much damaged that he ceased his fire, and apparently withdrew his pieces. Observed the enemy open from a battery on the crest of the hill near some old chimneys. Immediately directed the fire of the two sections to the right of Captain Roemer's battery against him, compelling him to change his position, first to the right behind a barn, then again farther to the left out of our range; also directed the fire of all my guns which could be brought to bear against the enemy's charging parties about noon. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, S. A. EMERY, Lieutenant, Commanding Third Maine Battery. Lieut. SAMUEL CHAPIN, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Artillery Brigade, 9th Army Corps. No. 218. Reports of Capt. Adelbert B. Twitchell, Seventh Maine Battery. SEVENTH MAINE BATTERY VETERAN VOLUNTEERS, Near Petersburg, Va., August 8, 1864. CAPTAIN: * FIFTH EPOCH. On the night of the 14th of June my guns were placed in position near the James River. Crossed the James at 7 a. m. June 15, and went into park at 8 a. m. Joined the division at 12 o'clock at night and arrived in front of Petersburg at 4 p. m. of the 16th. One section was sent out during the night to report to Captain Roemer, chief of artillery, Third Division, and on the morning of the 17th another section was sent to the front. On the afternoon of the 18th, when the Ninth Corps drove the enemy across the railroad, my battery was ordered. into position in rear of the line of the Second Division, on the crest between the belt of pine woods that extend out to the turnpike road, and the small clump of pines to the rear and right of the Taylor house. I kept up a constant fire during the afternoon to prevent the enemy from strengthening his works, and to assist our troops to advance. At night threw up a redoubt for all my guns. The evening of the 20th, when the Third Division moved to the right to relieve a division of the Second Corps, my battery was put in position to the left of the Hare house. The battery was within 300 yards of the enemy's line, and I opened fire several times on their works. During the night of the 23d the division moved to the left, and with four guns I relieved Mink's battery, of the Fifth Corps, placing my guns in a redoubt to the right of the brick wall or the Taylor house. Tuesday, June 28, the left section was placed in position on the hill to the left of the turnpike road. The position is a commanding one, and has since been occupied by two batteries. July 9, the left section of my battery was placed on the front line across the railroad and near the ice-house, one gun bearing up the ravine, and the left piece ranged on the fort to the left of the turnpike road. My guns since arriving in front of Petersburg have been in the positions above stated forty-seven consecutive days up to the 4th of the *For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 6 to June 12, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 981. No. 219. Reports of Capt. Edward J. Jones, Eleventh Massachusetts Battery. LIEUTENANT: ELEVENTH MASSACHUSETTS BATTERY, V. June 12, marched toward the Chickahominy. 14th, crossed Chickahominy. 15th, crossed the James. 16th, arrived in front of Petersburg. 17th, went into position and engaged the enemy, and up to this date have remained in position with the other artillery of this division and under fire every day save eight. This battery was in its position in front of the mine, and was the second to open fire on the enemy on the morning of the 30th ultimo, and expended on that day 517 rounds ammunition. I have the honor to be, very truly, your obedient servant, Lieutenant CHAPIN, Captain Eleventh Massachusetts Battery. Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Artillery Brigade, 9th Army Corps. ELEVENTH MASSACHUSETTS BATTERY, Before Petersburg, Va., August 5, 1864. LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of the 4th instant this forenoon, and in answer I have the honor to inform Colonel Monroe that my command was actively engaged during the whole of the attack on the 30th ultimo, and simultaneously with the explosion of the mine destroying the enemy's fort on the left flank of the position occupied by my guns and those of Captain Rogers. We opened fire with my whole battery upon the enemy's lines, firing rapidly, by special orders, for about two hours, the range having been accurately ascertained with great precision by previous practice upon the same lines. I need hardly say no shot failed to be effective and the whole working of the guns was executed with great cheerfulness, spirit, and skill by the officers and men in immediate charge. The right piece expended 179 rounds of shot and shell and the whole battery expended during the entire attack 517 rounds shot and shell. In consequence of suffering with intermittent fever and First Lieutenant Morrill being confined to his quarters sick the immediate command of the battery devolved on Second Lieutenant Woodsum, who discharged his duties in a creditable manner and with the approval of Captain Rogers, chief of artillery of this (Second) division, who had general direction of both batteries. I am most grateful to good Providence that no men of my command were injured during the day, and have the pleasure to report no casualties in this attack. I have the honor to be, lieutenant, your obedient servant, Lieut. SAMUEL CHAPIN, Captain Eleventh Massachusetts Battery. Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Artillery Brigade, 9th Army Corps. *For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from April 25 to June 12, 1861, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 937. bridge the morning of the 15th, went into park in a clover field, and remained there until near midnight, then joined the Second Division and marched toward Petersburg, near which place went into park on the afternoon of June 16. On the evening of June 18 put my battery in position in rear of Second Division and threw up earth-works. Remained there until the evening of June 27, when I received orders to withdraw my battery and park it at the rear. The evening of the 28th I sent a section to relieve the Fifteenth New York Battery, of the Second Corps, which was in position near the left of the Ninth Corps line. July 9, this section was taken from that position and the entire battery was returned to the position it took June 18, and there it remained. While in this position I have opened on the enemy's lines at different times, as circumstances required it. My loss here in killed and wounded has been quite severe. List of casualties in Nineteenth New York Light Battery from May 4, 1864, to July 30, 1864.* I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Captain Nineteenth New York Battery. Lieut. SAMUEL CHAPIN, HEADQUARTERS NINETEENTH NEW YORK BATTERY, SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Nineteenth New York Battery, under my command, in the action near Petersburg, Va., on July 30, 1864: At 3.30 o'clock on the morning of that day the battery was ready to commence firing, cannoneers at their posts, and the direction given to each piece. At the given signal-the explosion of the mine-I immediately commenced firing and continued it at intervals as occasion required during the entire engagement. This fire was mainly directed against a battery of the enemy which was in position and strongly intrenched some 500 yards to the left (their left) of the crater and whose fire enfiladed our troops as they advanced to the assault. At first I fired only solid shot, but was finally directed by General Potter to try shell, which I did, and the result was very satisfactory. Although I did not completely silence the fire of the enemy's battery I succeeded in causing it to slacken very much and to stop entirely at times, and also in causing the battery to change position several times (each time toward the rear), which it did under cover of the woods. It kept inside of its works, which were very strong and so extensive as to allow it to change position without much exposure, the woods also preventing us from observing its movements. I fired 670 rounds of ammunition, mostly from five guns, one gun being temporarily disabled early in the action. The only casualty I have to report is one enlisted man wounded. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. SAMUEL CHAPIN, E. W. ROGERS, Captain Nineteenth New York Battery. Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Artillery, Ninth Corps. Nominal list (omitted) shows 8 enlisted men killed and 18 enlisted men wounded. |