Excepting in the engagements on the North Anna, May 23, and in front of Petersburg, June 18, the campaign covered by this report afforded but little opportunity for the legitimate and successful use of artillery. There were but few days, to be sure, in which some of the batteries were not engaged with the enemy's artillery, but as they were always well protected the most accomplished was a temporary quieting of their fire. Hardly a charge was made, either by or upon our lines, which was not made through the woods, where artillery could do almost nothing. In the few opportunities that there were of bringing a single section or battery into play (as near Bethesda Church on the 30th of May by Lieutenant Richardson, and again on the 2d of June by Lieutenant Stewart) it was quickly and well done. At the North Anna the prompt movement of Mink's, Walcott's, and Matthewson's batteries of light 12-pounders undoubtedly relieved the corps from great danger, if they did not save it from defeat. The ground moved over by the corps in its advance on the 18th of June was mostly open and intersected by gentle slopes, affording the very best chance for the maneuvering of light batteries, which I believe I may say was taken full advantage of. The losses of the brigade in material have not been heavy, but in officers and men it has suffered materially, especially in the former. Capt. H. W. Davis and Second Lieutenant De Mott, First New York Artillery, First Lieut. Peleg W. Blake, of the Fifth Massachusetts Battery, and First Lieut. Thomas Goodman, serving with B, Fourth U. S. Artillery, were either killed in action or died of wounds received shortly after. All of them were officers of great promise, and who stood high in the estimation of those who knew them. To Maj. R. H. Fitzhugh, First New York Artillery, Capt. J. H. Cooper, First Pennsylvania Artillery, and Capt. A. P. Martin, Massachusetts Artillery, the senior officers of the brigade, and who frequently held detached commands of two or more batteries, I have been indebted for most valuable services. I regret to say that both the last-named officers since left the service after having for three years held the position of captains of artillery and participated in all the actions of this army. The false organization of the artillery arm in our service provides no way of rewarding such officers by deserved promotion. In every case during the campaign I have found all the battery commanders prompt to perform the duties required of them, and fully seconded by their subordinates and men. Where all have done so well I can have no particular individual to bring to the notice of the commanding general. I remain, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. S. WAINWRIGHT, Colonel First New York Artillery, Commanding Brigade. Lieut. Col. FRED. T. LOCKE, Assistant Adjutant-General. HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, FIFTH ARMY CORPS, August 3, 1864. COLONEL: I have the honor to submit, for the information of the major-general commanding the corps, the following statement of the part taken by my command in the affair of the 30th ultimo: The following disposition of batteries was made on the night of the 29th: Mink's (H, First New York, four light 12-pounders) was posted in the first battery on the right of the line occupied by this corps, his guns covering the enemy's battery next the one over the mine. In Batteries 2 and 3, immediately on the left of Mink's, two batteries of the Sixth Corps, Harn's (Third New York, light 12-pounders) and White's (Fourth Maine, 3-inch) were posted, bearing on the enemy's guns directly in front and on those to the north of the small brown house. Immediately in the rear of these batteries were eleven Coehorn mortars, under Lieutenants Hazelton and McPherson, the whole of the above-named guns being under the immediate command of Maj. R. H. Fitzhugh until he was wounded, and then under Capt. C. E. Mink, as ranking officer. Near the center of our line, and immediately opposite the great salient, were four batteries, under the command of Lieut. G. W. Dresser, Fourth Artillery, and brigade inspector. Of these Van Reed's (D, Fifth United States) and a section of Rogers' (B, First New York), both 3-inch Parrotts, bore upon all the enemy's batteries to our right of the salient, and together with Major Fitzhugh's batteries swept all the hill that rises in rear of the enemy's works, while the remaining section of Rogers' battery and the light 12-pounders of Walcott's (C, Massachusetts) and Stewart's (B, Fourth United States) bore upon the salient itself. Immediately in rear of these batteries Colonel Abbot had established his large battery of ten 10-inch mortars and another of six 8-inch mortars about 300 yards to the right of this. These mortar batteries were not under my control. Some 300 yards to the left of Lieutenant Dresser's position Phillips' (E, Massachusetts) battery, four 3-inch guns, also bore upon the great salient, and about 200 yards from there Winslow's battery (D, First New York, light 12-pounders) occupied the little redan, with one section bearing on the enemy's salient and the other on his batteries beyond the Burnt Chimneys. In the work on the right of the plank road Captain Hexamer, of the First New Jersey Artillery, had two batteries of his brigade (Sixth Corps), H, First Ohio, 3-inch, and E, Fifth United States, light 12-pounders, and six 43-inch siege guns, under charge of Captain Brown, of the Fourth New York Artillery. The ten rifled guns bore upon the great salient and the redoubt behind it, while the 12-pounder battery was directed upon the enemy's batteries beyond our left. Cooper's (B, First Pennsylvania Artillery) and Barnes' (C, First New York), both 3-inch bat teries, also bore upon these extreme batteries of the enemy from the works outside the large redoubt. There were, therefore, twenty-eight rifled and twenty-four 12-pounder field pieces, six 44-inch siege guns, and eleven Coehorn mortars in position along the line and in rear of this corps, besides the sixteen mortars and six siege guns, under Colonel Abbot, making a total of ninety-one pieces of ordnance which took part in the bombardment. It was very near sunrise when the mine was exploded; and this being the signal ordered for the opening of the artillery, not more than one minute had elapsed before all the batteries were in active operation. The most stringent orders and directions had been given to avoid firing into the advancing columns of our own troops, and I have not been able to learn of a single case of any of them being injured by shot or shell from the batteries of the command. The range was short; the fire of our guns exact and crushing; so that the enemy were unable to reply, to any extent, from their guns on their front line, of which, however, I believe they had very few in position. Not a shot was fired by them from any of their batteries to the right of their great salient; consequently our guns bearing in that direction soon slackened.their fire, and only renewed it when there appeared to be any movement of their troops at those points. To our batteries the affair was one almost of target practice. Not more than thirty or forty shell were fired at them by the enemy during the whole day, and their musketry was confined to a few very weak spurts. Their artillery fire was almost exclusively from the large redoubt back of the salient, the battery near the Clark house, and one gun in the ravine leading to General Burnside's salient. These batteries were all more or less hid from us, and the last mentioned was completely covered in a re-entering angle of their line. Every gun, however, which could be brought to bear upon these batteries was turned upon them, and they were kept comparatively quiet. With regard to the damage inflicted by our artillery practice, I can only state that the face of their works was much injured, several of the embrasures destroyed, and at least three chests of ammunition exploded in the great salient. We were also able to prevent their advancing any troops whatever over the open ground below the Clark house. So long as General Burnside's troops held their most advanced position our batteries were unable to reach the attacking columns of the enemy, as their advance was made from the opposite side.. When, however, they had fallen back to the work destroyed by the explosion, and an attack was made upon that point between 1 and 2 o'clock, some twenty guns were able to open on them with shrapnel, and did their part toward the repulse of the enemy. The casualties in the command were confined to 1 officer (Maj. R. H. Fitzhugh) slightly wounded and 1 man in Battery E, Massachusetts Artillery; 2 men were killed and 1 wounded by a premature explosion of a gun in Battery D, Fifth U. S. Artillery. As a display of accurate firing, the affair reflected great credit on all the batteries engaged. I remain, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant, C. S. WAINWRIGHT, Colonel First New York Artillery, Commanding Brigade. Lieut. Col. F. T. LOCKE, Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 143. Report of Lieut. Robert E. Rogers, Battery B, First New York Light SIR:* Artillery. HDQRS. BATTERY B, FIRST NEW YORK LIGHT ARTY., FIFTH EPOCH. Broke camp on the 11th and marched five miles to near York River railroad. Marched to the Chickahominy on the 12th; crossed on the morning of the 13th. Moved out two miles and remained in the harness during the day. Marched at 7 p. m. twelve miles and camped, Marched at 7 a.m. on the 14th to Charles City Court-House and camped. where we remained until the morning of the 16th, when we crossed the James River and marched to the front of Petersburg, arriving at 4 a. Remained in harness until 8 a. m. on the 18th, when m. on the 17th. . For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 11, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 648 battery took position and fired 161 rounds. Private Flynn slightly wounded. Remained in same position until the night of the 13th of July, firing during the time 160 rounds with no other casualties. Battery went into position in the new line of works on the night of the 13th. Fired from the position taken on the 13th, up to the 30th, seventy-three rounds. No casualties. Fired during the assault on the enemy's works on the 30th 370 rounds; no casualties. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, R. E. ROGERS, First Lieut., Comdg. Battery B, First New York Artillery. ASST. ADJT. GEN., ARTILLERY BRIG., FIFTH CORPS. Report of Lieut. Lester I. Richardson, Battery D, First New York Light Artillery. HDQRS. BATTERY D, FIRST NEW YORK ARTILLERY, LIEUTENANT:* FIFTH EPOCH. August 12, 1864. Left camp at dark, and at daylight of the morning of June 13 found us near the Chickahominy River. Crossed the river about 7 a. m. at Long Bridge, moved on about two miles, where we camped for the day. Moved out of camp at dark, and at daylight, Tuesday, June 14, still on the march; went into camp at 10 a. m. near Charles City Court-House, and moved out of camp at 2 p. m. same day. Marched about three miles, and camped one mile from the James River, near Wilcox's Wharf. June 15, remained in camp all day. June 16, moved out this morning before light, crossed the James River on pontoons near Wind-Mill Point, marched to near Petersburg, and at 2 p. m. camped for the night. June 17, remained in camp during the day. June 18, moved out this morn ing at 6 a. m.; was assigned my position about 8 a. m., 600 yards in front and some 300 to the right of headquarters. As I went in posi tion the enemy's batteries were firing, but with very poor effect. I remained here about half an hour, when I was ordered to advance my battery. I moved forward say 200 yards, and to my right about 100, moving only one gun at a time. During this time and before this we had failed to injure the enemy's battery to any extent, as far as we knew. After firing a few rounds from this last position, I was ordered up still farther, and as the fire was at that time it was impossible to move my guns with horses, so I would fire my guns and then run them up a little more than the recoil, and in that manner I got my position, where we remained during the day. June 19, left the front this morn ing about 8 a. m., moved to the rear a short distance, and went in camp for the day. June 20 to 30, inclusive (see Lieut. D. F. Ritchie's report); July 1 to 21, inclusive, remained in camp. July 22, moved out and occupied the works in rear of General Griffin's headquarters, where we remained until the night of July 24, when I was ordered to move *For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 5 to June 12, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 649. † Not found. out and take my battery to the front. Two of my guns were put in Fort Tilton and two in a small redan on the right of Fort Tilton. On the evening of July 29 I received orders to remove the two guns from Fort Tilton to the redan, thus getting my battery together, in which position they were July 30. I cannot close this hastily written report without speaking of the gallant conduct of the officers and men under my command. The duties throughout the whole campaign were most arduous, and the battles from May 5 to June 18, inclusive, were the most fearful and hardest fought of any in which this battery has been engaged. Although exposed while in action to a heavy fire of artillery and infantry, my officers and men maintained throughout a coolness and bravery worthy of all praise. Lieutenant De Mott (killed June 3), Lieutenant Fuller, and First Sergeant Babcock commanded their respective sections to my entire satisfaction, and are entitled to all honors that can be bestowed upon officers for gallant conduct; and my non-commissioned officers, to them also are entitled the same honor, and not a man but performed his duty nobly and cheerfully; not a murmur or complaint was heard either upon the tiresome marches or upon the battle-field. Yours, respectfully, L. I. RICHARDSON, First Lieut., Comdg. Battery D, First New York Artillery. Lieut. F. MORRIS, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Artillery Brigade, Fifth Corps. No. 145. Report of Lieut. James B. Hazelton, Battery E, First New York Light Artillery, of operations July 11-30. HDQRS. COMPANY E., FIRST NEW YORK LIGHT ARTY., August 12, 1864. LIEUTENANT: In accordance with requirements of Special Orders, No. 209, August 5, 1864, headquarters Army of the Potomac, I have the honor to report as follows as regards the participation of Light Company E, First New York Artillery, since its reorganization under my command and assignment to the temporary service of Coehorn mortar. battery previous to and during the late assault upon the enemy's works near Petersburg, Va.: I have the honor to report that I occupied position selected by Maj. R. H. Fitzhugh upon right of Fifth Corps line in front of Petersburg, Va., upon the 11th day of July, 1864. During the evening of the 11th and the following day I was engaged in throwing up works. At 8.30 p.m. of the 12th I received orders from headquarters Fifth Corps placing me under command of Brigadier-General Ayres, commanding Second Division, Fifth Army Corps, and was by General Ayres placed under direction of Colonel Kitching, commanding brigade. Reported to Colonel Kitching and received instructions to open fire and continue it at intervals during the night, as the enemy were reported to be constructing a heavy work in Colonel Kitching's front. During the 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, and 17th instant continued to fire whenever the enemy opened their mortars from my front upon our troops or attempted the strengthening of their works. Upon the 15th fired one of the |