1865/03/30 Report of Bvt. Brig. Gen. W.Cogswell

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. On the morning of the 17th four regiments of the brigade moved to Hardeeville on the Union Causeway, two regiments, the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Infantry and One hundred and thirty-sixth New York Infantry, remaining to guard the division supply train from the Savannah River to this latter place. These two regiments joined the brigade on the following day, the 18th. The brigade was encamped on the south side of the town of Hardeeville, where drills, guard mountings, and dress parades were resumed and the camp put into as tolerable condition as the nature of the ground and weather would admit, until the morning of the 29th, when, at 7 o'clock, it broke camp and marched north and easterly toward Robertsville. S. C., to a point seven miles south of the latter place. January 30, marched to Robertsville and encamped on the south side of that town. January 31, the brigade moved about one mile and a half from the camp of the day before on the Sister's Ferry road, relieving the First Brigade, First Division, Twentieth Army Corps, Colonel Selfridge commanding, and holding that road.

February 1, the brigade remaining at this last point, the Seventy-third Ohio Infantry and One hundred and thirty-sixth New York Infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel Hurst commanding, were engaged in corduroying the Sister's Ferry road. February 2, marched northerly to near Lawtonville, guarding part of wagon train of division. At or near Lawtonville four regiments of the brigade were formed in two lines of battle on the left of the Second Brigade of this division, the remaining two regiments being sent as a support to the right of the line of the division. These lines were advanced about 200 yards to a swamp, and then withdrawn, and the brigade was placed in camp where it had first formed line. February 3, at 8.30 am., marched through Lawtonville with wagon train northerly to Beech Branch Post-Office. February 4, marched northeasterly through and beyond Smyrna. February 5, marched toward Buford's Bridge on the Salkehatchie. February 6, at 7.30 a.m., moved a short distance with the wagon train; then leaving the train, crossed the Salkehatchie, and moved northerly in the direction of Graham's Post-Office, on the South Carolina Railroad. February 7, at 7.30 a.m., moved to the South Carolina Railroad and encamped. February 8, moved to Graham's Station. Destroyed 1 Ľ miles of railroad track west and burnt 360 bales of cotton and the railroad buildings at this station, and went into camp at that place. The same day, leaving the camp standing, the brigade moved three miles and a half west, destroyed 600 yards of track, and then returned. At 9 p.m. reached camp. Each rail was bent, some were twisted, and each tie was burned. February 9, moved westward along the railroad to Blackville Station and two miles beyond, and destroyed one mile and four-fifths of railroad westward, and encamped. February 10, at 7.10 a.m., marched westward along the railroad to White Pond Station, ten miles, and destroyed the railroad for two miles and a quarter beyond, and encamped at White Pond Station at 4.30 p.m. Here each rail was twisted by a detachment of the First Michigan Engineers. February 11, marched back eastward to Williston, and thence northerly to the South Branch of the Edisto River and encamped. February 12, moved at 7 a.m.; crossed that river on a bridge built in the middle of the river, and waded one-half a mile in water from twelve to thirty-six inches deep. Moved on easterly to the Columbia road, and thence northerly on that road about three miles and encamped. February 13, at 8.15 a.m., crossed the North Branch of the Edisto River, and moved on during the day six miles to camp.

February 14, at 12.30 m., moved with wagons on Columbia road about three miles, and then taking the Lancaster road moved on three miles to camp at Augusta and Columbia and Lexington Court-House and Orangeburg Cross-Roads. February 15, at 8 a.m., guarding Second Division and cavalry train; moved on Lexington Court-House road, crossed Congaree Creek, and moved beyond and encamped at a crossroad. February 16, marched unencumbered on the Columbia road to within two miles of Columbia, S.C., and halted for the night. February 17, marched toward Zion Church, guarding wagons, and encamped one mile south of Saluda River. February 18, moved at 8.10 a.m. and crossed the Saluda River, waited with division until 1.40 p.m. to cover taking up of pontoon bridge, then covering the wagons, moved toward Broad River, seven miles and a half, and went into a most smoky and suffocating camp. February 19, at 7.30 a.m., moved out with the division four miles on the Newberry road, the division relieving a division of the Fourteenth Corps. At 1 p.m. moved back, taking a cross-road, muddy and miry, to within one mile of Broad River. February 20, moved at 3.15 p.m.; crossed the Broad River, guarding wagon trains, toward Winnsborough, on a road not laid down. February 21, at 7.15 a.m. moved to Winnsborough unencumbered, and massed for dinner outside and south of the town; then marched through the town and three miles beyond it on the Rocky Mount road. February 22, at 7 a.m. marched unencumbered and crossed the Wateree Creek and moved to Rocky Mount on the Wateree River, and at 12 o'clock that night the brigade crossed the river and bivouacked. At 7.30 a.m., the 23d, moved three miles north of river on the Lancaster road and encamped for the day. At the river Lieutenant-Colonel Winkler, Twenty-sixth Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, hearing of two Union officers, escaped prisoners, who were secreted in this vicinity, was directed to send a company for them, and succeeded in bringing them safely to our army. 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 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. February 26, at 8 a.m., struck camp as ordered; moved out on Lancaster road; was ordered back; camp pitched again, and at 10.45 a.m. moved out again and marched to Hanging Rock and encamped. February 27, received marching orders, also orders countermanding the same, and remained all day in camp of night before, while the wagons were being crossed over Hanging Rock Creek. February 28, at 10 a.m., crossed Hanging Rock Creek and waited until 4 p.m. for the wagons to start; then moved with them half a mile, where they (the wagons) parked until 6.30 p.m., and then moved on with wagons until 12.30 o'clock, and bivouacked at a point two miles south of Little Lynch's Creek.

March 1, at 6.45 a.m., moved and crossed Little Lynch's Creek, covered wagons, and then moved on to Lynch's Creek, crossed it., and encamped two miles beyond. March 2, at 6.30, moved forward to Black Creek with wagons, and after waiting several hours to repair the bridge over that creek, crossed and encamped that night from three to four miles beyond. March 3, at 7.45, moved with wagons toward Chesterfield Court-House, which place was reached, over bad roads, at 4 p.m., where the brigade encamped for the night. March 4, moved unen-cumbered on the Sneedsborough road to Westfield Creek, and there took a by-road to Grady's farm, where the brigade encamped that night and the following day. March 6, marched to Cheraw. At 2.45 that night crossed the Great Pedee at that place, and moved on four miles to bivouac. At 10.20 a.m. on the 7th moved northeasterly fourteen miles and encamped. March 8, at 8.30 a.m., moved north and easterly eight miles. March 9, moved to within one mile of Lumber River, corduroyed a piece of swamp, and encamped. March 10, at 7 a.m., guarding wagons; moved on difficult roads; crossed Lumber River after considerable delay, massed on the north side of it for several hours, and then with wagons moved on six or seven miles in the general direction of Fayetteville, N. C. March 11, at 6.30 a.m. (unencumbered), moved; crossed Rockfish Creek on a byroad; struck the Fayetteville plank road at 4 p.m., and encamped that night, at 8 p: m., one mile and a half from Fayetteville, where the brigade remained until the 13th, when, marching through the town of Fayetteville, it crossed the Cape Fear River, and encamped four miles beyond on the Fayetteville and Raleigh wagon road. There two regiments of the brigade, the Fifty-fifth Ohio and Thirty-third Massachusetts Infantry, were sent forward that night two miles farther on that road as an advance outpost.

March 14, the brigade was ordered to make a reconnaissance on the Raleigh road to Taylor's Hole Creek, and on the Goldsborough or Tarborough road to the South or Black River. 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 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. (For a fuller and more particular report of this most satisfactory reconnaissance on the part of Colonel Buckingham I refer you to his inclosed report.(*)) Then taking a by-road through woods I joined the column with Colonel Hurst at Great Creek. No opposition as yet had been met. Leaving four companies of the Twenty-sixth Wisconsin, Major Lackner commanding, to hold a main road on my left, I took the nearest road to Black or South River, and proceeded three miles to within a few hundred rods of that river without opposition, here deploying five companies of the Fifty-fifth Ohio as skirmishers. I advanced them to the river bank, driving the enemy's cavalry across that place and engaging his skirmishers in a hot fire for twenty minutes. Having observed the river and calling forth artillery fire from four different pieces, the skirmishers were withdrawn and the column moved back to its camps, having marched a distance of from twenty-one to twenty-two miles. In the engagement the casualties were 1 slightly, I mortally, wounded in Fifty-fifth Ohio. March 15, moved (unencumbered) on the Raleigh road; crossed Silver Run and Taylor's Hole Creek and encamped at the latter place.

March 16, moved at 6.30 a.m. over difficult and muddy roads forward some two or three miles on same road where the cavalry advance had been checked by the enemy, forming two lines, three regiments in each line, as per order, left resting on road and on the right of Second Brigade of this division, right resting on left 'of First Brigade of this division. Advanced in this formation a short distance, when the line halted and this brigade was ordered forward to relieve the Second Brigade, First Division, of this corps, Col. William Hawley commanding, whose skirmish line had been engaged some time. In order to relieve Colonel Hawley I found it necessary to place all of my six regiments on the first line. This being done, the line was advanced about 250 yards to Colonel Hawley's position, the center of which was on our main road in the vicinity of Smith's house, or Smithville, and, relieving his line, immediately relieved his skirmishers with a strong one from this brigade under command of Captain Graves, Thirty-third Massachusetts Infantry. The brigade remained in this position about one hour. On the skirmish line, meanwhile, continual firing was going on. Then, pursuant to an order from Brevet Major-General Williams, commanding corps, which order I immediately communicated to the division commander, I advanced both my skirmish and main line and occupied a slight line of breast-works of the enemy's; he, at the same time, retiring from my front. In advance of here a continual and sharp skirmish fire was kept. I had meanwhile doubled my line of skirmishers and the number on the line was 360 men. After several hours of good fighting for skirmishers, the enemy left another and stronger line of works and fell back a mile through and beyond a swamp to his main line of earth-works, the skirmishers pushing him all the while, his killed and wounded falling into our hands. The brigade moved rapidly in line after its skirmishers, passed the dense and deep swamp and rectified its alignment and sheltered itself under the crest of a hill, the skirmish line seventy-five yards in front and the enemy's works fifty yards in front of it. Here the brigade remained some time. In the meanwhile the Second Brigade, originally on my left, had been taken from that position and the First Brigade of this division had been taken from my right and placed on my left, while Hawley's brigade of the First Division had formed on my right. With these commands, respectively, I was in constant communication and connection, when the brigade was ordered to advance. I had previously ordered my skirmish line to advance three different times and each time they were repulsed, each time reporting breast-works in their front, fifty yards distant. This report, as well as the inability of my skirmish line to advance, I reported to the staff officer, Captain Chipman, acting assistant inspector-general of the division, who brought me the order to advance, and of him I inquired if it was intended that I should engage my main line, to which he replied that he would see and inform me. In the meantime preparations were made to advance, and immediately after receiving an order, through Lieutenant Thompson, provost-marshal, to advance and engage my line if necessary in order to draw the enemy, pressed my line of battle beyond the skirmishers and advanced with the intention of taking the breast-works by assault, as that was the only way, in my opinion, to drive the enemy. When the order "forward to the breast-works" had been given and the brigade had advanced a few yards and was receiving the full fire of the enemy's line, I was informed by one of my staff officers, Lieutenant Morse, who had been stationed on the left of the brigade, that the First Brigade had halted and that I was breaking my connection. As the First Brigade had been to me the directing line, I at once halted, though under a fire which would have injured me less had I kept on, the left of the brigade being fully exposed with no shelter and at the closest range of the enemy's muskets. 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. (+)

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. On the 18th moved on a by-road and crossed Black River and moved on as rear guard to the corps, and reaching the wagons at 9 p.m., marched all night, and in the morning of the 19th rested for a few hours, and at 9 a.m. started, covering wagons moving on the Bentonville road. At 11.30 a.m. my brigade received orders to leave the wagons and move on to the front seven miles, where the enemy had been met in force by the Fourteenth Corps. This brigade, by rapid marching, reached the field early in the p.m., and was massed in rear of the batteries, in rear of the First Division of this corps. At about 3 p.m. I received an order from the brevet major-general commanding the corps, through Lieutenant-Colonel Asmussen, to move my brigade to the right and report to Brevet Major-General Davis, commanding Fourteenth Corps, Colonel Asmussen saying that he would report my order to my division commander. Moving by the flank to the front and right, I was informed by Major-General Slocum that a staff officer of the Fourteenth Corps, who was then present, would conduct me to my position. By this officer I was informed that owing to some confusion a gap was left in the Fourteenth Corps between the left of General Morgan's division and parts of General Carlin's division, and this gap it was desired I should fill. Following by the flank in the direction pointed out to me by General Davis, whom I met as soon as I had passed beyond the right of the Twentieth Corps, for the purpose of forming my line, I struck my flank upon two rebel lines that were passing up the gap for the purpose of turning the left of General Morgan's division. Gaining quickly my proper front, and retiring a little my right, I remained with four regiments in line and two in reserve in column in rear of right and left, respectively, until I had ascertained by skirmishers where I was. Finding that I, too, had struck the enemy's flank, I moved forward about 100 yards, through dense swamps, cutting off parts of two rebel regiments, which fell as prisoners into the hands of the Fourteenth Corps, and pressing back the enemy until he formed in my front in two lines, on the outside of a swamp in the middle of which my line was. Here the brigade became hotly engaged until 8.30 o'clock that night, when the two lines of the enemy withdrew, leaving his dead and wounded in our hands. I then withdrew my line to the inner side of the swamp and strengthened it. The men slept on their arms. The loss in the engagement was: Killed--enlisted men, 11. Wounded--commissioned officers, 7; enlisted men, 106.

January 17, marched from Saint Mary's to Hardeeville, nine miles; January 29, marched from Saint Mary's toward Robertsville, fifteen miles; January 30, marched from camp to Robertsville, seven miles; January 31, marched from Robertsville to Maner's plantation, one mile; February 2, marched from Maner's plantation to Lawtonville, fifteen miles; February 3, marched from Lawtonville toward Smyrna, ten miles; February 4, marched from camp toward Buford's Bridge, ten miles; February 5, marched from camp toward Buford's Bridge, ten miles; February 6, marched from camp toward Augusta and Charleston Railroad, nine miles; February 7, marched from camp to Augusta and Charleston Railroad, eight miles; February 8, marched from camp on Augusta and Charleston Railroad, eight miles; February 9, marched from camp to [Blackville] Station, eleven miles; February 10, marched from [Blackville] to White Pond, twelve miles; February 11, marched from White Pond to South Branch Edisto River, twelve miles; February 12, marched from camp to North Edisto River, thirteen miles; February 13, marched from camp on the Columbia road, six miles; February 14, marched from camp toward Lexington Court-House, six miles; February 15, marched from camp on Lexington Court-House road, nine miles; February 16, marched from camp on Columbia road, eight miles; February 17, marched from camp toward Zion Church, five miles; February 18, marched from Saluda River on Newberry road, seven miles and a half; February 19, marched from camp toward Broad River, seven miles and a half; February 20, marched from camp on Winnsborough road, eight miles; February 21, marched from camp to Winnsborough, twelve miles; February 22, marched from camp to Rocky Mount Post-Office, sixteen miles and a half; February 23, marched from Rocky Mount Post. Office on Lancaster road, three miles; February 24, marched from camp on Lancaster road, one mile and a half; February 25, marched to Russell's plantation, three miles; February 26, marched to Hanging Rock Post-Office, six miles; February 28, marched from Hanging Rock toward Lynch's Creek, five miles; March 1, marched from camp toward Chesterfield, twelve miles; March 2, marched from camp toward Chesterfield, six miles; March 3, marched from camp to Chesterfield, eleven miles; March 4, marched from Chesterfield to Grady's farm, ten miles; March 6, marched from Grady's farm to Cheraw, twelve miles; March 7, marched from Cheraw toward Lumber River, eighteen miles; March 8, marched from camp toward Lumber River, eight miles; March 9, marched from camp toward Lumber River, eight miles; March 10, marched from camp toward Fayetteville, eight miles; March 11, marched from camp to Fayetteville, twenty-two miles; March 13, marched from camp, crossed Cape Fear River, four miles; March 14, marched on a reconnaissance, twenty-one miles; March 15, marched from camp on Averasborough road, fourteen miles; March 16, marched from camp to Smith's farm, three miles; March 17, marched from camp to Averasborough, five miles; March 18, marched from camp on Bentonville road, ten miles; March 19, marched from camp to battle-ground, eight miles; March 21, marched from camp to the left, three miles; March 22, marched from camp on Goldsborough road, eight miles; March 23, marched from camp, crossed Neuse River, eight miles; March 24, marched from camp to Goldsborough, eleven miles. Aggregate, 454 miles.