McCook, July 16, 1864
: Fort De Russy, D. C., July 16, 1864.
CoLoNEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations on this portion of your lines for Monday and Tuesday, 11th and 12th instant : ;
I was ordered by you to take command of Forts De Russy, Kearny, and Battery Smead Monday forenoon, but being immediately detailed by yourself toinvestigate the firing on the extreme left of your line, I did not reach the post and assume command until 2.30 p. m. On arriving at this fort I found the operations had already commenced in front of Fort Stevens ; that the forces of this post consisted of Companies C and G, One hundred and fifty-first Ohio National Guard, Maj. J. L. Williams ; Company A, First Wisconsin Heavy Artillery, Capt. Wallace M. Spear; one-half Company L, Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, Lieut.S. A. Howe. At Battery Smead, Company I, One hundred and fifty-first Regiment Ohio National Guard,
Artillery, Lieutenant French. At Fort Kearny, Company K, One hundred and fifty-first Regiment Ohio National Guard, Capt. G. M. Webb; one company Ninth New York Heavy Artillery, Lieutenant Hough.
The infantry forces were immediately placed in the most commanding parts of rifle-pits. Noticinga heavy column moving to the right, we immediately opened on it with a 100-pounder and 30-pounder Parrott, with apparently considerable effect. At the same time the enemy commenced advancing through the fields, a little to the right of our front, a considerable body of skirmishers to re-enforce their skirmishers, who had worked down in close proximity to this fort. A few well-directed shots from our artillery caused them to rapidly retire in the direction of Wilson’s house, leaving 1 man dead on the field. During the above Colonel Dayton, with his regiment of Veteran Reserve Corps, reported, 300strong. I immediately ordered him to put one-third of his force up the ravine to our right, to observe any enemy that might attempt to come in from that direction. Another one-third up the road to our left, down which considerable numbers of refugees had been coming in, and to hold the balance in reserve. Shortly after, Colonel Gile, with his brigade (four regiments) of Veteran Reserve Corps, reported. By this time the enemy had advanced their line of skirmishers down ona line witha house to our right, about 1,500 yards distant, and inside a parallel line of the left flank of the skirmishers sent out from Fort Stevens, apparently having designs on the ravine covered by two redoubts at our right, in which there were no guns.: Deeming this to be a weak and important point, although outside of your brigade line, Colonel Gile immediately ordered one of his regiments of Veteran Reserve Corps to establish their line on the crest of the first ridge. The regiment promptly formed their line and advanced, firing rapidly, and, under a heavy fire, driving the enemy’s right back, occupying their ground. I have no report of the casualties. We held the line permanently and gradually pressed the enemy’s line back until relieved next day
16 R R—VOL XXXVII, PT I by General McCook. At the same time we established our skirmish line so as to fully cover Battery Smead and Fort Kearny, and in accordance with your instructions formed a strong picket-line to the Brookeville road. The enemy were in considerable force in our front and to the left, their sharpshooters annoying our line very considerably from a large house 1,700 yards in our front, which we found it necessary to shell, the enemy having established their skirmish line on a line with said house and parallel to ours. After having established our skirmish line there was considerable activity along it. Noticing a considerable movement of the enemy in the vicinity of Wilson’s house, on the Seventh-street road, we deemed it advisable to send in a few shells. We are assured by citizens in that direction that the enemy were surprised at the accuracy of our fire at such distance, and from information since obtained we are led to conclude that the accuracy and activity of our artillery and skirmish line contributed largely to deter them from making the intended assault on Monday night. Colonel Thompson, with the First Provisional Regiment, reported during the afternoon. The night was passed by the men on their arms in the forts and rifle-pits, fully prepared for any emergency, and all in line by 3 a. m.
During the morning more or less skirmishing. The sharpshooters in the house heretofore mentioned became so troublesome to our advance line that we found it necessary to shell it. At the same time Colonel Gile ordered up a company of Veteran Reserve Corps to advance under cover of our fire and destroy the building. hey advanced gallantly until very near the building, when they were opened on by the enemy from behind a breast-work of logs and brush. They were compelled to retire, the enemy being in such force. I am not advised as to the casualties. The captain commanding was slightly wounded. The enemy, immediately on seeing the demonstration against said building, commenced sending in re-enforcements across the fields in plain view. We opened on them, when they commenced retiring in considerable confusion. Were rallied by a field officer, but finally obliged to desist, retreating in the direction of Wilson’s.
While the above operations were pending Fort Stevens was actively engaged, having opened on the Lay Hotes (reported to you as Biair’s house), sending in a portion of the Sixth Corps, the whole line from right of Fort Stevens to left of Fort De Russy being actively engaged.
The great activity on Tuesday night undoubtedly had its effect in causing the hasty withdrawal of the enemy. The forces all rested on their arms during the night in the forts and rifle-pits, and were in line by 3 a. m., in accordance with your orders.
Early on Wednesday morning I communicated to you the movement of troops in the direction of Rockville, and that there were no signs of the enemy. In accordance with orders I risked a scout of ten men, which soon verified the absence of any enemy in our immediate front.
Colonel, you are well aware of the commanding view this position has of the whole ground covered on the right by recent demonstrations. I think I am not overestimating when I say that with the exception of half an hour Tuesday evening, when the Sixth Corps went in, that your brigade did as much, if not more, fighting than any other, and to it can be attributed a large share of the credit for the early withdrawal of the enemy.
Much credit is due to Capt. John Norris, of Second Provisional Pennsylvania Heavy Artillery, whom you assigned to me as chief of artillery ; also to Colonel Gile, commanding brigade, and Captain Spear, commanding battery. In fact every officer and every man did his duty well. Captain Norris’ report of the artillery practice will be forwarded to you without delay.*
The frequent changes of the forces have been the cause of no reports of casualties being furnished to me. That we punished the enemy severely there is no question.
I should have liked to have given you a more complete report, but my entire staff being on duty at brigade headquarters, and operations commencing the moment I took command, has made that impossible.
n conclusion, colonel, I am, with great regard, JNO. M. C. MARBLE, Colonel 151st Regiment Ohio National Guard, Commanding Forts De Russy, Smead, and Kearny.
Fort Reno, D. C., July 12, 1864.
COLONEL: We had quite a number of casualties to-day. The greatest number was caused by the attempt to take a barn I signaled you about yesterday. It has been filled with sharpshooters that have troubled our pickets a good deal. We opened on the building with the ioGesounder Parrott, hoping to knock it to pieces and burn it. Under our fire we had a company advance to take it. They were met by a much superior force and driven back with great loss proportionate to the number Sate I will send you a full list of casualties as soon as ascertained. The building I speak of is about 1,700 yards distant, just over the crest of second ridge, and the most reliable information we can get leads us to think that they are aiming to plant a battery there. If so, it will trouble us a good deal. From the force they had at it and the promptness with which they sent reenforcements (strong) they deemed it a very desirable point. We drove all their re-enforcements back. With your consent we will effectually shell the position and try and destroy the house, which I
think quite desirable. JNO. M. C. MARBLE, Colonel, Commanding Brigade. Col. J. M. WARNER, Commanding Brigade, Fort Reno, D. C.
Report of Lieut. Col. Joseph A. Haskin, Additional Aide-de-Camp, U.S. Army, commanding Second Brigade, of the defense of Washangton.
Washington, D. C., July 18, 1864. I have respectfully to make the following report of the military operations oF the Second Brigade on the 11th and 12th instant : On receiving the report of my cavalry pickets that the enemy was advancing toward Fort Stevens, about 11 a. m. of the 11th instant I
gave the necessary instructions to the commanding officer of that fort,
Guard, to prepare the fort for action. I then proceeded to Fort Slocum, my headquarters, which was at once put in order to repel an attack. The company of cavalry under my command destroyed the two bridges north of Fort Slocum to prevent the enemy from using them to advance on our right. This company, under Captain Hotopp, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, did great service in front of the whole line of Second Brigade and particularly in obtaining information of the position of the enemy. The enemy made his appearance in front of Fort Stevens about 11.30 a. m. on the 11th and advanced a line of skirmishers about 1.30 p. m. nearly to Fort Stevens, when the first shot was fired from Fort Slocum. The enemy showed himself only in small bodies, which accounts for the few shots fired on both days.