OR XL P1 #208: Reports of Captain Alphons Serviere, 46th NY, June 12-July 30, 1864

No. 208. Reports of Captain Alphons Serviere, Forty-sixth New York Infantry.¹

HDQRS. FORTY-SIXTH Regiment NEW YORK VET. VOLS.,
Rifle-pits before Petersburg, August 5, 1864.

SIR: In the following I have the honor to report the part my command took in the engagement of July 30, 1864:

My command was moved from a position in the rear, where it had arrived the evening previous, to the newly made trenches about 3.30 o’clock on the morning of July 30, 1864. Awaiting the explosion of the mine, we were shortly afterward moved to the triangular space behind the breast-works formerly occupied by the Twenty-seventh Regiment Michigan Volunteers, where the men were ordered to lie down. During our stay on this place we had 4 men wounded. About 9 a.m. my command was ordered, with the brigade, into the rifle-pits to the left from our last position, and shortly afterward we were ordered to climb over the breast-works and to make a charge upon a fort which the enemy occupied, a short distance on the right of the road. As soon as I saw the command to do the same. The regiment to our right, after having passed the breast-works, moved very rapidly right-oblique, and owing thereto my regiment lost its connection with the same, which before my command could get over the breast-works had already far advanced. My command charged about 100 yards forward in the face of a galling musketry fire from the enemy’s works, when, seeing the impossibility of taking the fort, my right wing, as mentioned before, being disconnected,

no support coming from the rear, and a number of my men falling dead or wounded at every step forward, I, fearing that a panic might seize upon my men, gave orders to retire to the road, whereto the other regiments on my left had already retreated. From this position we fired some time on the enemy’s flank, and were soon ordered to fall back in rear of the rifle-pits, where we remained as support until 6 o’clock in the evening, when we were ordered to occupy the rifle-pits, resting with our left wing on the road. Later in the evening, about 10 o’clock, we were ordered to move more to the right, and to relieve the regiments occupying the rifle-pits opposite the fort which had been blown up.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

[ALPHONS SERVIERE,

Captain, Commanding Regiment.]

Captain THOMAS MATHEWS,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
HDQRS. FORTY-SIXTH Regiment NEW YORK VET. VOLS.,
Before Petersburg, Va., August 8, 1864.

SIR: *

On the evening of June 12 the regiment left its position in front and marched during the night to Tunstall’s Station, near the White House. Marched June 13 across the railroad to Jones’ Bridge, left bank of the Chickahominy. Crossed this river June 14 and marched to Charles City Court-House, where the regiment rested until the evening of June 15, when we crossed the James River near Powhatan Point, marching all night, and arriving June 16 a few miles before Petersburg, where it took position on the left. Was ordered on June 17 to make a charge upon the enemy’s works near the center, which charge was not successful, and whereby the regiment sustained a loss of 3 men killed, 1 officer and 7 men wounded. The enemy having evacuated the rifle-pits in our front during the night, the regiment charged again on June 18, and advanced beyond the Norfolk railroad, sustaining a loss of 1 officer, 3 men killed; 4 officers and 13 enlisted men wounded.

The regiment was marched on June 19 to the right of our position, relieving the Second Army Corps. Remained there till June 24, when the regiment moved toward the center, where it staid in the rifle-pits until July 25, when it was relieved, and marched back into the second line. Marched from there July 27 to the extreme left, covering the left flank and rear of the army, and was marched back toward the front in the evening of July 29, participating in the attack of July 30, as reported the 5th instant.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

[ALPHONS SERVIERE,

Captain, Commanding Regiment.]

Captain THOMAS MATHEWS,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

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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.629.

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