Editor’s Note: Brett Schulte recently noticed this report transcribed online among the James H. Lane Papers at the Auburn University Archives web site. Permission was asked for and granted by Auburn University Libraries, Department of Special Collections & University Archives to reproduce these transcriptions here at The Siege of Petersburg Online. These transcriptions are copyrighted by Auburn University Libraries, Department of Special Collections & University Archives and may not be reproduced without their express written consent. The transcription attribution reads as follows: “Transcriptions made by Terri Stout-Stevens, Pfafftown, NC, in 1997 and 1998. Edited by Marty Olliff, Assistant Archivist, Auburn University, who takes all responsibility for any errors.”
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Unpublished Report of Major Jackson L. Bost, 37th North Carolina, Lane’s Brigade, of operations August 25, 18641
Hd Qrs 37th N.C.T.
Augt 29th 1864
Capt E.J. Hale Jr.
A.A. General
Capt.:
As to a report of the part taken in the engagement at Reams Station on 25 inst. I would respectfully state that in the charge upon the enemy’s works the 37th Regt occupied the centre of the Brigade, and with a part of it I pressed on to and over the works at a point where the works cross the rail road. The other part fell back to where they formed and say they had orders to do so from Brigade commander, which order I did not bear. In gaining this point the Regt was exposed to a heavy fire of grape shot and bullets. A mixture of the regt with Lane’s Brigade and Cooke’s pressed on beyond the R.R. cut capturing prisoners, caisons, horses & after which our stand was along the Rail Road cut, at which point we were all the time exposed to an enfilade fire of bullets. The Rail Road cut was held, and firing was continuous until dusk in consequence of the enemy being near, and attempting to recapture the works. The engagement lasted some three hours. My casualties were Twenty nine, one officer & Twenty Three men wounded, and Five men missing. Some of the missing may have been either killed or wounded. The captures were so mixed up with the different commands that I lay no particular claim to any thing particularly. The prison[er]s were with a few exceptions only directed which way to go.
J[ackson] L. Bost Maj
Comdg [37th NC] Regt
Source:
- Bost, Jackson L. (1864, August 29). (Official Report sent to E. J. Hale, Jr.). James H. Lane Papers (RG 501, Box 2, number 77). Auburn University Libraries Department of Special Collections & University Archives, Auburn, AL. ↩