OR XLVI P1 #84: Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Alfred L. Pearson, 155th PA, commanding 3/1/V/AotP, April 2-5, 1865

No. 84. Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Alfred L. Pearson, One hundred and fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, commanding Third Brigade.¹

HDQRS. THIRD BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, FIFTH CORPS,
April 10, 1865.

In compliance with instructions from First Division headquarters, I have the honor to submit the following report of movements and operations of my brigade from the 2nd to the 5th day of April, inclusive:

At 1 o’clock on the afternoon of the 2nd instant the brigade left the ground where it had bivouacked, near Five Forks, and moved in the

direction of South Side Railroad, following General Chamberlain’s brigade (First), and reached the railroad at 3 p. m. of that day. After a short rest moved down the line of the road several miles, and bivouacked near Sutherland’s Station. At 10 o’clock on the morning of the 3rd resumed our march, and moved a distance of twenty miles, and bivouacked on Namozine road. On the 4th, at 7 a. m., resumed the march, proceeding in the direction of Richmond and Danville Railroad, which road we reached at 6 p. m., the First and Second Brigades having been placed in line of battle running at right angles with railroad. By orders received from Major-General Bartlett, I placed two regiments – Thirty-second Massachusetts Volunteers and Twentieth Maine Volunteers – in line on right of General Chamberlain’s brigade (First), and placed the First Michigan Infantry on extreme left of division, connecting with General Gregory’s (Second Brigade) left. Massed the Ninety-first, One hundred and eighteenth, One hundred and fifty-fifth Pennsylvania, Sixteenth Michigan, and First Maine in rear of First and Second Brigades. Built a line of breast-works and bivouacked for the night. On the morning of the 5th placed the One hundred and fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers in line of battle on the left of First Michigan; remained in that position during the day and night.

Seven hundred men, consisting of the Eighty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers and detachments from the rest of the regiments, under command of Colonel Rogers, Eighty-third Pennsylvania, accompanied the corps trains during the movements.

Respectfully submitted.

A. L. PEARSON,
Brevet Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.

Captain WILLIAM FOWLER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

Source: