OR XLVI P1 #122: Report of Lieutenant Colonel Horace W. Floyd, 3rd VT, commanding 3rd and 4th VT, March 25, 1865

No. 122. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Horace W. Floyd, Third Vermont Infantry, commanding Third and Fourth Vermont Infantry, of operations March 25.¹

HDQRS. THIRD AND FOURTH VERMONT VOLUNTEERS,
March 28, 1865.

SIR: I have the honor to report the following as the part taken by my command during the engagement of the 25th instant:

In connection with the other regiments in the brigade my command was formed in line of battle in front of the breast-works and between Forts Welch and Fisher, as a support to the Second Brigade, Third Division, Sixth Corps, who were then in our front and in the works used by our pickets. My orders were as follows: That a signal for a movement was to be given and that the troops in our front would then move on the enemy’s works, and I was to move forward and occupy the works vacated by them. The signal being given I ordered my command forward, and upon reaching the works where I was to halt I found the troops had not left, and, therefore, instead of halting I passed over them and reached the enemy’s works in advance of any of the attacking party, capturing all the enemy’s pickets in my front. I was well supported by the Eleventh Vermont, who reached the works nearly as soon as did my command. The troops that we passed came up soon after we had taken the line. I was relieved about dark by a regiment from the Third Division, and my command taken a short distance to the rear, where I remained as a support until 11 p.m., when I was ordered to camp.

The casualties were few in both regiments. The officers and men behaved admirably.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. W. FLOYD,
Commanding Third and Fourth Vermont Volunteers.

Captain M. BARBER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

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