Numbers 193. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Ralph Ely, Eighth Michigan Infantry, of operations September 30 – October 9.1
HDQRS. EIGHTH MICHIGAN INFANTRY VETERAN VOLS.,
October 16, 1864.
SIR: In compliance with circular of last evening, I have the honor to submit the following record of my command from September 30 to October 9, 1864:
On the morning of September 30 moved from near the Yellow House to Poplar Grove Church and relieved a portion of the Fifth Corps, who had captured the strong line of intrenchments, and in the afternoon engaged the enemy’s re-enforcements until night, holding the position by most desperate fighting, resulting in seven casualties to the regiment, viz: Sergts. Lyman W. Pixley, Company K, and D. Henry McComas, Company E (leg amputated), and Privates Elijah Bird, Company A, and James Gordan, Company E,wounded; Corpl. William A. Wright, Company G, and Privates Isaac R. Kidney, Company G, and Charles Maxted, Company B, missing. During the night the regiment moved to the left and fortified a new position, where it remained until the morning of October 2, when, as a support for the Twenty-seventh
Michigan Infantry, who were deployed as skirmishers, it advanced until the enemy were found in force. About dusk withdrew to the main line, encamped, and remained there, employed principally in picket and fatigue duty.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
RALPH ELY,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.
Captain FRANK A. HAYWARD,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.
Source:
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), pages 561-562 ↩