OR XLII P1 #62: Report of Captain Austin Cannon, 36th WI, August 14-20, 1864

No. 62. Report of Captain Austin Cannon, Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry, of operations August 14-20.¹

Report of the operations of Thirty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteers from August 14 to 21, 1864:

Landed on north bank of James River at 7 a.m. of 14th instant; moved out on the New Market road four or five miles. It was a very warm day and the men suffered considerably from the heat. Several were entirely overcome by it. About 4 p.m. moved to the right on the Charles City road a little over a mile, when the brigade was massed,

the Thirty-sixth in the second line, and moved to the edge of a piece of woods. The First Division was lying in line of battle in a corn-field. In passing over it my lines got somewhat mixed up. After forming the lines again, we moved forward on the double-quick. The right of the regiment went over the hill to a ravine at the bottom; the center stopped on the crest; the left coming in contact with a house oblique to the left, but was ordered to fall back. The center and right were under a brisk fire till 7.30 p.m., when we fell back to the rear about a mile. At 11 p.m. moved back to the front in a piece of woods and bivouacked for the night. I lost in the engagement 1 officer and 2 men killed; 2 officers and 14 men wounded, and 1 man missing. We remained camped in the woods till 12 m. of the 16th, when we moved out and formed a line of battle along the edge of an open field about 1,500 yards from the enemy’s works. We were shelled a little. I had 4 men wounded. On 17th had 3 men wounded and 2 on the 18th. The regiment had a very exposed position. On the night of 18th moved to the left and rear and occupied an old line of breast-works till the night of the 20th, when we recrossed the river. Our total loss was 1 officer and 2 men killed; 2 officers and 22 men wounded,and 1 man missing, making aggregate of 28.*

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

AUSTIN CANNON,

Captain, Commanding.

Lieutenant-Colonel RUGG,

Commanding First Brigade, Second Division, Second Corps.

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*But see revised statement, p.117.

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