torpedo Service in the harbor of Charleston, S. C., setting forth the facts of the late destruction of a monitor (turreted) which the enemy had been using as a picket-boat in that locality. G. J. RAINS, Brigadier-General, Superintendent. [Indorsement.] JANUARY 26, 1865. It is gratifying to have this additional evidence of the value of the Torpedo Service, and of the retribution which, through its agency, may be inflicted on the vessels of the enemy. J. A. SEDDON, Secretary. [Inclosure.] TORPEDO SERVICE, Charleston, January 17, 1865. GENERAL: I have the honor to report the destruction of one of the enemy's monitors on the night of the 15th instant by a torpedo in Charleston Harbor. I had been engaged for some ten days before placing torpedoes in the locality where the monitor was struck. For some time past the enemy's picket-monitors have been in the habit of venturing much closer in the harbor than usual, and it has been my ambition to teach them a lesson, as well as our friends, upon the subject of torpedoes, and it is a pleasure to me to announce that one of these turreted monsters has met a fitting fate. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, Brig. Gen. G. J. RAINS, JOHN A. SIMON, Captain, in Charge Torpedo Service. Chief of Torpedo Bureau, Richmond, Va. FEBRUARY 5, 1865.-Action at Braddock's Farm, near Welaka, Fla. Report of Capt. J. J. Dickison, Second Florida Cavalry. HEADQUARTERS SOUTH FLORIDA FORCES, Waldo, East Fla., February 9, 1865. MAJOR: I have the honor respectfully to report that on the morning of the 1st instant I left this encampment with the following detachment of my command: Company H, Second Florida Cavalry Regiment, sixtyfour men, commanded by Lieutenants McCardell and McEaddy; Company B, of same regiment, thirty-three men, commanded by Lieutenant McLeod; Company H, Fifth Florida Battalion, twenty-three men, commanded by Lieutenants Haynes, Brantley, and Haile. On the evening of the 2d instant I crossed the Saint John's River at Palatka and moved in the direction of Picolata. When within a mile of the post I found it impracticable to make a successful attack. I then made a flank move in the direction of Saint Augustine and Jacksonville, where I captured seventeen prisoners, including a captain and lieutenant, with an ambulance. I then learned that a raiding party had left Saint Augustine for Valencia. Dividing my command in two parties, sending one by the King's road toward Pallicier Creek, the other by Cowpen Branch, my advance met a small party of the enemy and captured one of them. We continued our march and met the enemy at Braddock's farm, where I engaged them, taking 51 prisoners (including a lieutenantcolonel and two captains), killing 4 men (including an adjutant), also 18 deserters and tories, 10 wagons and teams with seed cotton (about 9,000 pounds), and a number of small arms and horses. I recrossed the river on the 6th instant without the loss of a man. My officers and men behaved most gallantly, and deserve the highest praise for their conduct and obedience to orders. The march was very hard and fatiguing, having undergone hard travel both night and day to accomplish my design. I sent in all 68 Yankee prisoners and 18 deserters. All of which is respectfully submitted. I am, major, yours, respectfully, Maj. H. C. GOLDTHWAITE, Assistant Adjutant-General. J. J. DICKISON, Captain, Commanding Forces. ALTERNATE DESIGNATIONS OF ORGANIZATIONS MENTIONED IN THIS VOLUME.* Abell's (Henry F.) Artillery. See Milton Artillery, post, Battery B. Abercrombie's (Robert H.) Infantry. See Alabama Troops, Confederate, 1st Regiment, Consolidated. Abernethy's (Alonzo) Infantry. See Iowa Troops, 9th Regiment. Acker's (George S.) Cavalry. See Michigan Troops, 9th Regiment. Adams' (Warren) Heavy Artillery. See South Carolina Troops, 3d Regiment. Anderson's (John H.) Infantry. See North Carolina Troops, Confederate, 2d Regiment, Junior Reserves. Anderson's (Ruel Wooten) Artillery. See Georgia Troops. Andress' (Charles A.) Infantry. See Illinois Troops, 55th Regiment. Appel's (Charles A.) Cavalry. See Charles A. Appel. Arey's (John H.) Infantry. See New Jersey Troops, 13th Regiment. See New York Troops, 136th Regiment. See North Carolina Troops, Confederate, 13th Battal Babbitt's (George S.) Infantry. See Indiana Troops, 23d Regiment. Baird's (George W.) Infantry. See Union Troops, Colored, 32d Regiment. Baker's (John J.) Infantry. See Michigan Troops, 19th Regiment. Baldwin's (Oliver L.) Cavalry. See Kentucky Troops, Union, 5th Regiment. Ballenger's (Marcus R.) Infantry. See Georgia Troops, 23d Regiment. Barney's (Albert M.) Infantry. See New York Troops, 142d Regiment. Barrier's (Rufus A.) Infantry. See North Carolina Troops, Confederate, 8th Regiment. Battey's (Frederick A.) Infantry. See Illinois Troops, 57th Regiment. Beach's (Benjamin) Infantry. See Iowa Troops, 11th Regiment. Beaufort Artillery. See South Carolina Troops. Beck's (Frederick) Infantry. See Ohio Troops, 108th Regiment. Beebe's (Yates V.) Artillery. See Wisconsin Troops, 10th Battery. References, unless otherwise indicated, are to index following. ↑ Provisional command. 72 R R-VOL XLVII, PT I (1137) |