No. 258. Report of Lieut. James Hannum, Thirty-ninth Illinois Infantry, of operations October 27-28.1
Hdqrs. Thirty-ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteers,
Near Richmond, Va,, October 28, 1864.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of my command during the late reconnaissance in front (the 27th and 28th instant):
On the 27th instant, at about 10 a. m., four companies from the right wing of the regiment were detached and sent, under the command of
Lieut. Samuel Gilmore, to the right and advanced to learn what we had in our regiment front. In execution of this order Lieutenant Gilmore deployed his command and advanced in line of skirmishers, found the fort upon our extreme right front to contain five pieces of cannon, supported by a strong line of battle upon its Hanks. His loss in this movement was 1 killed and 2 wounded. About 4 p. m. I proceeded in person with four companies from the left wing and advanced as skirmishers to within 150 yards of the enemy’s lines, finding them supported by a single line of battle. Remained in this position until relieved early October 28. In crossing the slashings in our front, the enemy opened upon us from the fort in our extreme right, resulting in two casualties. The men in all that was required behaved well.
I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully,
JAMES HANNUM,
First Lieutenant, Commanding Regiment.
Capt. W. Nevin,
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 692-693 ↩