Numbers 251. Report of Captain Lorey A. Baker, Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, of operations June 16.1
HDQRS. THIRTY-NINTH REGIMENT ILLINOIS VOLUNTEERS,
June 18, 1864.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that the Thirty-ninth Regiment of Illinois Volunteers, in obedience to orders, left our intrenchments on the morning of the 16th at about 7.30 a.m. Arrived at the second line of rebel works we deployed as skirmishers and advanced past their last line of rifle-pits until our left wing rested on the Petersburg pike, our right extending along the ridge (beyond the house and shop) to the cross-road and a little east of the pike. The enemy first appeared in force upon our right, where we had some pretty severe skirmishing, until we were ordered to fall back, which we did gradually and in good order, as far as their last line of rifle-pits. This position we held for some time, until ordered to retreat across the open field to the second line of rebel works. We here rested for a short time and then marched into camp, where we arrived at about 6.30 p.m. As soon as the men had taken supper ordered on picket, where the regiment has remained as the advanced line to this time. What our losses have been it will be impossible to ascertain until we are relieved. The regiment is much exhausted, having been without rest since the morning of the 16th. We took a number of prisoners, probably 75, during the skirmishing on the 16th.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
L. A. BAKER,
Captain, Commanding Regiment.
[Captain P. A DAVIS,
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), page 687 ↩