OR XLVI P1 #232: Report of Captain Edward H. Reynolds, 8th ME, April 6-9, 1865

No. 232. Report of Captain Edward H. Reynolds, Eighth Maine Infantry.¹

HEADQUARTERS EIGHTH MAINE VOLUNTEERS,
Appomattox Court-House, Va., April 13, 1865.

COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Eighth Maine Volunteers, while under my command

from the 6th instant, when Lieutenant-Colonel True, then in charge of the regiment, was temporarily detached, until the 9th instant, when I was relieved:

Early in the afternoon of the 6th instant the regiment took up the line of march in the direction of Lynchburg. At a distance of seven miles or thereabouts, the rear of the enemy being overtaken, a general skirmish occurred, in which the regiment sustained a loss of 2 killed and 4 wounded. The regiment remained in nearly the same position during that night, erecting breast-works for protection. On the 7th the march was resumed and continued through Farmville to the outskirts of the town, where the regiment remained until the morning following, when the march was resumed and continued uninterruptedly until 12 o’clock at night, requiring the greatest endurance and fortitude in those that performed it. At 3 o’clock in the morning the march was again resumed and continued until about 9 o’clock in the forenoon to the vicinity of Appomattox Court-House. Here the Eighth Maine was in advance of all the troops on that part of the regiment behaved nobly.

All officers and men of the regiment behaved nobly.

One piece of artillery was captured by the regiment, while the casualties were only 6 wounded.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

E. H. REYNOLDS,
Captain, Eighth Maine Volunteers.

Colonel WILLIAM M. MCARTHUR,
Commanding Eighth Maine Volunteers.

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