on in their retreat. Thence one was brought in by the bearer to our wn line. Another bearer was killed by the enemy in their attack upon hese works. The third color bearer returned to his regiment without is colors and with the following account of his conduct: He says that n first reaching the breast-works he planted his colors by the side f the Sixty-ninth New York. On suggestion from the Sixty-ninth olor bearer he left to find his own regiment. Went a few feet rearward nd lay down behind a pile of wood. The enemy attacking, he rose to etreat and seized his colors to bring with him, but the staff being enangled he could not free it and came off without it. Later he was old that our forces held those works and he went back to find his colors, but found the rebels in the works and had to escape. That he vas quite demoralized will appear from his remarks to his commanding officer when examined in relation to his conduct, to this effect: that he hought it best even to the loss of the colors to save himself for some future service. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMÁS H. TALBOT, Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. First Maine Artillery, June 22. [Inclosure No. 2.] HDQRS. SEVENTH REGIMENT NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS, Lieut. W. J. RUSLING, In the Field, June 26, 1864. Acting Assistant Adjutant-General:] SIR: I respectfully beg leave to submit the following statement in reference to the loss of the national colors belonging to this regiment on the afternoon of June 22, 1864: Learning that the troops upon the right and left of my command had fallen back I faced my command to the right and attempted to retreat in order, but the enemy suddenly appearing and pouring a volley into. my ranks caused considerable confusion, in the midst of which the colors were borne off toward our first line of breast-works, since which time nothing has been heard of them. The color bearer and guard, likewise a part of my command, accompanied the colors and are still missing. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, THOMAS C. THOMPSON, Captain, Commanding Seventh New Jersey Volunteers. HEADQUARTERS THIRD DIVISION, SECOND CORPS, Capt. THOMAS C. THOMPSON, June 26, 1864. Comdg. Seventh New Jersey Volunteers, Third Brigade: CAPTAIN: You will immediately place the color bearer of your national colors (the missing one) under arrest, and prefer charges against him for misbehavior before the enemy. By command of Brigadier-General Mott: WM. P. SHREVE, Lieut.. Asst. Commissary of Musters, and Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen. [First indorsement.] HDQRS. SEVENTH REGIMENT NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS, Respectfully returned. In the Field, June 27, 1864 I would state that the color bearer as well as forty-four other m were taken prisoners with the colors.. Very respectfully, &c., T. C. THOMPSON, Captain, Commanding Regiment [Second indorsement.] HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., THIRD DIV., SECOND CORPS, Respectfully forwarded. June 27, 1864. R. MCALLISTER, Colonel Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers, Comdg. Brigade HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., THIRD DIV., SECOND ARMY CORPS, ASST. ADJT. GEN., THIRD DIV., SECOND ARMY CORPS: LIEUTENANT: In obedience to instructions from headquarters Thi Division, Second Army Corps, of this date, I have the honor to fo ward the following report of the part taken by my command in th affair of the 22d instant: On the morning of that day my command was ordered to advance the woods in my front and form connection with the Second Brigad of this division on their left. As soon as Colonel McAllister, con manding Second Brigade of this division formed his line, I made th connection at a point marked A on the diagram* inclosed, my left rest ing at a point marked B. As soon as the brigade was in position commenced to intrench, but had made but little progress when a heav fire was opened upon my left on the position occupied by the. Firs Division of this corps, occasionally a few shots coming from the rear In a few minutes the troops of the First Division came en masse crowding by the rear of my line saying that the enemy were in thei rear. My command was immediately formed and prepared for an at tack, when the enemy poured a volley of musketry directly in rear o my line. The command was immediately faced about, but the troop coming from our left in great disorder carried my command with them They moved to the right and rallied behind the breast-works at a poin marked C. They remained here for a short time, when the enemy cam upon them from the left and opened fire on the works from the left and rear. Here is where the most of the prisoners taken from my command were captured, they remaining in the intrenchments until the enemy were upon them and escape was impossible. I am, lieutenant, very respectfully, your obedient servant, *Not found. No. 93. Report of Maj. Charles C. Rivers, Eleventh Massachusetts Infantry, of operations July 26-31. HDQRS. ELEVENTH BATTALION MASSACHUSETTS VOLS., October 6, 1864. CAPTAIN: In compliance with circular from headquarters Third Brigade, Third Division, Second Army Corps, dated October 6, 1864, I have the honor to forward the following report of the operations of this command during the campaign to Deep Bottom from the time we broke camp until our return: At 5 p. m. on the 26th day of July, 1864, the command broke camp, and after a severe march bivouacked within one mile of the James River. At daylight on the morning of the 27th instant we crossed the river and moved out to the front of the position occupied by General Foster's forces, halted in an open field, and after remaining here about an hour were moved into a small piece of woods a little in our front. Shortly after getting into line the enemy opened a battery in our front and for a short time they shelled the woods with great vigor, but without inflicting any casualties in the battalion. About 10 a. m. we moved out in line of battle and crossed the open field in our front to the road which was held by the enemy early in the morning; remained in the vicinity until late in the afternoon, when we moved to the front and right of our position during the day. We remained here in front of the enemy's works until late in the afternoon of the 28th, when orders to move were received; moved back some distance and took up a new line running parallel with the road held by the enemy during the morning of the 27th. Commenced to turn the enemy's works so as to face in the opposite direction. At 8 p. m. orders to suspend operations on the works were received. At 8.30 p. m. moved out and recrossed the James River, marched to that part of the line in front of Petersburg held by the Eighteenth Corps, and bivouacked. Remained here until the night of the 29th, when we marched out to relieve a portion of the Eighteenth Corps in the advance trenches. Remained in the trenches during the operations of the 30th instant. During that day the enemy kept up a constant fire of musketry and artillery, and succeeded in wounding one man by a fragment of a shell. On the night of the 30th we were relieved by a portion of the Eighteenth Corps and returned to our former camp, where we arrived at 1 a. m. on the 31st instant. CHAS. C. RIVERS, Major, Commanding Battalion. Capt. THOMAS H. DUNHAM, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Brig., Third Div., 2d Corps.' No. 94. Report of Capt. Thomas C. Godfrey, Fifth New Jersey Infantry. HEADQUARTERS FIFTH NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS, Camp near Petersburg, Va., August 9, 1864. GENERAL:* FIFTH EPOCH. June 14, crossed the James River from Wilcox's Landing to Wind-Mill Point, and after marching some two miles bivouacked for the night. For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 13, 1861, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 496. 15th, at 11.20 moved in the direction of Petersburg, and at about 12.30 on the morning of the 16th arrived at the Dunn house, front of Peters burg, and at 6.20 a. m. moved up to the works and reversed them, and after occupying them until about 5.30 p. m. formed line for attack, and at 6 advanced about three quarters of a mile, where we were stubbornly resisted by the enemy and were severely engaged until 3 o'clock on the morning of the 17th, when we were relieved, leaving a picket-line, losing in killed and wounded 34. On the night of the 17th again went on picket and remained until 4 a. m. on the morning of the 18th, when the regiment advanced as a skirmish line, and halted at the Hare house where we remained until 6 p. m., being under fire all day with a loss of 6 killed and wounded. Returned and joined the brigade at 8 p. m. and bivouacked in the woods in the rear of the Hare house until the 20th, when we marched near to the Doctor Bryant house, where we bivouacked for the night, losing 3 men wounded. On the 21st marched to the left of the Second Division and threw up breast-works. On the morning of the 22d advanced about 900 yards in front of the breast-works, and after lying in this position for two hours, changed front and was in that position until about 3 p. m., when the enemy suddenly appeared on our left flank, causing the troops on our left to become panic-stricken, and in the general stampede that followed the whole line fell back to the breast-works. Every effort was made to stay the flying troops, but all efforts proved utterly futile and of no effect. Ten men were here lost in wounded and missing. We remained behind these breast-works until July 12, when we leveled them and moved in the rear of the Fifth Corps, where we remained doing fatigue duty until July 26, when we took up line of march for James River, which we crossed about daylight on the morning of the 27th, and halted near Deep Bottom and went into battle column and received a severe shell fire from the enemy, but receiving no injury or loss. About 11.30 advanced in line of battle across Strawberry Plains, halting on the river road. About 5.30 p. m. moved by the right flank and took position on the left of the river road between the First and Second Divisions, where we remained until 7.30 p. m. of the 28th, when we recrossed the river, halting about daylight on the morning of the 29th in rear of the Eighteenth Corps. About 8 p. m. went into front line of breast-works on the right of the Hare house and remained here until relieved on the night of the 30th, when we returned to our old camp, where we still remain. During the above actions and marches the regiment was under several commanders, and although I cannot pay a true and just tribute to their worth and bravery (having just joined the regiment on the 15th day of May from detached service), but as Colonel Sewell was the first who led in the first few days in the battles of the Wilderness, and around whom so many associations cling, but was compelled by the stern hand of sickness to succumb and retire from the field, but his former conduct on the field has not only won for him imperishable honors, but no one questions his zeal or bravery and fitness for the position he occupied, or even higher honors. Maj. V. M. Healy was for a few days in command, and Capt. H. H. Woolsey, who fell in the discharge of his duty on the 18th day of June, in the full vigor of his manhood, true, brave, and always found at his post where duty called him, and nobly battling with the enemies of his country. I cannot speak of the other officers individually, where all were brave and each tried to emulate the other in the performance of each and every duty. All nobly assisted me in sustaining the reputation of the regiment, and accomplishing the duties that it performed. I took command on the 18th of June, and since that time I have endeavored to enforce discipline. and make this regiment maintain its former high reputation, and although reduced to meager numbers, the pride of the brigade and an honor to the State and themselves. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, T. C. GODFREY, Captain, Fifth New Jersey Volunteers, Comdg. Regiment. No. 95. Reports of Capt. Thomas C. Thompson, Seventh New Jersey Infantry. HDQRS. SEVENTH REGIMENT NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS, Near Petersburg, Va., August 8, 1864. SIR:* FIFTH EPOCH. The march across the Chickahominy and the James, and the operations in front of Petersburg up to July 30, 1864. Reaching Charles City Cross-Roads the march was continued in direction of the Chickahominy River, arriving and crossing that stream about 3 p. m. [June 13]. Still pressing on, after marching until 8 p. m., found the brigade in camp within three miles of the James River. On the morning of June 14 moved down to the banks of the river at Wilcox's Landing, and there remained until 4 p. m., when crossed on a steamer and landed at Wind-Mill Point. Proceeding about three miles from this locality I halted and camped for the night. Resuming our march on the morning of June 15, midnight found the regiment beside the rebel intrenchments before Petersburg, which were captured during the day by the negro troops. The greater part of June 16 was occupied in changing the front of the captured works, and about 6 p. m., pursuant to orders, line of battle was formed inside of the works, on the road, the Sixth New Jersey being on the regiment's right and the Fifth New Jersey on the left of the regiment. A line of battle advanced 300 yards ahead, drove in the pickets of the enemy, and then veering to the right crossed the road and left the way open for Major Cooper to advance, the regiment quickly joining with the Sixth New Jersey, which, at one time, from some unknown cause, became detached from the right. Major Cooper ordered the command forward, and while under a severe fire of the enemy succeeded in crossing the ravine in our front, and taking a secure position within a short distance of the rebel intrenchments. Here a small rifle-pit was thrown up, and early on the morning of the 17th received orders to fall back across the ravine to the adjacent hill, leaving a small detachment to hold the line. I am pained to report *For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 3 to June 13, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 498. 27 R R-VOL XL, PT I |