General Abbott wished me to use my own discretion in maneuvering, and engage the enemy when I found them, but requested me not to press them so closely as to bring on a general engagement, and also to be careful, if I crossed the lagoon near the head of Myrtle Sound, of our right flank, as the enemy might have a force in Half-Moon Battery, about half a mile farther up the beach. Moved forward, and when near the lagoon, no force appearing in the battery, we crossed by making a left half-wheel, then moving a short distance by the left flank. I then halted the line and with Captain Edgerly personally reconnoitered and found the enemy in some force behind the same rifle-pits captured from them on the 19th of January, with additional work on their left and abatis in front. We decided to strengthen the skirmish line by sending Lieutenant Ackerman, with twenty men, to our left flank, which would enfilade the enemy on their right, and move forward. Did so, and when within a few yards of the pits discovered they were very well manned, but thought the firing was not very severe. I was undecided for a moment what further course to pursue, as my directions were not to bring on a general engagement; but I knew if we remained as we were, in an open field, within thirty yards of an enemy well protected, we must suffer severely, and having entire confidence in the men, and knowing Captain Edgerly would do his work, I decided to charge the pits, and within perhaps three minutes we had possession of the work and sixty-four prisoners, which was nearly the number our line consisted of. The promptness of Lieutenant Ackerman in enfilading the left and Captain Edgerly in moving to the right on gaining the work rendered it impossible for the greater portion of the enemy to retreat. Lieutenant Giddings promptly moved up the reserve and planted our colors on the work, sent the prisoners to the rear, threw out vedettes, and proceeded to learn our casualties, which, to my surprise, I found to be only one man wounded in the head. This slight loss cannot be attributed to anything but the extreme promptness and good conduct of the men in getting possession of the work after the order was given.

The brigade now moved up and I was again ordered to advance. We were now in plain view of the enemy's works. Moved a little to the right and across an open field and there met a severe fire, but moved rapidly and obtained cover in the edge of a belt of woods, not more than sixty yards from the enemy's works, which we found to be well manned. Here the undergrowth and swamp rendered it impossible for a farther advance with anything like concert or safety. I therefore halted and reported circumstances. The position was looked over by staff officers of General Abbott and General Ames. It was, I believe, decided that a farther advance with a skirmish line was impracticable, and the object of the reconnaissance having, I think, been accomplished, the line was withdrawn about sunset. I returned with my command to the rifle-pits and was ordered to remain on picket, the other force having been withdrawn.

My casualties in the second advance was 1 man killed and 4 wounded. I beg leave to further say that in my opinion too much credit cannot be given Captain Edgerly and Lieutenant Ackerman for their conduct throughout the day, though I believe all did their duty.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. H. TRICKEY,

Captain, Third New Hampshire Vols., Commanding Regiment.

Capt. E. LEWIS MOORE,

Asst. Adjt. Gen., 2d Brig., 1st Div., 24th Army Corps.

No. 235.

Report of Bot. Maj. Gen. Adelbert Ames, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division, of operations February 8-April 16.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, TENTH ARMY CORPS,

Raleigh, N. C., April 16, 1865. MAJOR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my command since February 8, 1865:

February 11, division left camp and moved against enemy's line of works across Federal Point. February 12, moved up sea beach with a view to turning the enemy's position east of Cape Fear River. February 14, moved up sea beach second time with the same object in view as above. February 15, returned to camp. February 17, division crossed Cape Fear River to Smithfield. February 18, division moved at 12 m., and reported to Major-General Cox, near Fort Anderson. February 19, crossed Cape Fear River during night and reported to General Terry. February 20, marched toward Wilmington. February 21, received orders to feel right of enemy's line resting on Cape Fear River. Made a demonstration and found them strong. During night returned to camp left in morning. February 22, marched into Wilmington and to Northeast Station. First Brigade ordered to move out one mile and a half on New Berne road.

March 2, First and Third Brigades moved toward Wilmington and went into camp at Smith's Creek, one mile and a half from the city. March 15, left Wilmington and passed night at Northeast Station. March 16, passed night near Burgaw Creek. March 17, passed night at South Washington. March 18, passed night near Island Creek. March 19, passed night near Naunouga Creek. March 20, passed night near Falling Creek. March 21, passed night near Cox's Bridge. March 25, marched to Faison's Depot. March 26, Third Brigade ordered to Magnolia.

April 9, Third Brigade returned to Faison's Depot. April 10, left Faison's Depot and camped for the night near Falling Creek. Two hundred and third Pennsylvania Volunteers ordered to proceed to guard supply train at Cox's Bridge. April 11, passed night two miles west of Hannah's Creek. April 12, camped thirty miles from Raleigh. Second Brigade ordered to await arrival of supply train and then move forward with it. April 13, spent night near Swift Creek. April 14, arrived at Raleigh.

My entire command is now in camp at this point. A nominal list of casualties during the entire period comprised in the above has already been forwarded.

ADELBERT AMES,

Brevet Major-General, Commanding. Maj. ADRIAN TERRY, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Tenth Army Corps.

No. 236.

Report of Brig. Gen. Charles J. Paine, U. S. Army, commanding Third Division, of operations February 8-April 24.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, TENTH ARMY CORPS,

Near Raleigh, N. C., April 21, 1865.

MAJOR: In response to your letter of instructions of the 15th instant I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my command since February 8, 1865:

February 11, the division broke camp on Federal Point, where it had remained after the capture of Fort Fisher, and moved toward the

enemy's line at Sugar Loaf, the Second Brigade, Col. J. W. Ames commanding, having the advance. After a brisk skirmish, in which the division suffered a loss of 2 commissioned officers and 14 men killed, and 7 commissioned officers and 69 men wounded, Lieutenant-Colonel Rogers, commanding Fourth U. S. Colored Troops, with his regiment deployed as skirmishers, drove the enemy very handsomely from his intrenched picket-line into his main works. The division constructed a line of works at this point and occupied them until the morning of the 19th of February, when the enemy retiring from his line in our front, the division moved into the rebel works. At this point instructions were received from Major-General Terry to follow the retreating enemy, and the Third Brigade, Col. E. Wright commanding, followed by Myrick's battery and the Second Brigade, immediately moved up the telegraph road toward Wilmington. The march toward Wilmington was unopposed during the 19th, but on the 20th we had brisk skirmishing with the enemy, and about 3 o'clock on the afternoon of that day, when about five miles below Wilmington, came upon an earth-work well manned and showing artillery. The Fifth Regiment of the Third Brigade deployed as skirmishers and was ordered forward to reconnoiter the enemy's position, and a sharp skirmish ensued, in which our loss was 1 officer and 1 man killed, and 3 officers and 48 men wounded, including Col. E. Wright, the commander of the Third Brigade.

The enemy's fire along our whole front was found to be that of a single rank or a little more, and his artillery fire was from six or seven guns. A line of intrenchments was then thrown up covering the position of my division on the south side of the telegraph road. The enemy evacuated his line on the night of the 21st, and the division entered Wilmington at 9 o'clock on the morning of February 22. After a short halt beyond the city, in obedience to orders from Major-General Terry, my column, preceded by Brevet Brigadier-General Abbott's brigade, moved forward on the road to Northeast Station. The column encountered no opposition until late in the afternoon, when about a mile from the enemy's pontoon bridge across Northeast River his skirmishers were discovered. The Fourth Regiment of the Second Brigade was promptly thrown forward as skirmishers on the left, with Myrick's battery, Abbott's brigade, Twenty-fourth Corps, being on the right. After a few well-directed shots from the battery, the whole line moved forward, drove the enemy across the river, his pontoons being secured uninjured by General Abbott. The railroad bridge immediately below had been destroyed by the enemy before our advance arrived in sight of it. On the march the headquarters of the First Brigade, the One hundred and seventh Regiment, and several detachments from the Army of the James joined the division at Northeast Station.

March 16, crossed the Northeast River on the pontoon bridge captured February 22 and marched north to Burgaw Creek. March 17, made South Washington. 18th, Island Creek. 19th, reached a point eight miles northwest of Kenansville. 20th, made a march of twenty miles. 21st, arrived at Cox's Bridge, on the Neuse River, and during the night of that day the Second Brigade, Bvt. Brig. Gen. S. A. Duncan commanding, crossed the river on pontoons and intrenched. On 22d March the First Brigade was also thrown across the river and a more extensive line constructed. March 24, the enemy made a reconnaissance in considerable force in our front and made a vigorous attack, opening some artillery upon our picket-line. The attack was repulsed with small loss. On the evening of March 24 the division was with

drawn from the north side of the Neuse, and on the 25th marched to Faison's Depot, on the Wilmington and Weldon Railroad, where it remained in camp until the morning of April 10, when it broke camp and marched northwestward toward Bentonville. Passed Bentonville on the 11th, and with easy marches on the three following days arrived at Raleigh on the afternoon of the 14th instant. The troops went into camp about a mile south of the city, and orders were received to march through the city at 9 o'clock on the morning of the 15th, passing in review before Major-General Sherman. This order was countermanded on the morning of the 15th, and on the afternoon of that day and the morning of the 16th the camps of the First and Third Brigades were removed to better ground.

April 20, the division broke camp and marched through Raleigh, passing in review before Major-General Sherman. After the review it encamped near the main Smithfield road, about two miles outside of the city, where it now is.

I am, major, very respectfully your obedient servant,
C. J. PAINE,

Maj. C. H. GRAVES,

Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding.

Assistant Adjutant-General, &c.

ADDENDA.

Casualties in the Second Division, Twenty-fourth Army Corps, and Third Division, Twentyfifth Army Corps, February 19 to 22, 1865.

Command.

SECOND DIVISION, TWENTY-FOURTH ARMY CORPS.

203d Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers

48th Regiment New York Volunteers

47th Regiment New York Volunteers 76th Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers 9th Regiment Maine Volunteers

4th Regiment New Hampshire Volunteers 115th Regiment New York Volunteers

Total

THIRD DIVISION, TWENTY-FIFTH ARMY CORPS.

Second Brigade.

4th U. S. Colored Troops 6th U. S. Colored Troops.

Third Brigade.

1st U. S. Colored Troops 5th U. S. Colored Troops. 10th U. S. Colored Troops.

Total

3

12

1

2

1

22

10

37

51

No. 237.

Abstract from journal of Maj. Gen. Jacob D. Cox, U. S. Army.

*

*

Friday, February 3, 1865.—Go to Alexandria and spend the day in shipping the troops. Sleep on board ship, expecting to start at daylight.

Saturday, February 4.-Fog delays us, but we get off at 10 o'clock, General Schofield going with us. Only two brigades going with me, Casement being sent to Annapolis to embark there. The ice is very bad, but we get down as far as the Kettle Bottom Shoals, where we anchor for the night, the channel being too dangerous for so large a ship to pass in the darkness. Our ship is the Atlantic, formerly a Liverpool and New York steam-packet (Collins line).

Sunday, February 5.-Weigh anchor at daybreak and have a very pleasant and calm voyage to Fortress Monroe, where we stop to take in ammunition. I land and pass through the fort by moonlight.

* * *

Monday, February 6.-Leave Hampton Roads at 3 o'clock in the morning and put out to sea. The wind continues off-shore so that the sea is unusually smooth. Pass Cape Hatteras about 5 o'clock in the afternoon. The weather is still fair and mild for the season. Tuesday, February 7.—Wake in the morning to find the ship pitching heavily and hear the noise of the rain falling heavily on deck over my head. About 10 o'clock, the rain having stopped, I went on deck and found the sea running high and a heavy fog shutting out all distant view. We are said to be off Fort Fisher, our place of destination, but the thickness of the fog prevents us from running in. About 2 o'clock we anchor in about nine fathoms of water and lie until about 5, when the fog lifting we run in and anchor off the fort about a inile from shore, in seven fathoms.

Wednesday, February 8.-General Schofield went ashore this morning and most of our troops were landed, but no baggage could be got out, in consequence of the roughness of the sea, which was too great for tugs to come alongside. The troops were transferred in small boats. As there is no accommodation on shore I remain on board until our tents can be got out. General Schofield makes his headquarters on a steamer in the river.

Thursday, February 9.-Still too rough to land baggage. Troops all get ashore by transferring them in small boats to the steam-tugs. About sundown the sea went down so that a propeller can lie alongside, and the baggage is transferred to her. We go on board of her about midnight.

Friday, February 10.—After an uncomfortable night in a very dirty bunk on the propeller we pass in over the bar at high-tide-8 o'clock. We find, however, that the propeller draws too much water to get to shore and ourselves and baggage have to be transferred again to a little steam-tug, which manages at last to reach the little dock. We land on a narrow tongue of land called Federal Point, between Cape Fear River and the sea. Visit General Schofield and Admiral Porter on the flag ship of the squadron. An advance arranged for to-morrow, in which I am to support General Terry's troops.

Saturday, February 11.-Advance made as arranged yesterday. The enemy are driven within their breast-works. A new line established by us about 500 yards from them, and about a mile and a half in front of our former position. No assault on their works is ordered, but my troops are directed to be in readiness to cross to the west side of the