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Respectfully referred to Major-General Burnside for a report as to so much of the within as relates to the capture of a North Carolina regiment.

By command of Major-General Meade:

No. 133.

S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Report of Brig. Gen. Lysander Cutler, U. S. Army, commanding Fourth

Division.

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH DIVISION, FIFTH ARMY CORPS, August 13, 1864.

COLONEL:*

FIFTH EPOCH.

At 4 p. m. the 13th [June] I was ordered to move on to Charles City and to take charge of the trains of the corps on the march. It was nearly night when I got the trains all in motion. I arrived with the trains at 3 a. m. on the 14th, and went into camp one mile from WilCox's Landing, where I remained until 4 a. m. of the 16th, when I crossed the James River and moved toward Petersburg, following General Griffin, and encamping within about three miles of the town at Burchett's house. At daylight on the 17th I sent the One hundred and forty-seventh New York to picket the Blackwater, and moved my command forward and went into pósition on the left of the Ninth Corps, my left extending toward the Blackwater, and intrenched within about 600 yards of the enemy's works. At daylight on the 18th I was ordered to move on the enemy's works. The order was immediately executed. The enemy's first and second lines were found to have been abandoned during the night. A few men who were left asleep only were found. I pushed my skirmishers and line of battle forward across the Norfolk railroad, and found the enemy on the crest beyond and in frout of Petersburg. The enemy had set fire to the bridges across the railroad cut as they retired. I immediately rebuilt the bridge in my front to enable the batteries to come up. Having formed my command on the left of the railroad in two lines, I moved forward, my right resting on the road, and drove in the enemy's pickets on his Works in front of the town, General Ayres' (Second) division having in the mean time come in on my left. At 2.50 p. m. an order was

1864,

For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 3 to June 13,
Bee Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 610.

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received to advance on the enemy's works; at 3 o'clock an order say ing the movement was general. I immediately put my command in position to advance and at 3.20 moved forward, my Second Brigade (Colonel Hofmann) leading, supported by my First Brigade (Colone Bragg). General Ayres, of the Second Division, did not receive the order in time to enable him to move simultaneously with me. My com mand suffered, severely both by direct and flank fire of both infantry and artillery, and though a part of both brigades got within about seventy-five yards of the enemy's works they were unable to carry them. My men held the ground gained until dark, when, in obedi ence of orders, I withdrew the most advanced portions of my com mand and intrenched, connecting with Griffin on my right and Ayres on my left. In this affair I lost in killed and wounded about one-third of the men I had with me, and among them many valuable officers After intrenching I remained in the same position to the close of the month, on the last day of which a mine was sprung in front of the Ninth Corps and a little to my right. In obedience to orders received the evening before, I had my First Brigade in the trenches and my Second Brigade in reserve ready for any duty required of them. At 9.30 a. m. I strengthened my skirmish line and pushed it forward in close proximity to the enemy's works. Beyond this I took no part in the operations. This closes the period for which reports are at present required.

Since the commencement of the campaign the Third Brigade (Stone's) has been transferred to the First Division. The term of serv ice of the Fourteenth Brooklyn, in the Second Brigade, and the Second Wisconsin, in the First Brigade, have expired. Three small regiments (the Third and Fourth Delaware and One hundred and fifty-seventh Pennsylvania) have been added to the Second Brigade. The regi ments which still remain of the old division had, when the campaign commenced, 3,742 enlisted men in the ranks. They now have (exclud ing those who have been wounded and returned) 1,324; including those, 1,404. The regiments whose terms have expired suffered equally with the others while they remained.

The changes in the command have been so frequent, and the losing of nearly every original brigade, regimental, and company commander, render it impossible to make anything like an accurate report as to details. One thing I think may safely be claimed for the divisionthat it has endeavored to discharge its duties as promptly and cheer. fully as any command in the army. If in common with the army it has not achieved any brilliant victories its list of casualties shows that it lacked not in its endeavors nor shrunk from its duties.

I cannot close this report without saying how deeply I felt the loss of the many brave officers and men who have fallen in this campaign. To my personal staff I am under great obligations. They have all, without exception, discharged the constant, fatiguing, and dangerous duties imposed on them in the bravest manner and with the utmost alacrity. One only of their number has been killed, Lieutenant Chil son, of the Twenty-fourth Michigan, who fell by my side in the charge of the enemy's works on the 18th of June.

The list of casualties which is herewith inclosed is necessarily incomplete on account of the frequent changes and great loss of officers in the command.

*Rather July 30.

No report has been received from the First or Third Brigades. That from the Second Brigade (Colonel Hofmann) is herewith submitted.* I have the honor to be, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Lieut. Col. FRED. T. LOCKE,

L. CUTLER, Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Assistant Adjutant-General, Fifth Army Corps.

No. 134.

Report of Maj. Merit C. Welsh, Seventh Indiana Infantry, First Bri

gade.

HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH INDIANA VOLUNTEERS,

FIFTH EPOCH.

August 7, 1864.t

Crossed the Chickahominy River at Long Bridge June 13, marching that night to near Charles City Court-House, Va., where we remained until the morning of the 16th, when we crossed the James River, Va., at Wilcox's Landing. On evening of same day marched past Prince George Court-House to within three miles of Petersburg, where made a short halt, moving the morning of 17th of June to the left of the Ninth Corps, and threw up rifle-pits in close proximity to the enemy's works in front of Petersburg. The morning of 18th, when we advanced and took part in the charge on the rebel works, Seventh Indiana had less than 100 men in the charge, a large detail being on picket duty. Loss in charge, 1 officer, 2 men killed; 2 officers, 28 men wounded. We threw up works within 300 yards of the enemy's works, which we occupied till the evening of July 30 alternately with the division, on two and off three days.

The day of assault (30th of July) occupied the front line of works on the extreme right of Fifth Corps. Loss before Petersburg, 2 officers, 10 men killed; 2 officers, 55 men wounded; 1 man missing.

Five men selected for secret expedition June 19 have not been heard of, but are supposed to have been captured.

M. C. WELSH, Major, Commanding Regiment.

No. 135.

Report of Col. J. William Hofmann, Fifty sixth Pennsylvania Infantry, commanding Second Brigade.

HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., FOURTH DIV., 5TH ARMY CORPS,

CAPTAIN:

In Front of Petersburg, August 10, 1864.

FIFTH EPOCH.

Moved on Petersburg at 2 p. m. 16th [June]; bivouacked two miles beyond Prince George Court-House, on the plantation of Mr. Burchett.

*Same as given in Hofmann's report, p. 477.

For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 12, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 616.

1864,

For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 16, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 622.

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At 7 p. m. on the 17th moved about two miles to the front; found the enemy posted in rear of a strong line of works on the west side of the Blackwater road, our left joining the right of the First Brigade,. whose left rested near the Petersburg and Norfolk Railroad; remained in this position all day. Loss, 10 men wounded. At 4 a. m. on the morning of the 18th the brigade moved forward to attack the works of the enemy. It was soon ascertained that the enemy had withdrawn during the night, and that he had also abandoned his second line of works about a quarter of a mile in rear of the first line. Upon moving forward the skirmish line the enemy was found posted in rear of a third line of works, his skirmishers thrown forward to near the railroad. The brigade was moved to the west side of the railroad, and formed in line of battle in a wood, the right of the brigade resting on the railroad, and subsequently moved to the front of the woods and in rear of a hill. At 3 p. m. the brigade was formed in line of battle on the crest of a hill, and moved forward to charge the works of the enemy, then about 700 yards in our front. In order to reach the enemy's works it was necessary to cross a ravine about 200 yards in front of the works. The line moved forward with spirit. The enemy immediately opened with musketry and spherical case, and, as we approached nearer, with canister. When the line had arrived near the ravine the loss had already been very great, for the troops were exposed to a fire not only in front but upon both flanks. As the line was descending the near slope of the ravine it broke; many returned. About 200 reached the opposite slope of the ravine, where they found shelter by lying close to the ground. Lieutenant-Colonel Harney was the only regimental commander that reached this point. My horse was killed a moment before the line broke, and I did not reach the opposite side of the ravine. The officers now rallied the men in rear of the crest, from which the line had moved when the charge commenced. About 450 men were formed in line. An order was received at 4 p. m. to prepare for a second charge at 5.30 p. m. It was subsequently suspended. The troops in the ravine remained until dark, when they were withdrawn. Pickets were now thrown out to the foot of the ravine, a new line of battle formed and advanced to the crest of the hill, and breast-works were thrown up. The wounded were brought in and the dead buried.

The brigade had suffered a very heavy loss in killed and wounded. Of the seven regimental commanders, Lieutenant-Colonel Dorrell, commanding Third Delaware Volunteers, was killed. The command then devolved upon Captain McKaig. Capt. O. Mumford, commanding Fifty-sixth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, was killed, and the command devolved upon Lieutenant Baker; Colouel Grimshaw, commanding Fourth Delaware Volunteers, was severely wounded, and the command devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel La Motte, who was also slightly wounded, but remained on the field; Lieutenant-Colonel Creney, commanding Ninety-fifth New York, was severely wounded, and the comm.and devolved upon Major Bard; Captain Byram, commanding Sev enty-sixth New York, was very seriously wounded, and the command devolved upon Capt. J. C. Hatch; Lieutenant-Colonel Harney was slightly wounded, but remained in command of his regiment. The One hundred and fifty-seventh [Pennsylvania] was commanded by Captain Hawthorn. Captain Lambdin, acting aide-de-camp, was seriously

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wounded.

The brigade occupied the works up to July 31, being relieved by and relieving in turn every three days the First Brigade of this division.

During the campaign the officers and men of the brigade have evinced great bravery, patriotism, and fortitude. From May 3 to July 31, a period of nearly ninety days, not more than five days passed that they were not under the fire of the enemy.

I desire to mention my staff-Captain Cowdrey, assistant adjutantgeneral; Captain Watkins, acting assistant inspector-general; Captain Lambdin, Lieutenant Healy and Lieutenant Bush, acting aides-decamp for their efficiency in promulgating and attending to the execution of my orders.

I herewith transmit a tabular recapitulation of casualties in the brigade during the campaign: Killed, 14 officers, 197 men; seriously wounded, 26 officers, 424 meu; wounded slightly, 15 officers, 389 men; wounded (description unknown), 6 officers, 128 men; missing, 23 offi cers, 376 men; total, 84 officers, 1,514 men; aggregate, 1,598.

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

Capt. C. MCCLELLAN,

J. W. HOFMANN, Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

Asst. Adjt. Gen., Fourth Division, Fifth Army Corps.

No. 136.

Report of Capt. James E. Baily, Third Delaware Infantry.
HEADQUARTERS THIRD DELAWARE VOLUNTEERS,
August 10, 1864.

CAPTAIN: *

FIFTH EPOCH.

We left this place Sunday night, June 12, pushing rapidly forward across Long Bridge, over the Chickahominy, on morning of 13th, and from thence, with our division, to near Charles City Court-House, arriving morning 14th of June. Rested till noon of 16th and then crossed the James from Wilcox's Wharf on board transport to Wind-Mill Point; thence forward to within some two miles of Petersburg; halted at midnight and forward next day, our regiment connecting, deployed, along a road perpendicular to Petersburg and Norfolk Railroad, between our brigade and Burnside's corps. Lost 2 men mortally and 1 slightly wounded.

June 18, early our brigade formed line parallel to railroad; moved forward, brigade front, past Colonel Avery's house, through woods, and across the railroad; were moved back by the flank and about again, forming new line in woods south of the road. Forward again, left swinging round until we occupied line along the edge of the woods at angle of 75 degrees to railroad; then up to the crest of hill in open field some 500 yards from rebel works. Fixed bayonets and at 3.30 p.m. steadily forward, the First Brigade supporting, subject to direct and enfilading fire of musketry and artillery till half the distance was passed, when we wavered, broke, and fell back, but preserving our organization. The regiment was reformed on the crest from which we started, and after moved to the right a short distance behind earthworks. After dark forward some twenty yards, where breast-works were thrown up. Loss, killed, 1 officer, 7 men; wounded, 3 officers

*For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 29 to June 12, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 628.

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