I formed the remnant of the regiment, and with the fragment of the brigade hastily collected together we again advanced and formed line about 250 yards in rear of the breast-works, where we remained until relieved next morning.

The annexed diagram* will exhibit the course of the line of works as explained in this statement.

With the request that this be forwarded to the proper headquarters, I subscribe myself,

Your most obedient servant,

Lieut. T. E. PARSONS,

JNO. R. BREITENBACH,
Captain, Commanding Regiment.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 77.

Reports of Brig. Gen. Gershom Mott, U. S. Army, commanding Third Division, of operations June 22 and July 26-30.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, SECOND CORPS,

June 24, 1864.

COLONEL: In accordance with circular from headquarters Army of the Potomac, I have the honor to report that the cause of the falling back and losing some prisoners by two brigades of this division was occasioned by the giving way of the troops of the First and Second Divisions, respectively, on my left and right, thereby allowing the enemy to get on both flanks and rear. My sharpshooters being well out kept them from advancing on my immediate front. The first intimation of an attack was the troops of the First Division coming in on the left flank en masse, while the Third Brigade was digging rifle-pits, which was so unexpected that the brigade, instead of chang ing front and checking the enemy, joined in the retreat and fell back to the second line of rifle-pits, the First Brigade following, but the right of it not giving way until the troops of the Second Division, which connected on the right, had fallen back and the enemy had turned the right flank.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

G. MOTT, Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding Division.

Lieut. Col. F. A. WALKER,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Corps.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, SECOND ARMY CORPS, October 8, 1864. MAJOR: I have the honor to report the following operations of this division from the 26th to the 30th of July, 1864, in what is called the first Deep Bottom affair:

In accordance with orders from headquarters Second Army Corps, I broke camp at 4 p. m. of the 26th near the Deserted House, and marched about four miles in the direction of City Point. Then turned to the

*Not found.

River on

THE RICHMOND CAMPAIGN.

389

left, taking the road leading to Point of Rocks, and crossed the Appomattox on a pontoon bridge at 11 o'clock, continuing the march toward Jones' Neck, on the James River, where we arrived at 2.30 a. m. on the 27th, and massed, halting for about an hour, when we crossed the James orders to take up position on the right of the First Division, throwing pontoon bridge at daylight. Soon after crossing I received out skirmishers and flankers. The Ninety-ninth and One hundred and tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers were deployed as skirmishers, and the Fortieth New York Volunteers as flankers, to extend the line to the river. I immediately ordered the skirmishers to advance and feel the woods in the front occupied by the enemy, keeping connection with the pickets of the First Division. This line was soon hotly engaged, and was re-enforced by the Seventy-third New York Volunteers and two regiments sent to the large house on the right to hold the position until the arrival of General Sheridan with his cavalry. The Third Brigade deployed, and connecting with the line of the First Division, the Second massed in the rear. The enemy was soon driven back on my left, with a loss of 4 guns, and a rebel battery which opened on my immediate front was soon silenced by my artillery and disappeared through the woods. immediately the command was moved forward through a large cornOrders were now received to advance the line, and field, situated between the woods we had been occupying and the Malvern Hill road, from which the skirmishers had driven the enemy. Upon arriving at this road orders were received to send one brigade across it to extend the line of the First Division. The Second Brigade, under Col. D. Chaplin, First Maine Heavy Artillery, was accordingly sent and went into line on the right, the Third Brigade, Colonel McAllister, was massed in the rear and held as a reserve, the First Brigade, Brigadier-General De Trobriand, forming a strong picketline from the adva in this position until about 3 p. m., when the line was advanced ance skirmishers to the river. The troops remained to the New Market road. During the advance of the line the enemy offered very little resistance.

up a new

At 6.30 orders were received to take

line, the left resting on the New Market and Malvern Hill road near the Old Pottery, and running parallel to a road connecting the New Market and Long Bridge road, which was done with the Second and Third Brigades, the First Brigade still holding and protecting the right flank of the corps, remaining in this position all night. On the 28th the command was under arms before daylight, and remained in the position taken up the evening previous until about 4.30 p. m., at which time orders were received from the major-general comthe enemy on the 27th and reverse them, which movement was immediately executed by the Second and Third Brigades, and the work comsoon as it was dark and the pontoon bridge brushed to proceed to near menced. At 7.30 p. m. I received orders to suspend the work, and as

manding the

corps

to take up the line of works that were captured from

Petersburg, Army Corps. The bridge being ready at 9 p. m., I recrossed the James reporting to the major-general commanding the Eighteenth River and continued the march to the Appomattox, crossing on the bridge near the Point of Rocks. At this place I was met by an aidein rear of the headquarters of the Eighteenth Corps, near Petersburg, de-camp of Major-General Ord, who conducted me to a point near and arriving there before daylight of the 29th instant. At dark I relieved the Eighteenth Corps and Turner's division, of the Tenth Corps, in the rifle-pits, the right resting on the Appomattox River, the left connect

ing with the Ninth Army Corps.

July 30, remained in this position during the day, making frequent demonstrations in the morning on the enemy's line by opening fire with artillery and infantry along my whole front, which was immediately replied to by the enemy, showing that they occupied the work opposite. in force. My division was relieved during the evening, and returned to the camp which we left on the 26th instant.

The officers and men behaved well, and particular mention is made of the conduct of the Ninety-ninth and One hundred and tenth Pennsylvania Regiments, under the command of Colonel Biles, Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania, for their conduct while advancing as skirmishers on the

27th.

My casualties were 12 enlisted men killed, 5 commissioned officers and 47 enlisted men wounded, and 1 commissioned officer and 7 enlisted men missing, making an aggregate of 72. A nominal list has been forwarded.

I inclose brigade commanders' reports.

I am, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Maj. H. H. BINGHAM,

G. MOTT, Major-General by Brevet.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Army Corps.

No. 78.

Reports of Brig. Gen. P. Regis de Trobriand, U. S. Army, commanding

First Brigade.

HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, 2D CORPS,
October 20, 1864.

CAPTAIN :*

FIFTH EPOCH.

At 8 p. m. of the 12th of June the brigade again moved to the left, crossing the Richmond and York River Railroad near Dispatch Station at 9 a. m. of the 13th instant, crossing the Chickahominy River at Long Bridge at 12 m., and arriving at the north bank of the James River near Wilcox's Landing at 6 p. m.

At 10 a. m. 14th instant crossed the James River on transports, and massed near the river about two miles above Wilcox's Landing. Remained here for the night, with the Fortieth New York on picket.

At about 10 a. m. 15th instant marched toward Petersburg, and at night bivouacked behind rebel fortifications which had that day been captured from the enemy by the Eighteenth Corps.

On the morning of the 16th instant, at daylight, the enemy opened upon us with their batteries, killing and wounding a considerable num ber of the brigade. The brigade was at once formed, and an assaulting column, consisting of the Seventeenth Maine and Twentieth Indiana Volunteers, was ordered to charge and take the enemy's works in our An advance was made, but the position being one of great strength and held by a large force, it was found impossible to carry it. The line was reformed, and a second attempt, with a larger force, was unsuccessful. The enemy were too strong and their position impregna

*For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 3 to June 12, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 468.

ble to the small force brought against it. The gallantry of the charg ing party was not equal to taking a position which a whole division afterward failed to carry. The brigade then formed a line at right angles to the line deserted by the enemy. Here Colonel Egan, commanding brigade, was severely wounded, and Colonel Madill, One hundred and forty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, assumed command of the brigade. This position the brigade held until 5 p. m. 16th instant, when it was relieved by a portion of Colonel Brewster's brigade, of the Second Division, when this brigade moved to the right, taking position in the works as support of an attacking column. This position it held until the morning of the 17th instant, when it moved out to the advance

line of works.

At daylight of the 18th instant advanced upon the enemy's works and found them deserted. A portion of the brigade immediately advanced to within 200 yards of the enemy's new line and intrenched themselves, while the remainder of the brigade was employed in turning the works abandoned by the enemy. advanced and formed line near the Hare house, preparatory to making At 1 p. m. the brigade a charge. At 4.30 p. m. of the 18th instant a general assault on the

enemy's line was made by our forces, resulting in no decided success. The brigade then took a position in the second line, where it remained until dark, and then moved to the front and erected a new line of breastworks. This position the brigade held until 11 p. m. of the 20th, when it was

portion of the First Division.

tion on the left of the Jerusalem plank road about 3 p.m. At 11 p. m. At 9 o'clock of the 21st the brigade moved to the left and took posiI moved to the front and relieved a brigade of the First Division, and early on the morning of the 22d moved to the right, to fill up a gap ocAt 3.30 a. m. on the 23d the brigade formed in line of battle, and at daylight advanced to a position formerly held by the Second Brigade. At 5 p. m. relieved from this position, moved to the left and relieved a At 9 a.m. of the 24th the brigade moved to the right and commenced to construct works in front and rear of division headquarters, but the cupied the works built on the 23d instant. This position was held until On the evening of the 26th instant the brigade moved out and ocits former position in the second line. At 1p. m. of the 29th instant the a temporary camp behind the works. The Seventy-third New York reserve of the brigade was moved out to the front line and established July 6. The brigade lay in this position until the night of July 11, remainder of the division, moved to the left of the Jerusalem plank when, after having leveled the works in its front, the brigade, with the moved to the rear of the Fifth Corps and went into camp in the woods. to command the brigade per orders from army headquarters. The brigade remained in this camp doing fatigue duty alternately with the Here Brigadier-General De Trobriand, U. S. Volunteers, was assigned other brigades and divisions of the corps most of the time until 5 p. m. of the 26th instant, when the brigade marched rapidly to the James

Volunteers, numbering,

road, where it

were here

transferred to this brigade

remained until daylight of the 13th instant, when it

Brewster's brigade belonged to the Third Division.

River, crossing on pontoon bridge about 3.30 a. m. of the 27th instant, at a point called Deep Bottom. On arriving at the north bank of the James the brigade immediately took position behind a wood near by, with the front and right properly protected by one regiment forming a line of pickets down to the river. Two regiments were sent forward to feel the woods occupied by the enemy and to connect with the First Division, then advancing on our left. The two regiments were soon hotly engaged and another regiment was sent up to their support. At the same time two regiments were sent to hold an important position in and around a house situated on the center of the advanced line, keeping in reserve four regiments. The enemy were soon routed, and the brigade advanced about one mile and a half and formed a strong picket-line, covering the flank of the corps from the left of the main line to the river. This position was kept for twenty-four hours, when on the afternoon of the 28th instant the brigade was relieved by General Miles' brigade, of the First Division, and joined the remainder of the division near the pontoon bridge. During the night the brigade marched back to Petersburg and halted in rear of the line of the Eighteenth Corps, near the Appomattox.

On the evening of the 29th the brigade relieved Turner's division, of the Tenth Corps, in the front line near Hare's house, and held that position during the assault following the explosion of a mine on the 30th July.

Much might be said, no doubt, concerning the gallantry and daring acts of many brave officers and soldiers of this brigade, who have given their lives for their country's cause during the eventful campaign, but as justice could not be done I will mention none of them.

This brigade changed commanders three times during the campaign, and its present commander being the fourth, and the present assistant adjutant-general having been lately assigned to this brigade, a full detail of the several positions taken cannot be given with accuracy. Respectfully submitted

Čapt. J. P. FINKELMEIER,

R. DE TROBRIAND,

Brigadier-General.

Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Division, Second Corps.

HDQRS. FIRST BRIGADE, THIRD DIVISION, 2D CORPS,
September 26, 1864.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the First Brigade, Third Division, Second Corps, in the active operations on the north bank of the James River near Deep Bottom, from the 26th to the 30th of July last:

On Tuesday, the 26th, the brigade broke camp in the afternoon, and by a night march reached Deep Bottom on the 27th at daybreak, crossed the James River on a pontoon bridge, and by 6 o'clock took position behind a wood near by, our front and right properly protected by the Fortieth New York Volunteers, forming a line of pickets down to the river. In compliance with orders from General Mott, commanding division, I soon sent forward the Ninety-ninth and One hundred and tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, under command of Lieut. Col. E. R. Biles, of the Ninety-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, to feel the woods occupied by the enemy and connect with the First Division, then advanc