W. M. S. Tilton to Major-General HUMPHREYS, July 30, 1864

July 30, 1864—9.40 a.m. Major-General HUMPHREYS:

GENERAL: I find that the flag I saw was the enemy’s, and that they have reoccupied all the line we drove them from except a little around the crater, which a small force of ours still holds.

G. K. WARREN, Major-General of Volunteers.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, July 30, 1864. General WARREN:

A dispatch has been sent to your headquarters rescinding orders to attack. All offensive operations are suspended. You can resume your original position with your command.

GEO. G. MEADE, Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE Potomac, July 30, 1864—2.40 p.m. Major-Generals WARREN, HANCOCK, BURNSIDE, and ORD:

The commanding general desires that you will send in at the earliest moment a statement showing the casualties in your corps in the operations of to-day.

S. WILLIAMS, Assistant Adjutant-General.

Report of casualties in Fifth Army Corps for July 30, 1864.

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HEADQUARTERS FIFTH ARMY CoRPs, August 5, 1864,

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Besides the working details above recorded, the whole of the Third Division was engaged at work on the redoubts on the plank road and in slashing timber around them and connecting them by breast-works. Besides these was the labor of constructing the large advanced redan on the east of the plank road, and all the main line of intrenchments occupied by our line of battle, 2,300 yards long. Much of this latter was constructed twice, owing to the advancement of the line, and bombproof shelters were prepared in it.

Journal of Maj. Gen. Gouverneur K. Warren, U. S. Army, commanding Fifth Army Corps, June 13-July.18.

Monday, June 13.—Our cavalry drove back the enemy’s to New Market Cross-Roads. Crawford’s division went to White Oak Swamp bridge to cover passage of trains and Second Corps. At 8 a.m. began to withdraw, bothered by McIntosh’s cavalry brigade, and only got as far as Saint Mary’s Church, though traveling nearly all night. Enemy did not follow.

Tuesday, June 14.—Marched to Saint Charles [Charles City] CourtChickahominy; too wide for wagon-train bridge. Lost a day by it.

Wednesday, June 15.—We lay all day in camp. Pontoon bridge built last night across the James River.

Thursday, June 16.—Commenced moving at 2 a.m. All the corps ferried over atl p.m. Artillery and wagons all crossed on the pontoon bridge. Went on board Atlanta. Command marched toward Petersburg. Marched nearly all night and reached there before morning. Report this day was that Smith was in Petersburg.

Friday, June 17.—Burnside carried part of enemy’s line at daybreak, skirmishing and fighting all day. Crawford’s division went in at sun. set and captured a regiment.

Saturday, June 18.—Advance at 4.a.m. Found the enemy. Retired about 2 p.m. Drove him into his new line covering Petersburg, and had several assaults, which were repulsed. Our loss about 2,000.

Sunday, June 19.—Remained in position. Lost about 300.

Monday, June 20.—Preparations made to extend our line to the left. Withdrew General Griffin from the center in the night.

Tuesday, June 21.—General Griffin extended our line to the plank road. Second Corps marched across it.

Wednesday, June 22.—Second Corps had a bad fight. Got flanked and lost 2,300 prisoners and 4 cannon. te

Thursday, June 23.—Enemy retired from his position on left of Second

Friday, June 24.—Remained in same general position. Crawford in morning shifted over to the left of the corps and relieved Gibbon.

Sunday, June 26.—Army nearly quiet with continued firing along [lines] night and day. ; ;

Monday, June 27,—Reconnoitered my lines again; satisfied I could not improve them. ;

Thursday, June 30.—Wilson attacked at Reams’ Station. Sixth Corps sent.* j

Friday, July 1.—Order received to strengthen lines with abatis. Had already been done.

Saturday, July 2—Warm and dry. Orders received to report every morning and evening at 9 o’clock.

Sunday, July 3—Warm anddry. Received notification from General Meade that my opinion was wanted on the possibility of an assault. Reported against its advisability after careful examination.

Monday, July 4—Warm and dry. General Hunt and Major Duane out examining plans for guns, &c., to assist an assault if General Burnside succeeded. Requested to have them report on operations in my front. General Meade objected to commencing redoubt on my left; however, marked it out after dark by rifle-pits.

Tuesday, July 5.—Very quiet day. Commenced plans for redoubts on left, Captain Mendell and myself locating them by order. Camps unchanged since June 25. General Crawford and General Griffin ordered to furnish large details for work at 3.30 a, m. to-morrow.

Wednesday, July 6.—Major Roebling continued work last night on small redoubt. Working details on the other redoubts worked all day.

Thursday, July 7—Asked for detail from Second or Sixth Corps to assist me on redoubts.

Friday, July 8.—Work continued on the redoubts, 2,000 men of the Second Corps assisting.

Saturday, July 9.—Quiet all day; working continued. Sixth Corps moved to City Point after dark.

Sunday, July 10.—Quiet all day; continued working on redoubts. General Crawford extended his line about 400 yards to relieve a portion of General Hancock’s.

Monday, July 11.—Troops held in readiness to move at moment’s notice (all).

Tuesday, July 12.—Second Corps was relieved last night from their line and massed. Occupied the two redoubts, large one very incomplete. I spent the day trying to arrange matters, cutting timber, &e.

Wednesday, July 13.—Spent all day superintending work on large redoubt (Fort Davis). Had Hayes’ and Carle’s brigades slashing timber all day. Put battery in each redoubt. Second Corps moved from my left to my rear in the morning. Smyth’s brigade left on picket. General Gregg and General Ferrero reported to me.

Thursday, July 14.—Spent day till 2 p. m. in office, the rest till dark establishing picket-line and giving directions about my lines.

Friday, July 15.—Not very well. Spent the morning at headquarters. General Meade called. Went out on line after 4 p. m.

*These events occurred on the 29th.

Ona, LIT.] THE Richmond CAMPAIGN.

Saturday, July 16.—Spent morning hard at work in office. Went out on line in afternoon, staid till dark.

Sunday, July 17.—Laid out rifle-pits in the morning; superintended work on large redoubt in afternoon. Had attack threatened at dark and made all needful preparations.

Monday, July 18.—Visited line with General Humphreys. Gave usual amount of directions.

Reports of Col. William 8. Tilton, Twenty-second Massachusetts Infantry, commanding First Brigade, First Division.

Hares. FIRST BRIGADE, FIRST DIVISION, FirtH Corps, August 8, 1864. CAPTAIN :*

June 12, at 8 p. m. we marched from Sumner’s (lower) Bridge to near Long Bridge, seven miles; bivouacked at 1 a. m.

June 13, at 4 a. m. turned out and marched across the Chickahominy on pontoons; at 6.30 a. m. halted; at 9 p. m. started out toward Charles City Cross-Roads. Halted after a fatiguing march of seven miles at 3.30 a. m. of 14th. My regiment and Fourth Michigan formed the rear guard.

June 14, took up the line of march at 5.30 a. m., after two hours’ rest; at 10.30 a. m. came to Charles City Court-House and rested. At2p.m. marched toward James River, on the bank of which we bivouacked.

June 15, remained in camp.

June 16, crossed the James on a transport at 8 a. m., landing near Wind-Mill Point. 3 p. m., marched to Saint [Prince] George CourtHouse and halted for an hour at 9 p. m. for coffee; then marched to our lines in front Petersburg, where we arrived at 12 midnight.

June 17, lay in camp.

June 18, at 5 a. m. broke camp and marched to the front, stacking arms in rear of Second Corps, when we made coffee. At 8 a. m. the brigade advanced to the front and left to take up a line before the enemy’s works on new ground. My regiment was detailed to skirmish to the front and drive in the rebel pickets. I deployed in an open field near Colonel Avery’s house, with my right resting on the Norfolk turnpike road. We pushed forward to the Norfolk railroad, which crossed the pike and to a ravine beyond, where the right of my line, being more exposed than the left, was driven back. The left, however, under Major Burt, held its own, having shelter in rear of a crest. I thereupon strengthened my right with 100 men from the Sixty-second Pennsylvania; went in again, when I succeeded in driving the rebel skirmishers out of the ravine into one beyond. About 12 m. Sweitzer’s brigade moved toward and took position in this last ravine, all the regiments but one being on the right of the road. The First Brigade, Colonel Chamberlain, then advanced to the ravine and took position on the left of Colonel Sweitzer’s brigade. This was done under a very heavy fire, and the brigade lost more than 200 men, including Colonel

* For portion of report (here omitted) covering operations from May 4 to June 12, 1864, see Vol, XXXVI, Part I, p. 559,

A456 OPERATIONS IN S. E. V. A. AND N. C. [Cuap. LII.

Chamberlain, who was wounded. Thus we remained right under the enemy’s works until just before dark, when I was ordered to take command of First Brigade.

I cannot close this report without mentioning some of my officers who distinguished themselves, besides those alluded to. Lieutenant-Colonel Sherwin had been in command of the regiment for ten months before the opening of this campaign, while I commanded Barnes’ old brigade, and I attribute much of its success to him on account of the excellent state of discipline to which he had brought it. After the first day there was not an officer or man who would not go, and go cheerfully, wherever he was ordered. Captain Field, the senior captain, was always ready for duty, and always selected for duty which required the display of judgment and bravery. Capt. John Rock cannot be excelled for dash on the battle-field. Captain Baxter, who was killed at Bethesda Church, was an honest man and a faithful soldier. Lieutenants Steele and Fleming were wounded while gallantly discharging their duty. To Capt. E. C. Bennett the service and the country are indebted, also to Captain Meands, to Lieutenants Bourne, Ackerman, Clapp, Roby, Kinsley, and Captain Smith, of the Second Company Sharpshooters, for untiring patience and fidelity in the performance of their duty, as well as bravery on the field of battle.

During the campaign I lost two-thirds of my men in action. Lists of casualties have been already forwarded.

Respectfully submitted.