Many lengthy OR documents contain a very small portion of the 20th Connecticut Infantry. Instead of ignoring these documents, that portion of this regiment was taken out and placed in an abridged version.
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O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XIX/1 [S# 27]
SEPTEMBER 3-20, 1862.-The Maryland Campaign.
No. 164.--Report of Brig. Gen. Alpheus S. Williams, U.S. Army, commanding
Twelfth Army Corps, of the battle of Antietam.
...
October 26, by General Orders, No. 5, from corps headquarters, the One hundred and twenty-fourth and One hundred and twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Regiments were assigned to the Second Brigade, First Division, Twelfth Corps. The Second Brigade remained at Pleasant Valley, near Sandy Hook, Md., until October 30, when they moved over to Loudoun Heights, Va., the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers being stationed on the Heights, and also the One hundred and twenty-third New York and the One hundred and twenty-fourth and One hundred and twenty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers on the eastern slope.
...
The One hundred and twenty-eighth Pennsylvania stationed on Maryland Heights, on picket duty and upon fortifications. The Sixth Maryland Volunteers assigned to the brigade by Special Orders, No. 12, Headquarters Twelfth Corps, November 3, 1862, and the entire regiment has since been employed on fortifications. The Twentieth Connecticut and One hundred and twenty-third New York Volunteers, of the Second Brigade, moved from Loudoun Heights to Keys' Ford, on the Shenandoah, November 3; thence to Keys' Gap, November 4; from thence to Loudoun Valley on the 8th, where they rejoined the remainder of the brigade.
...
31 R R--VOL XIX, PT I
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXV/1 [S# 39]
APRIL 27-MAY 6, 1863.--The Chancellorsville Campaign.
No. 260.--Report of Brig. Gen. Alpheus S. Williams, U.S. Army, commanding
First Division.
[ar39_676 con't]
STAFFORD COURT-HOUSE, VA.,
May 15, 1863.
COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part
taken by the First Division, Twelfth Army Corps, in the recent operations
of the Army of the Potomac south of the Rappahannock:
This division is composed
of the brigades of Brigadier-Generals Knipe, Ruger, and Jackson. The latter
(owing to a recent severe accident to General Jackson) was commanded temporarily
by Colonel Ross, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers.
The division struck camp
at this place on April 27, at sunrise, and reached Hartwood Church, over
very bad roads, at 3 p.m.
On the 28th, we marched to Kelly's Ford, following closely the Eleventh Corps.
...
Two regiments of the Second Brigade (the One hundred and forty-fifth New York and Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers) were placed in the rifle-pits in this line. Three broken regiments of Knipe's brigade (all the field officers but one having been captured or disabled the previous night) were placed in reserve in rifle-pits about 200 yards in rear of my right. These regiments were, soon after the attack began, moved to the breastworks, where General Knipe assumed command of the regiments of the Second Brigade, Colonel Ross having left the front, reported wounded.
...
In the meantime the enemy,
either by the withdrawal of our troops or their retreat from the open elevated
ground to our left and front before described, had seized upon that important
position, and with a strong force attempted to carry our breastworks beyond
the angle on the left. They were successfully resisted by the Twentieth
Connecticut, One hundred and forty fifth New York, and a portion of Ruger's
brigade. A number of the enemy who had penetrated our hues were taken prisoners.
At the same time the
enemy placed several batteries in position on this open hill (some of them
reported to have been guns captured from our troops), and opened a most
vigorous fire upon our batteries at Fairview and our lines of infantry
both right and left of this position.
…
Major Buckingham, of the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, acting assistant inspector general for the division; Lieutenant Pattison, Second Massachusetts, assistant commissary of musters for the division Captain [Christopher L.] Skeels, provost-marshal for the division, and Capt. F.R. Munther, additional aide-de-camp, attached to my staff, all were prompt, zealous, and attentive in the discharge of their duties as acting aides-de-camp in transmitting orders.
...
A. S. WILLIAMS,
Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.
Lieut. Col. H. C. RODGERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Twelfth Army Corps.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXV/1 [S# 39]
APRIL 27-MAY 6, 1863.--The Chancellorsville Campaign.
No. 261.--Report of Brig. Gen. Joseph F. Knipe, U. S. Army, commanding
First Brigade.
...
Colonel Ross having been reported wounded and gone to the rear, I felt it my duty to assume command of the first line, and at once ordered the regiments from the Third Corps, which were lying down immediately in my front, to move forward and assist our men at the barricades. I failed, however, in my efforts to bring these men forward, for just at this moment a regiment of red-legged Zouaves came pell-mell from our left, with less than half their number of the enemy close at their heels. I endeavored to arrest the fugitives and induce them to defend themselves from behind the rifle-pits, over which they had just retreated. <ar39_688> This, however, I could not accomplish. It was left to the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, of the Second Brigade, First Division, Twelfth Corps, to repulse the advancing enemy, and it did it nobly.
...
JOS. F. KNIPE,
Brig. Gen., Comdg. 1st and 2d Brigades, 1st Div., 12th A. C.
Lieut. S. E. PITTMAN,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, First Division.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXV/1 [S# 39]
APRIL 27-MAY 6, 1863.--The Chancellorsville Campaign.
No. 263.--Report of Adjt. William A. Daniels, Fifth Connecticut
Infantry.
...
May 3.--The enemy having ceased firing, we fell back some 200 yards, and there halted for a short rest, having been relieved by the Twentieth Connecticut. At about daylight, the regiment was advanced to the last position, where the enemy was again engaged, and the fight continued until 10 o'clock in the forenoon, the engagement being general along the entire line. The brigade was then ordered to the rear of our batteries, and, at about 2 o'clock, the regiment was ordered to the Rappahannock, arriving at the United States Ford at 4 p.m. We crossed the river and were placed on provost duty by General Patrick, provost-marshal general, and were thus employed until the morning of May 6, when we were ordered to our old camp at Stafford Court-House, where we arrived at nightfall the same day, in the midst of a drenching rain.
...
WILLIAM A. DANIELS,
Adjutant Fifth Connecticut Volunteers.
Brig. Gen. J. F. KNIPE,
Comdg. First Brigade, First Division, Twelfth Army Corps.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXV/1 [S# 39]
APRIL 27-MAY 6, 1863.--The Chancellorsville Campaign.
No. 279.--Reports of Capt. Robert H. Fitzhugh, First New York Artillery,
commanding battery, and Chief of Artillery.
...
The conduct of the whole command was all that could be desired. First Lieut. T. B. Kirby, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, adjutant, First Division artillery, deserves great credit for his coolness under fire, and for remaining on the field in the discharge of his duties after receiving a wound in the arm which made it necessary to lift him on his horse.
...
ROBERT H. FITZHUGH,
Capt. 1st N. Y. Art., Chief of Art., 1st Div., 12th A. C.
Lieut. S. E. PITTMAN,
A. A. A. G., First Div., Twelfth Army Corps.
O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XXVII/1 [S# 43] -- Gettysburg Campaign
No. 272. -- Reports of Brig. Gen. Alpheus S. Williams,
U.S. Army, commanding First Division of, and Twelfth Army Corps.
...
I desire to bring to the notice of the major-general commanding the faithful and gallant conduct of my staff officers, who remained with me while in discharge of my temporary duties as corps commander: Capt. S. E. Pittman, assistant adjutant-general; Maj. P. B. Buckingham, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, acting assistant inspector-general; Capt. M. P. Whitney, Fifth Connecticut Volunteers, provost-marshal of division; Lieut. E. W. Pattison, Second Massachusetts Volunteers, assistant commissary of musters, and Lieut. George Robinson, One hundred and twenty-third New York Volunteers, aide-de-camp.
...
A. S. WILLIAMS,
Brigadier-General of Volunteers.
Lieut. Col. H. C. RODGERS,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
...
The Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, supported by the One hundred and seventh New York Volunteers, First Division, was thrown forward from the left of the division into the woods in rear of the stone wall held by the enemy. The general relation of the lines of the First and Second Divisions of the corps was a two-sided, truncated triangle, the apex at which point was the battery from the enemy, the ends toward the enemy inclining to the right and left, respectively, and too strong to be carried, Rocky Run [Rock Creek] protecting the right and strong breastworks occupying the left.
...
THOS. H. RUGER,
Brig. Gen. of Vols., Comdg. First Div., Twelfth Corps.
Capt. S. E. PITTMAN,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XXVII/1 [S# 43] -- Gettysburg Campaign
No. 274. -- Report of Col. Archibald L. McDougall,
One hundred and twenty-third New York Infantry, commanding First
Brigade.
...
July 3.--An attack was
made in the morning upon the enemy in our intrenchments both by infantry
and artillery. The Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers were advanced into
the woods in front of our troops, where the enemy had posted himself, and
to which point was evidently advancing more forces. Lieutenant-Colonel
Wooster, who was in command of this regiment, had a difficult and responsible
duty to perform. He was not only required to keep the enemy in check, but
encountered great difficulty, while resisting the enemy, in protecting
himself against the fire of our own artillery, aimed partly over his command
at the enemy in and near our intrenchments. His greatest embarrassment
was, the farther he pushed the enemy the more directly he was placed under
the fire of our own guns. Some of his men became severely wounded by our
artillery fire.
For several hours this
regiment occupied a most important position in these woods south of our
line of intrenchments in preventing the enemy getting around the right
of General Geary's forces in the intrenchments on our left, and holding
the enemy back so that our artillery could have free play upon his columns
without destroying our own troops.
About 2 p.m. this regiment
was relieved by the One hundred and twenty-third New York Volunteers, which
soon reported to me that, not finding any enemy, they had entered and then
held the breastworks, which information was immediately communicated by
me to the general commanding the division, when I received orders to move
the other regiments of my brigade into the intrenchments, which was immediately
done.
...
It is also my duty to acknowledge the brave and gallant manner with which Lieutenant-Colonel Wooster, commanding the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, as well as the officers and men under his command, while in action on the 3d instant, aided in the recovery of our intrenchments. For several hours, without flinching, they maintained a steady contest with the enemy, enduring part of the time an afflictive and discouraging, though accidental, fire of our own batteries. <ar43_787> Much credit is also due to the gallant and prompt manner with which Capt. A. H. Tanner, in command of the One hundred and twenty-third Regiment New York Volunteers, relieved the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, and took and held possession of the breastworks until the arrival of the other regiments of the brigade.
...
A. L. McDOUGALL,
Colonel 123d New York Vols., Comdg. First Brig.
Capt. S. E. PITTMAN,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Division, Twelfth Army Corps.
<ar43_788>
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXX/4 [S# 53]
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY,
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH ALABAMA, AND NORTH GEORGIA,
FROM AUGUST 11, 1863, TO OCTOBER 19, 1863.--UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.(*)--#16
...
Twentieth Connecticut at Cowan; Third Maryland at tunnel, 2 miles beyond; Col. S. Ross commanding at Cowan and vicinity.
...
H. W. SLOCUM,
Major-general of Volunteers, Commanding.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXI/1 [S# 54]
CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS IN KENTUCKY,
SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI, NORTH ALABAMA, AND NORTH GEORGIA,
FROM OCTOBER 20, 1863, TO OCTOBER 31, 1863.(*)
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.--#5
...
2. At Stevenson and vicinity, Twentieth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers and Battery F, Fourth U.S. Artillery. The battery will be posted at Stevenson as soon as it can be transported by rail from Decherd. The horses have gone on by wagon road from Anderson. Col. Samuel Ross, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, commanding post at Stevenson.
...
A. S. WILLIAMS,
Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXII/1 [S# 57]
JANUARY 20, 1864.--Skirmish at Tracy City, Tenn.
No. 3. --Report of Capt. John F. George, Second Massachusetts Infantry
...
Having learned from the
inhabitants of a cottage near by that no firing had been heard and no enemy
seen in that vicinity, and that our pickets were posted on the farther
side of the bridge, I left a corporal and 10 men in an unoccupied stockade,
near the southern end of the bridge, and proceeded across, but found no
pickets on the other side. Thus we were in fear that the enemy had captured
them, as well as the troops in the town. I then proceeded cautiously, keeping
the skirmishers well advanced, till we reached a small trestle bridge about
300 yards from Tracy City depot, when I halted and sent 10 men across to
ascertain who were in possession of the town, and by whom was the stockade
then occupied. These men soon returned, reporting that the town and stockade
were in our possession; and I thereupon advanced into the town and occupied
the stockade, in which latter I found about 40 men and a lieutenant of
the Twentieth Connecticut Infantry, it then being about 1 a.m. I found,
on investigation, that about 3 p.m. a body of guerrillas, about 100 in
number, had made a dash into the town, coming in from two opposite directions
so suddenly as completely to surprise the pickets and outposts. The captain
(Upson) of the Twentieth Connecticut commanding, who was within the depot
at the time, having with him about 15 unarmed men, immediately started
for the stockade (about 200 yards distance), but being cut off before reaching
it was shot, after throwing down his revolver in token of surrender, and
taken prisoner, together with about 15 of his men. Close to the stockade
was a log building occupied as a store by a certain Benham. The rebels
made a dash for this, and shot 1 of the men of the Twentieth Connecticut
who was standing in the door-way, seriously wounding him. The store-keeper,
who was within, immediately closed the door and fired with his revolver
upon them from the window, wounding 2 of the band.
Upon this they returned
toward the railroad, thus giving our men an opportunity to enter the stockade,
which they then immediately occupied under the command of Lieutenant [Jepson],
of the Twentieth Connecticut. <ar57_102> The enemy then, after
deploying along the edge of the woods surrounding the town, sent in under
flags of truce foul' separate summons to surrender, which being refused,
they proceeded to set fire to the depot, engine-house, and some buildings
connected with the coal works. They paroled and set at liberty 10 of their
prisoners. Of the remaining, nothing has been heard. A man named Kennedy,
who owns a house in the place, and who was arrested several nights before
on suspicion of being a spy, but who effected his escape, is supposed to
have guided this rebel party into the town. I remained with my command
in the town till 8 a.m. of the 21st, when, seeing no signs of the enemy
in the vicinity, and is accordance with your orders, I embarked my command
on board the cars and returned to Cowan, where I arrived at 12 m.
I have the honor to be,
sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. F. GEORGE,
Captain Co. E, Second Massachusetts Infantry, Comdg.
Col. JOSEPH M. SUDSBURG,
Third Maryland Infantry, Commanding Post.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXII/1 [S# 57]
MARCH 16, 1864.--Raid on the Nashville and Chattanooga Railroad,
near Tullahoma, Tenn.
No. 2. --Report of Capt. George R. Hall, One hundred and twenty-third
New York Infantry.
...
During the fighting, men captured from the cars were recaptured, and in about one hour the remainder of the prisoners came in--7 of the Twenty-seventh Indiana and 2 men of Company E, One hundred and twenty-third New York Volunteers; also Captain Beardsley, of the Twentieth Connecticut, and Lieutenant Williams. All were robbed of everything valuable, not excepting their clothing. Two men of the First Michigan Engineers were wounded ; also a citizen by the name of Stockwell -- the latter seriously, the ball having passed through the left lung. One negro was killed and 1 wounded. The prisoners report that the rebels were commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel Hughs, formerly of the Twenty-fifth Tennessee. The names of the other officers I could not learn. One of my company that is reliable told me that he counted 97 men, while a prisoner, and at the time 15 or 20 were out after the other patrols. The man spoken of above of my company was one of the patrols who were captured. They were <ar57_501> armed with carbines and rifles. The last I heard of them they passed the mill about 2 miles from here at dark, apparently in great haste. Two of their men were killed, and 1 seriously wounded. I captured three saddles and one carbine. Had I been a few minutes earlier I could have saved the train, and think killed or captured most of them.
GEORGE R. HALL,
[Capt. One hundred and twenty-third New York Volunteers.]
Brig. Gen. A. S. WILLIAMS.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXII/2 [S# 58]
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ORDERS, AND RETURNS RELATING TO OPERATIONS
IN KENTUCKY, SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA, TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI, ALABAMA, AND NORTH
GEORGIA, FROM JANUARY 1, 1864, TO FEBRUARY 29, 1864.--#3
...
Report of First Brigade as follows: At Decherd and Cowan no changes have been made since last report. The garrison at Tantalon has been changed by substituting the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers for the One hundred and forty-fifth New York, the latter regiment having been broken up.
…
JOS. F. KNIPE,
Brigadier-General, Commanding Division.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXVIII/1 [S# 72]
MAY 1-SEPTEMBER 8, 1864.--The Atlanta (Georgia) Campaign.
No. 161.--Reports of Lieut. Col. Judson W. Bishop, Second Minnesota
Infantry.
...
Wednesday, 13th, marched with the brigade nine miles, rejoining the division near Vining's Station. Thursday, 14th, a detachment of ninety-eight drafted men from the First District of Minnesota joined the regiment and were assigned to companies. Friday, 15th, the regiment being ordered to relieve the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers on provost duty at Marietta, marched for that place at 5 a.m., arriving at 10 a.m., and immediately entered upon duty as provost and depot guards. During the remainder of the period embraced in this report the regiment was on guard duty at Marietta, employing all available time in the instruction of recruits.
...
J. W. BISHOP,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Comdg. Second Minnesota Vols.
Capt. C. A. CILLEY,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., 2d Brig., 3d Div., 14th Army Corps.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXVIII/2 [S# 73]
MAY 1-SEPTEMBER 8, 1864.--The Atlanta (Georgia) Campaign.
No. 241.--Report of Lieut. Col. Koert S. Van Voorhis, One hundred
and thirty-seventh New York Infantry.
...
July 21, buried the dead, and greatly added to the strength of our works. Remained here until the morning of July 22, when it having been ascertained that the enemy had fallen back from his line of works in our front, we left the battle-ground at 6.45 a.m., marching to within about two miles of Atlanta, and halted at 11 a.m. July 23, at 12.30 marched to the left of the Second Division, where we relieved the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, of the Third Division of Twentieth Corps. We occupied this position until July 27, when, our line being advanced nearer the enemy, we moved in the front line, our regiment relieving troops of the Third Division.
...
K. S. VAN VOORHIS,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.
[Capt. S. B. WHEELOCK.]
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXVIII/2 [S# 73]
MAY 1-SEPTEMBER 8, 1864.--The Atlanta (Georgia) Campaign.
No. 262.--Reports of Maj. Levin T. Miller, Thirty-third Indiana
Infantry.
...
On the 9th day of May, 1864, the regiment joined the brigade near Trickum, Ga., in Dogwood Valley. The regiment went into camp here and remained until the 11th, when it marched about fifteen miles to Snake Creek Gap and went into camp. On the 12th the regiment was engaged in cutting out wagon roads and a way for troops to pass outside of the road into the gap. About noon the brigade, except the Thirty-third Indiana and Twentieth Connecticut, moved on with the army. That night the regiment was ordered to join the brigade, and I moved the regiment about 12 and camped with the brigade, after marching three miles, about 2 p.m. May 13 the brigade moved at daylight, except four companies of the Thirty-third Indiana Volunteers, who were detailed as train guards. About 2 p.m. halted and went into position on the right of the brigade, in rear of the Fifteenth Army Corps, and near a place called Resaca. In the evening the regiment marched to the left and front about a mile and a half, and camped for the night in rear of part of the Fourteenth Corps. May the 14th the regiment moved forward about 400 yards and relieved part of the Fourteenth Corps. The brigade was formed in two lines, the Thirty-third on the left of the first line. May 15th, our brigade moved in the morning and marched to the left past the Fourteenth, Fourth, and Twenty-third Corps and halted on the left of the road, and the regiment was formed as column of division.
...
About 4 p.m. (May, 15)the regiment was ordered to occupy a ridge farther to the rear and left, and finally the whole brigade joined us. The Thirty-third Indiana and the Twentieth Connecticut were posted in the first line, and the men were ordered to lie down. About 5 p.m., the enemy having attempted to charge the hill, I moved the regiment forward on the left company, and assisted some of General Geary's division in repelling the charge; the center of the regiment became engaged and greatly contributed to the repulse.
...
LEV. T. MILLER,
Major Thirty-third Indiana Volunteers, Comdg. Regt.
Lieut. F. C. CRAWFORD,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., 2d Brig., 3d Div., 20th Corps.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXVIII/2 [S# 73]
MAY 1-SEPTEMBER 8, 1864.--The Atlanta (Georgia) Campaign.
No. 266.--Reports of Capt. David Anderson, Nineteenth Michigan Infantry.
...
Here also the division to which this regiment belongs, after a short engagement, defeated the enemy, and at dark May 20, the Nineteenth Michigan with the Twentieth Connecticut entered Cassville. Resting until the 22d we moved again in pursuit of the enemy, meeting no opposition until the evening of the 25th of May, when we found the enemy in heavy force strongly posted near New Hope Church. Here again occurred one of the bloodiest battles of the campaign, in which the regiment bore a distinguished and honored part.
...
Here also the division to which this regiment belongs, after a short engagement, defeated the enemy, and at dark May 20, the Nineteenth Michigan with the Twentieth Connecticut entered Cassville. Resting until the 22d we moved again in pursuit of the enemy, meeting no opposition until the evening of the 25th of May, when we found the enemy in heavy force strongly posted near New Hope Church. Here again occurred one of the bloodiest battles of the campaign, in which the regiment bore a distinguished and honored part.
...
D. ANDERSON,
Captain, Commanding Nineteenth Michigan.
Capt. ROBERT E. BEECHER,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Division, Twentieth Army Corps.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXVIII/2 [S# 73]
MAY 1-SEPTEMBER 8, 1864.--The Atlanta (Georgia) Campaign.
No. 267.--Report of Lieut. Col. Edward Bloodgood, Twenty-second
Wisconsin Infantry.
...
The fighting for possession of Resaca commenced on the 13th instant, and on this day and the 14th our division was not engaged. Early on the morning of 15th instant the corps moved to the left of Fourth Army Corps and formed line. The Third Division was selected to storm a battery covered by rifle-pits. The First Brigade was the attacking column and the Second Brigade the line of support, the Twentieth Connecticut and Twenty-second Wisconsin in right rear and Eighty-fifth and Thirty-third Indiana and Nineteenth Michigan in left rear. The column advanced, was checked, rallied, and advanced again to meet such a withering fire from the enemy's rifle-pits that it was impossible for the men to live in range of their muskets; but the enemy were driven from the earth-work that contained the four-gun battery, and after the fight, which was kept up with [varying] results until after dark, was over our men succeeded in bringing off the four guns in triumph, and all had been <ar73_425> done that stubborn courage could accomplish. We lay on the field during the night.
...
E. BLOODGOOD,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.
Lieut. F. C. CRAWFORD,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Brigade.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXVIII/2 [S# 73]
MAY 1-SEPTEMBER 8, 1864.--The Atlanta (Georgia) Campaign.
No. 268.--Report of Col. James Wood, jr., One hundred and thirty-sixth
New York Infantry, commanding Third Brigade.
...
Behind them and on the flat or bottom land the division was deployed into line of battle, the First Brigade on the right, connecting with Geary's division, the Second Brigade in the center, and the Third Brigade on the left, connecting with Newton's division, of the Fourth Corps. The first formation of the brigade was three regiments in front, viz, the Seventy-third Ohio, Twenty-sixth Wisconsin, and Twentieth Connecticut, in the order named from right to left. Thus formed, the brigade took position immediately in rear of and at the foot of the first bluff or ridge above alluded to, by which it was entirely covered. The One hundred and thirty-sixth New York Volunteers, it will be remembered, was on the right, to which place it was ordered to act as skirmishers. As soon as the brigade and division were in position at the foot of the ridge, inasmuch as the skirmishers of the One hundred and thirty-sixth New York Volunteers were not in front of the brigade to which it belonged, I requested that that regiment might be relieved from the First Brigade.
...
Coolly and deliberately the men poured into their line a well-directed, withering, and destructive fire, which covered the ground with the dead and wounded. This checked his advance and caused him to recoil. The line centering its fire charged up the hill, gained the crest, and drove the enemy into the valley on the other side. The Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers on the left, by some misapprehension, halted before reaching the crest of the second hill, its commander being erroneously ordered to halt and cease firing, as our skirmishers were still in front. This misapprehension and error was soon rectified, and the regiment advanced to the crest just as a body of the enemy, formed in double column, was about to take advantage of the apparent gap in the line to attack Newton's division on its right flank. A well <ar73_443> directed and murderous volley from the Twentieth Connecticut poured into this column threw it into confusion, and it broke and fled. As there seemed to be some indication that the troops of the Fourth Corps, on our immediate left, were being driven by the enemy, I held the Fifty-fifth Ohio and Seventy-third Ohio Volunteer Infantry in reserve to protect my left flank, in case it should be exposed. Happily, the brigade on my left held its ground and repulsed the enemy. As soon as I became satisfied that my flank would not be turned, I ordered forward the Seventy-third Ohio Volunteers to relieve the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin, which was nearly exhausted by the extreme heat of the day and the severe fighting. The men had expended all their ammunition and supplied themselves from the cartridge-boxes of the dead and wounded rebels. On being relieved, the regiment fell back about fifty yards to the rear, where it took position in line of battle, ready to spring to their guns in case of necessity. I ordered the Fifty-fifth Ohio to re-enforce the line on the left, as there was a gap on the left of the Twentieth Connecticut, between it and the right of the Fourth Corps. The commanding officer of the Fifty-fifth Ohio very properly and judiciously with his regiment filled that gap. On the top of the ridge now occupied by the brigade line of battle was a well-traveled highway, on the south side of which was an ordinary fence of rails, partly standing and partly thrown down.
...
I was also ordered to send one regiment to Turner's Ferry on the morning of the 25th to construct a line of breast-works to protect the brigade when it should take possession there. Accordingly, on the morning of the 25th, the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry was dispatched to Turner's Ferry for the purpose indicated, with instructions to comply with the order. At 9 p.m. of the 25th the brigade was withdrawn from behind the line of works, marched across Proctor's Creek on the Turner's Ferry road, where it was massed and halted to await the movement of a certain part of the Fourth Corps.
...
This brigade left Lookout Valley on the 2d of May, 1864, numbering 1,900 officers and men. During the latter part of May the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers joined the brigade with 400 men. This regiment and the Thirty-third Massachusetts Volunteers have been detached, one or the other of them, since the latter part of May, and not under fire.
...
JAMES WOOD,
JR., Colonel, Comdg. Third Brigade, Third Division, 20th Corps.
Capt. ROBERT E. BEECHER,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Division.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXVIII/2 [S# 73]
MAY 1-SEPTEMBER 8, 1864.--The Atlanta (Georgia) Campaign.
No. 273.--Report of Maj. Henry L. Arnold, One hundred and thirty-sixth
New York Infantry.
...
At dusk the regiment relieved the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers on the front line.
...
H. L. ARNOLD,
Major, Commanding.
Capt. C. H. YOUNG,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Third Brigade.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXXVIII/2 [S# 73]
MAY 1-SEPTEMBER 8, 1864.--The Atlanta (Georgia) Campaign.
No. 276.--Report of Lieut. Col. Frederick C. Winkler, Twenty-sixth
Wisconsin Infantry.
...
We had been in this position several hours, when it was reported that the enemy was advancing in lines of battle, and the increased rapidity of fire on the skirmish line corroborated the report. Our brigade was at this time formed in two lines, the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Regiment in front line on the right, the Twentieth Connecticut on the left, two regiments, Seventy-third and Fifty-fifth Ohio, in second line. We took arms at once and waited impatiently for the order to advance. The order came, and we moved forward simultaneously with the brigade on our right. We gained the first hill just as our skirmishers were falling back from the second. We moved forward still, and had just gained a shallow ravine covered with bushes between the two hills when the enemy appeared in strong line of battle at a fence running along the brow of the hill in our front. As the two lines were within easy musket-range of each other, the battle commenced at once with great fierceness. The Twentieth Connecticut had not advanced with us. The Fourth Corps, still pushed to the left, which did occupy an advanced position at the time of the approach of the enemy, had fallen back to its breast-works, so that we were now on the extreme left of the line. In our front the field was open, but some sixty yards from our left there was a dense forest. Of this the enemy availed themselves, and came upon our flank in strong force, opening an enfilading fire upon us, while at the same time the line in front came nearer and nearer, until the two lines were in many places less than a rod apart. For a time the conflict was desperate. I took <ar73_467> every man who could be spared on the right to re-enforce the left. At last the enemy broke and fled. We pursued him on his very heels to the top of the hill, captured the regimental flag of the Thirty-third Mississippi, and leaving Colonel Drake, of that regiment, and 34 others dead, and at least double that number severely wounded, behind us, and cutting off the retreat of forty others, who surrendered afterward to the second line. Arriving on the top of the hill, we were again met by a heavy volley from the woods on our left, to which we replied with vigor. After some fifteen minutes the Twentieth Connecticut came up and took position on our left, and some time after the Seventy-third Ohio came up to take our place, and we were permitted to go some forty yards to the rear. Our ammunition had been entirely expended, and during the last half hour we had used that of the killed and wounded rebels lying on the field.
...
FRED. C. WlNKLER,
Lieut. Col., Comdg. Twenty-sixth Regt. Wis. Vol. Infty.
Capt. C. H. YOUNG,
A. A. A. G., 3d Brig., 3d Div., 20th Army Corps.
O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XXXIX/1 [S# 77]
SEPTEMBER 29-NOVEMBER 13, 1864.--Operations in North Georgia and
North Alabama.
No. 44.--Reports of Col. Daniel Dustin, One hundred and fifth Illinois
Infantry, commanding Third Division.
[ar77_679 con't]
HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., THIRD DIV., 20TH ARMY CORPS,
Savannah, Ga., December 26, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to report the operations of the division during
the time that I had the honor to command it, as follows:
I assumed command on
the 23d day of September, Brigadier-General Ward being absent on leave.
I found the First Brigade in command of Colonel Smith, of the One hundred
and second Illinois, the Second under Lieutenant-Colonel Bloodgood, of
the Twenty-second Wisconsin, and the Third under Lieutenant-Colonel Buckingham,
of the Twentieth Connecticut. The position of the command was not changed
until the -----, when by order from corps headquarters the First Brigade
was sent to the Chattahoochee River for the purpose of guarding the railroad
bridge on the Chattanooga and Atlanta Railroad, and on the [8th of October]
the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin, of the Third Brigade, was also sent to the
same place, reporting to Colonel Smith.
...
DANL. DUSTIN,
Colonel 105th Illinois Volunteers, Comdg. Second Brigade.
Capt. JOHN SPEED,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLVII/1 [S# 98]
JANUARY 1-APRIL 26, 1865.--The Campaign of the Carolinas.
No. 4.--Itinerary of the Union Forces, January 1-June 30, 1865.(*)
...
April 10.--Again started on the campaign ending with the war at Raleigh, N. C. From thence the division marched on their homeward journey, passing through Richmond, Va., and Washington, D.C., at which last place the following regiments were mustered out of service: One hundred and second, One hundred and fifth, One hundred and twenty-ninth Illinois; Seventieth and Eighty-fifth Indiana; Seventy-ninth Ohio; Nineteenth Michigan; Thirty-third Massachusetts; Twenty-second and Twenty-sixth Wisconsin; Twentieth Connecticut, and One hundred and thirty-sixth New York, the Thirty-third Indiana, Fifty-fifth and Seventy-third Ohio Veteran Regiments being transferred to Fourteenth Army Corps. The last regiment mustered out [was] the One hundred and thirty-sixth New York, closing the records of this division June 14.
...
January 16.--Col. Samuel Ross, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, commanding brigade, having received a leave of absence, Bvt. Brig. Gen. William Cogswell, pursuant to orders from headquarters Twentieth Corps, assumed command of this brigade.
...
March 14.--The remainder of the division remaining in the camp, this brigade made a reconnaissance on the Fayetteville and Raleigh road and on the Goldsborough road. Three regiments, commanded by <ar98_144> Lieutenant-Colonel Buckingham, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, marched to Silver Run Creek, on the Fayetteville and Raleigh road, and four on the Goldsborough road to Black River. Both columns met the enemy and skirmished some time. Loss, 1 commissioned officer and 2 enlisted men wounded, 1 enlisted man mortally wounded and missing. Returned to the division at night.
...
The Twentieth Connecticut Volunteer Infantry, and those of this regiment not entitled to muster out being transferred to the Fifth Connecticut Veteran Volunteer Infantry.
...
O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLVII/1 [S# 98]
JANUARY 1-APRIL 26, 1865.--The Campaign of the Carolinas.
No. 197.--Reports of Bvt. Brig. Gen. William Cogswell, Second Massachusetts
Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of operations January 16-March 21 and
April 10-June 1.
<ar98_821>
HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., THIRD DIV., 20TH ARMY CORPS,
Goldsborough, N. C., March 30, 1865.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that on the evening of January 16, 1865, I assumed command of this brigade, pursuant to section III, General Orders, No. 16, headquarters Twentieth Army Corps, Savannah, Ga., January 16, 1865. The brigade was then stationed at Hardee's Farm, S.C., and consisted of the following regiments: Twentieth Connecticut Infantry, Lieut. Col. Philo B. Buckingham commanding; Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry, Lieut. Col. Fred. C. Winkler commanding; Thirty-third Massachusetts Infantry, Lieut. Col. Elisha Doane commanding; Fifty-fifth Ohio Infantry, Lieut. Col. E. H. Powers commanding; Seventy-third Ohio Infantry, Lieut. Col. Samuel H. Hurst commanding; One hundred and thirty-sixth New York Infantry, Lieut. Col. L. B. Faulkner, afterward Maj. H. L. Arnold, commanding. The effective force of the command was at that time, officers, 88; enlisted men, 1,399.
...
February 24, marched all day guarding trains about one mile and a half; weather rainy; roads very bad. Three regiments of brigade, One hundred and thirty-sixth New York, Seventy-third Ohio, and Twentieth Connecticut Infantry, engaged nearly all day in corduroying the road. February 25, moved at 6.30 a.m. (raining), and then was ordered back <ar98_823> to camp. Tents pitched, and at 9 a.m. moved out, and the brigade corduroyed the road from camp of previous night to Russell's Store, where the Lancaster and Camden road crosses, a distance of three miles and a quarter, and at night went into camp at the latter place.
...
At 9 a.m. the brigade moved out in light marching order, leaving its camps behind and reaching the advance camps of Fifty-fifth Ohio and Thirty-third Massachusetts, was joined by them, and also the One hundred and second Illinois Volunteer Infantry, First Brigade of this division, Major Clay commanding, moved to the Goldsborough or Tarborough road. The Fifty-fifth and Seventy-third Ohio, and Twenty-sixth Wisconsin and One hundred and thirty-sixth New York Volunteers, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Hurst, Seventy-third Ohio, were ordered to proceed on the latter road to Great Creek, and Colonel Hurst was directed <ar98_824> to cross that creek if he could and there to await further orders, while the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, Thirty-third Massachusetts Volunteers, and One hundred and second Illinois Volunteers, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Buckingham, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, were ordered to proceed to Taylor's Hole Creek, on the Raleigh road, if possible. I proceeded with this latter column about four miles, and the enemy was met first at Evon's Creek. In a few moments, however, and after slight dispositions on our part, he left. The creek was crossed, and everything progressing favorably for some two miles beyond. I directed Colonel Buckingham to keep moving on carefully and to gain Taylor's Hole Creek if he could do so with his skirmish line, but not to engage his line of battle.
...
When I discovered that
no further attempts to advance were about to be made I at once communicated
the facts of my position to the general commanding division, who immediately
directed me to return to a line less exposed, which was done in good order,
taking up different lines in retiring until we reached the position from
which we had at first advanced. Soon after, by direction of general commanding
division, works were thrown up a short distance in advance of this, which
three regiments of the brigade occupied and held that night, the One hundred
and thirty-sixth New York Volunteers, Fifty-fifth Ohio Volunteers, and
Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers. This is the report of the operations
of the brigade in the protracted skirmish of March 16, lasting the larger
part of the day. The casualties of the brigade in that affair were as follows:
Killed--commissioned officers, 5; enlisted men, 14. Wounded--commissioned
officers, 3; enlisted men, 91. It was here that the brigade and service
lost a young and valuable officer in the person of Lieut. Samuel Storrow,
aide-de-camp to myself, who received two wounds while carrying an order
to the left of the brigade when it was on its most advanced position, from
which he died almost immediately. His loss is deeply felt in the brigade.
(+) <ar98_826>
Early in the morning
of the 17th the picket reported the evacuation of their main line by the
enemy and their occupation of the same. Soon after the brigade with its
division moved four miles and a half or five miles to Averasborough, and
remained during the day and night. The Twentieth Connecticut Volunteer
Infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel Buckingham, was sent one mile and a half on
the Raleigh road to hold and picket the same. The Twenty-sixth Wisconsin
Volunteer Infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel Winkler commanding, was sent at
the same time on the Smithville road to hold and picket the same.
...
W M. COGSWELL,
Brevet Brigadier-General, Commanding Brigade.
Capt. JOHN SPEED,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Division, Twentieth Army Corps.