I send herewith reports of battery commanders, all of which are respectfully submitted. I remain, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Major and Chief of Artillery, Twentieth Corps. Lieut. Col. H. W. PERKINS, Assistant Adjutant-General, Twentieth Corps. No. 206. Report of Capt. Charles E. Winegar, First New York Light Artillery, Chief of Artillery, of operations April 10-May 27. HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, TWENTIETH ARMY CORPS, Near Washington, D. C., May 27, 1865. COLONEL: In compliance with circular from corps headquarters, dated May 25, 1865, I have the honor to submit the following report of the batteries under my command, also the reports of the different officers commanding batteries, which I herewith inclose: At 6 a. m. on the morning of April 10, 1865, the batteries broke camp near Goldsborough, N. C.; about 10 a. m. came up to the enemy's cavalry posted in a dense wood. One section of Knap's (Pennsylvania) battery was ordered forward on the skirmish line; after firing a few shots they withdrew to take up other positions. This they continued to do during the day, we driving them as often as they took positions. During the day we crossed Pole Cat and Moccasin Creeks, having a very lively skirmish at the latter place, but with no casualties; using during the day's skirmish sixteen rounds of ammunition; closing the day by bivouacking on Atkinson's plantation. On the morning of the 11th we resumed our march toward Raleigh, crossing Boorden's Creek, arriving at Smithfield at 12 m., camping here for the night. On the morning of the 12th we started at 5 a. m. toward Raleigh, where we arrived on the 13th, crossing en route the Neuse River, Swift Creek twice, once about two miles from Smithfield, the other time about fourteen miles. On the 22d the corps was reviewed by Major-General Sherman. On the 25th the batteries moved up to Jones' Cross-Roads, having remained in Raleigh since the 13th. Left Jones' Cross-Roads on the 28th, and returned to Raleigh, where we remained until the morning of April 30. April 30, took up our line of march in the direction of Richmond, Va., crossing en route the Neuse, Tar, Roanoke, Meherrin, Big and Little Nottoway, and Appomattox Rivers, passing through Williamsborough and Blacks and Whites, and camping on Falling Creek, about seven miles from Richmond. May 11, resumed march toward Alexandria, Va., passing through Manchester, across the James River, through Richmond, camping near Cloud's Mills, crossing en route the South Anna, New Found, Little, North Anna, Mat, Ta, Po, Rappahannock, and Bull Run Rivers, passing through the towns of Ashland, Spotsylvania, Chancellorsville, Brentsville, and Fairfax Station. On the morning of May 24 passed Fairfax Seminary, crossing the Potomac River at Long Bridge, passing in review through the city of Washington, up Pennsylvania avenue, thence to our present camp about three miles from the Capitol building on the Bladensburg pike, where the batteries now remain. Memoranda: Horses lost on campaign, 141; horses drawn from quartermaster's department, 3; corn taken, 200 bushels; bacon taken, 100 pounds; flour taken, 100 pounds; meal taken, 100 pounds. All of which is respectfully submitted. Lieut. Col. H. W. PERKINS, CHAS. E. WINEGAR, Captain and Chief of Artillery. Assistant Adjutant-General, Twentieth Corps. No. 207. Reports of Capt. Charles E. Winegar, Battery I, First New York Light Artillery, of operations January 18-March 25. HDQRS. BATTERY I, FIRST NEW YORK ARTILLERY, Near Goldsborough, N. C., March 25, 1865. LIEUTENANT: In compliance with instructions from artillery headquarters, Twentieth Army Corps, I have the honor to submit the following report of engagements participated in by this battery during the recent campaign just closed; also tabular statement showing casualties and kinds of ammunition used: The battery broke camp at Savannah, Ga., January 18, 1865, crossing the river at that point and joining the Third Division, Twentieth Army Corps, at Hardeeville, S. C. During the day one section under Lieutenant Scott was sent down to the river at Purysburg and put in position, remaining there until the morning of January 29, 1865, when the battery again broke camp, marching with the troops of the Third Division, Twentieth Army Corps, until the afternoon of February 2, 1865. When near Lawtonville, S. C., found the enemy's dismounted cavalry strongly posted in the skirts of a dense swamp, when one section was ordered by Maj. J. A. Reynolds to be brought forward and put in position, firing twelve rounds with no casualties. The command was not again engaged until March 2, 1865, when a section was placed in position on a hill, near Chesterfield Court-House, S. C., where the enemy was strongly posted on the opposite side of Johnson's [Thompson's?] Creek, both with artillery and dismounted cavalry; after firing thirteen rounds caused him to withdraw his artillery without loss to us. On the morning of the 3d day of March we again moved with the troops of the Twentieth Army Corps, marching with the different divisions until the morning of the 16th day of March, 54 R B-VOL XLVII, PT I when the battery was next engaged near Averasborough, S. C., firing 172 rounds; loss, 3 horses wounded. On the morning of the 17th found the enemy had abandoned his works. We were ordered to accompany the Third Division, Twentieth Army Corps, in the direction of Raleigh, as far as Averasborough, for the purpose of covering the flank of the main column moving on the Goldsborough road. On the morning of the 18th we joined the main column and marched with the troops of the Twentieth Army Corps in the direction of Bentonville. When near this place on the 19th day of March the battery was again engaged, firing fifty-six rounds with no casualties. On the morning of March 22 found the enemy had evacuated the night before. We again marched toward Goldsborough, via Cox's Bridge, where we arrived on the 24th, and now in camp about one mile and a half northwest of the town.* Ali of which is respectfully submitted. CHAS. E. WINEGAR, Captain, First New York Artillery, Commanding Battery I. Lieut. W. H. MICKLE, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Arty. Brig., Twentieth Army Corps. HDQRS. BATTERY I, FIRST NEW YORK ARTILLERY, Near Goldsborough, N. C., March 25, 1865. LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report the following as an approximate statement of horses captured, abandoned, died, &c.; also commissaries and quartermaster's stores captured during the campaign just closed: Horses captured Mules captured.. Horses abandoned. 37 14 9 12 19 12 .tons. 2 ..do. ..do.. 40 30 pounds.. 4, 500 barrels.. 30 ..do... ..do... 2 CHAS. E. WINEGAR, Captain, First New York Artillery, Commanding Battery I. Lieut. W. H. MICKLE, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Arty. Brig., Twentieth Army Corps. No. 208. Report of Lieut. Warren L. Scott, Battery I, First New York Light Artillery, of operations April 10-May 26. HDQRS. BATTERY I, FIRST NEW YORK ARTILLERY, Near Washington, D. C., May 26, 1865. SIR: In complaince with circular from corps headquarters, office chief of artillery, May 26, I have the honor to submit the following *Tabular statement of ammunition expended (here omitted) embodied in Reynolds' report, p. 847. I report of the operations of Battery I, First New York Artillery, since leaving Goldsborough, N. C.: The command left camp at 6 a. m. on the morning of the 10th of April, marching in a northwesterly direction toward Raleigh, which place we reached at about 12 m. April 13, crossing the Moccasin and Swift Creeks en route, passing through the village of Smithfield. Remained in camp until the morning of April 25, when we marched to Jones' Cross-Roads, bivouacking two days. The command returned to Raleigh preparatory to a movement northward. Left the State capital on the morning of April 30, moving in the direction of Richmond, crossing en route the Neuse, Tar, Roanoke, Meherrin, Big and Little Nottoway, and Appomattox Rivers, passing through Williamsborough and Blacks and Whites, and camped in the vicinity of Manchester, Va., May 9, 1865. Resumed march May 11, passing through Manchester, across James River, through Richmond in a northerly direction toward Alexandria, camping near Fairfax Seminary, May 19, crossing en route the South Anna, New Found, and Little, North Anna, Po, Rappahannock, and Bull Run, passing through Ashland, Brentsville, and Fairfax Station. On the morning of May 24 crossed Long Bridge, passing in review through the city of Washington and camped about three miles northeast from the Capitol, where the command now remains. Memorandum: Number of horses lost on campaign, 41; horses captured, none; bushels of corn taken, 100. No subsistence stores were foraged. All of which is respectfully submitted. W. L. SCOTT, First Lieut., First New York Arty., Comdg. Battery I. Lieut. EDWARD HAMMANN, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Artillery Brigade, Twentieth Corps. No. 209. Reports of Lieut. Edward P. Newkirk, Battery M, First New York Light Report of operations of Battery M, First New York Light Artillery, from January 17 to March 25, 1865: On the 17th of January, 1865, the command left Savannah, crossing the river with a portion of the troops of First Division. January 19, passed through Hardeeville and camped near Purysburg, remaining in camp some nine days. January 29, entered Robertsville. February 7, crossed Augusta and Savannah Railroad. February 11, crossed South Edisto River. February 12, placed pieces in position on bank of South Edisto River, remaining in position during night, and crossing next morning. February 17, crossed Saluda River. Feb. ruary 20, crossed Broad River. February 22, placed pieces in position covering Rocky Mount Ferry on Wateree River, and crossed next morning. February 27, crossed Hanging Rock Creek. 28th, crossed Little Lynch's Creek. March 2, crossed Big and Little Black Creeks and passed through Chesterfield Court-House. March 6, passed through Cheraw and crossed Great Pedee River. 9th, crossed Lumber Creek. 11th, crossed Rockfish Creek. 13th, passed in review through Fayetteville and crossed Cape Fear River. March 16, enemy made a stand near Averasborough. Placed battery in position about 10 a. m. Opened fire at a range of about 500 yards. Expended forty-five rounds, when his first line was carried by a brigade of the Third Division, leaving in our hands one light 12-pounder gun, a 12-pounder howitzer, several limbers, one caisson body and some harness. The gun was afterward turned on him (worked by First Sergeant Hood and two men of this command under the supervision of the chief of artillery), and some twenty rounds of his own ammunition fired at him. About 4 p. m. placed pieces in position on skirmish line and remained there until morning (without firing), when the enemy was found to have evacuated his works. An attempt was made the next day to burst the captured 12-pounder gun. Two cartridges were inserted, the bore filled with sand and pounded bricks, and the charge fired by a slow match, the piece being in a nearly vertical position. The only effect seemed to be the driving of the gun into the ground for more than half its length. As the battery was ordered to move a shell was rammed into the bore, the piece spiked and abandoned, and the carriage burned. March 18, crossed Black River. March 19, enemy again made a stand in front of Fourteenth Corps, near Bentonville, and at one time broke through its line, creating some confusion. The Twentieth Corps being brought up to its support, the batteries were placed in position, and the enemy, failing after several desperate charges to break the line, fell back behind his works after dark. In this engagement 133 rounds were expended. On the night of the 21st the enemy evacuated a strong position, and on the morning of the 22d the battery marched. March 23, crossed Neuse River, and on the 24th passed in review through Goldsborough and camped about three miles from the town. Estimate of subsistence obtained from country. Ammunition expended. Location. Date. Jan. 29 Mar. 16 Mar. 19 |