Shortly after the general left a messenger from Battery 11, closely followed by one from Fort Stedman, communicated the facts of the case to brigade headquarters, and the Fifty-ninth Massachusetts were directed to attack at Battery 11 with vigor and carry it at the point of the bayonet if captured, and re-enforce the works if not. The Fiftyseventh was directed to advance similarly on Fort Stedman. After about an hour's desperate fighting, in which the works were carried back and forth several times, the troops were compelled to retire, part in the direction of Fort Haskell, and part toward the railroad. The One hundredth Pennsylvania had meantime been deployed at right angle with their line of works, covered with a line of skirmishers, but being unable to stem the torrent, divided, three companies going to the old line of works in the rear of their camp and the remainder to Fort Haskell. A skirmish line of the Third Maryland Battalion had meantime been thrown out well supported, and upon this portions of the brigade were rallied, and this line prevented the result the enemy evidently had in view, of taking Fort Haskell in reverse. The Fiftyseventh Massachusetts had meantime been forced back to the ridge near Battery Dunn, but there made head against the enemy. Before 6 o'clock the Two hundred and eighth Pennsylvania, which had been sent to our assistance from the Third Division, was put in near brigade headquarters and advanced to the old line of works in rear of the camp of the One hundredth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and shortly after other re-enforcements came from the direction of Meade's Station. The Fifty-seventh Massachusetts, deployed as skirmishers, advanced, covering this line, and by a succession of brilliant skirmish charges recov ered the slope on which their camp had stood and the crest above it overlooking Fort Stedman. At this time (about 8.30 a. m.) it was noticed that the frequent slight advantages we had been gaining since the artillery positions were carried had discouraged the enemy, and that even a dash of a skirmish line would break a partially formed line of battle, and it was resolved to make a determined effort to recover the works. At this time I received notice from General Hartranft that he was advancing and would carry the works in fifteen minutes, but catching sight of the approaching line, seeing the demoralized condition of the enemy, and fearful that a large amount of prisoners might be lost by longer delay, it was determined to dash on the enemy at once, and the troops collected at the left, consisting of the largest part of the Third Maryland Battalion, the One hundredth Pennsylvania, fragments of the Twenty-ninth and Fifty-ninth Massachusetts, the Fort Haskell battalion of the Fourteenth New York Artillery, and what was left of the Fort Stedman battalion, charged up the line and along the works, carrying the trenches and batteries as far as Fort Stedman, into which almost immediately, from a direction about perpendicular to the line of our charge, came a portion of the Third Division. By 9 a. m. the line of works was in our possession again, with all its artillery.

From the time of the first assault until the close, the artillery at Fort Haskell was plied with vigor, and was very effective, and the welldirected infantry fire and the noble courage of the men, in and around the fort, baffled every attempt to assault it. Battery 12 (First Connecticut Heavy Artillery) kept up an effective fire during the early part of the engagement, and the gun detachments kept well at the front after being driven out, and went up in the charge which gave us the line anew, at once reoccupying the battery and serving the mortars.

Maj. George M. Randall, commanding at Fort Stedman, mentions with praise the conduct of the artillery officers and men at the fort (Nineteenth New York Battery and First Connecticut Heavy Artillery), and a section of the Fourteenth Massachusetts Battery, for their bravery and coolness, and universal praise is given to the artillerists at Fort Haskell (Third New Jersey Battery).

The service will mourn the loss of Lieut. Col. J. H. Pentecost, One hundredth Pennsylvania, whose cool, good conduct first checked the current of overwhelming disaster, and of Capt. James Doherty, Fiftyseventh Massachusetts, commissioned and acting as major of that regiment, whose determined courage and excellent disposition greatly delayed the advance of the enemy toward the railroad. Both of these officers (since dead) should be brevetted for their gallantry this day.

I have the honor to mention the following officers and enlisted men for praise for deeds set against their names, and to reiterate the eulogiums of their regimental commanders:

Third Maryland Battalion Veteran Volunteers.-Capt. Joseph F. Carter, capturing colors of the Fifty-first Virginia Infantry and gallantry on the skirmish line and in the first assault.

Second Lieut. John Nape, for gallantry in forming the skirmish line when he was severely wounded.

Corpls. Edward Mitchell and John H. Locker, of Company D, capturing and carrying off eighty rebels, including nine officers.

Sergt. Michael Denahey, Company C; Corpl. William H. Erdman, Private William Brooks, Company D, and Private Andrew J. Smith, Company B, for capture of numerous prisoners and being the foremost in entering Fort Stedman. The last-mentioned (Smith) deserves special praise for attempting to wrest a rebel color from a rebel, but, being a mere boy, was unable.

Private Patrick McCran, Company C, for capturing the colors of the reported Twelfth Georgia Battalion.

Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery.-Maj. George M. Randall, for great gallantry at all times in the engagement; escaping when taken prisoner.

Capts. Charles H. Houghton, Joseph P. Cleary, George Brennan, and Homer Foote, and Lieut. Charles A. O'Brien, for constant and unwearied exertion throughout the action.

Private James K. Brady, Company H, for capturing colors.

Twenty-ninth Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers.-Capt. John M. Deane, commanding the regiment after the capture of Major Richardson, and Lieut. H. C. Joslyn, captured (Lieutenant Joslyn while on picket) and escaped through the ranks of the enemy in an audacious dash, exposed to every danger; worked a gun in Fort Haskell during the latter part of the engagement, only leaving it to charge back to Battery 11.

First Lieut. Nathaniel Burgess, mortally wounded in a hand-to-hand conflict in the battery.

First Lieut. D. P. Sculley, acting adjutant, captured and escaped; acting as aide in the last part of the engagement and exercising cool and bold judgment.

Color-Sergt. Conrad Homan (already recommended for a medal of honor), for saving the colors when surrounded and ordered to surrender.

Color-Corpl. Nelson Cook (already recommended for medal of honor), killed in defense of colors.

Private T. M. O'Brien, Company B, who, by his skill as wrestler, overset into a rifle-pit the rebel guard who was conducting him to the rear, and secured thereby the escape of Captain Pizer and five men.

Private Edward Carney, Company G, who, with a gunsnot wound in his head, and beaten severely with butts of muskets, still "didn't "surrender and fought his way out.

see

Sergt. William H. Howe, Company K, and Private Levi B. Gaylord, Company A (the latter previously recommended for medal of honor), for working barbette guns in Fort Haskell, side by side with Captain Deane and Lieutenant Joslyn, after all but two of the artillery detachment had been killed or wounded.

Private Charles L. Nightingale, Company H (sentinel), alarmed the camp and killed a man who invaded his beat.

The following men, killed in the defense of the battery, deserve notice: First Sergt. C. F. Harlow, Company C, fought three of the enemy at once; Privates William Klinkler, Company E, and George E. Snow, Company G; Private Preserved Westgate, Company F, who fought the enemy with a club till mortally wounded.

Fifty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers.-Sergt. Maj. C. H. Pinkham, captured battle-flag of Fifty-seventh North Carolina and saved his own colors by seizing them from the staff while the enemy were in the camp.

First Sergt. George Adams, Company G, wounded for fifteenth time. First Sergt. Charles S. Chase, Company H, general good conduct, and Sergt. John O'Donnell, Company A.

Sergt. William F. Oakes, Company K (acting officer), for saving Captain Doherty when wounded, and First Sergt. William Magner, Company B.

Sergt. R. Wesley Williams, Company I (wounded), general bravery, and Corpl. F. S. Cheney, Company C, killed.

Fifty-ninth Massachusetts Volunteers.-First Sergts. Coburn S. Smith and John H. Kelley, Company D; for general gallantry, and the latter for assisting in working a piece of artillery in Fort Haskell.

Private Joshua W. Carr, Company H, was steadily brave, and won the admiration.of his officers.

One hundredth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.-Maj. N. J. Maxwell, commanding after the fall of Lieutenant-Colonel Pentecost, displayed distinguished gallantry.

Capt. John L. Johnson captured the colors of the Fifth Virginia Infantry.

Color-Sergt. Charles Oliver, Company M, captured the colors of the Thirty-first Georgia Infantry and planted the regimental colors on Fort Stedman while still occupied by the enemy.

Private Joseph B. Chambers, Company F, captured colors of the First Virginia Infantry.

Corpl. M. D. Dewire, Company A, captured rebel staff and part of flag and recaptured national camp color staff.

In addition to these Privates John Brown and Joseph Becket, Company C, Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery, detailed men in the subsistence department, deserve praise for the gallant manner in which they resisted the advance of the enemy, using the guns of the captured rebels, and fighting on the skirmish line, Brown being painfully wounded, and Becket capturing six prisoners.

General McLaughlen was captured about 4.30 a. m., but I was not notified of the fact till about 6 a. m., when I assumed command of the brigade.

Nominal lists of casualties have already been forwarded.* The staffMaj. F. B. Mirick, brigade inspector; Capt. T. W. Clarke, acting

* Embodied in table, p. 70.

assistant adjutant-general; Lieut. John D. Anderson, pioneer officer, and Lieut. Matthew Stewart, acting aide-de-camp-behaved creditably; Lieut. Thomas Sturgis, aide-de-camp, was captured with the general. am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Maj. WILLIAM V. RICHARDS,

GILBERT P. ROBINSON,

Brevet Colonel, U. S. Volunteers.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, First Division.

No. 146.

Report of Capt. Joseph F. Carter, Third Maryland Infantry, of operations March 25.

HDQRS. THIRD MARYLAND BATTALION VET. VOL. INFTY.,

Before Petersburg, Va., March 27, 1865.

SIR: I have the honor to report that this command was put under arms at about 4 a. m. March 25, in consequence of unusual firing heard in the direction of Fort Stedman; Brevet Colonel Robinson (at that time in command of the battalion) ordered me to learn the cause of the alarm. I ascertained that the enemy had succeeded in breaking our lines and capturing Fort Stedman, also Batteries Nos. 11 and 12, and portions of the Twenty-ninth and Fifty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteers and Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery. Finding the enemy advancing in the rear of our works, we threw out a line of skir mishers, having the rest of the command ready for their support. After the enemy had driven the One hundredth Pennsylvania from their camp, our skirmish line checked their farther advance, in conjunction with a portion of the One hundredth Pennsylvania, who had rallied at our skirmish line. We succeeded in holding the enemy until he gradually fell back into a narrow ravine on the left of Battery No. 12, when our skirmishers charged and drove the enemy out of the camp of the One hundredth Pennsylvania. We then occupied the left of the line of breast-works, and when the enemy commenced to retreat we charged along our works and were the first to re-enter Fort Stedman and Batteries Nos. 11 and 12, capturing some 200 prisoners. Corpls. Edward Mitchell and John H. Locker took off as many as eighty rebels, including nine commissioned officers.

We captured two stand of colors: one belonging to the Fifty-first Virginia Infantry, captured by Capt. Joseph F. Carter; the other belonging to the Twenty-seventh Georgia Infantry (erroneously reported as the Twelfth Alabama Battalion), captured by Private Patrick McCran, of Company C, Third Maryland Battalion Veteran Volunteer Infantry.

4

I take pleasure in commending the bravery of the following enlisted men of the battalion: Sergt. Michael Denahey, Company C; Corpls. Edward Mitchell, John H. Locker, and William H. Erdman, and Private William Brooks, Company D, and Private Andrew J. Smith, Company B, for gallantry and conspicuous conduct during the engagement, and assisting in the capture of prisoners, and being among the first to re-enter Fort Stedman. The last-mentioned, Private Andrew J. Smith, of Company B, deserves great credit for endeavoring to take a flag from a rebel, but, being a mere youth, his strength was not sufficient to wrest it from the hands of the color bearer.

I would also mention the gallantry of Second Lieut. John Nape, of Company B, in forming the skirmish line, during which he was disabled by a severe gunshot wound in the face.

The anxiety manifested by the troops of this command to participate in the fight was highly creditable, the officers being taxed to their utmost to prevent the support from joining the skirmish line.

We lost in killed 1 enlisted man; wounded, 1 commissioned officer and 5 enlisted men; missing, 5 enlisted men.

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

JOSEPH F. CARTER,

Captain, Comdg. Third Maryland Battalion Vet. Vol. Infantry. Capt. T. W. CLARKE,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Brigade.

No. 147.

Report of Capt. John F. Burch, Third Maryland Infantry, of operations

March 25.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD MARYLAND VOLUNTEERS,

March 28, 1865.

SIR: I have the honor to report as captain of the picket, March 25, 1865.

On

At 4 a. m. I visited the picket-line and saw that the men were up. visiting the line I did not notice anything unusual on the enemy's lines. After visiting the right of the picket-line I returned to the left of that portion of the line in front of Fort Stedman and Battery 11, where the captain of the picket makes his headquarters. I had not returned but a few minutes when the man on lookout gave notice that the enemy were approaching. At that moment the men on the post fired their pieces. At the same time I ran around the bomb-proof, which concealed the right of the line from my view. I had not proceeded far when I noticed the enemy had crossed the picket-line and making for Fort Stedman. They demanded me to surrender, and fired a few shots at me. I ran down to the left of the line. On coming near the bomb-proof I found they were crossing over and making in the direction of Battery 11. I then made for camp through a covered-way, which came out near right of the Twenty-ninth Massachusetts. I passed down the left of the line of works in order to alarm the camps. I crossed over the works again, opposite the Third Maryland, and went down on the picket-line in front of that portion of the works where the men on that portion of the picketline remained firm during the engagement. The portion of the line attacked by the enemy was so near to that of the enemy, and they moved with such rapidity, many of the pickets did not have a chance to reload their pieces. There were several of the men wounded, and a number taken prisoners:

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

Capt. T. W. CLARKE,

JOHN F. BURCH.

Captain, Third Maryland Volunteers.

Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Brig., First Div., 9th Army Corps.

22 R R-VOL XLVI, PT I