No. 29.
Report of Major George W. Scott, Sixty-first New York Infantry.1
HEADQUARTERS SIXTY-FIRST NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS,
August 9, 1864.
CAPTAIN: +
FIFTH EPOCH.
June 12, left the breast-works at 8 p. m.; marched (as skirmishers), via Dispatch Station and Long Bridge, to the James Fiver, near Wilcox’s Wharf. Arrived there at 4 p. m. June 13; went into position and threw up breast-works; bivouacked.
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+For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 3 to June 12, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p. 378.
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June 14, crossed the James River on transports at 11 p. m. Halted on south bank of James River.
June 15, marched toward Petersburg, Va.: halted about 2 a. m. June 16 about two miles from the front.
June 16, moved forward at daylight and formed line on the left of Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers; moved to the right about 4 p. m.; charged at 5 p. m. over rough and difficult ground, gaining a position about 400 yards from the rebel lines; threw up breast-works and remained all night. Lost 15 men this day.
June 17, no movement.
June 18, 7 a. m., advanced about a mile toward Petersburg, the enemy having evacuated the position; built breast-works in edge of woods; remained all day and night.
June 20, relieved by troops of the Ninth Corps and marched to the rear about three miles; bivouacked in reserve.
June 21, 8 a. m., marched to the left across the Jerusalem plank road toward Reams’ Station; deployed as skirmishers on right of Eighty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers, were shelled severely, and lost several men; about 6 p. m. were relieved and moved with the division about a mile to the rear and went into position; bivouacked.
June 22, 9 a. m., moved to the front and halted until about 1 p. m.; then moved forward about one-quarter mile beyond front line of breast-works, countermarched at double-quick, and manned the breast-works. The enemy charged about 3 p. m., and after a hard fight of nearly two hours he was repulsed with great slaughter. Lay in the breast-works all night.
June 23, moved to the left about half a mile; no engagement.
June 24, advanced a short distance and commenced building breast works; before they were completed moved a short distance to the left and remained all night.
June 25, moved about one-quarter of a mile to the rear and bivouacked.
June 26, no movement.
June 27, went into camp a short distance to rear, remained until June 29, 10 a. m.; moved to the left and occupied breast-works and remained until July 1, 9 a. m.; moved back into camp and remained until July 9, 12 p. m.; moved about three miles to the left and went on picket in front of Williams’ house.
July 12, moved about one mile to the rear and bivouacked; 3 p. m., marched to near Reams’ Station; returned same night.
July 13, moved to present position and encamped; remained in camp until July 26, 3 p. m.; marched to the right, crossed Appomattox about 8 p. m.; crossed the James River about 10 p. m., at Deep Bottom, and bivouacked.
July 27, moved forward and deployed on picket-line; withdrawn at 9 a. m. and rejoined the brigade; bivouacked.
June 28, placed in support of picket-line; remained during the night.
July 29, 7 p. m., returned to south side of Appomattox River.
July 30, 4 a. m., formed line on Eighty-first Pennsylvania Volunteers in rear of Ninth Corps; not engaged; moved to present camp.
Respectfully submitted.
By order of Major George W. Scott:
R. A. BROWN,
First Lieutenant and Adjt. Sixty-first New York Volunteers.
Captain G. H. CALDWELL,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Source:
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XL, Part 1 (Serial Number 80), pages 341-342 ↩