May 28.-Embarked from Bermuda Hundred. May 30.-Arrived at White House. June 3.-This brigade participated in the battle of Cold Harbor, Va.; lost severely. June 12.-Left Cold Harbor and marched to White House. June 13.-Embarked on transports and arrived at Bermuda Hundred. June 14.-Since this date have been engaged in the siege of Petersburg, Va. No. 267. Report of Lieut. Col. William C. Moegling, Eleventh Connecticut Infantry, of operations June 1-3. HDQRS. ELEVENTH CONNECTICUT VOLUNTEERS, Near Petersburg, Va., July 1, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by this command in the battle of Cold Harbor on the 3d instant [ultimo]: The regiment left New Castle in the morning of the 1st, and after a severe march in an extremely hot day, arrived near Gaines' Mill, where an engagement was then taking place, and at once took position, formed in double column in the rear of the First Brigade as a support. Afterward the regiment deployed and took position on the right of the line to protect the flank, throwing out two companies as skirmishers. The regiment received a few shell from the enemy's battery on the right, and lost 4 men wounded. On the 2d the regiment bivouacked on the field, and at 4.30 o'clock on the morning of the 3d took its place in the brigade and advanced with it toward the enemy. The regiment was formed in close_column. The caps were taken from the pieces and bayonets fixed. The regiment then advanced through the woods toward the enemy's works, which were in an open field and about 400 yards from the edge of the woods. Over this open space the regiment charged with the rest of the brigade. The men advanced with a cheer and in excellent order, not a man flinching; but the fire of the enemy was very heavy, and several discharges of canister were thrown by the enemy. The regiment in my front became disordered and the men fell back and the charge was repulsed with pretty heavy loss. The regiment retired in the woods where it was reformed, and immediately advanced again with the brigade toward the left, supporting the First Brigade, being under a heavy fire during the entire day, and losing a number more men. The casualties in this battle were as follows, viz: Field officer killed, 1; staff and line officers wounded, 5; enlisted men wounded, 72 enlisted men killed, 6. I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, Capt. S. R. REYNOLDS, A. A. G., Second Brig., Second Div., 18th Corps. No. 268. Itinerary of the First Brigade, Third Division, Eighteenth Army Corps.* June 1.-Report of the month of May left the brigade en route. from the White House, on the Pamunkey River, and from whence, after a heavy march of 25 miles, it reached Cold Harbor, Va., where an engagement was going on, and was marched straight into battle about 2 p. m. The enemy were strongly posted in thick woods behind well-constructed breast-works, with slashed timber in front, and in order to reach them the brigade had to cross an open plowed field, fully 1,250 yards wide, intersected by a high fence, and under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery. Reaching the edge of the field the troops moved across at a double-quick, and carried without halting the rifle-pits of the enemy, driving him in great confusion entirely from the woods and half way across the open ground to his works beyond. The possession of this second line of works, however, enabled the enemy to bring a heavy enfilading fire on the brigade's right flank, notwithstanding which, galling and destructive as it was, the brigade held the position throughout the night. In this gallant charge the brigade captured over 400 prisoners. The conduct of the brigade on this occasion deserves more than common mention. After they had received the order to charge they neither faltered nor wavered, and though greatly fatigued by heavy marches and night labor, they went as directed to and over the enemy's works as if there had been no obstacle in their path, and with a dash of enthusiasm that could hardly have been anticipated. June 2 to 11.-Holding the intrenchments in front of the enemy, on picket, and other similar duties. June 12.-Received orders to proceed to the White House, where the brigade embarked for Point of Rocks, rejoining Tenth Army Corps. No. 269. Report of Col. William B. Barton, Forty-eighth New York Infantry, commanding First Brigade, of operations June 1. HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., THIRD DIV., 18TH ARMY CORPS, SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith a brief report of the part taken by my command in the action of the 1st instant near Cold Harbor, Va. I formed line of battle at 2 p. m. in rear of Second Brigade, Third Division, and at 5 p. m. advanced to the support of the first line, which had already been hotly engaged. In order to reach the position of the enemy, who was very strongly posted in a thick woods, behind well-constructed works, with slashed timber in front, it was necessary to cross an open plowed field, not less than 1,250 yards in width, intersected by a high fence, under a heavy fire of musketry and artillery. Having reached the edge of this field I moved at a double-quick across it, and carried without halting the enemy's rifle-pits, driving him in great confusion entirely from the woods and half way across the open ground to his works beyond. The possession of this second line of works enabled the enemy to *From return for June. bring a heavy enfilading fire on my right flank, and under this galling and destructive fire, and with heavy loss, the position was held during the night. I do not think that I overestimate when I state the number of prisoners taken in this charge at over 400. It should be stated by way of explanation, and in justice to the brigade commanded by the late Col. J. C. Drake, and which formed the first line, that although it had encountered a very destructive fire, and suffered quite severely, portions of it were in the edge of the woods in front of the enemy's works when my line advanced, and assisted materially in holding the lines, taking also a considerable number of prisoners. I cannot speak in too high terms of the conduct of my command on this occasion. After they had received the order to charge they neither faltered nor wavered, but, although greatly fatigued by heavy marches and night labor, they went as directly to and over the enemy's works as if there had been no obstacle in their path, and with a dash of enthusiasm that could hardly have been anticipated. I do no injustice to others to particularly mention as worthy of commendation, Capt. James M. Nichols, Lieut. William E. D'Arcy, and Adjutant Taylor, Forty-eighth New York State Volunteers; Lieutenant-Colonel MacDonald and Captain Pell, Fortyseventh New York State Volunteers; Maj. E. L. Walrath, Capt. S. P. Smith, and Adjutant Sanford, One hundred and fifteenth New York State Volunteers, and Captains Finley and Littell, Seventysixth Pennsylvania Volunteers. I am also indebted to my staff for the faithful manner in which they aided me during the afternoon. A list of the casualties of my command, amounting to 224, has already been forwarded to division headquarters. I have the honor to be, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, W. B. BARTON, Colonel Forty-eighth N. Y. State Vols., Comdg. Brig. Lieut. D. BEEBE, A. A. A. G., Third Div., Eighteenth Army Corps. No. 270. Report of Lieut. Col. Zina H. Robinson, Ninth Maine Infantry, commanding Second Brigade, of operations June 1–2. HDQRS. NINTH REGIMENT MAINE VOLS., THIRD BRIG., SECOND DIV., TENTH ARMY CORPS,* Near Petersburg, Va., June 27, 1864. GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report of the part in action of June 1 and 2 at Cold Harbor, Va., sustained by the regiments under my command: Although fatigued by a heavy march and having eaten nothing since the afternoon of May 31, at the order to advance the whole brigade, with a simultaneous cheer, burst from the woods and swept through the field into the woods beyond. At the edge of woods encountered a line of shoal rifle-pits, which the enemy evacuated at our approach, and retreated to their first line of intrenchments, 100 yards in rear. We succeeded in forcing them from that line, also taking a number of prisoners, but being exposed to an enfilading fire *Late Second Brigade, Third Division, Eighteenth Army Corps. from right and left, and the men thoroughly exhausted, were in time forced to retire, taking position behind the crest of a slight elevation, some 50 or 75 yards in front of their works, holding our position until re-enforced by portions of the Forty-seventh and Forty-eighth New York, Colonel Barton's brigade, when we again advanced under a heavy fire, and succeeded in capturing their works, taking more prisoners, advancing some 200 yards beyond their lines. The exact number of prisoners captured by any one regiment can not be arrived at with any degree of accuracy, the regiments being so intermingled. I should judge, however, that the prisoners taken by my regiment were from 75 to 100. While not wishing to detract from the honor or praise of any regiments I claim that my regiment was the first into the woods, and the colors of the Ninth Maine the first to be planted on the intrenchments. That to Colonel Barton's brigade belongs the credit of the capture I deny, as emphatically as I deny that to Ricketts' division belongs the credit that should be given to yours. I forwarded report as directed by you, but not until the day you retired from the front, and it has probably been mislaid at brigade headquarters. I also notified the commanding officers of the regiments in brigade as you desired, and the reports made and given to Lieut. W. L. Hughes, acting assistant adjutant-general. Z. H. ROBINSON, Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. Ninth Maine Regiment. Brig. Gen. CHARLES DEVENS. No. 271. Medals of Honor awarded for distinguished services under Resolution of Congress, No. 43, approved July 12, 1862, and section 6 of Act of Congress, approved March 3, 1863. Awarded for. Capture of battle-flag of the 8th North Capture of flag at Cold Harbor, Va Particularly distinguished services, as Capture of flag at Spotsylvania, Va. Gallantry in action at the Wilderness, Capture of flag of the 2d Louisiana Capture of flag at Spotsylvania, Va. Capture of flag of the 65th Virginia at Spotsylvania, Va. Gallantry in action at the Wilderness, Va. Capture of flag of the 31st North Caro- Medals of Honor awarded for distinguished services, &c.—Continued. Capture of flag of 18th North Carolina at Spotsylvania, Va. Do. Bravery in action at the Wilderness, Capture of flag of the 50th Virginia Capture of flag at Spotsylvania, Va. Capture of flag of the 13th North Caro- Capture of flag of the 42d Virginia at Capture of flag of the 15th Louisiana Capture of flag of the 55th Virginia at Capture of flag of the 23d Virginia at Distinguished services in action at An- No. 272. Organization of the Army of Northern Virginia, commanded by General Robert E. Lee, C. S. Army, early in May, 1864.* * About the time of the beginning of hostilities in the Wilderness. |