OR XLII P1 #296: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Llewellyn F. Haskell, 7th USCT, October 27-28, 1864

No. 296. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Llewellyn F. Haskell, Seventh U. S. Colored Troops, of operations October 27-28.¹

HEADQUARTERS SEVENTH U. S. COLORED TROOPS,
In the Field, before Richmond, Va., October 29, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to make the following report the part taken by the Seventh Regiment U. S. Colored Troops in the operations of the 27th and 28th of October, 1864:

At 5.45 a.m. on the 27th the regiment took its place in the brigade, and, marching out through our works at the left of the First Division, I formed in line of battle on the left of the Second Brigade, in the field north of the Kell house, and then advanced through a very dense undergrowth, halting several times, until the skirmishers charged and took the enemy’s line of picket-pits, when the main line halted and lay down (being called to attention several times by increased firing in our front) until 8.30 p.m., when I retired by the left flank to the south side of the Kell house and bivouacked in line for the night. At 3.30 a.m. on the 28th the regiment was formed and marched out to the skirmish line, where I relieved the Twenty-ninth Connecticut Colored Volunteers at 4.45 a.m. The noise made in so doing attracted the attention of the

enemy and occasioned a brisk fire, which wounded a number of men. At 9.20 a.m. I withdrew my line to the rebel picket-pits (which my men reversed), leaving several men from each company at the edge of the slashing to keep up the occasional fire ordered. At 2.15 p.m. I withdrew these men from the edge of the slashing, by order from General Birney. At 3 p.m. the skirmishers of the Second Division having fallen back, I followed their movements. By a mistake in transmitting my orders along the line, I and F Companies remained on the line fifteen minutes after the rest of our skirmish line had retired, when they discovered that they were all alone and fell back (being fired upon by the enemy, who was pushing out his skirmishers) just as I was returning for them by order of General Birney. The regiment being assembled, I marched to camp with the brigade. No men could have performed what we had to do better than both my officers and men did it.

I had 1 man killed and 1 officer and 30 men wounded.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

LLEWELYN F. HASKELL,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.

Lieutenant J. E. LOCKWOOD,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

Source: