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OR XLVI P1 #87: Report of Major Walter F. Scott, 120th NY, March 25, 1865

No. 87. Report of Major Walter F. Scott, One hundred and twentieth New York Infantry of operations March 25.1

HEADQUARTERS 120TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS,
March 27, 1865.

COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this regiment in the engagement with the enemy, March 25, 1865:

About 11 a.m. of the 25th instant I was ordered by the brevet brigadier-general commanding to report to you with my regiment, and pursuant to orders received from you I formed my regiment in line of battle, my left joining the Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers, my right resting near the edge of the woods in front of the Armstrong house. I was ordered to advance steadily to the edge of the woods, and, upon reaching there, dash forward and capture and hold the enemy’s picket-

line, conforming my movements with those of the Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers. We charged across an open field, about 300 yards, carried the enemy’s line, capturing 2 commissioned officers and about 40 enlisted men. We held the line until about 3 p.m. when the enemy sent a force on our left through a ravine which entirely concealed them until they were within a few yards of our line; they dashed upon us, driving us from the line. I immediately reformed my regiment and charged the line the second time, driving the enemy from it and capturing about twenty prisoners, and held the line until about 5 p.m. The enemy again massed a strong force on our left, and charged our left, driving a portion of my regiment away from their pits, and moved by the flank along our toward our right, driving our men away pit by pit. I reformed my regiment in the woods, when the Seventh New Jersey Volunteers came up in line of battle and took up a line in the woods about fifty yards in my front. I reported to brigade headquarters and was ordered to remain where I was until further orders.

At 1 a.m. March 26 I received orders to return to our original camp. During the day our loss was, 6 killed, 32 wounded, and 46 missing.

I am, sir, yours, respectfully.

WALTER F. SCOTT,
Major, Commanding 120th New York Volunteers.

Lieutenant Colonel J. SCHOONOVER,
Commanding Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers.

Source:

  1. The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Volume XLVI, Part 1 (Serial Number 95), pages 248-249
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