UPR: Report of Major General Bushrod R. Johnson, C. S. Army, commanding Johnson’s division, of operations June 16-18, 1864

Editor’s Note: Bryce Suderow passed along this unpublished official report of Bushrod Johnson covering the fighting his division did at the Second Battle of Petersburg on June 16-18, 1864.  Brett Schulte transcribed this material and the transcription is copyrighted 2011 by Brett Schulte.  It may not be used without my written permission.

Unpublished Report of Major General Bushrod R. Johnson, C. S. Army, commanding Johnson’s division, of operations June 16-18, 1864.¹

Transcribed by Brett Schulte 12/28/2011

HEADQUARTERS JOHNSON’S DIVISION
Petersburg, July 1864

Colonel George William Brent
Assistant Adjutant General

SIR: The following report of the operations of command in front of Petersburg, Virginia during the 16^th, 17^th, and 18^th of June 1864 is respectfully submitted.  On the morning of the 16^th of June, having under orders from the commanding General G.T. Beauregard withdraw the forces under my command from the main line at the Bermuda Hundreds Peninsula, and having left Gracie’s Brigade and Pegram’s and Wright’s batteries on the line of Swift Creek, I arrived at Petersburg with Elliott’s Brigade and Mosely’s Battalion of Artillery consisting of Young’s, Miller’s and Slaten’s batteries.

Ransom’s Brigade which had been serving on the North-side of James River, reached Petersburg a few minutes before Elliott’s Brigade.

Wise’s and Johnson’s Brigades of this Division had preceded the rest of the command to Petersburg, the former on the 10^th and the latter on the 15^th of June.  When I reached our line at about 10 A.M. on the 16^th of June, I found my troops posted as follows: Wise’s Brigade to the east of Spring Garden, on the right of Hoke’s Division, with the right flank

near the Baxter Road.  The 46^th Virginia Regiment of this brigade was detached, and posted on the left of Clingman’s Brigade in Hoke’s Division.  Johnson’s Brigade with a line much attenuated occupied a position at Webb’s House, with an interval of some six-hundred yards to the right and front of Wise’s Brigade, its right flank resting between Batteries No. XIV and XV on the old line of fortifications east of Petersburg and its left on a ravine, [?]-diagonally across and to the left of its line of battle.  Four companies of this brigade were detached to occupy Battery No. XVI on the extreme right of our line.  Ransom’s Brigade with six companies of the 64^th Georgia Regiment attached to its left, was on the right of Johnson’s Brigade, and on the old line of fortifications where it crosses the Baxter Road, the 64^th Georgia Regiment resting at Battery No. XV.   Elliott’s Brigade was placed in reserve on the Norfolk Rail-road, with its left resting on the Baxter Road.  Young’s battery of 3 guns and Blount’s of 6 guns were posted in the interval between Wise’s and Johnson’s brigades and one section of Slaten’s Battery under Lieutenant Folds was posted at Webb’s House, and the other section Battery No. XVI on the old line of fortifications.

Wise’s Brigade had thrown up some earthworks which the men were still strengthening.  Johnson’s Brigade having no intrenching tools, had constructed a very low and bad breastworks of logs and rails which was partly covered with dirt that the

men had dug up with bayonets.

The enemy’s line was from (600) six-hundred to (800) eight-hundred yards in our front and their sharp-shooters were playing upon our men.  The organization and strength of my command on the morning of the 16^th of June was as near as can be ascertained as follows:

Brigade	Commanded by	Effective Strength	Aggregate Strength
Ransom’s	Col. Paul F. Faison	2581	2730	North Carolina Troops
Johnson’s	Col. Jonathan S. Fulton	633	708	Tennessee Troops
Wise’s	Col. P.R. Page	1363	1462	Virginia Troops
Elliott’s	Brig. Genl. Elliott	1887	2050	South Carolina Troops
Gracie’s	Brig. Genl. A. Gracie	944	1394	Alabama Troops
6 companies of 64th Georgia Regiment	Capt. Pritchett	160	180	Georgia Troops
Total		7568	8524

 

To which may be added the artillery under command of Major E.F. Mosely.

On the 16^th of June something less than 5000 aggregate of the above infantry force occupied our front line.  Throughout this day the skirmishing was kept up by artillery and infantry with much spirit and with considerable force on both sides.  At Twelve M[eridian, i.e. noon] the 17^th South Carolina Regiment of Elliott’s Brigade was sent to Battery No. 25 and at 3 P.M. the 22^nd South Carolina Regiment was sent to Swift Creek.  Between 5 and 6 P.M. the enemy made an assault upon my front [reaching?] from the left regiment (the 24^th North Carolina) of Ransom’s Brigade

to the left of my line.  But the main attack was on the advanced position of Johnson’s Brigade, where the enemy charged with much spirit in four lines.  Our troops behaved very handsomely and a steady and deliberate fire, aided by Folds’ section of artillery did great execution and repulsed the assault.  It was repeated some four or five times and repulsed each time with greater loss to the enemy.  The enemy’s dead and wounded were seen lying in large numbers in front of our work.  In this assault eleven officers and three hundred and sixty-four men of the 2^nd Army Corps, with three stand of colors, were captured by Johnson’s Brigade aided by the 64^th Georgia Regiment.  The conduct of Lieutenant [Kelsoe?] of [the] 44^th Tennessee Regiment merits on this as on former occasions especial commendation.  In this connection attention is especially called to the report of Colonel John S. Fulton commanding Johnson’s Brigade here-with enclosed.  The services of Lieutenant Folds’ section of Slaten’s Battery in repelling this assault is also especially noted.  In consequence of intervening ravines, the enemy did not in this assault approach so near to or make such a vigorous attack on any other part of my line, but kept up a heavy volley at greater distance which was eagerly and successfully responded to by our men in Wise’s Brigade and by the 64^th Georgia Regiment and 24^th North Carolina Regiment.  The pickets of Wise’s Brigade were however driven in and the enemy approached under the crest of a hill to within

some 300 yards of the right of that brigade and entrenched there during the night.  The conflict continued until late in the night and the artillery fire was kept up till morning.  Under cover of the darkness of night the enemy carried the ravine and established a line about one hundred yards from the left of Johnson’s Brigade.  At about 10 P.M. the 23^rd South Carolina Regiment of Elliott’s Brigade was moved forward and placed in position, with a view to protect the left flank of Johnson’s Brigade; and upon more particular information and by the approval of the commanding general, the remaining regiments of Elliott’s Brigade in reserve, the 18^th and 26^th South Carolina regiments were ordered to move up to the interval between Wise’s and Johnson’s brigade.  At early dawn on the 17^th of June before the two regiments of Elliott’s Brigade had reached our front line the enemy moved upon the front of Johnson’s Brigade in several lines, and advanced two lines in echelon by the right flank, in the interval on the left of that brigade.  There attacked by heavy force in front and flank this little brigade made a gallant resistance.  The artillery Folds’ section fired some two rounds and the infantry three rounds before the enemy gained the rifle pits.  The columns having gained the rude works on the left now swept steadily up our line, which was stubbornly held to the last moment by our men, until our ranks mingled with those of the enemy and many of our men and officers who moved forward or stood firm in the

rifle pits to meet the attack were killed or overpowered and captured.  For individual instances of gallantry and for the evidence of steadiness and good conduct [?] this brigade commander.  With the line held by Johnson’s Brigade the enemy took the guns of Slaten’s Battery at Webb’s House.  One of these guns was captured in consequence of the horses being killed after it had been withdrawn by Lieutenant Folds from Webb’s House.

The enemy continued to advance firing along our breast-works to Battery No 16 when they captured the two other guns of Slaten’s Battery, Ransom’s Brigade having retired, after having suffered some losses in the 24^th North Carolina and considerable losses in the 64^th Georgia regiment.  I immediately proceeded to establish a new line on the crest of the hill in rear of our former one, leaving Wise’s Brigade in its entrenched position.  Elliott’s Brigade was moved up in echelon on its right and rear, and Ransom’s Brigade was placed with its right resting on our old line of fortifications, near to and in front of the point where it crosses the Norfolk Railroad.  Johnson’s Brigade was directed to rally on the left of Ransom’s Brigade.  About this time the morning light revealed the position of the enemy lines, two of which were halted on the left of Webb’s House on the ground, with their flank toward us some 600 yards distance in a position to be enfiladed by our fire, and to enfilade Wise’s Brigade which gallantly engaged them.

Here a mortal wound deprived the Confederacy of the valuable service of the gallant and highly esteemed Col. P.R. Page and the command of Wise’s Brigade devolved on Col. Goode.  [With?] the two lines thus exposed, I directed Blount’s and Young’s batteries to open fire.  A few shots handsomely thrown into the enemy ranks turned them to the rear and caused them to seek the cover of the broken ground adjacent.  Young’s Battery was soon turned upon the enemy line at Battery No 16 and the advance of the enemy was now entirely obstructed.  Blount’s Battery was moved to the interval in the open field between Elliott’s and Wise’s brigades and was posted on the left of the Baxter Road.  There being an interval between Blount’s Battery and Wise’s Brigade, I directed Brigadier General Elliott to place half of his left regiment, the 23^rd South Carolina on the left of that battery.  This detachment commenced a line of rifle-pits on right of the 26^th Virginia which was thrown back at obtuse angle with rest of Wise’s Brigade.  I soon after found Johnson’s Brigade in the pine woods in rear of and supporting Blount’s Battery.  Though I had not ordered this disposition of that brigade I did not deem it advisable at that time to change its position.  Johnson’s Brigade subsequently dug rifle pits from the left of Elliott’s Brigade and I tended them to the right of Blount’s Battery.  Miller’s and Young’s batteries was [sic] posted between Elliott’s and

Ransom’s brigades.  The enemy continued to shell our line during the day and it was continually exposed to the fire of the enemy’s sharp-shooters.

At 3 P.M. on the 17^th of June the enemy advanced in force upon the salient of Wise’s Brigade and furiously shelled the lines adjacent.  The fighting continued about one hour when the enemy was completely and gallantly repulsed with heavy loss.  The main force of the enemy’s charges fell upon the 59^th and 26^th Virginia regiments which occupied a salient in our lines.  The conduct of these regiments is worthy of all praise.  Their fire was delivered with accuracy and deliberation, and with the oblique fire of the artillery and infantry adjacent caused great destruction in the enemy’s ranks which broke and fled pursued by a portion of the 59^th Virginia regiment, leaving the ground covered with dead and wounded.

The 46^th Virginia regiment was now moved up from the left of Clingman’s Brigade and took up position on the right of the detachment from the 23^rd South Carolina regiment.  The enemy again attacked with a heavy force the right of Wise’s Brigade and were gallantly repulsed leaving about (60) sixty prisoners behind.

The 59^th Alabama regiment of Gracie’s Brigade having arrived from Swift Creek was placed on the left of Johnson’s Brigade, thus filling sufficiently it was believed the interval in the retired part of the line between Wise’s and Johnson’s brigades.

The 41^st Alabama regiment and the 23^rd Alabama Battalion of Gracie’s Brigade commanded by Col. Stansel were ordered to our

breastworks on the Jerusalem Plank Road.  The 43^rd Alabama regiment (of Gracie’s Brigade) was now held in reserve on the rail-road near Spring Garden.  For a third attack the enemy massed a large force under the brow of a hill in front of Wise’s Brigade.  At 6 ½ P.M. supported by a furious artillery fire, they made a vigorous charge in columns of regiments four lines deep, upon the salient occupied by Wise’s Brigade and on the troops to the right of the salient.  Miller’s, Young’s, and Blount’s batteries all played handsomely upon the advancing column.  Our troops stood firm and poured a destructive fire upon the enemy’s lines.  The struggle was protracted.  The weight of the enemy’s forces, gallantly repulsed with great slaughter at some parts of Wise’s lines, still bore down heavily at others.  After a severe contest at our very breastworks, the enemy succeeded in gaining possession of a portion of our line and rushing over our parapets, in great strength flanked our troops in the trenches.  The detachment from the 23^rd South Carolina regiment and nearly the whole of Wise’s Brigade were driven from their works.

The 59^th Alabama regiment on the left of Johnson’s Brigade with the exception of the right company was driven back, after suffering considerable loss.  Here the advance towards the right of our line was stayed by the fire of Blount’s Battery and the troops supporting it.

The manner in which this Battery was served, elicited…

[Transcriber’s Note: About one half of the next page is blank.  A portion of the report appears to be missing.]

…were driven in by the enemy, but our artillery and the 18^th and 26^th South Carolina regiments promptly repulsed them, except about 300 who sought shelter in the ravine on that part of our front.  A raking fire of one of Slaten’s guns followed by the fire of two companies moved forward from our lines by Brigadier General Elliott promptly drove them from their cover.

About 6 ½ o’clock in the evening the enemy appeared in line of battle on the north-side of Baxter road, in front of Pegram’s Battery of four guns.  A conflict immediately commenced with the artillery and infantry.  Five colors were counted in this part of the enemy’s line.  They gained the cover of the hill and established trenches in the edge of the woods some two-hundred yards in front of Ransom’s Brigade.  At the same time about one brigade on the Southside of the Baxter Road charged up to within about 100 yards of

our lines, exposed to nine rounds of canister, and the direct and flank fire from Elliott’s Brigade, which inflicted severe losses and drove them back in disorder.  They subsequently pushed forward and established at night their line of skirmishers on the Westside of Taylor’s Creek.  During the night my command was relieved by Field’s Division and part of Kershaw’s.

It will be observed that during the 16^th and 17^th of June my command had four distinct engagements in which it repulsed repeated assaults of the enemy’s forces massed in several lines and in superior numbers, upon the salient points of my lines, and inflicted remarkably heavy losses upon them in killed, wounded and captured.

On the 18^th of June two additional assaults on our new position were repulsed with considerable damage to the enemy and small loss to ourselves.  No accurate or reliable estimate can be formed of the enemy’s losses in my front.  Northern accounts place their whole losses to include the 17^th of June, to which time we opposed them with two divisions alone, at an aggregate of (8000), and refer to the conflicts of the 16^th and 17^th of June as [samples of?] battles unparalleled in modern Europe in carnage, in desperate assaults, and in the steady valor of the troops.  The whole Army of the Potomac was thus held at bay and foiled in a grand movement while a strong defensive position was secured for our troops.  Of the gallantry of our men, I need not say more.  To my brigade commanders, Brigadier Generals A. Gracie and S. Elliott and Colonels P.R. Page, Jonathan S. Fulton, P.F. Faison and…

[Transcriber’s Note: No more text is found in this report.  A table of casualties, displayed below, finishes the report.]

	Officers			Enlisted Men			Total			Aggregate
Command	Killed	Wounded	Missing	Killed	Wounded	Missing	Killed	Wounded	Missing
Johnson’s Brig	1	6	33	14	52	254	15	58	287	360
Elliott’s Brig	6	10	2	11	134	16	17	144	18	179
Gracie’s Brig	1	8	3	11	90	54	12	98	57	167
Ransom’s Brig	4	23	7	38	260	160	42	283	167	492
Wise’s Brig	4	17	3	31	137	78	35	154	81	270
64th Ga Regt	0	1	0	3	9	31	3	10	31	44
Total	16	65	48	108	682	593	124	747	641	1512

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