Summary:
On June 9, 1864, the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Infantry left Staunton for
Lexington to join the Union advance up the Shenandoah Valley. In this report,
Colonel Jacob Campbell recounts the events of the campaign.
Capt. JAMES L. BOTSFORD,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Second
Infty. Div., Dept. of West Va.
Camp Piatt, W. Va.,
July 2, 1864.
CAPT.:
I would most respectfully submit the following report of the part taken by the Third Brigade in the recent operations of the division on the march from Staunton to Lynchburg, and from Lynchburg to this place:
On the 9th day of June I was ordered to the command of the brigade, and on the following morning the command left Staunton, by way of Middlebrook and Brownsburg, for Lexington, skirmishing with the enemy the greater part of the way.
We arrived in the immediate vicinity of Lexington on the 11th about noon, where the enemy made a stand, but were soon driven from the town, which was immediately occupied by our troops.
We remained in camp at Lexington until the morning of the 14th, when we left that place for Liberty, Bedford County, by way of Buchanan, and Peaks of Otter, occasionally encountering the enemy's skirmishers.
We arrived at Liberty at 9 a. m. on the 16th and immediately proceeded to destroy the shops and tear up the track of the Virginia and East Tennessee Railroad as far as the South Fork of Otter River, about eight miles east from Liberty.
On the 17th we left the South Fork of Otter River and marched in the direction of Lynchburg and arrived within four miles of that place at 5.30 p. m., where we encountered the enemy in force. My brigade was soon ordered to the front and formed in line of battle on the left of, and at right angle with, the turnpike. After forming we advanced upon the enemy, driving them into their intrenchments, distant about one mile and a half from where we first encountered their line. Darkness having overtaken us, we ceased to press the enemy farther and merely maintained the position we had gained. We were relieved about 9 p. m. by the First Brigade, of the First Division, and fell back about 400 yards, where we remained for the night.
On the morning of the 18th we were ordered to move to the right for the purpose of flanking the enemy's position, but this being found impracticable we were ordered to return to the front. Before we were able properly to form in line of battle the division in our front, which was then engaged with the enemy, was somewhat broken and retiring in some confusion, the enemy advancing against it. In accordance with the general's instructions, we advanced as quickly as possible for the purpose of checking the enemy before they should gain the crest of the hill, which would enable them to get a clear view of our position. In doing so we were for some time exposed to the enemy's batteries, which were well served with grape and canister. We succeeded, however, in driving the enemy down the hill and across a deep ravine, and from there to their intrenchments on the elevated ground beyond, at the same time gaining a position for ourselves comparatively sheltered from the enemy. My line having become somewhat broken by passing through the thick underbrush and in crossing a deep ditch at the bottom of the ravine, I halted my command. I reformed it and again advanced upon the enemy, pressing close upon their works, but were met with such a storm of grape and canister that we were compelled to fall back to the spot where I had reformed my command.
We remained in this position, keeping the enemy in their intrenchments, with occasional firing between sharpshooters and skirmishers, until 8.30 p. m., when we were ordered to withdraw, which was done in good order, and we took up our line of march for Liberty, by was of New London, which latter place we passed through at daybreak on the morning of the 19th. Continuing our march, we arrived at Liberty at 6 p. m., were we encamped for the night.
On the morning of the 20th we left Liberty, taking the road to Salem, by way of Buford's Gap and Coyner's Springs. At Buford's Gap we halted for a few hours, during which time we had considerable skirmishing with the enemy. Leaving the gap at 8 p. m., we arrived at Salem on the morning of the 21st. Here we had some skirmishing with the enemy, but met with no serious resistance. After a few hours' halt, we left Salem about 11 a. m. and arrived at Catawba Mountain about 4 p. m., where we remained until 9 p. m. Here we had some skirmishing with the enemy, and marched to Craig's Creek and encamped for the night.
On the 22d we resumed our march by way of New Castle, Red Sweet Springs, and White Sulphur Springs, and passed through Lewisburg on the 25th and encamped for the night at Meadow Bluff.
On the 26th we left Meadow Bluff for Camp Piatt, where we arrived on the 29th, having traveled a distance of 322 miles from the time of leaving Staunton on the 10th instant.
A list of the casualties in my brigade accompanies this report, the aggregate of
which is: Killed, 29; wounded, 134; missing 27; total, 190, and is distributed
among the different organizations in the brigade as follows:
Command. K W M
T
11th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry.... 6 20 6 32
15th West
Virginia Volunteer Infantry.... 6 54 13 73
54th Pennsylvania Volunteer
Infantry..... 11 37 7 55
Dismounted cavalry....................... 6 23 1
30
29 134 27 190
K=Killed. W=Wounded. M=Missing. T=Total.
The conduct of the officers and men before the enemy and during the long and tiresome march was all that could be expected of brave and gallant men. Many of the men are somewhat broken down and foot-sore, and some few have suffered for the want of proper food, which could not be obtained in the country through which we passed during the last few days of our march, but all are in excellent spirits, and will be ready for action again in a short time.
I have as yet received no official report from the battalion of the Third and Fourth Regiments Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, but am informed by Capt. Sweet, commanding, that no casualties occurred in that command.
I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. M. CAMPBELL,
Col., Cmdg. Third Brigade.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 37, Serial No. 70, Pages 129-131, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
