No. 130. Report of Colonel Richard N. Bowerman, Fourth Maryland Infantry.1
HDQRS. FOURTH REGIMENT MARYLAND VOL. INFANTRY,
Near Petersburg, August 10, 1864.
LIEUTENANT:*
FIFTH EPOCH.
June 13, 4 p.m., marched with corps and crossed the Chickahominy River at Long Bridge; went on picket at Turner’s Bridge; at dark withdrew pickets, and marched toward Charles City road; bivouacked. Next day (14th) marched in direction of James River, and went into camp about noon four miles from river.
June 16, marched to Wilcox’s Landing and crossed the James River on transports to the south side, landing near Wind-Mill Point; 4 p.m. took up march in direction of Petersburg; daylight of 17th halted. At 3 p.m. went to the left, and lay on our arms during the night in rear of the Ninth Corps under fire of artillery.
June 18, at daylight joined General Cutler’s division, and formed portion of his advance in line to the Norfolk and Petersburg Railroad; 10 a.m. rejoined division and went in column in woods; 3 p.m. received orders from Colonel Dushane to prolong the left of first Brigade, which was changing position to the right; in doing so got under a most terrific fire of artillery and musketry; 5 p.m. ordered to the breast-works thrown up in the morning by the Sixth New York Heavy Artillery in rear of battery on left of line of enemy’s captured works; remained here till noon 22nd instant; went down to Second Corps as re-enforcements; returned same day to position in breast-works in rear of battery.
June 23, went to the Sixth Corps as re-enforcements; threw up strong line of works. 11 p.m. fell back to Jerusalem road; remained till 6 p.m.
June 24, returned to old position in rear of division; threw up pits.
June 25, at sundown went to the front in the advanced trenches, relieving Third Brigade. Staid in these trenches till the 28th of July,
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* For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 12, 1864, see Vol. XXXVI, Part I, p.603.
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exposed to a heavy skirmish fire the first eight days and afterward to a continual fire of artillery and mortars; moved out at 9 p.m., bivouacked, and next day (29th) went into camp in rear of First Brigade.
July 30, 2.30 a.m., marched to deep cut in railroad as support in part of the Ninth Corps in their charge upon the explosion of the mine under the enemy’s fort; took no part in the attack, and returned to camp about 11 a.m.
I have the honor to remain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
RICHARD N. BOWERMAN,
Colonel, Commanding Fourth Maryland Volunteers Infantry.
Lieutenant JOSIAH BANKERD,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. General, 2nd Brigadier, 2nd Div., 5th Army Corps.
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 470-471 ↩