Editor’s Note: Bryce Suderow shared this original research on Confederate Army strength at the Second Battle of Deep Bottom. He used mainly known strengths from Confederate Inspection reports and various casualty lists to estimate Confederate strengths during the battle. He has given written permission to reproduce this research here and this article may not be reproduced without his consent.
INSPECTION REPORTS FOR LEE’S ARMY AT 2ND DEEP BOTTOM
Field’s Division
Anderson’s Brigade August 8, 1864
(M935 Roll 10 P13)
Officers Men Total
F & S 5 1 6
7th Ga. 24 186 210
8th Ga. 12 136 148
9th Ga. 14 180 194
11th Ga. 17 163 180
59th Ga. 16 255 271
Total: 88 921 1009
Brigade Loss:
Aug. 12
8th Ga.: 0 k 1 w 0 m = 1
Aug. 14
7th Ga.: 0 k 1 w 1 m = 2
8th Ga.: 0 k 5 w 8 m = 13
9th Ga.: 0 k 2 w 0 m = 2 (1 deserted) = 3
11th Ga.: 2 k 2 w 1 m = 5
59th Ga.: 1 k 2 w 19 m = 22
Total: 3 k 12 w 28 m & 1 deserted = 45
Aug. 15
7th Ga.: 0 k 3 w 0 m = 3
11th Ga.: 0 k 1 w 0 m = 1
59th Ga.: 0 k 3 w 1 m = 4
Total: 0 k 7 w 1 m = 8
Strength on August 16
7th Ga. 24 186 210 minus 5 = 205
8th Ga. 12 136 148 minus 14 = 134
9th Ga. 14 180 194 minus 3 = 191
11th Ga. 17 163 180 minus 6 = 172
59th Ga. 16 255 271 minus 26 = 245
Total: 88 921 1009 minus 54 = 955
Aug. 16
7th Ga.: 2 k 6 w 1 m = 10
8th Ga.: 1 k 11w 0 m = 12
9th Ga.: 1 k 9 w 1 m = 11
11th Ga.: 2 k 4 w 2 m = 8
59th Ga.: 4 k 9 w 0 m = 13
Total: 10 k 39 w 4 m = 53
59th Ga.: Unknown: 0 k 2 w 0 m = 2
Anderson’s Brigade Aug. 28, 1864
Officers Men Total
F & S — 5 1 6
7th Ga. 22 187 209
8th Ga. 11 121 132
9th Ga. 10 165 175
11th Ga. 7 152 169
59th Ga. 11 237 248
Total: 76 863 939
Law’s Brigade Aug. 28, 1864
M935 Roll 3 C12
F & S 4 0 4
4th Ala. 12 145 157
15th Ala 9 206 215
44th Ala. 18 136 154
47th Ala. 14 143 157
48th Ala. 11 106 117
Total: 68 736 804
Aug. 14:
4th Ala. 4 k 5 w 5 m = 14
15th Ala. 1 k 3 w 3 m = 7
44th Ala. 2 k 2 w 6 m = 10
47th Ala. None
48th Ala. 1 k 3 w 5 m = 9
Total: 8 k 13 w 19 m = 40
Strength on August 16
4th Ala. 12 145 157 minus 14 = 143
15th Ala 9 206 215 minus 7 = 208
44th Ala. 18 136 154 minus 10 = 144
47th Ala. 14 143 157 minus 0 = 157
48th Ala. 11 106 117 minus 9 = 108
Total: 68 736 804 minus 40 = 764
Aug. 14:
4th Ala. 4 k 5 w 5 m = 14
15th Ala. 1 k 3 w 3 m = 7
44th Ala. 2 k 2 w 6 m = 10
47th Ala. None
48th Ala. 1 k 3 w 5 m = 9
Total: 8 k 13 w 19 m = 40
Aug. 16:
4th Ala. 0 k 4 w 0 m = 4
15th Ala. 5 k 35 w 0 m = 40
44th Ala. 2 k 6 w 2 m = 10
47th Ala. 0 k 1 w 0 m = 1
48th Ala. 8 k 17 w 0 m = 25
Total: 15 k 63 w 2 m = 80
Unknown
4th Ala. 0 k 1 w 0 m = 1
15th Ala. 1 k 3 w 0 m = 4
44th Ala 2 k 2 w 0 m = 4
47th Ala. None
48th Ala. 0 k 1 w 0 m = 1
Total: 3 k 7 w 0 m = 10
Benning’s Brigade Aug. 9, 1864
M935 Roll 10 P13
Officers Men Total
2nd Ga. 17 154 172
17th Ga. 17 130 147
20th Ga. 17 156 173
15th Ga. 22 198 220
Total: 74 638 912
Brigade Loss:
Aug. 14:
2nd Ga.: 0 k 1 w 0 m = 1
15th Ga.: 0 k 1 w 0 m = 1
17th Ga.: 0 k 1 w 0 m = 1
20th Ga.: No loss
Total: 0 k 3 w 0 m = 3
Strength on August 16th
2nd Ga. 17 154 172 minus 1
17th Ga. 17 130 147 minus 1
20th Ga. 17 156 173 minus 0
15th Ga. 22 198 220 minus 1
Total: 74 638 912 minus 3
Aug. 16:
2nd Ga.: 0 k 0 mw 1 w 0 m = 1
15th Ga.: 0 k 1 mw 7 w 0 m = 9
17th Ga.: 1 k 0 mw 8 w 0 m = 9
20th Ga.: 1 k 1 mw 10 w 0 m = 12
Total: 2 k 2 mw 26 w 0 m = 30
Bratton’s Brigade Aug. 30, 1864
M935 Reel 3 C14
Officers Men Total
F & S 4 0 4
1st SC Inf. 22 199 221
2nd SC Rifles 24 238 262
5th SC Inf. 20 197 217
6th SC Inf. 27 289 316
Palmetto SS 29 324 353
Total: 126 1247 1373
Brigade Loss:
Aug. 14
1st S.C. Inf. 0 k 8 w 14 m = 22
2nd S.C. Inf. 0 k 7 w 1 m = 8
5th S.C. Inf. 0 k 3 w 7 m = 10
6th S.C. Inf. 0 k 4 w 2 m = 6
Palmetto S.S.: 4 k 7 w 2 m = 13
Total: 4 k 29 w 26 m = 59
Aug. 15
6th S.C. Inf. 0 k 3 w 0 m = 3
Strength on August 16th
1st SC Inf. 22 199 221 minus 22 = 199
2nd SC Rifles 24 238 262 minus 8 = 154
5th SC Inf. 20 197 217 minus 10 = 207
6th SC Inf. 27 289 316 minus 9 = 307
Palmetto SS 29 324 353 minus 13 = 340
Total: 126 1247 1373 minus 62 =1311
Aug. 16
1st S.C. Inf. No Loss
2nd S.C. Inf. 2 k 7 w 0 m = 9
5th S.C. Inf. 5 k 22 w 0 m = 27
6th S.C. Inf. 1 k 3 w 0 m = 4
Palmetto S.S.: No Loss
Total: 8 k 32 w 0 m = 40
Gregg’s Texas Brigade Aug. 9, 1864
M935 Reel 9 K4
Officers Men Total
F & S 5 0 5
1st Texas 21 129 150
4th Texas 22 158 178
5th Texas 16 138 154
3rd Ark. 9 101 110
Total 71 526 597
Sanders’ Ala. Brigade Oct. 30, 1864
(22P33)
Officers Men Total
F & S 6
8th Ala. 216
9th Ala. 108
10th Ala. 284
11th Ala. 196
14th Ala. 244
Total: 1054
Sanders lost 41 casualties on Aug. 21st at the Weldon RR.
Wright’s Brigade Aug. 12, 1864 (3P17)
M935 Roll 10, 3P17
Officers Men Total
3rd Ga. 17 291 308
22nd Ga. 15 213 228
48th Ga. 15 219 234
64th Ga. 16 187 203
2nd Ga. Btn. 6 99 105
10th Ga. Btn. 9 169 178
Total: 78 1178 1256
Harris’ Miss. Brigade Aug. 30, 1864
M935 Roll. 10 5P17
Officers Men Total
F & S 6 0 6
12th Miss. 7 124 131
16th Miss. 9 157 166
19th Miss. 18 204 222
48th Miss. 19 166 185
Total: 53 651 710
Lane’s NC Brigade Sept. 2, 1864
(M935 Roll 10 5P17)
Officers Men Total
F & S 6 0 6
7th NC 14 203 217
18th NC 14 105 119
28th NC 12 234 246
33rd NC 13 213 226
37th NC 16 208 224
Total: 24 963 1038
McGowan’s SC Brigade Sept. 1, 1864
(M935 Roll 10 24P17)
Officers Men Total
F & S 6
1st SC 16 173 189
12th SC 20 222 242
13th SC 13 253 266
14th SC 15 264 279
Orr’s Rifles 19 244 263
Total: 89 1156 1245
McGowan’s Brig. Lost 22 casualties on Aug. 25th.
Sept. 25, 1864 Barringer’s NC Cavalry Brigade
M935 Reel 10 39P24
Officers Men Total
F & S 7 0 7
1st NC 12 395 409
2nd NC 13 326 339
3rd NC 25 373 398
5th NC 25 353 378
Total: 82 1447 1529
Sept. 27, 1864 Chambliss Brigade
M935 Reel 10 38P24
Officers Men Total
F & S 1
9th Va. 19 503 522
10th Va. 19 311 330
13th Va. 18 274 292
Total: 57 1088 1145
Strengths:
Field:
Anderson: 1009
Law: 804
Benning 912
Bratton 1373
Texas Brig. 597
Total: 4695
Lane 1038
McGowan 1245
Total: 2083
Infantry: 6778
ON HAND AUG. 14
Dept. of Richmond:
Staff 12
25th Va. Btn. 447
1st Va.Res. 265
Gary: 981
Artillery: 2,661
Total: 3,928
(Return of July 31, 1864 in OR Vol. 40, Pt. 2, p. 822)
——————–
Johnson: 461 (Aug. 31, 1864 Return OR Vol. 42, Pt. 2, p. 1213)
Total: 11,167 minus 2947 (Dept. of Richmond) 8220
————————
Sanders: 1054 ARRIVED AUG. 15
Girardey 1256 (M935 Roll 10, 3P17)
Rooney Lee 2674
Total: 4984
Grand Total: 16,151 for Aug. 15th minus 2947 = 13,204
—————————-
ARRIVED AUG. 16
Hampton’s Div. 2,736 (Sept. 10, 1864 return OR Vol. 42, Pt. 1 p. 1243)
Sept. 25, 1864 Barringer’s NC Cavalry Brigade (39P24)
Officers Men Total
F & S 7 0 7
1st N.C. Cav. 12 395 409
2nd N.C. Cav. 13 326 339
3rd N.C. Cav. 25 373 398
5th N.C. Cav. 25 353 378
Total: 82 1447 1529
————————————————————
Sept. 27, 1864 Chambliss’ Va. CAvalry Brigade (38P24)
Officers Men Total
F & S 1 0 1
9th Va. Cav. 19 503 522
10th Va. Cav. 19 311 330
13th Va. Cav. 18 274 292
Total: 57 1088 1145
——————————————————
Pierce Young’s Brigade End of July, 1864 (OR Vol. 40, Pt. 3, p. 823)
Officers Men Total
F & S 5 0 5
Cobb’s Legion Cavalry 17
With Servicable Horses 287
With Unservicable Horses 49
Dismounted 107
7th Ga. Regular Cav. 16
With Servicable Horses 129
With Unservicable Horses 85
Dismounted 159
Phillips Legion
& Ala. Btn. Cav. 21
With Servicable Horses 263
With Unservicable Horses 48
Dismounted 60
Jeff Davis Legion Cav. 20
With Servicable Horses 114
With Unservicable Horses 21
Dismounted 53
20th Ga. Btn. Cav. 14
With Servicable Horses 93
With Unservicable Horses 85
Dismounted 131
Officers
Men With Servicable Horses 88 886 = 974
Men With Unservicable Horses 278
Dismounted 510
———————————————————-
Cavalry Corps July 10, 1864 (OR Vol. 40, Pt. 3, p. 762)
Officers Men Total
Hampton’s Div. 217 2,888 3,570
Fitz Lee’s Div. 134 1,591 1,994
W.H.F. Lee’s Div. 247 3,957 4,929
Total: 598 8,436 10,493
———————————————————–
Cavalry Corps Aug. 31, 1864 (OR Vol. 42, Pt. 2, p. 1214)
Officers Men Total
Staff 12 12
Hampton’s Div. 204 2,769
W.H.F. Lee’s Div. 140 2,575
Horse Artillery 88 1,395
Total: 524 6739
——————————————————-
Butler’s Division Strength — 2736
+ 6 casualties on August 18th
136 casualties lost on Aug. 23rd
+ 33 casualties lost on Aug. 25th.
Total: 175 casualties
New Total: 2736
+ 175
2,911
Grand Total: 18,887 minus 2947 = 15,940
I am seeking information about why my great-grandfather was captured at the Second Battle of Deep Bottom on August 16, 1864, even though his regiment after fighting in the First Battle of Deep Bottom had been transferred to the Shenandoah Valley.
Joseph J. Brookshier (sometimes spelled Brooksher or Brookshire), private, Company K, 24th Regiment, Georgia Infantry, in Wofford’s Brigade, Kershaw’s Division, First Corps (Longstreet, then Anderson), Army of Northern Virginia.
Here are some of my guesses. He was captured earlier (First Battle, perhaps) but the Union paperwork was processed on (or in reference to) August 16 during the Second Battle. Or, during the First Battle or shortly thereafter, he became separated from his 24th Regiment and placed into another regiment which remained at Deep Bottom.
Any help (general or specific) will be greatly appreciated.
Jerry Brookshire
645.890.6209
jjbrookshire@comcast.net
Jerry,
While I always like to try to help, genealogy is not my area of expertise or interest. I would suggest signing up at http://www.fold3.com and looking for your ancestors’ records in the Confederate Compiled Service Records (CSRs). That should give you all of the information available on his role in the war.
I would also check with the staff at Petersburg National Battlefield. They may be able to further assist you with your specific questions.
Brett
Thanks. I’ll follow up on your suggestions.
Jerry Brookshirse
Thanks for the unit breakdowns. One of the “m” here was my great-grandfather (captured).
5th S.C. Inf. 0 k 3 w 7 m = 10
Henry,
Thanks for commenting! What Bryce did here is something I’d eventually like to do for as many of the battles of the Siege as possible. do you have any more information on your great-grandfather you’d like to share?
Brett
Robert Miller Otts – Private Company F 5th SC Infantry was “Captured by the enemy on skirmish at Deep Bottom (August) 14, 1864”. Transferred to Point Lookout, MD, August 16, 1864. He “fell into the hands of the enemy”.
Henry, check out this account from the 2nd SC Rifles on August 14: http://www.beyondthecrater.com/resources/cv/petersburg-siege-cv/cv-v37n08-2nd-deep-bottom-2nd-sc-rifles/
Your ancestor was probably captured in the same fighting.
Where can one find these Inspection Reports that give this info? Are these available for other dates in this and other campaigns? In the OR I see Returns in various reports & correspondences, and sometimes some other info on strengths written into the text, but I have not seen this info. Reb info is rather lacking at times as you know, so this is very helpful to me for a game I am designing. Thank you.
Chris,
They are available onmicrofilm, or images of said.mocrofilm on a dvd,from the National Archives and Records Administration. I purchased some at 125 dollars per roll, but rolls 10 and 12-15 are available for free at the Internet Archive. Go to archive.org, and search for “m935”. You can go through and get regimental strengths for 1864 and 1865 for the Army of Northern Virginia and other Confederate units defending Richmond and Petersburg during that time.
What game are you working on? I’m always interested in wargames design. If you could, use the Contact form at the top of my site.
Brett