OR XLII P1 #196: Report of Major William J. Kershaw, 37th WI, Sept 30-Oct 9, 1864

Numbers 196. Report of Major William J. Kershaw, Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Infantry, of operations September 30 – October 9.¹

HDQRS. THIRTY-SEVENTH WISCONSIN VOLUNTEER INFANTRY,
Pegram’s Farm, Va., October 17, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the Thirty-seventh Wisconsin Volunteers in the campaign from September 30, 1864, to October 9, 1864:

September 30, 1864, the regiment, under command of Major William J. Kershaw, moved from its position near the Gurley house to the ravine beyond and to the left of the Pegram house, where we formed in line to act as a reserve for the advance line of battle. We then changed our front so as to support a battery, which limbered up and retreated. We fell back to a fence to the left of the Pegram house, where the regiment reformed and gave the enemy such a severe fire that he was obliged to abandon the line of battle. He was then forming on the open field and fell back to the cover of the woods. He was compelled a second time to retreat, and after nightfall we fell back to a position to the left of the one now occupied by the regiment and threw up works for defense. October 1, slashed the timber upon the immediate front of the works. October 2 advanced in line of battle, Captain J. Green commanding, joining on our right with the Second Brigade, First Division; on the left, with the One hundred and ninth New York. In the p. m. we fell back to a position to the rear of the one we now

occupy and threw up works. October 3, Major Kershaw assumed command; slashed timber. October 4, moved to our present position; threw up works. October 5 and 6, slashed timber in our front. October 8, moved to the front of our present position, and returned in the p. m. October 9, all quiet.

The casualties of September 30 were 10 men wounded; no casualties since.

Very respectfully,

WM. J. KERSHAW,

Major, Commanding.

[Captain FRANK A. HAYWARD,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.]

Source: