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THE RICHMOND CAMPAIGN.

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No. 62.

Report of Capt. James C. Farwell, First Minnesota Infantry.

IIDORS. FIRST BATTALION MINNESOTA INFANTRY,

Near Petersburg, Va., August 7, 1864.

373

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CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report the part taken by my command during the present campaign, since its assignment to this brigade, at Cold Harbor, on the 11th day of June, 1864, by order of Major-General Hancock, commanding Second Army Corps.

On the evening of the 12th, in accordance with orders from the gennight, and at 9 o'clock on the morning of the 13th reached the Chickaeral commanding, we left our position at Cold Harbor, marched that hominy River, where we halted and rested until 3 p. m., when we crossed and again halted until sundown. We then proceeded to Charles City Court-louse, where we arrived at 1 a. m. of the 14th, and remained until o'clock, and

we

enemy on

P.

nearly two miles, where we were formed in line of battle. At 3 p. m. we moved to Wilcox's Landing, on the James River, where we took .transports and crossed to the south side.- Four miles from said river were formed in line of battle and remained there until 12 m. of the 15th, when we moved toward Petersburg, and arrived within the outer fortifications at 11 pm on that day. The men were immediately put to work, and by the morning of the 16th had succeeded in constructing a strong line of rifle-pits, connecting with those abandoned by the exposed to the artillery fire of the enemy, but suffered no loss until 4 charge was made by our forces. Part of my command, being on picket duty near the enemy's line, was exposed to this fire, talion were stationed in the rifle-pits, which they had constructed, and from the effectiveness of its fire, to advance midway works and those of the enemy. We remained in this position until the morning of the 18th, when we were moved nearer the enemy's work and massed by brigade. At a given signal the line moved forward, led by General Pierce, who was slightly wounded during the

then marched to army headquarters, distant

and one man was directly in rear was enabled, between our

engagement. pelled to chars purpose ceeded in

Wounded. During the charge the most of my bat

of

the Sixth Maine Battery, which during the battle

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This brigade was then moved

ge it was necessary to halt the line several times for the reforming, when we were again moved forward and sucdriving the enemy before us for some distance, when the line was halted, it being impossible to force the enemy from his position by a direct attack on his front. to the extreme right of this corps. I then received orders from General Pierce, who still retained command, to deploy my command as skirmishers, and if possible take possession of a certain road running perpendicular to and striking the City Point railroad, about threealthough exposed to a heavy fire from the front and an enfilading fire quarters of a mile from Petersburg. My men moved forward steadily, from the enemy in front of the Sixth Corps, who up to this time had not been forced from their position. I at last succeeded, though with severe loss, in gaining the position ordered. I then, by General Pierce's order, moved my command forward and occupied a position beyond the road and near the enemy's works, which were very formidable and still remain in his possession. The presence of my men on the enemy's right and rear compelled him to fall back in front of the Sixth Corps, on a line with those in our immediate front. That corps

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then moved forward and joined my right, while the troops to the left were advanced on a line with us. My loss during this engagement was as follows: Killed, 2; wounded, 1 commissioned officer and 4 enlisted men. Works were thrown up at this point, and my command occupied the right of the Second Corps, resting on the City Point railroad, and connecting with the Second Division of the Sixth Corps. We remained in this position until the evening of the 20th, when we were relieved by a portion of the Sixth Corps, and moved to the left and halted near the Suffolk railroad, where we remained until the p. m. of the 21st, when we moved forward as skirmishers and extended our line in the direction of the Weldon, railroad. We met with little opposition from the enemy, and by the morning of the 22d were stationed in riflepits thrown up during the night. On the p. m. of that day Captain McKnight's battery, the Twelfth New York Artillery, on which the left of my command rested, opened fire upon the enemy's works on our front and right. The enemy replied vigorously and with effect, but the battery still continued its fire until we were flanked on the left, and the enfilading fire of the enemy's forces compelled me to withdraw my command. I did not leave the position, however, until the enemy was fairly upon my left and had taken possession of the battery mentioned. I then withdrew to the cover of the woods and reformed my line and reported to Adjt. Gen. O. A. Williams, First Brigade. I then received orders from General Pierce to deploy my command as skir mishers, and moved forward toward the works lately occupied by our troops. The right of my line soon became engaged with the enemy's skirmishers, and forced them back in rear of their line of battle. This was accomplished, however, with severe loss. Our line of battle then advanced and opened fire before my men could withdraw, consequently some of them were disabled from the fire of our own troops.

On the morning of the 24th we were relieved by a portion of the Fifth Corps, and moved to the left of the Jerusalem plank road, where we dug rifle-pits and remained there until the 25th, when we were relieved by a portion of the Fifth Corps, and marched to the rear and left of the Sixth Corps, where we remained until the 27th, when we were ordered on picket, and relieved a portion of the Sixth Corps. We remained on the left until on or about the 2d of July, when we moved farther to the right and remained until the 12th, when we removed to our present position, and remained here until the 22d. During this time the men were frequently on fatigue, but did not perform other duties of consequence. We then moved to the rear and left and relieved the colored troops, and remained in that position until the 26th, when I received orders to hold my command in readiness to march. Left camp on the p. m. of that day and marched to and crossed the Appomattox at Point of Rocks and the James at Jones' Neck on the morning of the 27th. We were immediately formed in line and occupied the rifle-pits. We were then, with the rest of the brigade, advanced to the woods in our front, when I received orders from Colonel Pierce, commanding brigade, to deploy my battalion as skirmishers, my right resting on the left of the Fifty-ninth New York Volunteers and my left on Four-Mile Creek. This I accomplished without loss, although exposed to the fire of their skirmishers, who were concealed behind trees. We were relieved in the evening, and returned to the brigade.

On the 28th moved toward Malvern Hill as a support to General Sheridan, but did not become engaged with the enemy. The next morning returned to or near the point occupied by us on the 27th and threw up earth-works. Marched out of the works that evening and recrossed the James shortly after dark and the Appomattox

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about midnight, and arrived in front of Petersburg early on the Imorning of the 30th, where the brigade was massed. Remained here till dark, when we marched to the left and occupied the position which we left on the 26th.

My total loss during the campaign, i. e., since my command was assigned to the brigade, was as follows: Killed, 7 enlisted men; wounded, 25 enlisted men and 1 commissioned officer; missing, 22 enlisted men; making a total loss of 54 enlisted men and 1 commissioned officer, or about one-third of my command.

To my officers I feel deeply indebted for the prompt manner in which all my orders were executed, and to the men too much praise cannot be awarded for their coolness and bravery under fire. Many of these men were new recruits, but they under all circumstances acted like

veterans.

I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient

Servant,

J. C. FARWELL,

Captain, Commanding First Battalion Minnesota Infantry.
Capt. J. E. CURTISS,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, First Brigade.

No. 63.

Reports of Maj. Timothy O'Brien, One hundred and fifty-second New York,

Infantry.

HDQRS. 152D REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS,

CAPTAIN:*

ing.

V.

August 8, 1864.

June 12, at 9 p. m. started for the Chickahominy; marched all night. 13th, crossed the Chickahominy at Long Bridge and bivouacked near Wilcox's Landing, 1anded at Wind-Mill Point; bivouacked about two miles from the land15th, started 11 a. m. for Petersburg; a long and oppressive march. Reached first line of works in front of Petersburg at 1 a. m. 16th. At 5 p. m. advanced one-quarter of a mile and occupied a new position; under fire all night. 18th, at 5 a. m. charged enemy's works and took them; later advanced again and were repulsed. 21st [20th], marched to the left and built breast-works at night, which we occupied the next day. 23d [22d], rebels turned our left and we were forced to retire to second line; casualties, 50. 24th, relieved by part of the Fifth Corps. 26th, the Second Brigade (General Owen) discontinued, and this command assigned to First Brigade (General Webb).

on the James. June 14, crossed the James and

Early part of July devoted to picket and fatigue duty; not under fire. 16th, slashed timber on the extreme left of our defenses. 21st, Cut roads through the woods in rear of Fifth Corps. 26th, 4 p. m. started toward the Appomattox and James, both of which rivers We crossed early on morning of 27th, when we took position on New arket road in front of the enemy's works and built breast-works. 28th, moved to the right and to within ten or twelve miles of Rich

ond, where we met the rebel skirmishers and constructed more breastWorks. Retired at night to within a mile of the James, and dug rifle Pits, which we strengthened the next day (29th) in apparent expectaFor portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 12, 1861, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 442.

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tion of the enemy. Recrossed the James after dark, marched very rapidly all night, and took our position at 5 a. m. July 30 in rear of Eighteenth Corps.

Capt. J. E. CURTISS,

Major, Commanding Regiment.

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

JUNE 23, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the circumstances under which my brigade [the Second] broke yesterday:

About 3 p. m. the enemy began shelling my line and kept it up for one hour. Then I discovered the enemy's skirmishers advancing in front of my left and in front of the brigade of the Third Division which joined my left. I next discovered the enemy moving in force through the woods in front of the Third Division, and immediately men from that division began to run to the rear. I then sent a staff officer to report the fact to Major-General Gibbon. In about ten minutes the enemy advanced in line on my front. I- repulsed them twice in great disorder, and would have been able to hold my position had not the enemy forced his way through the Third Division, on my left. Then the Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers and One hundred and fifty-second New York Volunteers filed to the left oblique and were firing in that direction when I went to the right of my line to endeavor to save Captain McKnight's guns. When I reached my right regiment (the Seventysecond Pennsylvania Volunteers) I found them engaged with the enemy in their front. I remained with that regiment until it repulsed the enemy in its front, and while I was engaged there the enemy occupied the works on my left (which were abandoned by the Third Division) and opened a galling flank fire on my command, and my brigade then began falling back from the left in some disorder. I remained with the Seventysecond Pennsylvania Volunteers until it was fired upon from left and rear and that regiment then fell back. I am of the opinion that our corps line was turned near the left of the Third Division, because the first volley we got from the left seemed to have come a great distance. As this report was ordered to be made at once, I have had no opportunity to get any facts or information from regimental commanders; therefore what is stated here came under my own observation Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

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T. O'BRIEN. Major 152d New York Volunteers.

Maj. JOHN M. NORVELL, Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 64.

Report of Col. John Ramsey, Eighth New Jersey Infantry, commanding Second Brigade, of operations June 12-16.

SIR:*

HDQRS. EIGHTH BATTALION NEW JERSEY VOLS.,

Near Petersburg, Va., November 28, 1864.

Arrived near the James River on the night of the 13th [June], and bivouacked. On the night of the 14th crossed the river; bivouacked

*For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 12, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 461. The designation of the brigade was changed

from the Fourth to the Second June 26.

THE RICHMOND CAMPAIGN.

377

about two miles and a half from it. On the morning of the 15th arrived at the outer line of works of that city, which had been resumed our march. Marching in the direction of Petersburg, Va., captured same day [by] General Hinks' division of colored troops. We remained behind those works and the Petersburg road until the following evening, the 16th. On that evening three brigades of the corps were selected to make an assault upon the works in front vision, and I directed to report to Maj. Gen. D. B. Birney, he being of the city. My brigade was selected to represent the Second Ditemporarily in command of the corps. In accordance with instructions from him my brigade two lines of battle, One hundred and sixty-fourth and One hundred and named, from left to right, the Eighth New York Heavy Artillery formseventieth and Sixty-ninth New York Volunteers in front line, in the order ing the second line, the One hundred and fifty-fifth New York Volunresting on the road above mentioned. I moved forward precisely at 6

teers deployed

as

was moved in front of the works, deployed into

skirmishers left of skirmish line, and lines of battle

..the hour indicated, driving in the enemy's pickets until we came font of their works and under the fire of their line of battle. We Ellerged from the woods into the field and moved toward the enemy's Forks, and as far in that direction as the men could be made to go. The fire here was fearfully destructive. Our loss before reaching this point was quite severe. The brigade was obliged to fall back to the edge of the woods for protection, and there holding a position in advance of either of the other brigades which participated in the assault. About dark I was wounded. The command then devolved upon Colonel McIvor, One hundred and seventieth New York Volunteers.

I have taken occasion to tender my thanks to the following members staff for their gallant and faithful service on that occasion: Captain La Motte, assistant adjutant-general, and Lieutenant Connolly, aide-de-camp.

of

my

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN RAMSEY,

Colonel Eighth Battalion New Jersey Volunteers.

No. 65.

Report of Col. James P. McIvor, One hundred and seventieth New York nfantry, commanding Second Brigade, of operations June 16-July 14. DQRS. SECOND BRIG., SECOND DIV., SECOND ARMY CORPS, November 9, 1864.

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CAPTAIN :*
During the fight on the 16th of June, before Petersburg, was again in
command of the brigade, Colonel Ramsey having been wounded in the
early part of the action. The brigade failed to drive the enemy from
their works, but maintained their position about thirty yards from the
rebel intrenchments, where, during the night, we threw up breast-works,
behind which we remained until the evening of the 17th, when we were
occupied during the night a line of breast-works to the rear.
the following morning (the 18th) was ordered to take possession

relieved

the Chemy's breast-works, which had been evacuated during the night; ade, from which I was ordered to report to General Mott, command

ordered to the support of Colonel Smyth, commanding Third Bri

as

For

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portion

4. see Vol

Division. While under his command was engaged in supof report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 12, VI Part I. p. 460.

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