Numbers 97. Report of Captain John Wilson, First U. S. Sharpshooters, of operations August 15-16.1
HEADQUARTERS FIRST REGIMENT U. S. SHARPSHOOTERS, August 18, 1864.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that on the 15th instant the First U. S. Sharpshooters skirmished through the woods in advance of the Second Brigade, meeting and driving the enemy behind their breast-works, reaching the Charles City road, when the line was halted. We remained in this position until the brigade fell back, when we returned to where we had started from in the morning. On the 16th we were deployed as skirmishers on the right of General Foster’s command, connecting on the left with the First Maryland [Cavalry (dismounted)] (Tenth Army Corps); on the right with the Fifth Michigan (Second Army Corps), remaining in this position until relieved and ordered to report to Major-General Birney for special duty. We captured 6 prisoners, including 1 officer.
Respectfully submitted.
JNO. WILSON,
Captain, Commanding Regiment.
Captain F. E. MARBLE,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. General, 2nd Brigadier, 3rd Div., 2nd Army Corps.
Source:
- The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLII, Part 1 (Serial Number 87), page 387 ↩