Summary:
Col. William S. Truex commanded the First Brigade of the Army of the Potomac
which included the 87th Pa. Inf. Truex details the activities of the brigade
during May and June.
Capt. ANDREW J. SMITH, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
November 19, 1864.
CAPT
I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this brigade from May 4 to July 9, 1864. To cover the first epoch, I inclose a verbatim report+ of Brig. Gen. William H. Morris, who commanded the brigade, and who was wounded early in the morning of the 9th of May, 1864.
FIRST EPOCH.
Immediately after the wounding of Brig.-Gen. Morris, Col. Schall, Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, senior officer, took command of the brigade. At 6.30 p.m. the skirmish line was ordered to advance, and furious cannonading was immediately opened on both sides, with but little effect on the part of the enemy. May 10.--At 10 a.m. heavy cannonading and musketry opened along the whole line. It was reported by prisoners taken that Gen. Longstreet was severely wounded. The cannonading was continued until 8.15 p.m., being the most severe fire we have been under this campaign.
May 11.--The usual skirmishing was continued this day. Relieved Col. Smith's brigade in the earth-works before dark.
May 12.--Moved by the left flank at 10 a.m. about 1 1/2 miles and formed line of battle in two lines and almost instantly engaged, the brigade suffering severely in killed and wounded. The command worked all night throwing up works.
May 13.--Musketry fire was kept up almost incessantly all night. The enemy having been driven from their position, the brigade was ordered to advance and relieve the troops in our front. In the afternoon at 3 p.m. fell back to our original position, and earth-works were erected. On the morning of the 14th moved in the direction of Spotsylvania Court-House. Col. William S. Truex, Fourteenth New Jersey Volunteers, having reported for duty, was ordered to take command, relieving Col. Schall, Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers; crossed the River Po, and bivouacked for the night.
May 15.--Intrenched ourselves on the hill known as Gayle's Hill, and remained quiet all day.
May 17.--At 8.45 in the evening moved back across the River Po and reoccupied the position we held the 13th instant, which we reached at 4.30 a.m. The troops very much exhausted. May 18.--Fell back to our old position on Laurel Hill. At 4.30 a.m. our brigade advanced over the works, when severe skirmishing immediately commenced. At 2.30 p.m. returned to Gayle's Hill, with orders to be in readiness to move at daylight.
May 19.--At 5 a.m. moved about 1 1/2 miles to the right and formed line of battle on the extreme left of the Sixth Army Corps, and earthworks thrown up.
SECOND EPOCH.
May 21.--At 12 m. we moved again in the direction of Po River; marched all night.
May 22.--Marched on toward the North Anna River; bivouacked for the night at Harris' Store.
May 23.--At 9.15 a.m. marched in the direction of Beaver Dam. When within about 2 miles of North Anna River halted, and bivouacked. Heavy firing was heard in our front.
THIRD EPOCH.
May 24.--Moved forward at 6 a.m. and crossed the North Anna at the town of Jericho. We remained on the south bank until 5.45 p.m., when we moved forward about a mile in line of battle and rested on our arms all night.
May 25.--Moved forward at 9 a.m. At 9.30 crossed the Virginia Central Railroad at Noel's Station. We followed the railroad for about 2 miles, when we halted and commenced destroying the road, burning the cross-ties and bending the rails. Afterward returned and received orders to connect with our brigade on the right of Gen. Russell's division, and to receive our orders for that night only from Gen. Russell.
May 26.--At 7.45 p.m. moved forward to Hanovertown, on the Pamunkey; recrossed the North Anna at Jericho on pontoon bridge and marched to Chesterfield Station, which we reached at about 2.30 a.m., after the most fatiguing march of the campaign.
May 27.--Moved forward at 4 a.m.; marched all day and halted at dark in King William Valley, near the Pamunkey.
FOURTH EPOCH.
May 28.--Moved forward at 8 a.m.; crossed the Pamunkey on pontoon bridge near the Widow Nelson's house at 11.30 a.m. We marched about 2 miles south of the river in front of Pollard's mansion, where we formed line of battle and threw up earth-works immediately.
May 30.--At 4 a.m. moved in the direction of Hanover Court-House. The order was afterward countermanded, and we returned toward Hanovertown, formed line of battle on the hill in front of Hundley's house, on right of Second Corps, and bivouacked for the night.
May 31.--Drove the enemy from their position in our front and occupied their works. Our loss trifling.
June 1.--At 12.45 a.m. moved in the direction of Gaines' Mill, by Cold Harbor, which place we reached at 12 m. 5 p.m. we formed line of battle in four lines, and, in connection with the First and Second Divisions of the corps on our left, and the Eighteenth Corps on our right, we charged the enemy in their works. The enemy resisted with great stubbornness, and it was one of the most hotly contested fields of the campaign. The fighting ceased at dark, we having advanced our lines about three-fourths of a mile. Our loss in this battle was very heavy, especially in officers. We captured about 500 prisoners. At the onset Col. Truex, commanding brigade, was wounded, and Lieut.-Col. Hall, Fourteenth New Jersey Volunteers, senior officer, took command. The next morning Gen. Meade issued to our division a congratulatory order, which I herewith append:
HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, June 1, 1864.
Maj.-Gen. WRIGHT:
Please give my thanks to Brig.-Gen. Ricketts and his gallant command for the very handsome manner in which they have conducted themselves to-day. The success attained by them is of great importance, and if followed up will materially advance our operations.
Very respectfully, yours,
GEO. G. MEADE,
Maj.-Gen., Cmdg.
GEN.: Maj.-Gen. Wright directs me to say that he transmits the within to you with great pleasure.
Your obedient servant,
R. F. HALSTED,
Capt. and Aide-de-Camp.
June 2.--Col. Schall, commanding Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, by virtue of his rank, assumed command of the brigade early in the morning. At 4 p.m. received orders to advance our lines at 4 a.m. on the 3d instant.
June 3.--At the above-named hour the brigade, in connection with the whole corps, advanced about half a mile, when the enemy were met in force. Finding the enemy could not be dislodged, we received orders to throw up earth-works, which was done under a severe artillery fire from the enemy. Our loss was again very heavy, especially in officers. About 10 a.m. Col. Schall, commanding brigade, was severely wounded in the left arm, when the command again devolved on Lieut.-Col. Hall.
From June 4 until June 11 no movement was made from this position. On the evening of June 7, under a flag of truce, details from both armies were made for the purpose of burying the dead and bringing in the wounded. During this period of seven days our pickets were constantly skirmishing, and at intervals furious cannonading.
June 11.--In the morning, a little before daylight, moved from our position on the right of the First Division to the left of the same and relieved a division of the Second Corps.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. S. TRUEX, Col., Cmdg.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I., Volume 36. Part I. Reports, Serial No. Serial No. 67., Page 725, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
