MAY 4-JUNE 12, 1884~Campaign from the Rapidan to the James River, Va.
No. 54.-Report of Brig. Gen. Samuel S. Carroll, U.S. Army, commanding Third Brigade, of
operations May 3-13.
WEST POINT, N Y., September 9, 1864
SIR: In accordance with instnictions from division headquarters of date Septemher I, and this day received, I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the brigade (Third), consisting of the Fourth and Eighth Ohio, Fourteenth Indiana, Seventh Virginia, Fourteenth Connecticut, First Delaware, Twelfth New Jersey, One hundred and eighth New York, and Tenth New York Battalion, which I had the honor to command from the crossing of the Rapidan to the morning of May 13, 1864:
The brigade, with the exception of the Fourth Ohio, which was detailed as a wagon guard before leaving camp, crossed the Rapidan at Ely's Ford with the division at 8 a.m. on the 4th of May. On the 5th, reached Todd's Tavern, when I was put in position to support some cavalry who were engaged in my front. Threw out six companies as skirmishers, and remained in position till 11.15 a. m., when I received orders to march in the direction of Parker's Store. On arriving at the crossing of the Brock plank road, about 3.30 p.m., was ordered to report to Major-General Birney. By his con::mand, I advanced in the wood on the right of the plank road, and relieved the troops engaged in our front, pushing the enemy about one-quarter of a mile from that position and holding the swamp at dark.
May 6, at 5 a.m., I advanced, the enemy retiring for nearly a mile, when, finding no enemy except dead and wounded in my front, and hearing rapid and heavy musketry on the left of the plank road Very near my position, I crossed that road by the left flank, and marching toward the firing, passed some brigade that seemed badly cut up, and engaged the enemy. Before engaging them, however, by General Birney's personal order, 1 sent the Eighth Ohio. Fourteenth Indiana, and Seventh Virginia back to the right of the plank road, under the command of Col. John Coons, Fourteenth Indiana, where they became separated from the rest of the command, were flanked by a vastly superior force of the enemy, and after losing heavilv forced to retire. With the rest of my brigade I was engaged continuouslv with the enemy until 11 a.m. when I was relieved by the Vermont brigade, my men being out of ammunition. About 10 o'clock, when I was hard pressed on my right (that flank being held by the Tenth New York and much exposed), the Fourth Ohio came up, and I immediately put it in on that point. Shortly after noon the troops in my front commenced hastily falling back, and I perceived the enemy coming round their left flank. I at once changed the front of my command so as to meet them and fought them for some twenty minutes, but finding that everything else was retiring in great confusion, being hard pressed and flanked myself, besides hearing from some source I cannot recall that orders ~ad been received to fail hack to the rifle-pits on the Brock road, I followed the rest of the troops and emerged from the wood on the Brock road to the right of the plank road, where my command was immediately formed in proper order, being rejoined by the three regiments which had become detached in the forenoon. By General Birney's order I massed the brigade in the third line in rear of his headquarters to the right of the plank road and remained so until about 3.30 p.m., when Longstreet's corps charged and drove a portion of the troops from the breast-works on the Brock road to the left of the plank road and planted their colors there. At this juncture General Birney in person ordered me to regain the breast-works, which I did in double~quick at the point of the bayonet, and shortly afterward resumed my position in rear of his headquarters. After dark that night I was ordered by General Birney to take a position vacated by a brigade of the Sixth Corps, joining the left of the Ninth, which I did. During the night we threw up strong breastworks. on the morning of the 7th joined our division; were not engaged that day. At 8a.m. on the 8th marched past Todd's Tavern, formed line of baffle, and threw out skirmishers to support a part of Gregg's cavalry that was skirmishing with the enemy in my front, but did not become engaged. At noon left this position and moved down the Catharpin road, toward where the Fifth Corps was engaged, and bivouacked there that night.
May 9, at 8 a.m., was ordered to return to Todd's Tavern, where we took position and remained till 12.20 p.m., when we moved to the left and took possession of a line of hills near the Po River. At dusk, crossed the river and bivouacked in mass on the other side.
May 10, formed line of baffle about 7 a.m., the right extending nearly to the road on which the enemy's train moved the previous evening. At 11.20 a.m. recrossed the Po and massed in a meadow behind the left of Crawford's line of the Fifth Corps. At I p.m. moved in the wood and replaced Coulter's brigade, which was engaged with the enemy. Finding that the enemy were behind breast-works and firing was useless, I had it cease, sending out sharpshooters and only allowing them to fire. About 4 p.m. was ordered by General Gibbon, commanding division, to assault the enemy's line in my front, which I executed as ordered. Charging through a belt of burning woods, 35 or 40 yards wide, the right of my line gained the enemy's breast-works and the whole line reached the abatis, but was exposed to such a concentrated and murderous fire from two lines as to make the position untenable, and I fell back to the original position, where we remained.
May 11, remained in position all day skirmishing with the enemy, and in the afternoon received quite a number of shots from their bafferies in my front. Cut a road and built places for three guns on my line, but the guns were not furnished me. At 11 p.m. received orders to march and moved out to the left with the division, left in front. Marched until near dawn, when we were halted behind a line of breast-works.
May 12, at dawn received orders from Major-General Hancock, commanding Second Corps, to move forward on the left of First Division (General Barlow) and assault the enemy's works. The First Division had started and I was compelled to double-quick in order to get up with them, which I did in time to take part in the grand assault of that date. We captured three baffle-flags and over 300 prisoners, with several pieces of artillery. Remained in this position, throwing out skirmishers.
May 13, about 8 a.m. I was ordered by General Gibbon, commanding division, to take the Second Brigade (General Owen) and make a reconnaissance in front of my right. I started to fulfill the order, but shortly after throwing out skirmishers received a severe wound, which compelled me to leave the field.
Never did officers and men display more gallantry than those of this command, and they deserve the thanks of their country and of their commanding officers. Colonel Coons, Fourteenth Indiana; Colonel Ellis, Fourteenth Connecticut, and Colonel Powers, One hundred and eighth New York, were at different times in command of a line of baffle and displayed great skill and coolness. The first of these officers was killed while gallantly leading his regiment in the charge of the 12th. The last was also badly wounded. Lieuten-ant-Colonel Davis, commanding Twelfth New Jersey, was wounded on the 5th, but remained in the field until the 12th, when he met his death like a soldier and patriot. Lieutenant-Colonel Pierce, commanding One hundred and eighth New York, was wounded on the 6th, but kept the field up to the time I left. My thanks are due Captain Butterfield, Eighth Ohio, assistant inspector-general; Captain Hawley, Fourteenth Connecticut, aide-de-camp; Lieutenant Mitchell, Fourteenth Indiana, aide-de-camp and acting assistant adjutant-general, and Lieutenant Caldwell, Fourteenth Indiana, aide-de-camp, for their gallantry and the assistance they rendered me throughout the period mentioned. The latter promising young officer was killed on the evening of the 5th. Captain Butterfield, in charge of the skirmish line, captured a stand of colors from the enemy on the morning of the 13th. I received a flesh wound on the evening of the 5th, and another on the morning of the 13th, which latter disabled me.
I inclose herewith a nominal list of casualties.
Sir, I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
S.S. CARROLL,
Brigadier-General of Volunteers.
Capt. A. HENRY EMBLER,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second Div., Second Corps.