Evacuated Cold

pits at Cold Harbor, which we occupied at 2 p. m. Harbor at 9 p. m. After a constant and rapid march arrived near James River 6 p. m. 14th. Crossed James River on pontoon bridge at 11.30 p. m. 15th. Arrived in woods near Petersburg and halted 5.30 p. m. 16th. At dusk advanced and occupied a line of rifle-pits near the left of our line.

June 17, having changed our position, made a charge toward enemy's work, conforming (as per order) to the movements of regiment upon our left. The charge was a failure, and we found ourselves at its terminus occupying our own rifle-pits, to the right of our previous position. June 18, in concert with the balance of the brigade charged to the ravine between the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad cut and Petersburg, Va. June 19, relieved from duty and ordered into camp to rear of front line of battle. June 20, ordered into intrenchments. June 23, occupied another position in line of intrenchments to left of the one occupied on the 20th. June 26, Capt. R. N. Doyle, Eighth Michigan Volunteers, placed in command of regiment by order of Brigadier-General Hartranft. June 27, moved out to picket-line; set about strengthening line. July 9, regiment relieved from duty in pits, and in camp at rear and out of range. July 17, entered pits again. July 18, Captain Doyle relieved of his command of regiment, Col. Samuel Harriman assuming command. July 30, after explosion of enemy's fort by our mine charged their works at 4.30 a. m., which were held by our troops until 4 p. m., when the Thirty-seventh was among the last few who fell back to former line of works. July 31, regiment relieved and sent to rear 2 a. m.

-No. 202.

SAM. HARRIMAN,
Colonel, Commanding.

Report of Lieut. Col. Colwert K. Pier, Thirty-eighth Wisconsin In

fantry.

Report of the part taken by the Thirty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, in the operations before Richmond and Petersburg:

FIFTH EPOCH.

The Thirty-eighth Wisconsin Infantry Volunteers, composed of four companies, were ordered to report to commanding officer of Army of the Potomac on the 11th day of June, 1864, and were temporarily attached to the Third Brigade, First Division, Ninth Army Corps. During the night of the 11th, while the regiment was on picket, they were relieved and ordered to report to Colonel Hartranft, commanding First Brigade, Third Division, and lay during the 12th in the trenches occupied by this brigade. On the evening of the 12th we marched with the brigade to the left, reaching the vicinity of Charles City Court-House on the p. m. of the 14th. Remained in camp here until the evening of the 15th, when we crossed the James, marching incessantly during the night, reaching a position before Petersburg Thursday evening, the 16th of June. After remaining in line for a time and an engagement being in progress, we were moved out with the brigade to a line of trenches, lying under fire during the night and forenoon. At 1 o'clock we were ordered forward to assault, a line of the enemy's works. Through some mishap the regiments immediately on the left of the Thirty-eighth somewhat overlapped each other and caused something of a diversion from our

line. In the evening the second assault was participated in by this regiment, which was very successful. On the 18th the works adjacent to the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, [*] and our losses were quite

severe.

From this time until the 4th of July we lay in the trenches, almost continually under fire, fortunately but few casualties occurring. The regiment lay in camp until the 17th of July, when we again went to the front, remaining in the first line of trenches under fire until the 30th of July, when the memorable explosion took place. The companies of the regiment participating in the assault following this terrific "blow up" moved up in good order, and every officer and soldier distinguished himself on the occasion. C. K. PIER, Lieutenant-Colonel, Thirty-eighth Wisconsin Volunteers. NOTE. The tabular statement of losses was forwarded at the time called for.

No. 203.

Report of Lieut. Col. Byron M. Cutcheon, Twentieth Michigan Infantry, commanding Second Brigade, of operations June 16-July 27.

HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., FIRST DIV., NINTH ARMY CORPS,

CAPTAIN: t

Near Poplar Spring Church, Va., October 23, 1864.

On the evening of the 15th of June the brigade appeared in front of Petersburg and moved into position.

BATTLES OF PETERSBURG.

On the 17th of June the brigade took position in a ravine in front of the enemy's second line, which they had hastily constructed during the night of the 16th. When the charge was ordered the First Brigade, which was upon the left of this brigade, by some means took the wrong point of direction, and instead of moving against the enemy's works they swept past in front of them, receiving their full fire. Perceiving this miscarriage, Colonel Christ, commanding this brigade, ordered it to halt at the crest of the hill and throw up a slight breast-work, which they did. Later in the day the First Division charged and carried the works. The Sixtieth Ohio was then ordered forward to fill the space between the First Division and the Second Corps, which it did, but the space was so great and the regiment so small that it formed a very weak line. Still later the First Division was dislodged from the posi tion they had gained and the Sixtieth Ohio was obliged to fall back with them. After dark the First Michigan Sharpshooters, Capt. Levant C. Rhines commanding, was ordered to charge upon the angle of the enemy's works, which they did in most gallant style, capturing the works, with 3 officers, 86 enlisted men, and a stand of colors, which were sent to the rear.. The enemy, however, were not disposed to yield the point and soon returned to the fight, which now became a fierce hand-to-hand conflict, in which Captain Rhines, who had displayed the

*At this point in the report a full page of the original manuscript is missing. For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 15, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 965.

greatest gallantry, lost his life. The remnant of the regiment soon found itself surrounded by superior numbers, and the adjutant with 77 men surrendered, prisoners of war. The national colors of the regi ment were destroyed by the men, and the pieces divided among them, rather than surrender them to the enemy. As a brigade the command was not actively engaged on this day.

June 18, at daylight, it was found that the enemy had retired during the night and taken up a new line on Cemetery Hill, beyond the Suffolk railroad. The brigade advanced in line of battle through a thick belt of pine timber and emerged into an open field of grain, sloping gradually toward the Suffolk railroad and the enemy's works. The Sixtieth Ohio was deployed as skirmishers, facing to the right to protect that flank. The remnant of the First Michigan Sharpshooters was engaged in throwing up works for Roemer's battery near the edge of the abovementioned belt of timber. About half of the Fiftieth Pennsylvania was also employed as flankers on the right. The remainder of the brigade charged in line for a quarter of a mile across the open field, suffering severely from a galling fire from a very long line of the enemy's rifle-pits. The railroad cut was reached, but it afforded no shelter, for it was enfiladed by a storm of bullets. The men attempted to climb out of this cut, but only to be mercilessly shot down and to fall back among their comrades. The loss at this point was severe. Toward evening another advance was made, which was pushed to within 150 yards of the enemy's line. Here the men constructed slight works for their protection, and before morning the brigade was relieved and moved to the rear.

In the charge of the 18th on the Suffolk railroad Maj. George C. Barnes, commanding Twentieth Michigan, fell mortally wounded. He was an officer of chivalrous bravery, and I have had occasion to mention his valuable services more than once. He was a born soldier, and he died like a true soldier, leading his command. During this action Colonel Christ, commanding the brigade, was severely wounded, when the command devolved upon Colonel Raulston, Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, who was also wounded soon after. Lieutenant-Colonel Travers, Forty-sixth New York, then took command, but he, too, was soon wounded, when Lieutenant-Colonel Newberry, Twenty-fourth New York Cavalry, became the senior officer present. He remained in command until the morning of the 19th, when Col. William Humphrey, Second Michigan, was assigned to the command, and his regiment was attached to the brigade, of which it still constitutes a valuable part.

On the 20th of June the brigade moved to the right and relieved some part of the Second Corps, in which position it remained until the 25th of June, when it moved back to the left and took position, with its right resting on the Suffolk road, which place it continued to occupy until the 27th of July, when it was withdrawn and placed in reserve. The great losses which the brigade suffered during this period will sufficiently attest its great services without any praise from me. If it has not been the good fortune of the command to accomplish any remarkable or brilliant feat of arms, it has not been because the men have not been true and reliable or the officers brave and efficient.

Such, captain, is the best report I have been able to compile from the materials at hand. I have prepared it in the midst of a multitude of duties and under great embarrassments from the fact that during the greater part of the operations I was myself absent, wounded. It has also been prepared from secondary reports made by officers not at the time in actual command of the several regiments, the original reports

The regiments that reached the enemy's works helped hold these works against the three assaults of the enemy, and were among the last to obey the order to retire at 2.30 p. m. As I have already forwarded you reports of the losses they need not be reported here. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Capt. ROBERT A. HUTCHINS,

WM. HUMPHREY, Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Division, Ninth Army Corps.

No. 205.

Report of Col. Charles V. De Land, First Michigan Sharpshooters, of operations July 30.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST MICHIGAN SHARPSHOOTERS, August 3, 1864. CAPTAIN: The participation of this regiment in the action is hereby stated as follows: We went into the action with about 100 guns. In the charge on the enemy's works the regiment took a small section on the left of the fort, capturing about 30 prisoners in their works. The command aided in repulsing two charges and also in clearing a small "flanker" of rebels, capturing about 20 more, making about 50 in all. A part of the regiment, under the orders of General Bartlett, assisted in working two pieces of cannon found near the fort as long as ammunition could be obtained, then the works were abandoned. We lost a large number of prisoners and one State color. I was disabled before the charge was made and Capt. E. C. Dicey, who led the regiment, was captured, and I am thus unable to give full particulars. The following is a list of our losses.*

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Capt. THOMAS MATHEWS,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 206.

C. V. DE LAND,
Colonel, Commanding.

Report of Col. William Humphrey, Second Michigan Infantry, of oper

CAPTAIN:†

ations June 12-19.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND MICHIGAN INFANTRY,

Before Petersburg, Va., August 14, 1864.

FIFTH EPOCH.

At 10 p. m. of the 12th [June] the regiment, with the brigade, withdrew from its position about Cold Harbor and took up its line of march for the James River, going via Tunstall's Station and crossing the Chickahominy at Jones' Bridge, reaching Wilcox's Landing, on the James, about 5 p. m. of the 14th. On the evening of the 15th crossed the river and moved direct for Petersburg, before which place we ar rived about 3 p. m. of the 16th. After dark we moved to a position *Aggregating 2 men killed, 4 officers and 10 men wounded, and 3 officers and 26 men captured or missing.

For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 12, 1861, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 953.