NP: August 23, 1864 Detroit Free Press: From the Seventh Infantry

Editor’s Note: This article was transcribed by Bryce Suderow and is included in a collection of articles from the Detroit Free Press. His transcription of this article is published here with his written permission.

FROM THE SEVENTH INFANTRY

Deep Bottom, Va. Aug. 20

The regiment left its camp before Petersburg on the afternoon of the 12th with the 2nd Corps and moved to City Point. From thence on the 13th by transports to Deep Bottom, disembarking at Strawberry Plains on the morning of the 14th and moving forward on the Charles City Road to a point known as Flusser’s Mill. Here we found the enemy strongly posted on the crest of a hill covering the mill and on the opposite side of a deep ravine. The brigade to which we are attached (1st of the 2nd Division, 2nd Army Corps) were immediately formed in two lines for a charge. At 4 p.m. we moved forward, this regiment having the right of the second line. As soon as the Johnnies saw our advancing columns, they opened a murderous fire of musketry from their rifle pits, having fine range of us for 200 yards. The lines moved steadily forward until they arrived at the bottom of the ravine, when they encountered an obstacle not so easily overcome, consisting of an impenetrable thicket. But even this did not stop some of the daring spirits who penetrated the branches and advanced to within a few paces of the enemy’s line, but with little effect. Among the latter were Lt. Town S. Benham of this regiment who with six men and the colors advanced to within 20 yards of the enemy’s works and planted them, retaining his position until dark when the brigade was withdrawn. The loss of the regiment was one officer and ten men wounded. We were relieved by the 1st Division. This corps during the night were withdrawn to a piece of timber on the Charles City Road, where we rested until the morning of the 16th, when we were again ordered to the front and this regiment ordered forward as skirmishers near a point known as the Potteries. We were subjected to a very severe fire during the day, losing two killed and six wounded, were retired at dark, and now occupy the breastworks on the extreme left of the line near Four Mile Creek.

The following is a list of casualties since crossing the James on the morning of the 14th.
Killed
Sgt. Antoine Eugene, F; Private James F. Butler, B.
Wounded
2nd Lt. Hurtman S. Felt, Co, left lung; Sgt. Wellington Carpenter,A, in bowels; Privates — George A. Kent, B, in left shoulder, since died; Thomas Calley, B, in left shoulder; James Moran, B, right thigh; George Nimocks, C. breast; James Dibble, D, hand; Peter Kreiger, F, right arm and left leg; John Coonrod, F, right leg; Alex McMichael, H, left thigh; Thomas Hatch, I, right leg; Abraham Hawker, K, right leg; William B. Richardson, right hip; Halley Corwin, head; — Henry , K, right arm; Corp. Julius Bongor, K, head; Sergt. Edbert S. Schermtown, K, right side. All gun shot wounds.

M.V.S.¹

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