First
Second
Third

Fourth

Fifth..

Total..

of the camps of the 28th; went into bivouac. Remained there until July 2, when we returned to the Williams house and formed a new line and camps east of the plank road, facing south.

July 5, moved the line one-eighth of a mile farther south and built rifle-pits and battery work.

July 9, 11 p. m., moved from camp toward City Point, from which we embarked the following day for Washington.

The following casualties occurred in the operations in the vicinity of Petersburg, from June 17 to July 9:

Capt. Jacob P. Embich, Ninety-third Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, wounded June 18; Second Lieut. Louis Lichtstern, Ninety-eighth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, wounded June 18.

a The aggregate being one-half the fighting force of the brigade that left Brandy Station in May.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Maj. CHARLES MUNDEE,

FRANK WHEATON, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers.

Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Division, Sixth Army Corps.

*For continuation of report, see Vol. XXXVII, Part I, p. 275.

Aggregate. a

Aggregato.

No. 154.

Report of Maj. Thomas McLaughlin, One hundred and second Pennsyl vania Infantry, of operations June 12-July 9.

HEADQUARTERS 102D PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS,

CAPTAIN:*

Near Charlestown, Va., September 2, 1864.

FIFTH EPOCH.

The march across the Chickahominy and the James, and the operations in front of Petersburg up to the time of the embarkation of the corps at City Point, July 9, 1864.

June 12, resumed the march; in motion all night; crossed the Chickahominy at dark on the 13th at Jones' Bend.

June 14, moved about six miles, passing near Charles City CourtHouse, and bivouacked close to the James River; intrenched.

June 16, at 9 p. m. crossed the James River, and on the 17th halted within two miles of Petersburg.

June 18, went into front line; charged the enemy's line. After dark the regiment fell back fifty yards and intrenched. Loss, 3 killed and 18 wounded.

June 19, were relieved in the evening, and moved back to the railroad bridge. Loss, 3 killed and some wounded.

June 21, after dark moved to the left and crossed the Norfolk railroad.

June 23, intrenched in the woods on the left; heavy skirmishing; moved near the Jerusalem plank road and occupied the rifle-pits. June 29, moved to the left in the afternoon on the Weldon railroad. June 30, destroyed a portion of this railroad and moved back to the plank road. Nothing of note occurred until 9th of July, when we received orders to move. Marched to City Point and embarked on transports for

Washington City.t

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
THOMAS MCLAUGHLIN,

Major, Comdg. 102d Regiment Pennsylvania Veteran Vols.

Capt. GEORGE CLENDENIN, Jr.,

Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Brig., Second Div., Sixth Corps.

No. 155.

Report of Maj. Robert Munroe, One hundred and thirty-ninth Pennsyl vania Infantry, of operations June 13-July 9.

HDQRS. 139TH REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS,

SIR:‡

FIFTH EPOCH.

September 4, 1864.

June 13, halted for breakfast about 5 a. m.

Moved at 6 a. m. toward

Bottom's Bridge; crossed the York and Richmond Railroad two miles

For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 12, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 691.

For continuation of report, see Vol. XXXVII, Part I, p. 278.

For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 12, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 693,

from the bridge; crossed the Chickahominy at Jones' Bridge, and halted for the night. June 14, moved at 5 a. m. toward Charles City Cross-Roads, and halted three miles from the James River, formed line of battle, and rested for the night. 15th, 9 a. m., moved toward the river one mile and a half and formed line of battle; rested for the night. June 16, moved to the river and threw up rifle-pits nearly opposite Fort Powhatan; at 4 p. m. moved down and crossed the river on the pontoons; marched all night in direction of Petersburg. 17th, halted for breakfast at 6 a. m.; moved at 7 a. m.; halted for the night near Petersburg, and formed line of battle. 18th, moved at 10 a. m. to support the skirmish line; advanced half a mile with very little fighting; at 2 p. n. made a charge on an open field for about 100 rods, and threw up a rifle-pit; suffered from cross-fire of the enemy's batteries. 19th, still occupied the rifle-pits; had several killed and wounded; was relieved by the Second Brigade (Vermont) and fell back to the railroad bridge. 20th, still occupied our position at the bridge. 21st, lay at the bridge until dark, when we received orders to move; moved at 8 p. m. to the left of the line. 22d, marching; 5 a. m. halted for breakfast; 11 a. m. moved, passing the Second Corps; was formed in line of battle behind breast-works on the left of the Second Corps. 23d, received orders to move to support the Third Division; 10 p. m. fell back behind the left of the Second Corps. 24th, all quiet; repaired breastworks. 25th, built an abatis in front of our works. 26th, all quiet; lay in camp. 28th, was reviewed by General Wright at 7 a. m.; remained in camp all day. 29th, 1 p. m., packed up and moved; marched to Reams' Station, on the Weldon railroad, arriving there at dark. 30th, built a breast-work; at dark we fell back to the Davis farm and halted for the night; a detail of seventy-five men went on picket.

July 1, 7 a. m. moved to a wood, and remained all day and night; 4 p. m. our pickets were relieved. July 2, moved at 6 a. m. to our old position on the left of the Second Corps. 3d, lay in camp until the 5th, when we moved about 200 yards to the front and threw up a riflepit. Lieut. Col. J. L. McKean died of diarrhea, in camp (July 41. 10 p. m. July 9, we received orders to move to City Point, where we embarked on transports for Washington City.

Capt. GEORGE CLENDENIN, Jr.,

R. MUNROE, Major, Commanding Regiment.

Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 156.

Report of Brig. Gen. Lewis A. Grant, U. S. Army, commanding Second
Brigade, of operations June 12-July 9.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST VERMONT BRIGADE,
September 14, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following statement of the move. ments and engagements of this brigado from the time it left Cold Harbor, June 12, to the time it embarked from City Point for Washington, July 9, 1864:

Leaving Cold Harbor at midnight, we crossed the Chickahominy in the afternoon of the next day and encamped for the night, having marched about twenty-four miles. The next day we marched toward the James River and encamped about one mile from Charles City CourtHouse, and remained near there till the evening of June 16, when we crossed the James on the pontoon bridge and marched for Petersburg,

where we arrived on the afternoon of the 17th, and relieving General Brooks' division, of the Eighteenth Corps, occupied the rebel works which had been carried by that corps. The Second Regiment and part of the Fifth went to the front on picket.

On the morning of the 18th there was a general attack upon the enemy's works, when it was ascertained that the enemy's main lines had fallen back during the night and erected new works nearer Petersburg. Later in the day the enemy was attacked in his new position and driven back to his strongest lines. The brigade, except the Second and Fifth Regiments, which held the skirmish lines, took no part in the engagement, being held in reserve, having the unusual opportunity of seeing others do the fighting.

On the morning of the 19th the Second and Fifth were relieved from picket, and that portion of the Second Regiment whose term of service expired started for Vermont. That evening the brigade relieved the First and Fourth Brigades of this division from the front line and held it during the next day, skirmishing with the enemy during the entire day. The enemy opened upon us a heavy artillery fire from the front, and also from several batteries across the Appomattox to our right and rear, inflicting but small loss. The position held at this time was within about half a mile of Petersburg, and it is believed to be nearer that fated city than any other point occupied by Union troops. On the evening of June 20 the brigade was relieved from its position on the right, and moving to the left we relieved General Gibbon's division, of the Second Corps, and held that position twenty-four hours. The front lines were engaged during the day.

On the evening of the 21st the Sixth Corps was relieved from the front by the Eighteenth Corps, and the corps moved about six miles to the entire left of the army and halted near the Williams house.

June 22, the First Division took position on the left of the Second Corps and the Third Division on the left of the First. One brigade of this division took position on the Jerusalem plank road, facing to the left and rear. This brigade took position on the left of the Third (General Ricketts') Division, and as that division advanced in line I was ordered to move forward by the flank so as to protect the left flank. While in that position I was ordered to send a regiment to the left and front to report to the officer of the day. I sent Captain (now Major) Walker's battalion of the Eleventh Vermont, and it was subsequently deployed upon the skirmish line. After skirmishing for a few hours the Third Division fell back and this brigade started for the right to assist Major-General Hancock, but the order was soon changed and we were placed in position near the Williams house and ordered to intrench. The Third Vermont was sent on picket, forming a line between the Jerusalem plank road and Major Walker's battalion of the Eleventh Regiment. The men had worked intrenching but a short time when the order was changed, and an attack upon the enemy's position was made. The attack was made by the First and Third Divisions just after dark. The main force of the enemy had by this time fallen back and the charge was made for about a mile through thick brush. I was ordered to follow and protect the left flank of the Third Division, which order was obeyed. The brigade got into position about one mile from the Weldon railroad about 11 o'clock that night. The Fourth Vermont was placed on picket to protect our then present flank. The other regiments which had been placed on picket stretched back to our left and rear about

two miles.

June 23, no enemy appeared in our immediate front. tie, Third Vermont, commanding about ninety picked men as sharpCaptain Beat

shooters, pushed to the left and front as far as the Weldon railroad, and a portion of the pioneers of this brigade went out to the road and commenced its destruction. At the same time I was called upon for 200 men, properly officered, to report to Lieut. Col. S. E. Pingree, Third Vermont, general officer of the day. The detail was made from the Eleventh Vermont, and the men were deployed so as to form a skirmish line from the right of the Fourth Vermont to the railroad, for the purpose of protecting the pioneers, and at the same time of maintaining a connection with the main force. Soon after I was called upon for another detail to support the line. This detail was to be reported by a brigade staff officer, at a house named, to a division staff officer and by him placed in position. Maj. C. K. Fleming, Eleventh Vermont, was sent out in command of the force and received instructions from the division commander through the officer of his staff. Major Fleming's command was posted about half or three-quarters of a mile in front and to the left of the brigade, which constituted the extreme left of the line. The enemy attacked the party on the railroad and the skirmishers gradually fell back. It became evident that the enemy was advancing in considerable force, and Major Fleming strengthened his position by throwing up a breast-work of rails. It was thought that the attack would be made upon his front, but the enemy bore to the left around a skirt of woods. The picket-line in front of Ricketts' division advanced. It was said that it was ordered forward one mile and would protect Major Fleming's right. About the same time the Fourth Vermont was ordered forward as skirmishers on the left of Major Fleming. The enemy bore still farther to the left and attacked the right of Major Walker's battalion. Two regiments of the First Brigade were hurried forward to strengthen the line in that direction. Having no control over that portion of the brigade on picket, or the skirmish line, but observing the movements of the enemy, and fearing for the safety of that portion of the command that was to the front in the direction of the railroad, I went to General Wright, commanding the corps, and expressed to him my fears. He went with me to the front to observe the situation. His attention was called to the position of the Fourth Vermont and Major Fleming's com mand, and to the fact that if the line should be broken at the point then threatened the enemy would come quite into their rear. It was said in reply that the officer in command had his instructions, and that in case the enemy broke through on the left these forces could fall back to the right and come in front of Ricketts' division, and for aught there ap peared this could be done. The enemy broke through at the threatened point and occupied an open field in the rear of the Fourth Vermont and Major Fleming, and when they attempted to fall back toward the right, it was found that the picket-line in front of the Third Division had fallen back and that the enemy occupied in force the woods to the right and rear; escape in that direction was impossible. The forces on the right and left closed up and formed a line in the rear, and but a few escaped. All that subsequently transpired is not fully known, but enough is known to satisfy me that our men fought to the last, and surrendered only when the ammunition was nearly exhausted, and surrender became necessary. The Fourth Vermont Volunteers was.commanded by Maj. John E. Pratt, a cool and intrepid officer, whose dashing bravery had often been put to the test and has never been found wanting; Major Fleming had also on more than one occasion proved himself a gallant and accomplished officer. Although Lieut. Col. S. E. Pingree, Third Vermont, was not under my command that day, but was acting as officer of the day in charge of the whole picket or skirmish line, I bear willing testimony to his coolness and bravery and almost.