UPR: Report of Colonel Andrew H. Tippin, Sixty-Eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations February 5-7, 1865

Editor’s Note: As I was reading through the Official Records, Volume XLVI, Part 2, the first of two correspondence volumes covering the first half of 1865 in the East, I found this report of Colonel A. H. Tippin of the Sixty-Eighth Pennsylvania tucked in neatly among the correspondence on page 479.  I decided to pull it out and post it on The Siege of Petersburg Online.  Although it was technically published, it is in a spot many researchers may be unlikely to look.

Report of Colonel A[ndrew]. H. Tippin, Sixty-Eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations February 5-7, 1865.¹

HDQRS. SIXTY-EIGHTH PENNSYLVANIA VOLUNTEERS,
February 8, 1865.

Capt. Ph. Schuyler,
     Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Provost-Marshal-General’s Office:

CAPTAIN: On the night of the 5th I received orders to be ready to march with my command and “occupy the works north of” army headquarters. Accordingly, just before daylight of the 6th, I advanced and reported to the officer commanding the line indicated. My command, consisting of the Battalion U. S. Engineers, One hundred and fourteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and Sixty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers, was posted in the works extending from Battery 24, on the right, to near Battery 26, on the left. In the afternoon of the same day I moved my command more to the left, the right resting on Fort Howard, the left on Battery 26. I received a force of 100 men, belonging to the Fortieth New Jersey Volunteers, which enabled me to present a strong line. Nothing occurred during the night, and the enemy made no demonstration whatever. Before daylight of the 7th a hail-storm set in, which turned to rain about 7 a. m., rendering it very disagreeable, the men being without shelter of any kind. About noon the command was relieved and marched back to camp. No casualties occurred.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

A[ndrew]. H. Tippin,
Colonel Sixty-eighth Pennsylvania Vols., Comdg. Hdqrs. Troops.

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