OR XLVI P1 #37: Report of Major Seward F. Gould, 4th NYHA, Mar 29-Apr 9, 1865

No. 37. Report of Major Seaward F. Gould, Fourth New York Heavy Artillery.¹

History of the operations of the Fourth New York Artillery from March 28, 1865, to April 10, 1865:

On the 28th of March, 1865, 9 p. m., orders were received to pack up and be ready to move at a moment’s notice. On the marching of the 29th, at 6 o’clock, we left camp and marched toward Hatcher’s Run. About 8 a. m. we were transferred to the Second Brigade, First Division, Second Army Corps, Colonel Robert Nugent commanding. About 10 p. m. we formed a line of battle and rested all night. On the morning of the 30th, about 6 a. m., we advanced in line of battle through the woods and across a swamp. After we crossed the swamp we formed a line of battle on the Boydton plank road; there we heard heavy skirmishing in front of us. We stacked arms and laid a corduroy road. About 4 p. m. we received orders to advance and occupy the breast-works in front of us, at the same time supporting Battery K, Fourth U. S. Artillery. About 5 p. m. a detachment of 400 men were sent on picket. At 7 p. m. orders were received to advance half a mile and relieve the Third Division, Fifth Army Corps. We remained there under arms until 6 a. m. of the morning of the 31st of March, 1865. About 7 a. m. we occupied the works, when the enemy opened a heavy artillery fire on us, which lasted about two hours; the ground lost by the Third Division, Fifth Army Corps, was retaken by the Second Brigade, First Division, Second Army Corps; we had 1 officer (Major D. F. Hamlink) and 5 privates wounded. About sundown threw out a line of skirmishers, and fell back fifty rods and threw up a line of works and remained there until 4 a. m. of the morning of the 1st of April; we fell back to the Boydton plank road and remained there for three hours, when orders were received to move to the left, on the Boydton

plank road, to re-enforce the Second Division of the Fifth Army Corps, and remained there until 6 a. m. of the 2nd of April, when we marched back on the same road about three miles, and at 9 a. m. occupied the enemy’s breast-works, which they had evacuated. We then pursued the enemy for about two miles, when we overtook them and gave them battle. About 3 p. m. we charged on the enemy and were repulsed; reformed about 3.45 p. m. and charged again, and took their works and a large number of prisoners. In the first charge the regiment lost 97 killed, wounded, and missing. Two men of Company A, named, respectively, James C. Bogan and David A. Winans, captured 2 pieces of artillery and turned them at the enemy, and at the same time over 150 of the enemy surrendered, but we advanced and left them in the rear; at the same time Private Frank Denio, of Company M, captured one of the enemy’s battle-flags. We then pursued the enemy for about three miles in the direction of Petersburg, when we received orders to return and camp by the railroad for the night. At 6 a. m. of the 3rd of April we started again and marched fourteen miles and camped for the night.

About 6 a. m. of the 4th of April we started and passed the Fifth Army Corps and camped for the night. Advanced next morning, 5th of April, about two miles, and overtook the enemy’s rear guard and wagon train near Amelia Springs. The regiment was then sent out as skirmishers, and engaged the enemy. We drove the enemy about five miles that day, taking a large number of prisoners and losing about eighteen wounded. The regiment having been relieved from the skirmish line rejoined the brigade at 10 a. m. of the 6th of April. We engaged the enemy again on the 7th of April, near Burkeville, and drove the enemy across the Appomattox River, capturing their works and a number of pieces of artillery and quite a number of prisoners. We camped for the night near Farmville. Engaged the enemy on the morning of the 8th of April five miles from Buckingham Court-House, drove them out of their works, when we were relieved by the Sixth Army Corps. We marched all that day and camped for the night about twelve miles from Buckingham Court-House. On the morning of the 9th of April we marched two miles, when we received the news that General Robert Lee, of the so-called C. S. Army, had surrendered his whole army to Lieutenant General U. S. Grant.

S. F. GOULD,
Major, Commanding Fourth New York Artillery.

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