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Confederate Army Strength at Second Deep Bottom by Bryce Suderow

Editor’s Note: Bryce Suderow shared this original research on Confederate Army strength at the Second Battle of Deep Bottom. He used mainly known strengths from Confederate Inspection reports and various casualty lists to estimate Confederate strengths during the battle. He has given written permission to reproduce this research here and this article may not be reproduced without his consent.

INSPECTION REPORTS FOR LEE’S ARMY AT 2ND DEEP BOTTOM

 

Field’s Division

 

Anderson’s Brigade August 8, 1864

 

(M935 Roll 10 P13)

 

Officers  Men  Total

 

F & S         5         1    6

7th Ga.       24        186  210

8th Ga.       12        136  148

9th Ga.       14        180  194

11th Ga.      17        163  180

59th Ga.      16        255  271

 

Total:        88        921  1009

 

Brigade Loss:

 

Aug. 12

 

8th Ga.:  0 k 1 w 0 m = 1

 

Aug. 14

 

7th Ga.:  0 k 1 w 1 m = 2

8th Ga.:  0 k 5 w 8 m = 13

9th Ga.:  0 k 2 w 0 m = 2  (1 deserted) = 3

11th Ga.: 2 k 2 w 1 m = 5

59th Ga.: 1 k 2 w 19 m = 22

 

Total:    3 k 12 w 28 m & 1 deserted = 45

 

Aug. 15

 

7th Ga.:  0 k 3 w 0 m = 3

11th Ga.: 0 k 1 w 0 m = 1

59th Ga.: 0 k 3 w 1 m = 4

 

Total:    0 k 7 w 1 m = 8

 

Strength on August 16

 

7th Ga.       24        186  210 minus 5 = 205

8th Ga.       12        136  148 minus 14 = 134

9th Ga.       14        180  194 minus 3 = 191

11th Ga.      17        163  180 minus 6 = 172

59th Ga.      16        255  271 minus 26 = 245

 

Total:        88        921  1009 minus 54 = 955

 

Aug. 16

 

7th Ga.:  2 k 6 w 1 m = 10

8th Ga.:  1 k 11w 0 m = 12

9th Ga.:  1 k 9 w 1 m = 11

11th Ga.: 2 k 4 w 2 m = 8

59th Ga.: 4 k 9 w  0 m = 13

 

Total:    10 k 39 w 4 m = 53

 

59th Ga.: Unknown:  0 k 2 w  0 m = 2

 

Anderson’s Brigade Aug. 28, 1864

 

Officers  Men  Total

 

F & S —      5         1    6

7th Ga.       22        187  209

8th Ga.       11        121  132

9th Ga.       10        165  175

11th Ga.      7         152  169

59th Ga.      11        237  248

 

Total:        76        863  939

 

Law’s Brigade Aug. 28, 1864

 

M935 Roll 3 C12

 

F & S         4         0    4

4th Ala.      12        145  157

15th Ala      9         206  215

44th Ala.     18        136  154

47th Ala.     14        143  157

48th Ala.     11        106  117

 

Total:        68        736  804

 

Aug. 14:

 

4th Ala.      4  k  5  w  5  m  =  14

15th Ala.     1  k  3  w  3  m  =  7

44th Ala.     2  k  2  w  6  m  =  10

47th Ala.     None

48th Ala.     1  k  3  w  5  m  =  9

 

Total:        8  k  13 w  19  m =  40

 

Strength on August 16

 

4th Ala.      12        145  157 minus 14 = 143

15th Ala      9         206  215 minus 7 = 208

44th Ala.     18        136  154 minus 10 = 144

47th Ala.     14        143  157 minus 0 =  157

48th Ala.     11        106  117 minus 9 =  108

 

 

Total:        68        736  804 minus 40 = 764

 

Aug. 14:

 

4th Ala.      4  k  5  w  5  m  =  14

15th Ala.     1  k  3  w  3  m  =  7

44th Ala.     2  k  2  w  6  m  =  10

47th Ala.     None

48th Ala.     1  k  3  w  5  m  =  9

 

Total:        8  k  13 w  19  m =  40

 

Aug. 16:

 

4th Ala.      0  k  4  w  0  m  =   4

15th Ala.     5  k 35  w  0  m  =  40

44th Ala.     2  k  6  w  2  m  =  10

47th Ala.     0  k  1  w  0  m  =   1

48th Ala.     8  k 17  w  0  m  =  25

 

Total:        15 k 63  w  2  m  =  80

 

Unknown

 

4th Ala.      0  k  1  w  0  m  =   1

15th Ala.     1  k  3  w  0  m  =   4

44th Ala      2  k  2  w  0  m  =   4

47th Ala.     None

48th Ala.     0  k  1  w  0  m   =  1

 

Total:        3  k  7  w  0  m   =  10

 

Benning’s Brigade Aug. 9, 1864

 

M935 Roll 10 P13

 

Officers  Men  Total

 

2nd Ga.       17        154  172

17th Ga.      17        130  147

20th Ga.      17        156  173

15th Ga.      22        198  220

 

Total:        74        638  912

 

Brigade Loss:

 

Aug. 14:

 

2nd Ga.:      0 k 1 w 0 m = 1

15th Ga.:     0 k 1 w 0 m = 1

17th Ga.:     0 k 1 w 0 m = 1

20th Ga.:     No loss

 

 

Total:        0 k 3 w 0 m = 3

 

Strength on August 16th

 

2nd Ga.       17        154  172 minus 1

17th Ga.      17        130  147 minus 1

20th Ga.      17        156  173 minus 0

15th Ga.      22        198  220 minus 1

 

Total:        74        638  912 minus 3

 

Aug. 16:

 

2nd Ga.:      0 k 0 mw 1 w 0 m = 1

15th Ga.:     0 k 1 mw 7 w 0 m = 9

17th Ga.:     1 k 0 mw 8 w 0 m = 9

20th Ga.:     1 k 1 mw 10 w 0 m = 12

 

Total:        2 k 2 mw 26 w 0 m = 30

 

Bratton’s Brigade Aug. 30, 1864

 

M935 Reel 3 C14

 

Officers  Men  Total

 

F & S         4         0    4

1st SC Inf.   22        199  221

2nd SC Rifles 24        238  262

5th SC Inf.   20        197  217

6th SC Inf.   27        289  316

Palmetto SS   29        324  353

 

Total:        126       1247 1373

 

Brigade Loss:

 

Aug. 14

 

1st S.C. Inf. 0 k 8 w 14 m = 22

2nd S.C. Inf. 0 k 7 w 1 m = 8

5th S.C. Inf. 0 k 3 w 7 m = 10

6th S.C. Inf. 0 k 4 w 2 m = 6

Palmetto S.S.: 4 k 7 w 2 m = 13

 

Total:        4 k 29 w 26 m = 59

 

Aug. 15

 

6th S.C. Inf. 0 k 3 w 0 m = 3

 

Strength on August 16th

 

1st SC Inf.   22        199  221 minus 22 = 199

 

2nd SC Rifles 24        238  262 minus 8 = 154

5th SC Inf.   20        197  217 minus 10 = 207

6th SC Inf.   27        289  316 minus 9 = 307

Palmetto SS   29        324  353 minus 13 = 340

 

Total:        126       1247 1373 minus 62 =1311

 

Aug. 16

 

1st S.C. Inf. No Loss

2nd S.C. Inf. 2 k  7 w 0 m = 9

5th S.C. Inf. 5 k 22 w 0 m = 27

6th S.C. Inf. 1 k  3 w 0 m = 4

Palmetto S.S.: No Loss

 

Total:        8 k 32 w 0 m = 40

 

Gregg’s Texas Brigade Aug. 9, 1864

 

M935 Reel 9 K4

 

Officers  Men  Total

 

F & S         5         0    5

1st Texas     21        129  150

4th Texas     22        158  178

5th Texas     16        138  154

3rd Ark.      9         101  110

 

Total         71        526  597

 

Sanders’ Ala. Brigade Oct. 30, 1864

 

(22P33)

 

Officers  Men  Total

F & S                        6

8th Ala.                     216

9th Ala.                     108

10th Ala.                    284

11th Ala.                    196

14th Ala.                    244

 

Total:                       1054

 

Sanders lost 41 casualties on Aug. 21st at the Weldon RR.

 

Wright’s Brigade Aug. 12, 1864 (3P17)

 

M935 Roll 10, 3P17

 

Officers  Men  Total

 

3rd Ga.       17        291  308

 

22nd Ga.      15        213  228

48th Ga.      15        219  234

64th Ga.      16        187  203

2nd Ga. Btn.  6         99   105

10th Ga. Btn. 9         169  178

 

Total:        78        1178 1256

 

Harris’ Miss. Brigade Aug. 30, 1864

 

M935 Roll. 10 5P17

 

Officers  Men  Total

 

F & S         6         0    6

12th Miss.    7         124  131

16th Miss.    9         157  166

19th Miss.    18        204  222

48th Miss.    19        166  185

 

Total:        53        651  710

 

Lane’s NC Brigade Sept. 2, 1864

 

(M935 Roll 10 5P17)

 

Officers  Men  Total

 

F & S         6         0    6

7th NC        14        203  217

18th NC       14        105  119

28th NC       12        234  246

33rd NC       13        213  226

37th NC       16        208  224

 

Total:        24        963  1038

 

McGowan’s SC Brigade Sept. 1, 1864

 

(M935 Roll 10 24P17)

 

Officers  Men  Total

 

F & S         6

1st SC        16        173  189

12th SC       20        222  242

13th SC       13        253  266

14th SC       15        264  279

Orr’s Rifles  19        244  263

 

Total:        89        1156 1245

 

McGowan’s Brig. Lost 22 casualties on Aug. 25th.

 

 

Sept. 25, 1864 Barringer’s NC Cavalry Brigade

 

M935 Reel 10 39P24

 

Officers  Men  Total

 

F & S              7    0    7

1st NC             12   395  409

2nd NC             13   326  339

3rd NC             25   373  398

5th NC             25   353  378

 

Total:             82   1447 1529

 

Sept. 27, 1864 Chambliss Brigade

 

M935 Reel 10 38P24

 

Officers  Men  Total

 

F & S         1

9th Va.       19        503  522

10th Va.      19        311  330

13th Va.      18        274  292

 

Total:        57        1088 1145

 

Strengths:

 

Field:

 

Anderson:     1009

Law:          804

Benning       912

Bratton       1373

Texas Brig.   597

 

Total:        4695

 

Lane          1038

McGowan       1245

 

Total:        2083

 

Infantry:     6778

ON HAND AUG. 14

Dept. of Richmond:

 

Staff         12

25th Va. Btn. 447

1st Va.Res.   265

Gary:         981

Artillery:    2,661

 

Total:        3,928

 

(Return of July 31, 1864 in OR Vol. 40, Pt. 2, p. 822)

 

——————–

Johnson:      461 (Aug. 31, 1864 Return OR Vol. 42, Pt. 2, p. 1213)

 

Total:        11,167 minus 2947 (Dept. of Richmond) 8220

 

————————

 

Sanders:      1054                    ARRIVED AUG. 15

Girardey      1256 (M935 Roll 10, 3P17)

Rooney Lee    2674

 

Total:        4984

 

Grand Total:  16,151 for Aug. 15th minus 2947 = 13,204

 

—————————-

ARRIVED AUG. 16

 

 

Hampton’s Div. 2,736 (Sept. 10, 1864 return OR Vol. 42, Pt. 1 p. 1243)

 

 

Sept. 25, 1864 Barringer’s NC Cavalry Brigade (39P24)

 

Officers      Men       Total

 

F & S                   7             0         7

1st N.C. Cav.           12            395       409

2nd N.C. Cav.           13            326       339

3rd N.C. Cav.           25            373       398

5th N.C. Cav.           25            353       378

 

Total:                  82            1447      1529

 

 

————————————————————

 

Sept. 27, 1864 Chambliss’ Va. CAvalry Brigade (38P24)

 

Officers      Men       Total

 

F & S                   1             0         1

9th Va. Cav.            19            503       522

10th Va. Cav.           19            311       330

13th Va. Cav.           18            274       292

 

Total:                  57            1088      1145

 

——————————————————

 

Pierce Young’s Brigade End of July, 1864 (OR Vol. 40, Pt. 3, p. 823)

Officers  Men       Total

 

F & S                        5         0         5

 

Cobb’s Legion Cavalry        17

With Servicable Horses                 287

With Unservicable Horses               49

Dismounted                        107

 

7th Ga. Regular Cav.         16

With Servicable Horses                129

With Unservicable Horses                   85

Dismounted                        159

 

Phillips Legion

& Ala. Btn. Cav.        21

With Servicable Horses                263

With Unservicable Horses                   48

Dismounted                        60

 

Jeff Davis Legion Cav.       20

With Servicable Horses                114

With Unservicable Horses                   21

 

Dismounted                        53

20th Ga. Btn. Cav.           14

With Servicable Horses                93

With Unservicable Horses                   85

Dismounted                        131

 

Officers

Men With Servicable Horses   88        886  =    974

Men With Unservicable Horses          278

Dismounted                            510

 

———————————————————-

Cavalry Corps July 10, 1864 (OR Vol. 40, Pt. 3, p. 762)

 

Officers      Men       Total

 

Hampton’s Div.          217           2,888     3,570

Fitz Lee’s Div.         134           1,591     1,994

W.H.F. Lee’s Div.       247           3,957     4,929

 

Total:                  598           8,436     10,493

 

———————————————————–

 

Cavalry Corps Aug. 31, 1864 (OR Vol. 42, Pt. 2, p. 1214)

 

Officers      Men       Total

 

Staff                   12                      12

Hampton’s Div.          204           2,769

W.H.F. Lee’s Div.       140           2,575

Horse Artillery         88            1,395

 

Total:                  524           6739

 

——————————————————-

Butler’s Division Strength   —  2736

+ 6 casualties on August 18th

136 casualties lost on Aug. 23rd

+ 33 casualties lost on Aug. 25th.

 

Total:  175 casualties

 

New Total:    2736

+ 175

 

2,911

 

Grand Total:  18,887 minus 2947 = 15,940

{ 9 comments… add one }
  • Jerry Brookshire April 9, 2012, 9:10 am

    I am seeking information about why my great-grandfather was captured at the Second Battle of Deep Bottom on August 16, 1864, even though his regiment after fighting in the First Battle of Deep Bottom had been transferred to the Shenandoah Valley.

    Joseph J. Brookshier (sometimes spelled Brooksher or Brookshire), private, Company K, 24th Regiment, Georgia Infantry, in Wofford’s Brigade, Kershaw’s Division, First Corps (Longstreet, then Anderson), Army of Northern Virginia.

    Here are some of my guesses. He was captured earlier (First Battle, perhaps) but the Union paperwork was processed on (or in reference to) August 16 during the Second Battle. Or, during the First Battle or shortly thereafter, he became separated from his 24th Regiment and placed into another regiment which remained at Deep Bottom.

    Any help (general or specific) will be greatly appreciated.

    Jerry Brookshire
    645.890.6209
    jjbrookshire@comcast.net

  • bschulte April 23, 2012, 7:47 am

    Jerry,

    While I always like to try to help, genealogy is not my area of expertise or interest. I would suggest signing up at http://www.fold3.com and looking for your ancestors’ records in the Confederate Compiled Service Records (CSRs). That should give you all of the information available on his role in the war.

    I would also check with the staff at Petersburg National Battlefield. They may be able to further assist you with your specific questions.

    Brett

  • Jerry Brookshire May 13, 2012, 3:41 pm

    Thanks. I’ll follow up on your suggestions.
    Jerry Brookshirse

  • Henry Boyter Jr. August 14, 2014, 8:19 pm

    Thanks for the unit breakdowns. One of the “m” here was my great-grandfather (captured).

    5th S.C. Inf. 0 k 3 w 7 m = 10

  • bschulte August 14, 2014, 8:33 pm

    Henry,

    Thanks for commenting! What Bryce did here is something I’d eventually like to do for as many of the battles of the Siege as possible. do you have any more information on your great-grandfather you’d like to share?

    Brett

  • Henry Boyter August 17, 2014, 1:30 am

    Robert Miller Otts – Private Company F 5th SC Infantry was “Captured by the enemy on skirmish at Deep Bottom (August) 14, 1864”. Transferred to Point Lookout, MD, August 16, 1864. He “fell into the hands of the enemy”.

  • bschulte August 17, 2014, 9:01 am

    Henry, check out this account from the 2nd SC Rifles on August 14: http://www.beyondthecrater.com/resources/cv/petersburg-siege-cv/cv-v37n08-2nd-deep-bottom-2nd-sc-rifles/

    Your ancestor was probably captured in the same fighting.

  • Chris Withers November 18, 2018, 9:10 am

    Where can one find these Inspection Reports that give this info? Are these available for other dates in this and other campaigns? In the OR I see Returns in various reports & correspondences, and sometimes some other info on strengths written into the text, but I have not seen this info. Reb info is rather lacking at times as you know, so this is very helpful to me for a game I am designing. Thank you.

  • Brett Schulte November 18, 2018, 10:29 am

    Chris,

    They are available onmicrofilm, or images of said.mocrofilm on a dvd,from the National Archives and Records Administration. I purchased some at 125 dollars per roll, but rolls 10 and 12-15 are available for free at the Internet Archive. Go to archive.org, and search for “m935”. You can go through and get regimental strengths for 1864 and 1865 for the Army of Northern Virginia and other Confederate units defending Richmond and Petersburg during that time.

    What game are you working on? I’m always interested in wargames design. If you could, use the Contact form at the top of my site.

    Brett

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