Numbers 113. Report of Lieutenant James Gilliss, Batteries C and I, Fifth U. S. Artillery, of operations June 12-30.1
HDQRS. BATTERIES C AND I, FIFTH U. S. ARTILLERY, July 1, 1864.
SIR: *
June 12, changed position a short distance to right and fired eight rounds. Started at 11 p. m. toward James River.
June 13, arrived at James River with General Birney’s [division] at 5 p. m.
June 14, commenced to cross James River at 4 p. m.
June 15, finished crossing at daylight; marched toward Petersburg.
June 16, went into position in rebel work on road from Prince George Court-House to Petersburg; fired about 100 rounds.
June 17, same position.
June 18, advanced at daylight 500 yards and relieved Sleeper’s (Tenth Massachusetts) battery; fired at intervals during the day.
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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. 536.
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June 19, in same position; fired at daylight just before our lines advanced.
June 20, in same position.
June 21, moved at 8 a. m. across Norfolk railroad and camped at dark near Jones’ house; distance, four miles.
June 22, about 2 p. m. was ordered by General Mott, commanding Third Division, to take position on his line, just after Barlow’s division had been surprised. Had an engagement with a rebel battery at 300 yards’ distance, but drove it away after firing about fifty rounds. During a part of the time the enemy fired canister, but did me no damage except to disable a wheel.
June 23 to 27, in same position.
June 28, relieved by Clark’s (New Jersey) battery at daylight, and camped in neighborhood of Jones’ house.
June 29 and 30, in camp.
The number of rounds of ammunition fired is not known exactly, as I have not yet received invoices of it from the ordnance officer.
Below is a list of casualties: Killed, 1 enlisted man; wounded, 1 commissioned officer and 17 enlisted men; aggregate, 19.
The officers and men of my command have acquitted themselves during this tedious campaign in a manner highly satisfactory to me, and I take great pleasure in mentioning it. I cannot omit to notice the gallantry shown by Lieutenant Metcalf on the 12th of May in his endeavors to withdraw his guns from under the heavy fire of the enemy. Twice he tried with horses, but failing each time he managed to draw them by hand out of the range of the musketry. He deserves special mention.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES GILLISS,
First Lieutenant, Fifth U. S. Artillery, Commanding Batteries C and I.
Lieutenant U. D. EDDY,
Acting 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 442-443 ↩