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OR XLII P1 #172: Report of Capt. Henry Whiteside, 88th PA, August 18-25, 1864

No. 172. Report of Capt. Henry Whiteside, Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania Infantry, of operations August 18-25.1

Hdqrs. Eighty-eighth Pennsylvania Vet. Vols.,
September 3 1864.

Sir: In obedience to orders I make the following report: The regiment left camp with the brigade at daylight of 18th instant [ultimo], marched to the Weldon railroad, formed in line of battle, and advanced until the First Brigade became engaged, when we were halted. About 5 p. in. the regiment was ordered to report to Colonel Carle, of Pennsylvania Reserves, to support the extreme right of the picket-line, which we did, Colonel Carle posting the right wing to extend his picketline, a few hours after placing the left wing on picket also. About daylight of 19th ordered to report to brigade, which we did. During a heavy rain on the 19th, about 3.30 p. m., the enemy attacked and forced back the First Brigade on our left and the Third Brigade on our right. We changed front by jumping the other side of the works. Colonel Wheelock, commanding brigade, ordered us to charge through the rear, where the enemy were supposed to be. We did so, together with the rest of the brigade, and found the enemy had been repulsed. We about faced and advanced to the line of works we had just left. Re-

mained there all night. On 20th, about 11 a.m., were relieved, and threw up a new line of works, extending a short distance along the right of General Warren’s headquarters. The enemy having made an attack on the left of the railroad, we were taken to the left, in front of General Warren’s headquarters, and formed line of battle in rear of first line. On night of 20th relieved the first line of battle. On 23rd [25th], General Hancock’s corps having been attacked about 3 p. m., the brigade was ordered to the extreme left, where we threw up works an remained till brought back to our present camp.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

HENRY WHITESIDE,

Captain, Commanding Eighty-eight Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Captain DOOLITTLE,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

Source:

  1. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), pages 520-521
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