three lines close together, and the attack developed the fact that four and a half regiments, numbering some 1,600 or 1,700 men, occupied their first line.

My division commander, Major-General Hoke, about dawn on the 24th informed me that a general engagement was contemplated on that day, and gave me detailed instructions as to the part my command was to take in bringing it on. He had the night before given me directions to be ready for movement at daylight. He stated that a heavy cannonade was to be opened from the north side of the river on the enemy's position. Five minutes after it had ceased I was to charge the portion of the enemy's line between the river and the City Point road with the Twenty-first, Twenty-seventh, and Eleventh Regiments, and I would be closely supported by Anderson's brigade. When we had succeeded in driving them from their first line Anderson was to occupy it till his supports arrived, when he was to press on against their second and third lines. While pivoting my three regiments already spoken of on their right and bringing up the other two I was to form my line along the City Point road perpendicular to my first position; then, taking the enemy's first line as a directrix, I was to clear Colquitt's front (on my front) as far as and including Hare's Hill, &c.

While General Hoke was still explaining the plan of battle to me Lieutenant Andrews reported to me from General Anderson, stating that the latter was in position and had sent him to keep in communication with me. In consultation with General Hoke my plan of attack was settled and every arrangement made.

The artillery opened precisely at 7 a. m. and ceased precisely at 7.30 a. m. At 7.20 a. m. I sent Lieutenant Andrews to say to General Anderson that I would move in exactly fifteen minutes. He left me with speed. A delay of seven minutes, however, occurred in my movements, and at precisely 7.42 a. m. I advanced.

I am so far thus accurate as to time, because I did not see my supports; did not know their precise locality, and being governed in my instructions by time noticed the watch closely.

My advance was made with 400 picked men and officers as skirmishers, followed by the balance of the three regiments (about 550 men) in line at close supporting distance. Lieutenant-Colonel Nelson, Seventh Battalion, was selected to command the skirmishers. I took charge of the second line.

The attack was made, and the enemy were driven from their rifle-pits without resistance of moment. Their first line of intrenchments was gained and a portion of it captured. Some 30 prisoners here taken and sent to the rear and the enemy's whole line seriously shaken, his men in numbers running from the works.

Discovering our small force, and the attack not being followed-up, his first line rallied, re-enforcements were rapidly pushed up from his rear, and we were compelled to fall back. This was done slowly, and the enemy, endeavoring to charge us, was driven back into his works. My men, under orders, laid down in the oats about half way between the two hostile intrenchments to await Anderson's advance and then go with him. Numbers of them, however, got back as far as our riflepits, before spoken of, and were allowed to remain there, with the same orders as the more advanced line. None of them came back to our intrenchments except the few skulkers whom every attack develops, and in this instance I am pleased to say there were very few. How much time was occupied in these movements I am unable to say accurately, as I did not look at my watch again.

Total..

When the vigor of my attack was broken, however, and my men had begun to fall back, the left of Benning's brigade moving by a flank reached the right of the intrenchments I had left in advancing, and there stopped. A discussion ensued between Major-Generals Hoke and Field, and after some delay this brigade moved in and was ready to advance. General Anderson's report will explain the delay in his arrival. The report of Lieutenant-Colonel Du Bose, commanding Benning's brigade, will show the time of his arrival and the then condition of affairs. Major-General Hoke was on the ground during the whole morning, and can speak of his personal knowledge. The order for attack being countermanded, I kept out all day as many of my men as the rifle-pits would hold, withdrawing the rest by squads. At night all were withdrawn and the regiments were reorganized.

My loss was about a third of the force engaged, 25 being killed, 73 wounded, and 208 missing. Among the missing are, I fear, many killed and wounded, who fell nearest the enemy's intrenchments. The gallant Lieutenant-Colonel Nelson is missing-it is hoped not killed; Captain Axson, Twenty-seventh Regiment, was killed at the head of his com pany; Lieutenants Huguenin and Trim, of the Twenty-seventh; Lieutenants Chappell, Ford, and Vanderford, Twenty-first, and Lieutenant Smith, of the Eleventh, were wounded. Captains Mulvaney and Buist were captured upon the enemy's work, the latter after receiving two wounds. Captain Raysor and Lieutenant Reilly, Eleventh Regiment; Lieutenant White, Twenty-seventh Regiment, and Lieutenant Clemens, Twenty-first Regiment, are missing.

The following is a tabular statement of casualties:

Command.

7th Battalion South Carolina Volunteers 11th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers 21st Regiment South Carolina Volunteers 27th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers 25th Regiment South Carolina Volunteers

87

75

143

306

Respectfully submitted.

Capt. JOHN M. OTEY,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

ADDENDA.

General instructions for a proposed attack on the enemy to-morrow

morning.

DUNN'S HILL, Petersburg, June 23, 1864.

First. The batteries on the north side of the Appomattox shall open at daylight to-morrow morning on the lines and batteries of the enemy in front of General Hoke, and will continue the firing for half an hour from the time of firing the first gun. They will then cease firing for five minutes as a signal for General Hoke to commence his movement. They will

then resume their fire, concentrating it only on batteries and distinct lines and masses of the enemy as can be fired upon without any danger whatsoever to our troops. Our shells, the fuses not being very reliable, should be used mostly as solid shot.

Second. At the same time that the batteries on the north side of the Appomattox shall open a serious demonstration, partaking of all the characteristics of a real attack, should be made from the right of our line, and continued until it should be too late for the enemy to re-enforce his right from his left.

Third. Major-General Hoke shall move to the attack as soon as the batteries on the north side of the Appomattox shall have resumed fire after the cessation of five minutes referred to in article I. He will swing around on his right flank, so as to take the enemy's first and second lines in flank, advancing rapidly to the attack of the enemy's position near Hare's house, making use of his artillery to the best advantage. Having taken Hare's house he will continue the movement to retake our old line of works between the Norfolk railroad and our second line of works.

Fourth. Field's division, being relieved to-night by Johnson's, will be put in the best position by Lieutenant-General Anderson to support Hoke's attack and protect his left flank. He shall place as soon as practicable a brigade in the abandoned lines of the enemy, on which shall rest the left flank of Hoke. This brigade will follow in those lines the advance of Hoke, and General Anderson will continue to fill up with other troops the gap between the river and Hoke's left until the whole line shall be occupied. Should he meanwhile find it opportune to advance to the attack of the old lines from Battery No. 9 to Battery No. 2, and thence to our second line, he is at liberty to do so, provided no interval shall be left between his right and Hoke's left. As soon as Hoke's right shall have disengaged his present lines, Kershaw's division will follow its movement in order to form a reserve to Hoke's line of battle. Kershaw will advance his left toward the lines of the enemy occupied by Field's division.

Fifth. Johnson's division will relieve Field's at about 8 p. m. this evening, keeping the surplus of his force within reach to replace Kershaw's division as it will move out of the lines to-morrow morning. When Major-General Hoke shall attack the enemy on the east side of the Norfolk railroad, opposite to Johnson's front, Major-General Johnson shall take the offensive and attack boldly the forces of the enemy between that railroad and his lines, so as to retake the old line of works from [Battery] 19 to [Battery] 24.

Sixth. He will place, as well as General Hoke, batteries in position to enfilade the railroad and Taylor's Creek as soon as he shall find it practicable.

G. T. BEAUREGARD,

General.

No. 310.

Report of Lieut. Gen. Richard S. Ewell, C. S. Army, commanding Depart ment of Richmond, of operations July 27.

N[EW] MARKET, July] 27, 1864-10 a. m.

GENERAL: The enemy drove back the troops of General Kershaw this morning and took four pieces of artillery. Prisoners have been taken

from Hancock's corps to-day. Yesterday prisoners were taken from the Nineteenth and Tenth Corps. Twenty-two pieces of artillery crossed last night to the north side of the river. Our line extends from New Market toward White Oak Swamp, the right resting near the Chaffin farm. It may be advisable to send the Local Defense troops to Chaffin's farm to hold the intrenched camp. An artillery battalion of infantry has been ordered to that line, and I do not think affairs are imminent yet; nor do I know the amount of inconvenience in ordering out the Local Defense. General Lee was notified by General Kershaw.

Respectfully, &c.,

General S. COOPER, .

Adjutant and Inspector General.

P. S.-Our losses small.

No. 311.

Report of Col. Thomas H. Carter, C. S. Artillery, of artillery operations

July 13-16.

HEADQUARTERS ARTILLERY DIVISION,

Poindexter's House, July 16, 1864. GENERAL: I send, as you request, a report of the operations of my artillery near Wilcox's Wharf and at Malvern Hill and Tilghman's farm.

On the 13th instant I proceeded to Walker's farm with Major Cutshaw's battalion of artillery, composed of five Napoleons, three 3-inch guns, four Parrotts, and one Whitworth gun. General Gary the same day sent one cavalry regiment, with exception of a squadron left at Crenshaw's, to Rowland's Mill and one cavalry regiment to the vicinity of Charles City Court-House.

The scouts on the river reported that no transports with troops on board had passed since 11th instant and the river unusually quiet. No vessels of any description passed down from 2.30 p. m. 13th instant till dark, and only five passed up in same time.

The artillery was posted at 4 p. m. and opened at 5.30 p. m. on two vessels-one apparently a passenger steamer and the other a freight steamer. The latter was struck repeatedly and injured to some extent. The former is believed to have been struck, but I am not sure, as it turned back to Fort Powhatan before reaching the part of the channel nearest the guns. The Whitworth gun kept up a steady fire on this boat as far as it could be seen, and probably did some damage.

As it was improbable that other boats would pass after the firing, the artillery was ordered to Phillips' farm, some six miles back, and it encamped there for the night.

Next day the Whitworth gun was posted on Malvern Hill and drove off the picket gun-boat opposite Turkey Island House. To-day it drove under cover of the woods three gun-boats which had combined on it. The position is so sheltered that no injury has resulted to the men or horses during the two days' firing.

The 20-pounder Parrott battery opened from Tilghman's Gate to-day on the pontoon bridge, the gun-boat, and camp of the enemy at Deep

Bottom. The gun-boat was struck three times before it retired under the bank of the river. It then gave up the contest and allowed the battery an hour after to limber up and withdraw without molestation. The camp was put in great commotion by the shelling. One brigade marched out of the woods near Four-Mile Creek at a double-quick and took shelter in the trenches. The pontoon bridge was fired at several times, but the mark is too small to waste ammuuition on. It is rarely used during the day, and there is now but little travel on the river in the daytime

On my next expedition down the river I propose to take a single battery, with cannoneers mounted on horses.

The car

I think my sharpshooters can render good service on the bank of the river where it is narrow, and I should be much obliged to you to endeavor to obtain a hundred Enfield rifles, caliber .57 or .58. bines issued to them a few days since are short-range and not reliable in accuracy. I will be glad to use Major Stark's battalion if necessary. I think the 10-inch mortar may do well, and hope it may be sent down. Very respectfully, yours,

General R. S. EWELL,

Commanding Department of Richmond.

T. H. CARTER,
Colonel, Commanding.

No. 312.

Report of Brig. Gen. Roger A. Pryor, C. S. Army, of operations June 23-24.

JUNCTION, June 24, 1864.

Yesterday at the grove two miles and a half from Nottoway CourtHouse General Lee encountered the bulk of enemy's forces under Wilson, and after a severe fight of four hours succeeded in defeating them, taking prisoners and inflicting considerable loss. This morning they moved across Nottoway River, evidently aiming for the bridges on Danville railroad. Kautz left here this morning at dawn, taking the Danville road. He will probably form a junction with Wilson at Green Bay. The enemy's whole force is about 6,000. General Lee pushed on to-day in pursuit of Wilson.

Respectfully,

Hon. SECRETARY OF WAR.

ROGER A. PRYOR.

No. 313.

Report of Maj. Gen. Wade Hampton, C. S. Army, commanding cavalry division, of operations June 27-30.*

HDQRS. HAMPTON'S DIVISION, CAVALRY CORPS,
ARMY OF NORTHERN VIRGINIA

July 10, 1864.

COLONEL: On the morning of 27th of June the general commanding ordered me to move my command from Drewry's Tavern to Stony Creek *For Hampton's report of operations from June 8-24, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 1095.