OR XLII P1 #298: Report of Captain Hugh S. Thompson, 9th USCT, October 27-28, 1864

No. 298. Report of Captain Hugh S. Thompson, Ninth U. S. Colored Troops, of operations October 27-28.¹

HEADQUARTERS NINTH U. S. COLORED TROOPS,
In the Field, October 29, 1864.

SIR: I have the honor to report that this command left camp on the morning of the 27th instant at 6 a.m., following the Seventh U. S. Colored Troops to a point about three-quarters of a mile to the right of the New Market road, where we formed in double column on the center 150 paces to the rear of the left wing of the Seventh U. S. Colored Troops. When the Seventh advanced through the woods toward the front we followed, keeping that distance from them. After afterward Companies D and C, commanded by Lieutenants Goodyear and Phelps, were thrown out as flankers. I was then ordered to deploy the regiment, fronting toward the left. About half an hour afterward I was ordered to move the regiment forty paces to the left and front. We remained in that position until 6 p.m., when I was ordered to form the regiment in line of battle, sixty paces in rear of the Seventh U. S. Colored Troops. In the meantime we received intelligence that Companies D and C had, under orders of Colonel Wright, charged on the rebel skirmish line, carrying it, and capturing 2 prisoners, with a loss of 1 man killed and 1 wounded. (This morning Lieutenant Phelps reports 4 men of Company C wounded.) The regiment remained in line of battle behind the Seventh U. S. Colored Troops until about 8 p.m., when I was ordered to form the regiment forty paces to the rear, and perpendicular to the left of the Seventh U. S. Colored Troops. Remaining

in this position until 9 p.m., the regiment was ordered about a mile to the rear, where we lay the remainder of the night. At 3.30 next morning Companies H and G were ordered out on the skirmish line to relieve Companies D and C. At 8 o’clock the regiment was ordered on the left of the skirmish line, where Company C was deployed as skirmishers, its right connecting with Company G of the Ninth and the left with the right of the Second Division of the Tenth Army Corps. The remaining four companies lay about 150 yards in the rear as a support, when about 2 p.m. the companies on the skirmish line were withdrawn and the regiment proceeded to camp.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. S. THOMPSON,
Captain, Commanding Ninth U. S. Colored Troops.

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

Source: