Summary:
Maj. Gen. John G. Parke commanded the Ninth Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac
which included the 205th Pa. Infantry. Parke reports on his movements near
Appomattox.
Col. GEORGE D. RUGGLES,
Assistant Adjt.-Gen., Army
of the Potomac.
February 14, 1865.
COL
In compliance with instructions from headquarters Army of the Potomac, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this corps during the movement of the 5th, 6th, and 7th instant:
At 1 o'clock on the morning of the 5th I received the circular order from headquarters of the army, directing me to hold my command "in readiness to move at short notice, anticipating that the movement to be ordered will consist of the withdrawal of all the troops, except the minimum number necessary to maintain the picket-line and the garrison of the works."
At this time our front extended from the Appomattox to Battery 24, and was held by the First and Second Divisions, with the Third Division in reserve. All the preparations were at once made for the movement. At 1.45 p.m. of the 5th I received an order to send Gen. Hertranft's division (the Third) down the Vaughan road to report to Maj.-Gen. Humphreys at Hatcher's Run. Gen. Hartranft moved his division as rapidly as possible and reported to Maj.-Gen. Humphreys at 8 p.m. Gen. Hartranft's report is forwarded herewith. In compliance with instructions Col. Brainerd, commanding Engineer Brigade, at City Point, reported to me with his command during the evening of the 5th, and was posted as a reserve in the vicinity of the Avery house. On the following day this brigade was moved to the left and directed to Maj.-Gen. Getty, commanding Sixth Corps.
The Third Division, Gen. Hartranft commanding, returned during the night of the 10th and took up their old position. On the following morning the divisions holding the front lines were extended the left as far as Fort Howard, and are now holding the line from the Appomattox to that point.
I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. G. PARKE,
Maj.-Gen., Cmdg.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I., Volume 46. Part I, Reports. , Serial No. 95, Pages 315, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
