Petersburg at 4 p. m. of the 16th; went into position with one piece at 10 p. m. under heavy fire; in action all next day, changing position several times; fired 130 rounds. 18th, advanced through woods at commencement of battle, went into position, and opened brisk fire to cover advance of our columns, one piece ordered into position in advance of the others. The 20th went into position farther on our right, within 400 yards of enemy's works. 21st, Lieut. Thomas Heasley severely wounded. 23d, went into position farther on our left, about 1,000 yards from enemy's line, where we lay until July 5, firing a few rounds at the enemy each day. Evening of July 6 removed about 600 yards farther to the left in a strong work put up during night of the 5th, it being a nearer and much more commanding position. For the most part of the month the men were engaged in building magazines and strengthening the work. We lay comparatively quiet, occasionally firing a few rounds, until the battle of the 30th, when we were actively engaged, firing 448 rounds. I am, most respectfully, your obedient servant, JACOB ROEMER, Captain, Commanding Thirty-fourth New York Battery. Capt. R. A. HUTCHINS, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Division, Ninth Army Corps. HEADQUARTERS THIRTY-FOURTH NEW YORK BATTERY, Before Petersburg, Va., August 5, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to transmit the following report of Thirtyfourth New York Battery of the action of Saturday, July 30, 1864: The battery had four pieces of 3-inch rifled ordnance in position on a hill commanding the greater part of the enemy's lines in front of the Fifth and Ninth Army Corps, and between 900 and 1,000 yards distance from the point assaulted. On evening of 29th ultimo received notice of the intended explosion of the mine and attack of our forces, which was stated to take place at 3.30 o'clock, but for some unknown reason it did not take place until 4.07 o'clock by my time. I had the men of my command at their post at 3 o'clock with pieces loaded and lanyards in hand ready for immediate service. At instant of the explosion of the mine we opened fire with all four pieces directed upon enemy's works. Our fire was very rapid and accurate, silencing the guns of the enemy that our pieces could be brought to bear upon, but the guns that did most damage to our troops we could not get range of, on account of trees being in the way. After our troops had gained a portion of the works our fire slackened for awhile, but opened again as soon as the enemy made any demonstration against our troops. At the time they made the charge across the field in our front upon our forces that were in the advance, we opened a very destructive fire upon them, using case-shot, which I know did great execution among them, our shells bursting splendidly every time. Our casualties during the day were none. We expended 448 rounds. of ammunition. hom I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, JACOB ROEMER, Captain, Commanding Thirty-fourth New York Battery. Lieut. SAMUEL CHAPIN, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Artillery, Ninth Army Corps. No. 224. Reports of Lieut. George W. Silvis, Battery D, Pennsylvania Light CAPTAIN: Artillery. CAMP BATTERY D, PENNSYLVANIA ARTILLERY, Before Petersburg, Va., August 12, 1864. FIFTH EPOCH. On the morning of the 16th [June] crossed the Chickahominy River and moved to a line of works erected near Powhatan Point, on the James River. On the morning of the 17th crossed the James River at Powhatan Point and went into camp on the south bank. On the morning of the 18th marched in the direction of Petersburg, and reached the vicinity of that city about 10 o'clock in the evening. Went into camp for the night and in the morning moved about a mile toward the left of our army. Remained there until the evening of the 20th, when we were ordered into position. Moved into a work about the center of the line of batteries of the Ninth Corps, where we remained until the evening of the 9th of July. During that time we expended 234 rounds of ammunition. On the morning of the 10th of July proceeded to join the Fourth Division, Ninth Army Corps, then lying on the Jerusalem plank road in rear of the left of the army. On the morning of the 12th moved to a point on the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad, and on the evening of the 16th moved into a redoubt just erected on the left of that railroad. Here we remained until the 22d, when we moved to a plain in rear of the headquarters of Ninth Army Corps, aud on the evening of the 25th two sections of the battery were ordered to occupy the fort on the right of the Norfolk road. Were ordered on the evening of the 29th of July to be in readiness to commence firing immediately after the explosion of the mine in our front. As soon as the mine exploded we commenced firing; most of the firing was directly toward the crest of the hill in the rear of the crater. Owing to the limited field of firing from the part of the work in which we were stationed, and the danger of firing with our troops so near the enemy, after about half an hour's firing we ceased. Atintervals during the morning we fired a few more rounds, expending in all during the day eighty-four rounds of ammunition. The casualties in the company during the campaign were: David Walters, wounded in back, June 22; Daniel D. Armel, wounded in head, June 27, since died; Henry S. Rogers, wounded in foot, June 28; Wellington F. Clouser, wounded in chin, July 30. All of which is respectfully submitted. I have the honor to be, captain, your obedient servant, First Lieut., Comdg. Battery D, Pennsylvania Vol. Artillery. Capt. GEORGE A. HICKS, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Fourth Division, Ninth Army Corps. BEFORE PETERSBURG, VA., August 5, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to report that this battery commenced firing on the morning of the 30th of July a little after 4 a. m. and ceased firing shortly after 12 m. On account of the trees in my immediate *For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 5 to June 15, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 991. front the field of fire was extremely limited. I fired at the enemy's battery on the hill in rear of the crater, and also shelled the woods to the right of that eminence. I expended 84 rounds, 34 time-shell as solid shot, and 50 rounds of Schenkl percussion; the latter worked admirably. I had one private slightly wounded. I had four guns in action. I have the honor to be, your obedient servant, GEO. W. SILVIS, First Lieut., Comdg. Battery D, Pennsylvania Vol. Artillery. Lieutenant-Colonel MONROE, Chief of Artillery, Ninth Army Corps. No. 225. Reports of Capt. Romeo H. Start, Third Vermont Battery. THIRD BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY VERMONT VOLS., Before Petersburg, Va., August 4, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my command in the assault on the enemy's lines before Petersburg, Va., on the morning of the 30th of July, 1864: At about 10 minutes past 4 a. m. the mine in front of the work, in part occupied by four of my guns, the remaining_two being in reserve, exploded, and in accordance with instructions I immediately opened fire upon the heavy earth-work on the enemy's left of the one mined. Soon finding that the position of the two right pieces was so low, and the rifle-pits in front so high as partially to hide from view the enemy's work, I caused those pieces to be moved out of the work to the high open ground immediately in rear, where, by firing over the parapet and across the flank of the work, I was enabled to obtain an effective fire upon the work above mentioned. I continued to work my guns upon the work indicated until our troops carried the works in the immediate vicinity of the fort, when, by direction of General Burnside, I ceased firing. The fire upon this point had lasted nearly an hour and had caused the enemy to materially slacken his fire, but we could not silence guns. Very soon after I ceased firing the enemy opened two guns from the work on the right of the railroad cut, his shot enfilading my position, to which I immediately replied. Those guns were soon silenced by Jones' (Eleventh Massachusetts) battery and my own. At about 5.30 a. m. our troops were forced to retire from the immediate vicinity of the work upon which I had at first directed my fire, and I again opened upon the same and continued the fire upon that point and the enemy's infantry until the close of the engagement by the enemy's retaking his works. None of my men were injured. The ammunition used was mostly Schenkl percussion-shell. I also used a few rounds of Schenkl case-shot, time-fuse. All of my ammunition worked admirably. There were but two premature explosions. Three hundred and ninety-five rounds expended. his I am, sir, most respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. SAMUEL CHAPIN, ROMEO H. START, Captain, Commanding Battery. Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Artillery, Ninth Army Corps.. THIRD BATTERY LIGHT ARTILLERY VERMONT VOLS., LIEUTENANT:* June 16, crossed the [Chickahominy] River and moved to the James River, near Wilcox's Landing, Va., and went into position in an earthwork, for the purpose of covering the crossing of that river. Remained in position until the morning of the 17th instant, when the battery left its position and crossed the James on the pontoon bridge near Fort Powhatan, Va., and moved up the south bank of the river a mile, and encamped for the night. June 18, 1864, moved from the James River to the lines in front of Petersburg, Va., where it arrived at 10 p. m. and encamped. Remained in camp until the evening of the 20th instant, when it went into position near to and on the right of the Norfolk and Petersburg road. From the said 20th of June until the 30th of July, 1864, this battery has been in position at different points along the lines in front of Petersburg most of the time. This battery was engaged in the assault on the enemy's lines in front of Petersburg, Va., on the said 30th of July, 1864, a full report of its operations on that day having hitherto been submitted. I am, lieutenant, most respectfully, your obedient servant, Lieut. SAMUEL CHAPIN, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Artillery, Ninth Army Corps. No. 226. Report of Brig. Gen. David McM. Gregg, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division, Cavalry Corps, of operations July 7-30. HEADQUARTERS SECOND DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS, November 23, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Second Cavalry Division from the 7th until the 30th day of July, 1864: After crossing the James River the division was encamped near LightHouse Point, picketing in rear and on left of the army until the 26th of July, on the evening of which day it marched with the First Division of the Cavalry Corps, the two divisions under command of Major-General Sheridan, from its camp across the Appomattox at Point of Rocks, and thence north of the James River, crossing at Deep Bottom. On the 27th the division occupied a position on Strawberry Plains. On the morning of the 28th an order from Major-General Sheridan directed me to move the division to Ridley's [Riddell's] Shop, near the intersection of the New Market and Charles City roads. The division moved from Strawberry Plains in the following order: The First Brigade, Brig. Gen. H. E. Davies commanding, in advance, the Second Brigade, Col. J. I. Gregg commanding, following. Following a wood road leading from the Plains, the division struck the New Market road at the position occupied by the First Division, on the right of the Second Army Corps. Having moved one mile and a half down the *For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 6 to June 15, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 993. |