OR XL P1 #75: Report of Captain Patrick S. Tinen, 69th PA, June 22, 1864

No. 75. Report of Captain Patrick S. Tinen, Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations June 22.*¹

HDQRS. SIXTY-NINTH REGIMENT PENNSYLVANIA VOLS.,
In the Field, near Petersburg, Va., June 29, 1864.

SIR: In compliance with General Orders, Numbers -, dated headquarters Second Division, Second Corps, Army of the Potomac, June 28, 1864, I have the honor to report that my regiment, the Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers, occupied the extreme left of the Second Division previous to and during the action of 22nd of June, 1864. I would state in reference to the conduct of the regiment on that occasion that they behaved as well as could be expected of any troops. Had the Third Division not abandoned their line without a respectable show of resistance, and thus allowed the enemy to take us in flank and rear, we could have maintained our line. I would furthermore state that there was a grievous blunder committed by some one in the establishment of the line of our brigade, a portion of the One hundred and eighty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers being placed nearly at a right angle with the

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* This regiment was transferred from the Second to the Third Brigade June 26.

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line of our brigade, thus exposing them to an enfilading fire and leaving a vacancy, equal to their front, in the main line, through which the enemy could readily enter. It was whilst advancing on this position that the enemy was repulsed and driven back to the woods on our left and front by the fire from our line. I would also state that the men of my regiment expended, on an average, thirty-five rounds of ammunition per man, and this not in reckless firing, and, furthermore, it was not until all the troops on my left in confusion to the rear, and until the enemy succeeded in getting on my left and rear and demanded us to surrender, there being no further chance of resistance, I gave the order to my regiment to fall back to the right and rear, which was done in good order.

In conclusion, I desire to say that, as the honor of the regiment and its officers is at stake, in their behalf I respectfully ask and investigation of the conduct of both officers and men on that occasion.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. S. TINEN,

Captain, Commanding Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania Veteran Volunteers.

Lieutenant PARSONS,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

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