Elias M. Greene to M. C. MzIas, July 20, 1864

GENERAL:

In accordance with your instructions, I have the honor to submit the following report of the military organization and operations of the quartermaster’s employés under my immediate command during the late invasion :

About 1 a. m. on the 11th instant I was instructed by Major-General Augur, commanding Department of Washington, to proceed without delay to organize my employés for military duty. Tat once called into action every facility at my disposal, and in a few hours my employés were organized, equipped, and ready for active military duty. The same morning at 7 o’clock the following organization of employés north of Potomac reported for duty to General McCook’s headquarters, at Fort Stevens, three miles north of Washington City: List of acting officers and non-commissioned officers and privates of a battalion of Lieut. Col. E. M. Greene’s regiment, quartermaster employés: W. H. Bright, major. Company A—John Dean, captain; Charles Valbing, second lieutenant ; J. G. Anthony, first sergeant ; R. Kellett, W. Ault, C. Edwards, A. Perkins, sereants; J. Loring, P. Mehan, corporals, and sixty-four privates. ompany B—Samuel Rabbitt, captain; Daniel Donaldson, first lieu- tenant; C. O. Kelly, first sergeant; W. Wright, Samuel Handy, sergeants; Charles Kelly, A. Caley, F. Hill, J. H. Sullivan, corporals, and sixty-four privates. Company C—John Armstrong, captain ; J. F. Rabbitt, first lieutenant; T. Scidmore, first sergeant; A. Laude, James Davis, sergeants; C. McGinnis, J. Schaffer, George Sandis, William Paulton, corporals, and sixty-four privates.

At 11 o’clock of the same morning, July 11, this force was assigned to duty in the intrenchments between Forts Stevens and Slocum, with orders to hold these works against the roel at all hazards. At sunset of the same day this battalion was detailed for guard in said works and divided into three reliefs, A Company taking the first relief, from 9 until 11 o’clock ; the other companies from 11 to 1 and from 1 till 3 o’clock, respectively. The companies not on post were ordered to lay on their arms. At 3 o’clock, when the last elder was relieved off post, their position was changed to the left of the branch near Fort Stevens and nearer the skirmish line. This position they occupied until 3 p. m. of the same day, July 12, when they were ordered to report to General Rucker. The commanders of Companies B and C misunderstanding the order, reported to General Rucker at his headquarters in this city, but Company A reported to the general at his headquarters on the field, and were retained on duty until the organization was disbanded on Wednesday, the 13th of July instant, when they returned to their usual duties in the department.

My employés south of the Potomac were promptly organized on the receipt of instructions from me, and were also actively engaged in performing military duty in the defense and protection of the Government stores at Alexandria and in that vicinity. They were organized as follows, viz: T. W. Burton, acting as major; Charles King to act as senior captain of a battalion. Company A—C. T. Hawkins to act as first heutenant; John Devlin to act as second lieutenant; T. Morris to act as first sergeant ; J. Corniff and William Gill to act as corporals, and sixty-four privates, teamsters and laborers (white men). Company B—Charles E. K. Peterman, to act as first lieutenant ; J. Yates, D. Sepwin, E. Lawson, M. McCauley, John Cole, and seventy-five privates*(colored teamsters, &c.). Company C—D. Stone, to act as first lieutenant ; J. McGahey, to act as second lieutenant ; J. Howard, to act as first sergeant ; James Grace and F, Corson, to act as corporals, and seventy-five privates (colored teamsters, &c.). Company D—H. W. Parker, to act as first lieutenant ; M. Laycock, to act as second lieutenant ; Amos Shank, to act as first sergeant ; R. Latrielle, to act as sergeant ; P. McKenny, and R. Paul, to act as corporals, and forty privates (colored teamsters, &c.). Company E—D. Dufficks, to act as first lieutenant; R. S. Donaldson, to act as second lieutenant; E. K. L. Peterman, to act as sergeant, and seventy-two privates (colored teamsters, &c.). Company F—D. Frazier, to act as first lieutenant ; Jacob Johnson, to act as second lieutenant ; E. Campbell, to act as sergeant, and seventy-two privates (colored teamsters, &c.).

At the request of General Slough, military governor of Alexandria, Va., and in obedience to my orders, on the 12th instant Companies E and F’, composed of 150 men, were detached and placed on picket duty around Alexandria, under the immediate command of Colonel Browne, of General Slough’s command. Companies A, B, C, and D were kept as a reserve at the wood-yard for the defense of the public property for which I am responsible. By my direction, port-holes were cut in the stables and stockade work and everything prepared for strong defensive operations. The men were also instructed in the manual of arms twice daily, and strict orderand rigid military discipline existed until Sunday, the 17th instant, when General Slough issued an order informing all concerned that the excitement and immediate danger had passed, and expressive of his thanks for their prompt response to his call, and the co-operation and aid of the quartermaster’s employés during the threatened invasion. A ony of said order is inclosed herewith, marked A.

eg leave to state, in conclusion, thatmy men all acquitted themselves in a very creditable manner, and from the spirit they evinced and their prompt and cheerful compliance with orders received, I have no doubt they would have done good service if the emergency had arisen.

I have only 2 casualties to report, both of which occurred in the skirmish of Tuesday morning, the 12th instant, near Fort Stevens. John Rynders, a member of Company B, was wounded slightly in the arm, and’a former employé, name not ascertained, who volunteered to join Company B on its way to the scene of action, was ees to do so, and was shot through the body and almost instantly

very respectfully, your obedient servant,