OR XLII P1 #34: Reports of Captain Horatio N. Hunt, 64th NY, August 13-20 and 22-26, 1864

Numbers 34. Reports of Captain Horatio N. Hunt, Sixty-fourth New York Infantry, of operations August 13-20 and 22-26.¹

HEADQUARTERS SIXTY-FOURTH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS,
Before Petersburg, Va, September 27, 1864.

I have the honor to respectfully submit the following report of operations of this command from the 13th to the 20th day of August, 1864, with list of casualties:

The regiment took transports at City Point, Va, on the 13th, and at 10 p.m. sailed for Deep Bottom; disembarked at 5 a.m. on the 14th, and at 2 p.m. marched to the front under fire; remained in position until nearly midnight, when the regiment fell back a quarter of a mile and camped for the night. Weather rainy and disagreeable. On the 15th regiment moved farther to the rear and remained throughout the day; picket detail called for at night. At 2 p.m. of the 16th marched to the support of the Tenth Corps; threw up a line of works, and at midnight marched to the left of our line and rested. Captain James J. Messervey was killed on picket by a shell. By his death the regiment lost one of its best and bravest officers. On the 17th we lay in support of the Tenth Corps. On the 18th we changed position to the right, and at 10 p.m. we moved to the left and built breast-works, the men working nearly all night. The regiment remained in rifle-pits on the 19th throughout the day; all quiet along the lines. Weather rainy and disagreeable. On the 20th, at 7 p.m., the regiment marched back across the James River to our old camp before Petersburg.

The following is a list of casualties: Killed, 1 commissioned officer (Captain James J. Messervey), killed while on picket duty; wounded, 1 enlisted man; missing, 2 enlisted men.

HORATIO N. HUNT,

Captain, Commanding Regiment.

Lieutenant J. WENDEL MUFFLY,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Fourth Brigade.

HEADQUARTERS SIXTY-FOURTH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS,
August 28, 1864.

I have the honor to transmit the following report of the operations of this command from the morning of August 22, 1864, until the morning of the 26th:

The regiment broke camp in rear of the Fifth Corps at 9 a.m. on the 22nd instant, and took up line of march to its left. Halted at the Weldon railroad at 11 a.m. and commenced tearing up the track, burning the ties, heating and bending the rails. On the 23rd we marched with brigade to the left and continued destroying the railroad. The command arrived at Reams’ Station at 5 p.m. and was placed in position on the right of the brigade line in rear of breast-works. The cavalry in our front commenced to skirmish at the same time, and at dark the fighting was quite heavy and continued far into the night. At 3 a.m., of the 24th the regiment was moved into a line of works on the left of the railroad and occupied them until 7 a.m., when we marched again to the left and supported the skirmish line. At 1 a.m. we marched still farther to the left and again commenced destroying the road. At 6 p.m. we marched back to Reams’ Station and camped for the night. In the morning of the 25th the regiment was in rear of breast-works. At 12 m. it was sent on the skirmish line with orders to strengthen it at a weak point. The enemy attacked the line shortly after in heavy force and drove it in. The regiment was then formed in rear of the breast-works, and at 4 p.m. the enemy charged and were repulsed, with terrible loss, the field in front being strewn with his killed and wounded. At 6 p.m. another charge was made by the enemy in heavy force, and this time it was more successful. The troops on our right gave way and the enemy rushed through the gap thus made. The regiment, after a heroic resistance, was forced to give way. Soon after dark the regiment was formed at the breast-works and from hence marched to the Williams house.

Respectfully submitted.

H. N. HUNT,

Captain, Commanding Regiment.

Captain ARNOLD R. CHACE,

Actg. Asst. Adjt. General, Fourth Brigade, First Division.

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