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that on the afternoon of the 16th Captain Mullery, a brave and accomplished officer, was mortally wounded while in the act of cheering on his men.

Remained idle during the greater part of the 17th, and at night moved to the right of the road and there remained all night. During the night the enemy abandoned the line of works in front and fell back to another line beyond the old State road. At daylight on the 18th, when their retreat was discovered, the regiment joined in the advance, and upon arriving beside the road halted and erected a small rifle-pit. No movement of consequence took place during the day until about 41 p. m., the brigade having massed by the roadside, just to the right of the O. P. Hare house, when an attempt was made to carry the enemy's rifle-pits, but was repulsed. The First Maine Heavy Artillery lead the column, the Sixteenth Massachusetts following, and this regiment behind the latter regiment. The Sixteenth Massachusetts failed to follow the First Maine, whereupon Major Cooper ordered the regiment forward, but not being properly supported did not advance beyond the Hare house. After the failure of this charge the brigade was withdrawn to the rear.

On the morning of June 19 Major Cooper, who throughout the campaign had ably commanded the regiment, was disabled by a wound in his ankle, received while performing the duty of division officer of the day. Being the senior officer present, I assumed command of the reg iment.

On the 20th I marched to the left, and on the 21st joined in the reconnaissance beyond our left flank. Upon returning and being assigned a position on the right of the Second Division of the Second Corps, I intrenched my front, and on the morning of the 22d advanced with the brigade, halting a short distance from the enemy's works. After being furnished with intrenching tools I began to strengthen my position. My right joined the left of the Sixteenth Massachusetts, and my left connected with a regiment of the First Division, the whole of which division, I believe, being the left of the line of battle. While engaged at work in the trenches the enemy attacked the left flank of the First Division, which gave way and retreated past my command in great disorder. Shortly after the left gave way I was informed by several of my officers that there were no troops upon my right, and finding that to remain was certain capture, I ordered my command to fall back. Following along the line of earth-works, I halted and rallied a portion of my command, but finding the confusion so great that a stand would be useless I again ordered a retreat. Amid the confusion incident to the occasion the colors by some means became separated, and upon regaining our main works I learned that the national colors, 2 officers, and some 40 enlisted men were missing. It is supposed that the color bearer, when retreating, as well as officers and men, took the wrong direction and fell into the enemy's hands. I trust that the loss of the colors will not be considered discreditable to the reputation of the regi ment and that the loss will be attributed more to accident than to any other cause.

On the 23d of June I was assigned a place in the line of intrenchments, which I occupied until the 11th of July, when that portion of the line was abandoned. Encamping in rear of the Fifth Corps, no nota ble event (if I except the fatigue duty at the front) occurred until the night of July 26, when with the brigade I marched toward the James River, crossing the Appomattox at midnight and the James early on the morning of the 27th. When in the vicinity of Deep Bottom Creek

line of battle was formed in a piece of wood, my right joining the Sixth New Jersey and my left the Eleventh New Jersey. The enemy slightly annoyed us with a battery, but it was of short duration. While in this locality my command was not engaged in battle, and on the night of July 28 I recrossed the James and Appomattox, arriving and halting in rear of the Eighteenth Corps at daybreak July 29. At night I occupied a portion of the line of breast-works in front of the city, on the left bank of the Appomattox, where I remained until the night of July 30, 1864, when on being relieved I returned to the camp which I occupied previous to the movement across the James on the 26th.

My loss during the campaign is as follows: Commissioned officerskilled, 2; wounded, 10; missing, 2. Enlisted men-killed, 10; wounded, 88; missing, 56. Making an aggregate loss of 168. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THOS. C. THOMPSON, Captain, Commanding Regiment.

HDQRS. SEVENTH REGIMENT NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS, Fort Davis, near Petersburg, Va., October 6, 1864. SIR: In conformity with circular from brigade headquarters of this date, I have the honor to make the following report in reference to the operations of this regiment in the first Deep Bottom campaign, from July 26 to July 29, 1864, inclusive, I being at that time in command: Broke camp near Jerusalem plank road on the evening of July 26; crossed the Appomattox that night and the James River at daybreak on the following morning. Formed line of battle along the edge of a wood skirting Strawberry Plains, Sixth New Jersey being on my right and the Eleventh New Jersey joining me on the left. Here the enemy opened fire from a battery but injured none of my command. After considerable maneuvering finally were placed in position in a large wood in front of the enemy's works, where I remained until the night of July 28, when the line of march was again taken up. Recrossing the James and Appomattox I arrived in vicinity of Petersburg at daylight on the morning of July 29, and halted in rear of the Eighteenth Corps, where I remained until dark, when I was assigned position in the intrenchments near the Appomattox, there remaining until the night of July 30, when, upon being relieved, returned to the old camp near the Jerusalem plank road. No casualties.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

THOMAS C. THOMPSON, Captain, Seventh New Jersey Volunteers. ASST. ADJT. GEN., THIRD BRIG., THIRD DIV., SECOND CORPS.

No. 96.

Report of Maj. Virgil M. Healy, Eighth New Jersey Infantry.

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTH NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS,

Camp near Petersburg, Va., August 8, 1864. SIR: In compliance with Special Orders, No. 209, headquarters Army of the Potomac, dated August 5, 1864, I have the honor to report the fol lowing as the part taken by this regiment during the fifth epoch of the

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No. 97.

Report of Col. Robert McAllister, Eleventh New Jersey Infantry, of oper ations June 12-16.*

FIFTH EPOCH.

The march across the Chickahominy and the James, and the operations in front of Petersburg up to the assault on the enemy's position July 30, 1864.

Sunday, June 12, the regiment left its position at Barker's Mill at 10 p. m., and marching a short distance, halted for an hour or more, after which the march was continued, the Chickahominy crossed at 11 o'clock, and a point near Charles City Court-House reached just before sunset.

June 14, moved to the James River in the morning and crossed early in the afternoon and bivouacked.

June 15, moved off at 11 a. m. The heat was extreme, and the men suffered very much. A rapid march brought us to the outer defenses of Petersburg after midnight.

June 16, the regiment was engaged in throwing up a line of breastworks until 5 p. m., when it took its position on the extreme left of the second line preparatory to an advance upon the enemy's works; moved forward at 5.30 p. m. Before the regiment got near the enemy's works. the first line disappeared and the advance was continued until the enemy's line was in plain view, and a heavy fire received. The regiment at once commenced a rapid fire, which was kept up with intervals until midnight. This I considered necessary, as the moment the fire ceased the enemy would pour in a heavy volley and attempt an advance. The ammunition became exhausted a number of times, many of the men firing over a hundred rounds. Our wants were promptly supplied by the First Maine Heavy Artillery, which was in line a short distance in our rear. I never saw men act with more steadiness and coolness than did the regiment on this occasion. Its loss was heavy, being nearly one-third of the number engaged. The regiment was relieved at daylight and went back to the second line. LieutenantColonel Schoonover assumed command of the regiment to-day.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Lieut. W. J. RUSLING,

ROBERT MCALLISTER,

Actg. Asst. Adjt, Gen,, 3d Brig., 3d Div., 2d Corps.

No. 98.

Report of Lieut. Col. John Schoonover, Eleventh New Jersey Infantry, of operations June 16-July 28.

The regiment remained in the works until the 21st [June], when it moved to the left across the Suffolk road. Halted at 2 p. m.; took the regiment on the skirmish line, and during the night established a picket

*For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 21 to June 12, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 495.

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line on the left of the Second Brigade, where it remained until the afternoon of the next day, when it was compelled to retire to the breastworks, being completely turned by the enemy's advance.

Remained in camp in rear of the works until July 12, when, in accordance with orders from brigade headquarters, the works were destroyed and the regiment moved a mile to the rear and halted near the Jerusalem plank road, where it remained until the forenoon of the 13th (except a portion of the time which was consumed in leveling works), when it marched to its present camp. Remained in camp until the evening of July 26, when the regiment accompanied the brigade in a march across the Appomattox and James to Deep Bottom. Halted shortly after daylight and went into position. Moved during the day a short distance to the left, where we remained until the night of July 28, when we returned, halting in rear of the Eighteenth Corps a little before daylight.

I am, very respectfully,

WILLIAM J. RUSLING,

JOHN SCHOONOVER, Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., 3d Brig., 3d Div., 2d Corps.

No. 99.

Report of Col. John C. Tidball, Fourth New York Heavy Artillery, commanding Artillery Brigade, of operations June 12-July 1.

IN FRONT OF PETERSBURG, VA.,

July 1, 1864.*

June 12, orders received to withdraw at dark. Dwight was already in position with Dow; McKnight and Clark assigned to Gibbon, Roder and Burton to Barlow, Gilliss and Dwight to Birney. Four mortars withdrew at 4 p. m. The caissons of all the batteries moved back to the Livesay house. At 8.30 the reserve batteries were withdrawn carefully to the same point, where the Fourth New York Artillery and train were already. The column then started forward for Long Bridge, in charge of Major Hazard. Arrived at daylight of June 13, moved in rear of the corps, and arrived at James River by night.

June 14, the corps commenced crossing the river, the divisions taking care of their own batteries. Dwight's the only battery that crossed this day.

June 15, last of infantry across by 7 a. m. and all the batteries crossed during the day. The corps moved out at 10 a. m. with the six batteries. The last of the batteries over by 12 at night, and two battalions of the Fourth New York Artillery. The batteries parked one mile from the river.

June 16, at 10.15 the last caisson of the ammunition train across and moved forward. The whole work of embarking and disembarking the artillery and trains of the corps was done by the Fourth New York Artillery, which brought up the rear. The batteries at daylight moved forward under charge of Major Hazard and arrived in front of Petersburg at 5 p. m. The division batteries were on the line of the division

*For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 3 to June 11, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 507.

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