Campaigns and Battles - P

P:  Pace’s Ferry, Georgia, to Purdy Road, Tennessee

Source: The Union Army, Vol. VI. Madison, Wisconsin: Federal Publishing Company, 1908.


Pace's Ferry, Georgia, July 12, 1864. (See Chattahoochee River.)


Pack's Ferry, West Virginia, August 6, 1862. Detachment of 23d Ohio Infantry. Four companies of the 23d Ohio under Major James M. Comfy Page 662 were attacked by 900 men and 2 pieces of artillery early on the morning of the 6th. The object of the attack was the destruction of the ferry across the New river, but the enemy finally retired without accomplishing his object. No casualties were suffered by Comfy’s force, and while the Union reports state that 2 of the enemy were killed, the Confederate statement makes no mention of any loss.


Paducah, Kentucky, March 25, 1864. 16th Kentucky Cavalry; 1st Kentucky Heavy Artillery; Detachment 122nd Illinois Infantry. As an incident of Major-General N. B. Forrest's expedition into Kentucky, the Federal outposts were driven back through Paducah into Fort Anderson by' Forrest's advance guard and later in the day, when the remainder of his force came up, a general attack was made upon the Union troops within the fort. Twice the Confederates attempted to storm the works, but each time they were repulsed. While preparing for a third attempt, Colonel A. P. Thompson, leader of the assaulting party, was killed, and the design was abandoned. Confederate sharpshooters had in the meantime taken possession of the houses near the fort and were picking off the Union gunners. Firing was kept up until 11:30 p. m., when Forrest withdrew out of range of the Union guns for the night. In the morning the Confederates set fire to the town and withdrew. The Union casualties were 14 killed and 46 wounded. The Confederate loss was not reported, but the estimate of Colonel S. G. Hicks, commanding the post, was 300 killed and wounded.


Paducah, Kentucky, April 14, 1864. U. S. Forces under Colonel S. G. Hicks. At noon Confederate General Buford with three regiments of cavalry appeared before Paducah and drove in the pickets. The Federal troops withdrew to Fort Anderson and when the enemy appeared in a skirt of timber about a mile distant opened fire with artillery. A flag of truce was sent in by Buford, demanding the removal of women and children within an hour, but before the end of that period the enemy commenced sacking a portion of the town. A detachment was sent out from the fort to drive the marauders, who returned to the main body, which retired on the Mayfield road. The garrison suffered no casualties, but 40 government horses were taken.


Paineville, Virginia, April 5, 1865. This engagement, sometimes called Paine's cross-roads, was one of the minor actions of the Appomattox campaign. (See Amelia Springs.)


Paint Lick Bridge, Kentucky, July 31, 1863. U. S. Forces under Colonel W. P. Sanders. During the pursuit of Scott the troops under Sanders, consisting of detachments of the 1st, 10th and 14th Kentucky, 2nd and 7th Ohio, 8th and 9th Michigan and 15th East Tennessee cavalry, and 1st and 2nd East Tennessee, 45th Ohio and 112th Illinois mounted infantry, after fighting the Confederate rear-guard all night, came up with the main body in position at Paint Lick bridge. After an obstinate fight of an hour a charge was made by a portion of the Union troops, which resulted in the capture of 30 of the enemy and the wounding of a number. No casualties were reported on the Union side.


Paint Rock Bridge, Alabama, April 28, 1862. Detachment of 10th Wisconsin Infantry. Sergt. Nelson, with 16 men, was detailed to guard the bridge over the Paint Rock river. Upon learning that the bridge was threatened, Lieut. Harkness sent Sergt. Makimson, with 10 men, to reinforce Nelson. No sooner had the latter arrived than 250 dismounted Confederate cavalry attacked, and after a little time sent a summons to surrender. The demand was refused and for 2 hours the enemy continued the fight, finally being compelled to withdraw with a loss of 6 killed and several wounded. No Federal casualties were reported.


Paint Rock Bridge, Alabama, April 8, 1864. Detachment of 73d Indiana Infantry. A squad of 15 men under Corp. William H. fl. Reed Page 663 met a party of 40 Confederates near Paint Rock bridge and Reed was driven back after a short contest, losing 1 man killed and 1 severely wounded. The enemy's loss was thought to be from 2 to 4 killed and 3 wounded.


Paint Rock Bridge, Alabama, December 7, 1864. 2nd Tennessee Cavalry. With this regiment Lieut.-Colonel William F. Prosser skirmished all the way from Bellefonte to Paint Rock bridge, and on his arrival there drove a small force of Confederates across the stream. Half an hour afterward the enemy again appeared with an engine and a train of cars, but were driven back 2 or 3 miles. Later they brought up the train again with some cavalry and skirmishing was continued until dark, when the enemy again withdrew. No casualties in killed and wounded were reported, though Prosser captured some prisoners.


Paint Rock Bridge, Alabama, December 31, 1864. U. S. Forces under Lieut. Samuel C. Wagoner. The garrison of this post, consisting of a detachment of the 13th Wisconsin infantry, 20 cavalry, a piece of artillery and a small squad of Kennamer's home scouts, was surprised by 400 Confederates at 4 a. m. Before the camp could be wholly aroused the Federals were overpowered and some 40 men, including the commanding officer, captured. The remainder escaped and the enemy recrossed the river, burning the bridge behind them.


Paint Rock River, Alabama, November 19, 1864. (See Duckett's Plantation.) Paintsville, Kentucky, April 13, 1864. Kentucky Infantry under Colonel George W. Gallup. The Confederates under Colonel Thomas Johnson, operating in eastern Kentucky, attacked a Union force under Gallup about 10 a. m. The Federal pickets were driven in, but the main body repulsed the enemy with a loss of 2 killed, 2 wounded and 7 captured, while Gallup lost 2 men captured.


Palmetto Ranch, Texas, September 6, 1864. (See Brazos Santiago, same date.)


Palmetto Ranch, Texas, May 13, 1865. (See Brownsville, same date.)


Palmyra, Missouri, August 17, 1861. (See Hunnewell, same date.)


Palmyra, Missouri, November 18, 1861. Detachment of 3d Missouri Cavalry.


Palmyra, Missouri, October 18, 1862. Detachment of the 2nd Missouri Militia. This incident was the execution of 10 Confederate prisoners. For some time prior to this date outrages had been committed by the guerrillas in northern Missouri, and Brigadier-General John McNeil had tried various means to break up the irregular warfare. Andrew Alsman, an aged citizen of Palmyra, was carried away from his home and presumably murdered, his only offense having been that of giving information to the Federal authorities. Through the provost-marshal-general, W. R. Strachan, for the district of northeastern Missouri, McNeil notified Joseph C. Porter, one of the guerrilla leaders, that unless Alsman was returned to his home within ten days from that date (October 8th) 10 men belonging to Porter's band, and then held in custody, would be executed "as a meet reward for their crimes, among which is the illegal restraining of said Alsman of his liberty, and, if not returned, presumptively aiding in his murder." Alsman was not returned, and about noon on the 18th the 10 prisoners, strongly guarded, were taken to the fair grounds, where each man was made to stand at the foot of his coffin and face a detail of 30 men of the 2nd Missouri militia. A few minutes after 1 o'clock the command was given to fire and the 10 men fell, part of them dying instantly, though a few were despatched with revolvers after they fell. The Confederate authorities demanded the surrender of McNeil, but General Curtis refused to give him up. The affair created some excitement and further correspondence ensued, but in the end it had a salutary effect, inasmuch as it made the guerrillas more cautious about adopting high-handed methods.


Palmyra, Tennessee, November 13, 1863. Brigadier-General R. S. Granger, reporting; to Major-General George H. Thomas, commander of the Department of the Cumberland, under date of November 13, says: "Captain Cutler, with one company of mounted infantry and a portion of Whittemore's battery (mounted), belonging to the garrison of Clarksville, had a fight near Palmyra with Captain Grey's company, killing 2, wounding 5, and taking 1 prisoner; Cutler's loss, 1 lieutenant and 1 man wounded." The affair was an incident of the Chattanooga-Ringgold campaign and the above is the only official mention of it.


Palo Alto, Mississippi, April 21, 1863. 2nd Iowa. Cavalry. Colonel Edward Hatch was despatched by Colonel Benjamin Grierson, on the latter's raid from La Grange, Tennessee, to the vicinity of West Point to destroy the railroad there. About noon, when near Palo Alto, Hatch was attacked in the rear and on each flank by a considerable force of the enemy under Gholson, who managed to cut off one company. Drawing his command up in line of battle Hatch charged, broke through the enemy's line and recaptured the company. No casualties reported.


Panola, Mississippi, June 19-20, 1863. Cavalry Corps, Left Wing 16tb Army Corps. During operations in northwestern Mississippi Colonel J. K. Mizner, commanding the Union cavalry, encountered a Confederate outpost some 8 miles from Panola. The enemy was easily driven and Mizner encamped at that point. Early the following morning an advance was made on Panola, which was entered without opposition, the enemy having evacuated during the night. The casualties, if any, were not reported. Panther Creek, Missouri, August 8, 1862. 1st Missouri Militia Cavalry. Lieut.-Colonel Alexander M. Woolfolk, with a detachment of his regiment, 400 men in all, attacked Porter's Confederate command where the Hannibal & St . Joseph railroad crosses Panther creek. After 6 hours' fighting the engagement was stopped by darkness, Porter having lost (according to the Federal report) some 20 killed and 50 wounded, while Woolfolk had 2 killed and 10 wounded.


Panther Gap, West Virginia, June 5, 1864. 11th West Virginia Infantry. Colonel Daniel Frost, reporting the movements of his regiment during the Lynchburg campaign, says: "June 5, passed through Panther gap, where the enemy were posted in some force. A flank movement caused the place to be evacuated, with slight skirmishing, when we moved to Goshen Station." This is the only mention of the affair.


Panther Springs, Tennessee, March 5, 1864. Detachment of 3d Tennessee Infantry. Captain William Cross with 103 men, while on a reconnaissance to Panther Springs, was attacked by a superior force of Confederates and after a sharp engagement of 3 hours repulsed the enemy, losing 3 killed, 1 badly wounded and some 20 captured, while the enemy suffered to the extent of 9 killed and 2 captured.


Panther Springs, Tennessee, October 27, 1864. (See Mossy Creek, same date.)


Papinsville, Missouri, June 23, 1863. Detachment of 1st Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Major Alexander W. Mullins with a portion of the 1st Missouri, while in pursuit of a party of Confederates, encountered them 12 miles from Papinsville. The skirmish which ensued resulted in the killing of 1 and the wounding of another Confederate, while Mullins had 1 man wounded.


Paris, Kentucky, July 19, 1862. Detachments of 9th Pennsylvania and 55th Indiana Cavalry, 16th U. S. Infantry and Home Guards. Brigadier General G. Clay Smith, in command of the Federals, learning that Morgan was in line of battle south of Paris and awaiting his approach, moved' on that town on the morning of the 19th. Smith pushed back the enemy's pickets after some rather heavy fighting, but found that the main body Page 665 had withdrawn to Winchester. Morgan lost 8 killed and 29 wounded, while the Federals did not suffer any casualties. Paris, Kentucky, July 30, 1862. 9th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Paris, Kentucky, March 11, 1863. Wagon-train guard. Paris, Kentucky, July 29, 1863. Garrison of post, under Lieut.-Colonel Thomas L. Young. About 4 p. m. the Confederate advance drove in the pickets at Paris, but were immediately engaged by 100 men of the 23d Michigan infantry and a gun of Henshaw's Illinois battery. Another company of the same regiment and a gun of the 15th Indiana battery were sent to reinforce the 100 men, and about 6 p. m. the Federal artillery routed the Confederates, who withdrew in confusion down the Winchester pike. No casualties were reported. The affair was an incident of Scott's raid.


Paris, Missouri, October 15, 1864. Detachments of 70th and 9th Missouri Militia. Brigadier-General J. B. Douglass, in answer to a request for a report as to the number of casualties in the Missouri militia during Price's expedition, states that 4 or 5 were wounded "in different skirmishes during the time Captain Fowkes, captain of Company C, Seventieth Enrolled Missouri Militia, surrendered Paris on the 15th of October. At the time of the surrender, he reports 55 men of his own command and 10 of the Ninth Missouri State Militia." This is the only mention of the affair in the official reports.


Paris, Tennessee, March 11, 1862. Detachment of 5th Iowa Cavalry and Battery I, 1st Missouri Light Artillery. Major-General U. S. Grant despatched a battalion of the 5th la. cavalry and a battery under Captain John T. Croft, to break up a Confederate conscription camp at Paris. Croft arrived in the vicinity about 5 p. m., and after capturing the outer pickets made a charge through the town, driving the enemy into their intrenchments on a hill a mile and a half beyond. A charge was made up the slope by two companies, which fell into an ambuscade, but with the aid of the artillery they managed to extricate themselves without heavy loss. The Union casualties were 5 killed and 5 wounded; Grant estimated the Confederate loss at 100 killed and wounded, besides the 8 captured. Paris, Tennessee, September 13, 1863. Troops not stated.


Paris, Virginia, September 16, 1864. (See Sn1cker's Gap, same date.)


Paris, Virginia, February 19, 1865. (See Ashby's Gap, same date.)


Parker's Cross-Roads, Georgia, May 16, 1864. (See Rome Crossroads.)


Parker's Cross-Roads, Tennessee, December 31, 1862. (See Forrest's Expedition.)


Parker's Ford, Virginia, July 18, 1864. (See Snicker's Ferry, same date.)


Parker's Store, Virginia, November 29, 1863. (See Mine Run, Virginia, November 26 December 2, 1863.)


Parker's Store, Virginia, May 5-7, 1864. (See Wilderness.) Park's Gap, Tennessee, September 4, 1864. 10th Michigan and 9th and 13th Tennessee Cavalry. About daylight the 10th Michigan and 9th Tennessee under Brigadier-General Alvan C. Gillem encountered the Confederate vedettes near Park's gap. At the gap the enemy was found in considerable force and stubbornly resisted the advance of the 10th Michigan, which fought dismounted. The artillery, however, was effective in dispersing the Confederates, who retreated toward Greeneville, only to find that the 13th Tennessee cavalry had gained their rear and that retreat through the town was impossible. After a resistance of some time they managed to break through a portion of the Union line and make their escape, pursued for a distance of 8 miles. The 13th Tennessee in getting to the rear surrounded the house in which the noted General John H. Morgan was sleeping, and on his attempting to escape through the surrounding lines he was shot and killed. Gillem estimated the enemy's loss at about 75 killed, more Page 666 wounded and 106 captured; his own casualties amounted to 9 wounded, 1 mortally. Parkville, Missouri, July 7, 1864. Detachment of 82nd Missouri Militia. A body of guerrillas, headed by the notorious Coon Thornton, entered Parkville and meeting with no resistance from the company of Missouri militia stationed there, proceeded to plunder and destroy. One man was killed and 2 men and a woman wounded.


Pascagoula, Mississippi, April 9, 1863. 74th U. S. Colored Infantry. Colonel N. W. Daniels, with a detachment of 180 men, embarked on the transport General Banks at Ship Island for an attack upon Pascagoula. After landing, taking possession of the place and hoisting the American flag, Daniels was attacked by some 300 Confederate cavalry and a company of infantry, which he repulsed with a loss of but 2 killed and 5 slightly wounded. The Confederate loss was 20 killed, a large number wounded, and 3 taken prisoners. Their colors were also lost. Learning of reinforcements coming to the enemy's aid, Daniels withdrew to his transport about 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The gunboat Jackson, accompanying the expedition, fired a shell by mistake into the Union troops, killing 4 men and seriously wounding 5 others.


Pasquotank, North Carolina, August 18, 1863. 1st New York Mounted Rifles and 11th Pennsylvania Cavalry. Colonel B. F. Onderdonk, of the New York regiment, says in his report of an expedition from Portsmouth, Virginia, to Edenton, North Carolina: "From Hertford to Elizabeth City and South Mills had a number of skirmishes with the rangers, driving them into the swamps, where they have hiding places known only to the initiated." One of these skirmishes occurred near Pasquotank. The casualties of the entire expedition were 1 man killed and 1 wounded by the enemy; 1 man accidentally killed by shooting himself; and 2 horses killed by the Confederates.


Pass Christian, Mississippi, April 4, 1862. (See Biloxi.) Patten, Missouri, July 26, 1862. Missouri Militia. Patterson, Missouri, April 20, 1863. 3d Missouri Militia Cavalry. Marmaduke, in his expedition into Missouri, approached Patterson on the Doniphan, Van Buren and Pitman's Ferry roads, cutting off several Union scouting parties. Another scouting party discovered the Confederates 6 miles out. and two companies were immediately sent out under Major Richard G. Woodson to engage them. While Woodson was holding the enemy in check Colonel Edwin Smart moved all the commissary and quartermaster's stores. Woodson held his position until the enemy began to outflank him and then fell back through the town. When the Confederates began using their artillery the rear-guard was reinforced and fought stubbornly against superior numbers until the wagon train was across the bridge and out of danger. The Federal loss was 50 killed, wounded and missing; the Confederate loss in killed alone (according to the Union report) was 28.


Patterson, Missouri, May —, 1863. A Confederate report states that a detachment under Captain Timothy Reves encountered some Federals near Patterson; that the result was a Confederate victory, the Federals losing 1 killed and several wounded, and that Reves captured 22 horses, saddles, blankets, etc., and some camp equipage. The exact date of the affair cannot be gained from the account above referred to, and the Union reports do not mention it.


Patterson, Missouri, April 15, 1865. (See McKenzie's Creek.)


Patterson's Creek, West Virginia, June 26, 1861. 11th Indiana Infantry. A mounted picket of 13 men attacked a company of 41 Confederates near Frankfort, routed and pursued them 2 or 3 miles, killing 8 of them and capturing 17 horses. While returning from the skirmish they were in turn attacked by a reinforced body of the enemy, and obliged to retire Page 667 to Kelly's island at the mouth of Patterson's creek, where they made a stand and held the enemy at bay until dark, when they scattered and escaped. Only 1 member of the Union party was killed, and 1 wounded, while the Confederates lost 31 killed.


Patterson's Creek, West Virginia, February 2, 1864. Detachment of Campbell's Brigade, Department of West Virginia. Fifty-seven men under Captain John W. Hibler, stationed at the Baltimore & Ohio railroad bridge over Patterson's creek, were surprised while at dinner by some 400 Confederate cavalry under Rosser. But little resistance was offered, the enemy killing 1, wounding 4 and capturing 37 of the command, besides all the camp and garrison equipage and the stores.


Patterson's Creek Station, West Virginia, March 22, 1865. Detachment of 14th West Virginia Infantry. A scouting party of 11 men under Lieut. Zenas Martin was attacked by 60 Confederates at the house of a Mr. Baker near Patterson's Creek Station. Three successive charges of the enemy were repulsed before they were made to retreat in confusion, leaving upon the field 2 dead and 3 wounded. There were no casualties in the Federal command.


Pattersonville, Louisiana, March 28, 1863. U. S. Gunboat Diana. The Diana was ordered to make a reconnaissance up the Teche by the Grand Lake route, but for some reason she went up the Atchafalaya, right in the teeth of the enemy. On board were two companies and one of Brigadier-General Weitzel's aides. When near Pattersonville the vessel was assaulted by Confederate General Dick Taylor's whole force and compelled to surrender, with all on board. Taylor reported the Union loss in killed, wounded and prisoners as 150. The gunboat mounted 5 heavy guns, and these also fell into the enemy's hands.


Pattersonville, Louisiana, April 11, 1863. 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 19th Army Corps. During General Banks' operations in western Louisiana, Weitzel's brigade skirmished all day on the 11th and went into bivouac in line of battle near Pattersonville. The fighting was continued next day in the attack on Fort Bisland. (q. v.)


Pawnee Agency, Nebraska, June 23, 1863. Detachment of 2nd Nebraska Cavalry. A band of Sioux Indians attacked the Pawnee agency and killed several of the red men there. Lieut. Henry Gray with 35 men started in pursuit, and after following them some 15 miles came upon 40o or 500 drawn up in line ready to receive an attack. Receiving assurances from the 300 or 400 Pawnees who had accompanied him that they would fight, he attacked. The Pawnees fled at the first fire and Gray and his small detachment were compelled to fight alone. After an hour's heavy firing the Sioux retired. The casualties were not reported.


Pawnee Rock, Kansas, June 12, 1865. Detachment of 2nd Colorado Cavalry. A mule train hauling corn from Fort Leavenworth, with an escort of 20 men under command of Lieut. Martin Hennion, was attacked by a band of Indians near Pawnee rock, 16 miles east of Fort Larned. A messenger was immediately despatched to the latter place for help, but before it arrived Hennion had driven off the Indians. No casualties were reported.


Payne's Farm, Virginia, November 27, 1863. (See Mine Run, Virginia, November 26 December 2, 1863.) Paw Paw Tunnel, Virginia, October 4, 1862. Detachment of 54th Pennsylvania Infantry. Captain John H. Hite with Company B, comprising the guard at Paw Paw tunnel, was approached by a Confederate force under Imboden. Without firing a gun Hite surrendered his whole force of 93 men and 3 officers.


Peach Grove, Virginia, March 12, 1865. Detachment of the 13th New York Cavalry. A patrol party of 21 men, under the command of Lieut. Page 668 Freeman, was attacked near the Peach Grove stockade, 2 miles from Vienna, and suffered a loss of 2 men killed, 5 wounded and 6 horses killed and 1 wounded. The attacking party numbered about 80 or 100 men, and in the skirmish lost 2 killed and 7 or 8 wounded.


Peach Orchard, Virginia, June 25, 1862. This action was brought on by the Union forces with a view to an advance on Richmond. It 1s also called Oak Grove and King's school-house, a full account of the engagement being given under the head of the Seven Days' Battles.


Peachtree Creek, Georgia, July 20, 1864. (See Atlanta.) Pea Ridge, Arkansas, March 6-8, 1862. Army of the Southwest. About the middle of February, 1862, Major-General Samuel R. Curtis, after completing the organization of the Army of the Southwest, entered Springfield, Missouri, to find that it had been evacuated by Major-General Sterling Price and his Confederate army. Curtis followed by forced marches, skirmishing with Price's rear-guard across the Arkansas line, where the enemy took refuge in the Boston mountains. Upon reaching Fayetteville Curtis withdrew to await an attack on ground of his own choosing. The army was not widely separated, but it was essential that some division be made of it for purposes of obtaining forage. The location of the different portions was as follows: the 1st and 2nd divisions, jointly under the command of Brigadier-General Franz Sigel and individually under Colonel Peter J. Osterhaus and Brigadier-General Alexander Asboth, were on Cooper's farm 4 miles southwest of Bentonville; the 3d division, under Colonel Jefferson C. Davis,, was at Sugar creek, where the preliminary arrangements were made for a stand; the 4th division, under command of Colonel Eugene A. Carr, was at Cross Timber hollow, 12 miles north of Sugar creek. About 2 p. m. of the 5th Curtis learned that the combined forces of Price and McCulloch, together with some five regiments of Indians under General Albert Pike, all under the command of Major-General Earl Van Dorn, were moving on the Federal position. Orders were immediately sent for a concentration on Davis at Sugar creek. Carr's division, with the exception of Colonel William Vandever's brigade, which was Out foraging, started its march about 6 p. m. Vandever, however, received the news of Van Dorn's movement before Curtis' messenger reached him, and by forced marches reached Sugar creek on the 6th. Curtis, at the head of Carr's division, arrived at Sugar creek at 2 a. m. of the 6th and immediately set about erecting field works and felling trees to obstruct the enemy's progress. Early in the morning Davis and Carr took position on a hill commanding the creek valley, which at that point is from a quarter to a half mile wide. The valley intercepts three roads—the Telegraph pike on the east, the Bentonville and Keetsville road on the west, and a branch of the latter road, which is nearly parallel to and 3 miles from the Telegraph road. During the morning Colonel Grenville M. Dodge directed the felling of trees across all three roads. About 2 p. m. Asboth and Osterhaus reported with their divisions and shortly afterward it was learned that Sigel, who had remained at Bentonville for two hours with a detachment, had been surrounded and attacked at that point by Van Dorn's advance. The 1st and 2nd divisions were immediately hurried to his assistance, Osterhaus in the advance. Four miles from camp Osterhaus met Sigel fighting his way, and the artillery of the division was brought into action, which drove the enemy back. The divisions then took position along Sugar creek, with Asboth forming the right, then Osterhaus, Davis and Carr in order. In front of them was the deep valley of Sugar creek and in their rear was the broken plateau called Pea ridge. The road from Bentonville would have brought Van Dorn's forces in contact with Curtis' extreme right, but no assault was made that night. Rather than attack in a position which Curtis had chosen Van Dorn moved his force so as to Page 669 outflank the Federals on their right and gain their rear by proceeding up the Bentonville and Keetsville pike and coming upon them from the direction of Cross Timber hollow and Elkhorn tavern. The trees which Dodge had felled on the 6th so effectually delayed the movement that Curtis had ample time on the following morning to make a change of front. The 1st and 2nd divisions became the left of the line with their left resting on Sugar creek; Osterhaus was ordered to take a detachment of light artillery, some cavalry and an infantry support and open the fight against the enemy's center. This force with Davis' division formed the Federal center, and Carr's division took the extreme right . About 10:30 a. m. it was reported that the pickets at Elkhorn tavern on the Telegraph road, about three and a half miles above the Sugar creek encampment, had been driven in. It was at this point that Carr's right was to rest. Osterhaus immediately advanced against the Confederate center, composed of the commands of Mcintosh and Hebert and the Indians, and succeeded in breaking the enemy's advancing line. A greatly superior force was brought against him, however, and he was compelled to retire, losing in the movement his flying battery. His infantry support after some desperate righting checked the Confederate advance, but Curtis thought the position so strategic that he countermanded an order to Davis to support Carr and sent him to assist Osterhaus. It was at the center of the Union line that the fight raged the most furiously at first, but Davis' line held like a stone wall and Van Dorn was compelled to adopt other tactics. Carr had met some trouble in repelling the attacks on him and Van Dorn determined to force that part of the line. At the first call for reinforcements from the right Curtis sent his body-guard and a detachment of mountain howitzers, but notwithstanding this the Confederates still held the advantage. Carr again asked for reinforcements, stating that he could not hold out much longer, and was sent a battalion of infantry and 3 pieces of artillery. Each augmentation of the Union right seemed to result in a still larger addition to the Confederate force opposed to it. At 2 p. m. no attack had been made on Sigel and Asboth on Sugar creek, and Curtis resolved to bring one or both of those divisions into the action. Asboth was moved by the direct road to Elkhorn tavern and Sigel with Osterhaus' division proceeded by way of Leetown to reinforce Davis, or if not needed at that point to come to Carr's assistance. Curtis himself accompanied Asboth and about 5 p. m. came to where Carr was stationed. The latter's division after 7 hours of constant fighting was still stubbornly engaging the enemy. Asboth's artillery was planted in the Telegraph road and opened a heavy fire at close range, continuing it until a lack of ammunition compelled it to fall back. Darkness closed in while the troops were still in the same relative positions. Curtis immediately began the formation of a new line of battle. Davis was drawn back from his center position and ordered to take the ground at Carr's left. About 2 a. m. of the 8th Sigel reported and with Asboth was sent to take position on the left. The 1st and 2nd divisions under Sigel were not yet in position when day broke, but the enemy did not renew the attack. Davis' division opened the fight of the third day, but no sooner had it done so than the enemy replied from a new line and from new batteries established during the night. The Federal right fell back a distance to avoid a raking fire, and in the meantime the left took position, the line then extending from the mountain on the left, commanded by Sigel's 2nd division, in a southeasterly direction across the Telegraph road to where Carr's division, somewhat refused, held the right. On the extreme right was a slight eminence some distance in advance of the main line, on which Curtis located the Dubuque battery, and had Carr move forward his right to support it, thus giving direction for the Page 670 advance of the whole right wing. Other batteries were moved forward in the same way all along the line. As each battery sent forward by Sigel's two divisions on the right would drive the Confederates back from their front they would wheel with deployed infantry support half to the right. These tactics, repeated along the whole left, kept the Confederate right dropping back, and before many hours the Union line was a huge semicircle, the Dubuque battery its right end, the left of Asboth's division the left end, enclosing within it Van Dorn's army. It was next to impossible for the Confederates to withstand the concentrated cross-fire of the converging Union line and before noon they had stopped firing. It was soon discovered that Van Dorn was fleeing north through the gorge where the Telegraph road passes. Pursuit was made by Sigel along the Keetsville road to intercept the enemy at the junction of that road with the Telegraph, but it was afterwards found that the main force of Van Dorn's army after entering the gorge had turned short to the right into the ravines and passes that led into the Huntsville road in a direction due south. The losses in this engagement were 203 killed, 980 wounded and 201 captured or missing on the Federal side. The Confederate casualties were never definitely ascertained, but were undoubtedly fully as heavy. The affair is called by the Confederates the battle of Elkhorn Tavern.


Pea Ridge, Tennessee, April 27, 1862. Cavalry Detachment of McClernand's Division. A cavalry detachment commanded by Lieut.-Colonel William McCullough encountered some Confederate pickets at Pea ridge. Three were killed and the remainder driven back.


Pea Ridge Prairie, Missouri, February 23, 1862. Detachment of Missouri Militia. While on a reconnaissance with his company, Captain Richardson sent Sergt. Butcher, with 8 men, to scout along the south side of the prairie. After proceeding about a mile and a half Butcher discovered a small party of Confederates in a point of timber, charged and routed them, and a running fight for three miles followed, in which 3 of the enemy were killed, 1 wounded and 3 men and 3 horses captured. The Union loss was 1 horse killed.


Pearl River, Mississippi, July 16, 1863. (See Grant's Ferry.)


Pearl River, Mississippi, February 28, 1864. Foraging party of 1st Brigade, 4th Division, 17th Army Corps. This affair was an almost continuous skirmish between a Federal foraging party and bands of Confederates. When the party returned to the Federal camp it was found that 15 of its members were missing, several of whom were known to have been wounded. The affair occurred during the Meridian campaign.


Pea Vine Creek, Georgia, September 10, 1863. 2nd Division, 21st Army Corps. While the Army of the Cumberland was maneuvering for position just before the battle of Chickamauga, this division, Major-General John M. Palmer commanding, left Rossville on the morning of the 10th and moved on the Dalton road toward Ringgold. At Pea Vine creek, 5 miles from Ringgold, a detachment of the enemy was seen in front, and Captain Norton was sent forward with Palmer's escort and part of the 4th Michigan cavalry. Norton attacked with great vigor and drove the Confederate cavalry for a mile, when, fearing he might be cut off by a larger force if he continued the pursuit, he returned to the column. No casualties reported in this action. A short time later the advance was charged by some Confederate cavalry and 58 men belonging to the 1st Kentucky cavalry were captured.


Pea Vine Creek, Georgia, November 26, 1863. Detachment of 2nd Division, 12th Army Corps. During the pursuit of the Confederates up the Chickamauga valley, while Geary's division was awaiting the construction of a foot bridge over Pea Vine creek, the advance made a dash upon the rear-guard of Breckenridge's corps and the rest of the division Page 671 was formed in line of battle on both sides of the road and advanced. The skirmish resulted in the capture of 3 guns of Ferguson's battery, the artillerists and part of the infantry support. The other casualties were not reported.


Pebbly Run, North Carolina, April 13, 1862. (See Gillett's Farm.)


Peck's House, Tennessee, December 24, 1863. 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Army of the Cumberland. The action at Peck's house on this date was part of the operations of Campbell's brigade, in the maneuvers about Mossy Creek Station and Dandridge. (See Hay's Ferry.)


Pecos River, New Mexico, January 5, 1864. Detachments of 2nd California Cavalry and 5th U. S. Mounted Infantry. Lieut. Charles Newbold with some men from each of the above regiments and a party of 25 Apache Indians started in pursuit of some Navajo Indians who had run off the stock of the Apaches. Near the Pecos river, about 12 miles from Fort Sumner, the Indians were overtaken and after a sharp skirmish were routed. The soldiers pursued and kept up a running fight to the banks of the river. The loss to the marauding party was said to be 40 killed and at least the same number wounded. The only casualties sustained by the attacking party were the wounding of 2 Apaches.


Pecosin Creek, Virginia, January 30, 1863. (See Deserted House.)


Peebles' Farm, Virginia, September 30, 1864. (See Poplar Spring Church.)


Pegram's Farm, Virginia, September 30, 1864. (See Poplar Spring Church.)


Pekin, Indiana, July 11, 1863. A telegram from Thomas W. Fry, a surgeon in the government service, to Brigadier-General Jeremiah T. Boyle, from New Albany, under date of July 13, says: "A skirmish occurred at Pekin, in which we killed 1, wounded 5, and took 20 prisoners. The balance fled for the river, southwest." This is the only official mention of the affair, which was an incident of Morgan's Ohio raid.


Pemiscot Bayou, Arkansas, April 6, 1864. Detachment of 2nd Missouri Light Artillery. The detachment, under Major John W. Rabb, while in pursuit of guerrillas in Missouri and Arkansas, was attacked by a band of about 100 before daylight near the house of one Mark Walker on Pemiscot bayou. After 5 minutes of sharp fighting the enemy retreated, carrying off their dead and wounded. The Federals suffered a loss of 3 killed and 7 wounded.


Pensacola, Florida, September 14, 1861. Detachment of crew of U. S. Steamer Colorado. With a detail of men, Lieut. John H. Russell descended upon the navy yard at Pensacola at 2 a. m. The steamer Judah, with 5 guns, lying at anchor just off the yard, was burned and the only gun in the yard was spiked. Three of Russell's men were killed and 4 wounded. The Confederates report no casualties. Pensacola, Florida, November 22-23, 1861. Troops of the Department of Florida, and Steamers Niagara and Richmond. This affair was an artillery duel between the U. S. forces in Fort Pickens and the adjacent batteries and two vessels in the harbor, and the Confederates under Bragg in the town and fortifications. The fighting was kept up for two days without much loss to either side, Bragg's casualties amounting to 1 killed and 20 wounded, while the Federals lost 1 killed and 6 wounded.


Pensacola, Florida, April 2, 1864. (See Cow Ford Creek, same date.)


Peralta, New Mexico, April 15, 1862. 19th U. S. and 4th and 5th New Mexico Infantry, and 3d U. S. Cavalry. After effecting a junction at Tijeras, the forces under command of Colonel Edward R S. Canby, commanding the department of New Mexico, arrived early on the morning of the 15th at Peralta, where a wagon train was captured with a loss to the enemy of 6 killed, 3 wounded and 22 captured. Canby's movement had been kept concealed from the enemy's main body by the New Mexico infantry and three companies of regular cavalry, which, after some sharp skirmishing, drove the Confederates across the river, losing 1 man killed and 3 wounded.


Perche Hills, Missouri, May 5, 1865. Detachment of 9th Missouri Militia Cavalry. Major Reeves Leonard, reporting from Sturgeon under date of May 5, says: "A scout from this post under Sergt. Tate, of Company C, had a skirmish with a band of guerrillas this morning in Perche Hills. Killed 1, wounded 2, captured several horses, arms, etc." Perkins' Mill, Tennessee, December 28, 1862. Detachments of 6th and 10th Kentucky Cavalry. As an incident of an expedition into east Tennessee, the detachment, under Major James L. Foley, surprised the camp of some 350 Confederates at Perkins' mill on Elk fork, capturing the 16 pickets without noise and then charging the main body at daylight. Three times the enemy attempted to form his line, but was each time unsuccessful, and finally gave way in confusion, losing 30 killed, 17 wounded and 51 captured. No Federal casualties were reported.


Perry County, Arkansas, December 3, 1864. Detachment of 3d Arkansas Cavalry. Colonel Abraham H. Ryan, reporting from Lewisburg under date of December 4, says: "Lieut. Robert W. Wishard has returned from scout through Perry county; killed 1 lieutenant and 4 men of the enemy. Lost 1 man killed and 1 wounded badly."


Perry County, Kentucky, November 9, 1862. 14th Kentucky Cavalry.


Perry's Ferry, Mississippi, April 19, 1863. (See Coldwater, same date.)


Perryville, Ind. Ter, August 26, 1863. Troops of Southeastern District of Missouri. After pursuing the Confederates for 40 miles during the day the Federal advance under Colonel William F. Cloud about 8 p. m. came upon their rear-guard behind a light barricade just outside of Perryville. A few shells from the Federal howitzers made the enemy leave their fortifications in haste and Cloud occupied and burned the town. Four Federals were wounded, and during the pursuit and taking of the town the enemy lost 4 killed and between 12 and 20 captured.


Perryville, Kentucky, October 8, 1862. Army of the Ohio. Early in August, 1862, the Confederate forces under Generals Bragg and E. Kirby Smith united for an invasion of Kentucky, in the hope of forcing the state to secede from the Union. Smith entered Kentucky via of Cumberland gap and moved toward Lexington. Bragg's column crossed the Tennessee river at Chattanooga, moved rapidly through middle Tennessee, and on September 13 was at Glasgow, Kentucky, the objective point being Louisville. If Louisville could be seized and held the states north of the Ohio river would be in danger of invasion. Leaving a sufficient force to hold Nashville, Buell pushed forward with the remainder of his army in a race with Bragg for Louisville, where the Federal advance arrived on September 25, and the rear division four days later. At Louisville Buell found a large number of raw recruits from the states of Ohio, Indiana and Illinois, and immediately set about the reorganization of his army by intermixing the new troops with the old without changing the old organization. When reorganized the Army of the Ohio numbered about 60,000 men. It was composed of the 1st, 2nd and 3d army corps, respectively commanded by Major-Generals A. McD. McCook, T. L. Crittenden and C. C. Gilbert. McCook's corps embraced the 3d and 10th divisions, commanded by Brigadier-General L. H. Rousseau and Brigadier-General J. S. Jackson; Crittenden's corps was composed of the 4th and 6th divisions, commanded by Brigadier-Generals W. S. Smith and T. J. Wood; Gilbert's corps consisted of the 1st, 9th and 11th divisions, commanded by Brigadier-Generals Albert Schoepf. R. B. Mitchell and P. H. Sheridan. Opposed to this force was the Confederate Army of the Mississippi under General Braxton Bragg, the estimated strength of which was about 68,000 men. The right wing, under Major-General Leonidas Polk, consisted of Cheatham's division and the cavalry brigade of Colonel J. A. Wharton. The left wing, commanded by Major-General W. J. Hardee, was made up of the infantry divisions of Brigadier-General J. P. Anderson and Major-General S. B. Buckner, and the cavalry brigade of Colonel Joseph Wheeler. Page 673 It was Buell's intention to start from Louisville on the last day of September and move against Bragg, who was then at Bardstown, about 45 miles south, but an order was received relieving him of the command of the army and turning it over to Major-General George H. Thomas. The latter declined to accept, however, and was made second in command. This proceeding delayed the movement of the army for one day, and on October 1, it marched out in five columns. The left moved toward Frankfort to hold in check the Confederates in that vicinity, and the other four moved over the roads leading via Shepherdsville, Mount Washington, Fairfeld and Bloomfield to Bardstown. Each column encountered Confederate detachments a few miles out from Louisville and the delay occasioned by the almost constant skirmishing gave Bragg an opportunity to get away from Bardstown, the last of his infantry retiring about eight hours before Buell's advance entered the town. A sharp skirmish occurred between the cavalry and artillery, the pursuit of the Confederate rear-guard continuing for some distance in the direction of Springfield. Believing that the enemy would concentrate his forces about Danville, Buell ordered McCook to move toward that point via Harrodsburg while Crittenden proceeded on the Lebanon and Danville road and Gilbert took the direct road to Perryville. Shortly after leaving Bardstown Buell received information that Kirby Smith had crossed the Kentucky river near Salvisa and was moving to effect a junction with Bragg at Harrodsburg or Perryville. Orders were therefore sent to McCook to move directly to the latter place. Gilbert's corps arrived within 3 miles of Perryville on the afternoon of the 7th and was drawn up in line of battle, as the enemy appeared to be in considerable force and an attack was apprehended. Captain Gay pushed forward with his brigade of cavalry and a battery, driving the Confederate rear-guard back about a mile and enveloping the enemy's position, which was such that it indicated he intended to make a stand at Perryville. As water had been somewhat scarce during the last three days, Buell's first step was to gain possession of Doctor's creek, a tributary of the Chaplin river, and to accomplish this Colonel Daniel McCook's brigade of Sheridan's division was ordered to seize and hold a position commanding the creek. The enemy tried to prevent this, but McCook carried out the order just before daylight on the morning of the 8th. Orders were sent to commanders of the 1st and 2nd corps to move at 3 a. m. on the 8th and take positions on the right and left of Gilbert. These orders did not reach McCook and Crittenden until after 2 o'clock in the morning. The former marched at 5 o'clock and reached the field at 10:30 a. m., and the latter's command was not in the engagement at all. The battle on the 8th began with the attempt ot the Confederates to drive McCook from his position covering Doctor's creek, and was opened with artillery. McCook ordered Barnett's battery to the right of his line to reply, and after about three-fourths of an hour Barnett succeeded in silencing the enemy's guns. Buckner then commenced massing his troops in the edge of the woods in which McCook had placed his skirmishers. Gay's cavalry started toward Perryville, but was stopped by Buckner. Dismounting part of his command, Gay joined the skirmishers of the 54th Ohio and soon became engaged with Buckner's force, consisting of two brigades of infantry. The 2nd Missouri and 44th Illinois were then sent forward to the support of the skirmish line, driving the enemy from the woods and back across an open field. In the meantime the divisions of Mitchell and Sheridan had been moved to a position where they could come quickly to McCook's support, with orders to hold their ground until the army was prepared to attack in force. About the time that Buckner was driven back across the field Rousseau's division came up on the Mackville road and formed in an Page 674 open field on the left of Gilbert, but with considerable space between the two commands. At 2 p. m. the enemy made an attack on the skirmishers of the 33d Ohio. The remainder of that regiment and the 2nd Ohio were sent to the support of the skirmish line and in a short time the action became general, the heaviest assault falling on the left of the line, where it was gallantly repulsed by Starkweather's brigade. General Jackson was killed at the first fire, and this caused a portion of his division to give way in some confusion. Brigadier-General W. R. Terrill, commanding the 33d brigade, lost his life while trying to rally the men, and 10 pieces of his artillery were left on the ground, though 8 of these were afterward recovered. The Confederates next took advantage of the gap between Rousseau's right and Gilbert's left, pressing the attack at that point with an overwhelming force. Rousseau's right was turned and his line was being forced back, when Gooding's and Steedman's brigades of Gilbert's corps came to his assistance, driving back the enemy and reoccupying the ground near the Russell house. Steedman posted his battery along with that of Pinney's near the Russell house and opened a terrific fire on the Confederate lines, while the batteries of Sheridan's division caught the enemy on the left flank and poured in a heavy enfilading fire from that direction. Carlin's brigade of Mitchell's division now reinforced Sheridan, a charge was made with such intrepidity that the Confederates were completely routed and forced back through the town, Sheridan capturing 2 caissons and 1S wagons loaded with ammunition, as well as the guard with them, consisting of 3 officers and 138 men. This ended the battle, though the Union commanders spent the greater part of the night in perfecting their plans for a renewal of the fight on the following morning. At daylight on the 9th the Federal camps were astir and at 6 o'clock the corps of Crittenden and Gilbert moved forward to attack the enemy's front and left flank. When the advance reached the town it was discovered that the enemy had abandoned his position during the night and fallen back toward Harrodsburg. The Union losses in the battle of Perryville were 845 killed, 2,851 wounded and 515 missing. Bragg reported his losses as being 510 killed, 2,635 wounded and 251 missing. This engagement ended the Confederate invasion of Kentucky. The effort to force the state to secede had failed. On October 12 Bragg made a report from Bryantsville. in which he said: "The campaign here was predicated on a belief and the most positive assurances that the people of this country would rise in mass to assert their independence. No people ever had so favorable an opportunity, but I am distressed to add there is little or no disposition to avail of it. Willing, perhaps, to accept their independence, they are neither disposed nor willing to risk their lives or their property in its achievement." In the same report he also says: "Ascertaining that the enemy was heavily reinforced during the night, I withdrew my force early the next morning to Harrodsburg and thence to this point. * * * My future movements cannot be indicated, as they will depend in a great measure on those of the enemy." The only "reinforcement" added to Buell's army on the night of the 8th was Crittenden's corps, and this was near enough to have been brought into the action at Perryville, had the commanding general deemed it necessary. As "the enemy" showed a disposit10n to act on the aggressive, Bragg hurried to get out of Kentucky, retreating via Cumberland gap into Tennessee, the Union army continuing the pursuit as far as London, Kentucky, harassing the rear-guard and capturing a number of stragglers. (This engagement is sometimes called the battle of Chaplin Hills.)


Pest-House, Louisiana, May 28, 1864. (See Port Hudson, same date.)


Petersburg, Tenn., March 2, 1863.


Petersburg, Virginia, June 9, 1864. Detachment, Army of the James. Brigadier-General August V. Kautz with the cavalry division, in what was to be a joint movement on Petersburg, assailed and carried the first line of the Confederate intrenchments by dismounting his men and slowly advancing until the enemy was obliged to retreat. The men were then remounted and started for the city, but before reaching it a large ravine had to be crossed. While Kautz was moving down this he was fired on by the Confederate artillery and musketry and after waiting for some time for the infantry under Major-General Q. A. Gillmore to come up, he withdrew, having lost 4 killed, 26 wounded and 6 captured or missing. Gillmore's command, through some misunderstanding did not advance to support Kautz, but during the day skirmished with the enemy in his works on another side of town. In the fighting there Gillmore lost 25 in killed and wounded. Petersburg, Virginia, June 15, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Army of the Potomac and Army of the James. When the Army of the Potomac began the campaign from the Rapidan to the James on May 4, 1864, General Butler, with the Army of the James, was directed to move against Richmond by the south bank of the James river, and General Hunter was to move up the Shenandoah Valley, "destroying, as far as practicable, railroads that could be used as lines of supplies to the enemy, and also the James river and the Kanawha canal." After the battle of Cold Harbor, on June 3, Grant resolved to transfer the field of operations to the south side of the James, and on the 5th he sent a despatch to General Halleck, chief of staff, in which he stated: "My idea from the start has been to beat Lee's army if possible north of Richmond; then after destroying his lines of communication on the north side of the James river to transfer the army to the south side and besiege Lee in Richmond, or follow him south if he should retreat. * * * Once on the south side of the James river, I can cut off all sources of supply to the enemy except what is furnished by the canal. If Hunter succeeds in reaching Lynchburg, that will be lost to him also. Should Hunter not succeed, I will still make the effort to destroy the canal by sending cavalry up the south side of the river with a pontoon train to cross wherever they can." Grant had now adopted practically the same plan that had been proposed by McClellan two years before. In June, 1862, McClellan said: "The superiority of the James river route as a line of attack and supply is too obvious to need exposition," and again in August, when the authorities in Washington were needlessly alarmed for the safety of the national capital, he telegraphed General Halleck: "Here is the true defense of Washington. It is here, on the banks of the James, that the fate of the Union should be decided." In view of the final success of the army under Grant these words are prophetic. The siege of Petersburg was also the siege of Richmond, for with the fall of the former the latter was doomed. From Richmond the James river flows south in almost a straight line for 10 miles, when it turns toward the southeast and after a sinuous course receives the Appomattox at City Point. Petersburg is located on the Appomattox, 10 miles above its mouth and 22 miles south of Richmond. The two cities were connected by the Richmond & Petersburg railway. From Petersburg the South Side railroad ran west along the bank of the Appomattox to Lynchburg; the Weldon railroad ran south and the Norfolk southeast. A short line also connected Petersburg with City Point. Directly across the James from Richmond was the Page 676 village of Manchester, from which the Richmond & Danville railroad ran west along the south bank of the James river, while along the north bank of that stream was the Kanawha canal, mentioned by Grant in his despatch to Halleck. To cut these lines of commun1cation was the first object of the Federal commander. About half way between Petersburg and City Point are the Point of Rocks and Broadway landing on the Appomattox. From this point to the Dutch Gap bend on the James the distance in a straight line is about 3 miles. The peninsula enclosed by the two rivers below this line is known as Bermuda Hundred, which had been occupied by Butler early in May and a line of works constructed across the neck of the peninsula. This position was a strong one for defense, but General Beauregard, commanding the defenses of Petersburg, threw up a line of works immediately in Butler's front, thus preventing his further advance and bottling him up on the peninsula, where he remained until the Army of the Potomac moved to the south side of the James. On June 9, Kautz charged and carried a portion of the Petersburg works, but not being supported by the infantry was unable to hold them, though he brought out 40 prisoners and 1 piece of artillery when he withdrew. The withdrawal of troops from Cold Harbor began on the 10th. Shortly after dark on the 12th the 18th corps, the last to leave the trenches, took up the march to White House landing on the Pamunkey river, where the men were embarked on transports, and by sunset on the 14th the corps joined Butler at Bermuda Hundred, near the junction of the James and Appomattox rivers. The other corps crossed the Chickahominy and marched across the country, striking the James river in the vicinity of Malvern hill. By the 20th of June Grant had about 110,000 men in front of the Petersburg and Richmond intrenchments. His forces were organized as follows: The Army of the Potomac, Major-General George G. Meade, commanding, consisted of the 2nd, 5th, 6th and 9th corps of infantry and the cavalry corps. The 2nd corps was commanded by Major-General Winfield S. Hancock and was composed of three divisions, the first under command of Brigadier-General Francis C. Barlow, the 2nd under Major-General John Gibbon, and the 3d under Major-General David B. Birney. The 5th corps, commanded by Major-General Gouverneur K. Warren, embraced four divisions, respectively commanded by Brigadier-Generals Charles Griffin, Romeyn B. Ayres, Samuel W. Crawford and Lysander Cutler. The 6th corps. Major-General Horatio G. Wright commanding, included three divisions, the 1st commanded by Brigadier-General David A. Russell, the 2nd by Brigadier-General George W. Getty, and the 3d by Brigadier-General James B. Ricketts. Major-General Ambrose E. Burnside was in command of the 9th corps, which was composed of four divisions respectively commanded by Brigadier-Generals James H. Ledlie, Robert H. Potter, Orlando B. Willcox and Edward Ferrero, the last named being composed of colored troops. The cavalry corps was under command of Major General Philip H. Sheridan, and was made up of three divisions, the 1st commanded by Brigadier-General Alfred T. A. Torbert, the 2nd by Brigadier-General David McM. Gregg, and the 3d by Brigadier-General James H. Wilson. With the 2nd corps was the artillery brigade of Colonel John C. Tidball; Colonel Charles S. Wainwright commanded the artillery brigade of the 5th corps, and Colonel Charles H. Tompkins of the 6th, while the artillery of the 9th was distributed among the several divisions. Captain James M. Robertson's brigade of horse artillery was attached to Sheridan's command. The Army of the James, Major-General Benjamin F. Butler commanding, was made up of the 10th and 18th infantry corps, the cavalry division under Brigadier-Page 677 General August V. Kautz, the siege artillery under Colonel Henry L. Abbot, and the naval brigade under Brigadier-General Charles K. Graham. The 10th corps, commanded by Brigadier-General William H. T. Brooks, included the three divisions commanded by Brigadier-Generals Alfred H. Terry, John W. Turner and Orris K. Ferry. The 18th corps, commanded by Major-General William F. Smith, embraced the three divisions under Brigadier-Generals George J. Stannard, John H. Martindale and Edward W. Hinks. In addition to the regular organizations named there were some unattached troops. Early on the morning of June 13 Lee discovered that the Federal troops in his front had been withdrawn, and immediately put his own army in motion for the Richmond and Petersburg intrenchments. The Confederate works about the two cities are thus described by Hotchkiss in the Virginia volume of the Confederate Military History: "At this time, Beauregard's left rested on the navigable Appomattox, about one mile north of east from Petersburg. * * * On his right, Anderson, with the First corps, extended the Confederate line for some 3 miles to the southward, in front of Petersburg, crossing the Norfolk & Petersburg railroad in the vicinity of the Jerusalem plank road, thence westward for some 2 miles; the Third corps, under A. P. Hill, extended the Confederate right, on the south of Petersburg, to the Weldon & Petersburg railroad. Pickett's division took up the line on the west side of the Appomattox and extended it north to the James, at the big bend opposite Dutch gap. The fortifications on the north of the James, from Chaffin's bluff northward, along the front of Richmond, were held by batteries and by local troops in command of Lieut.-General R. S. Ewell. Subsequently the Confederate works were extended to the southwest of Petersburg for more than 10 miles to beyond Hatcher's run, until Lee's line of defensive works, consisting of forts and redoubts connected by breastworks and strengthened by all means known to the art of war, extended for nearly 40 miles." According to the same authority, "Lee had, in his 40-mile line, for the defense of Richmond and Petersburg, some 54,000 men, the remaining veterans of the Army of Northern Virginia, and of the department of North Carolina and Southern Virginia, Beauregard's army." From official sources it is learned that on June 30 Lee's forces numbered 54,751 men, which was gradually increased until on December 20 he had 66,533. During the same period the Union army had lost in killed, wounded and missing 47,554 men, but recruits had been brought in until on December 20 Grant had 110,364 men of all arms in front of the Confederate works. About 4 a. m. on June 15 Smith's corps and Kautz's cavalry left Broadway landing for an assault on Beauregard's works. Kautz soon met the Confederate skirmishers and at Baylor's farm, about 4 miles from Petersburg, a force of infantry and artillery was found occupying a line of rifle-pits. Hinks' division of colored troops made a vigorous attack, dislodged the enemy and captured 1 piece of artillery. Smith then advanced about a mile and a half to the Jordan farm, where his entire front was subjected to an artillery fire that drove the Union batteries from their position. Some delay was incurred in reconnoitering, but at 7 p. m. the divisions of Brooks and Hinks pushed forward and carried the works, capturing over 200 prisoners, 4 guns, with horses, caissons and ammunition, several stands of colors and the intrenching tools. About the same time Martindale's division carried the works between Jordan's house and the Appomattox, capturing 2 pieces of artillery and equipments complete. Hancock was directed on the evening of the 14th to Page 678 hold his corps in readiness to move, but he was delayed in waiting for rations from City Point until 10:30 a. m. on the 15th, when the -command moved without the rations. Owing to an incorrect map l1e was unable to join Smith until after the action at Jordan's was over. At 8 o'clock that evening Burnside started the 9th corps to reinforce Smith and Hancock, and at 10 o'clock the next morning his command went into position on Hancock's left. Hancock was placed in command of all the troops and ordered to make a general assault at 6 p. m. Before that hour Egan's brigade of Birney's division assaulted and carried a redoubt, known as redan No. 12, on Birney's left . In the attack at 6 o'clock redans Nos. 4, 13 and 14, with their connecting lines of breastworks, were carried, but with considerable loss to the assailants. At dawn on the 17th Potter's division surprised the enemy in the works on the ridge near the Shand house, captured 4 guns, 5 stands of colors, 600 prisoners and 1,500 stands of small arms. This was accomplished without a shot being fired, the bayonet alone being used. The Confederates were asleep with their arms in their hands, but Potter's men moved so quietly, and at the same time so swiftly, that they were over the works before the alarm could be given. Those captured surrendered without resistance and the others fled precipitately to an intrenched position along the west side of Harrison's creek. Later in the day this line was attacked by Willcox, but owing to a heavy enfilading fire of artillery from the left, and the lack of proper support, the assault was repulsed. Hartranft's brigade went into this action with 1,890 men, of whom but 1,o50 came back. In the meantime Warren's corps had come up and taken position on the left of Burnside. From prisoners Meade learned the character of Beauregard's intrenchments and the strength of his force, and ordered an assault by the whole line to be made at daylight on the morning of the 18th, hoping to carry the works before Lee could send reinforcements. When the line advanced on the morning of the 18th it was found that the enemy had evacuated the trenches held the day before and now occupied a new line some distance farther back toward the city of Petersburg. It was also discovered that Field's and Kershaw's divisions had arrived during the night and were already in position to meet the assault. On account of the change in the enemy's position and the nature of the ground over which the Federal troops had to advance, the attack was postponed until 12 o'clock. The 2nd corps then made two attacks on the right of the Prince George Court House road, but both were repulsed. Burnside encountered some difficulty in driving the Confederates from the railroad cut, but finally succeeded and established his corps within a hundred yards of the enemy's main line. Warren's assault was also unsuccessful, though some of Griffin's men fell within 20 feet of the enemy's works. Martindale's division carried a line of rifle-pits, but made no attack on the main line. The positions gained by the several commands were then intrenched and the siege of Petersburg was begun in earnest. From that time until the fall of the city on April 2, 1865. there was almost daily skirmishing at some point along the lines in front of Petersburg, with more serious engagements on the Jerusalem plank road, at Deep Bottom, along the Weldon, South Side and Danville railroads, Reams' Station, Yellow Tavern, Globe Tavern, Dinwiddie Court House, Fort Harrison, Chaffin's farm, Fair Oaks, Hatcher's run, Five Forks, Sailor's creek, and a number of minor skirmishes, each of which is herein treated under the proper head. In Potter's division of the 9th corps was the 48th Pennsylvania, a regiment Page 679 made up chiefly of miners from Schuylkill county and commanded by Lieut.-Colonel Henry Pleasants, who was a pract1cal mining engineer. After the assault of the 18th the men of this regiment began discussing the feasibility of running a mine under the enemy's works, and the plan was finally proposed by Pleasants to Burnside, who gave the project his unqualified approval and gained Meade's consent to it . The portion of the works to be mined was known as Elliott's salient, being occupied by Elliott's brigade of Bushrod Johnson's division and was near the center of the line on the east side of the city. With no tools but the pick and shovel the Pennsylvanians excavated a main gallery 522 feet in length with lateral galleries 37 and 38 feet long running under and nearly parallel to the enemy's works, the earth taken from the tunnel being carried out in cracker boxes. The work was commenced on June 25, and on July 27 the mine was charged with 8,000 pounds of powder, which was placed in eight magazines of 1,000 pounds each. On the 26th Burnside reported his plan for an assault to follow immediately upon the explosion of the mine. This plan contemplated the placing of Ferrero's division in the advance, because his other divisions had been under a heavy fire, day and night, for more than a month, while the colored troops had been held as a reserve. This selection was not approved by Meade and Grant, partly for the reason that it might be charged they were willing to sacrifice the negro soldiers by pushing them forward and partly because Ferrero's division had never been in close contact with the enemy and it was not known how they would conduct themselves in such an emergency, though the men had been drilling for several weeks for the work, and were not only willing but anxious for the undertaking. A division was then selected by lot, and it fell to General Ledlie to lead the assault. This was Burnside's weakest division and was commanded by a map whom General Humphreys, Meade's chief of staff, characterizes as "an officer whose total unfitness for such a duty ought to have been known to General Burnside, though it is not possible that it could have been. It was not known to General Meade." On the 29th an order was issued from headquarters providing that "At half-past three in the morning of the 30th, Major-General Burnside will spring his mine, and his assaulting columns will immediately move rapidly upon the breach, seize the crest in the rear and effect a lodgment there. He will be followed by Major-General Ord (now in command of the 18th corps), who will support him on the right, directing his movement to the crest indicated, and by Major-General Warren, who will support him on the left. Upon the explosion of the mine the artillery of all kinds in battery will open upon those points of the enemy's works whose fire covers the ground over which our columns must move, care being taken to avoid impeding the progress of our troops. Special instructions respecting the direction of the fire will be issued through the Chief of Artillery." At the appointed time Ledlie's division was in position in two lines, Marshall's brigade in front and Bartlett's in the rear, ready to charge into the breach the moment the mine was sprung. Four o'clock came and still no explosion. Officers and men who had been in a state of feverish expectancy since shortly after midnight, began to grow restless. An officer was sent to Burnside to inquire the cause of the delay, and it was learned that the fuse had died out. Lieut. Jacob Douty and Sergt. Henry Rees volunteered to enter the gallery and reignite the fuse. Their efforts were crowned with success though they had barely emerged from the mouth of the mine at 4:45 when the explosion took place. A solid mass of earth, mingled Page 680 with timbers, dismantled cannon and human beings, rose 200 feet in the air, and where Elliott's salient had stood was a ragged crater 170 feet long, 60 feet wide and 30 feet deep, filled with dust and debris. Immediately the Federal artillery—about 160 guns and mortars—opened fire and as soon as the dust had cleared away Marshall's line advanced, closely followed by Bartlett's, but the men could not resist the temptation to crowd forward to look into the hole, and the two brigades became hopelessly mixed. When the explosion occurred the Confederates hurried away from the intrenchments for 200 or 300 yards on either side of the mine, but the confusion of Ledlie's men and the delay in restoring something like order gave the enemy time to recover from his bewilderment, so that when the Union troops attempted to cross the crater they were met by a fire of musketry, straggling at first but increasing in effectiveness until at the end of half an hour the two brigades were huddled in a confused mass in the hole, unable to advance or withdraw. General Humphreys says: "General Ledlie did not accompany, much less lead, his division. He remained, according to the testimony before the Court of Inquiry that followed, in a bomb-proof about 50 yards inside our intrenchments, from which he could see nothing that was going on. He could not have given the instructions he received to his brigade commanders. Had the division advanced in column of attack, led by a resolute, intelligent commander, it would have gained the crest in fifteen minutes after the explosion, and before any serious opposition could have been made to it." Willcox sent in part of a brigade on the left of the mine, halting the remainder of his command until Ledlie's men should advance. He was criticised by the court of inquiry for not making efforts "commensurate with the occasion to carry out General Burnside's order to advance to Cemetery Hill." Ferrero moved in the rear of Willcox and upon reaching the most advanced line of the Federal works was compelled to halt on account of other troops occupying the position assigned to him. After some delay he was ordered to advance and carry the crest beyond the crater and was moving forward for that purpose when he was directed to halt. All seemed to be confusion, for in a little while the order to advance was renewed. By this time the enemy had strengthened his position on the hill and when Ferrero tried to carry it he failed. His colored troops established their valor, however, as in his report Ferrero says: "They were repulsed, but veterans could hardly have stood the fire to which they were exposed." At 6:30 orders were again sent to the division commanders not to halt at the works, but to advance at once to the crest without waiting for mutual support. Potter had moved his division forward by the flank soon after Ledlie began his advance. Upon reaching the vicinity of the mine Griffin's brigade turned to the right, took possession of the intrenchments which the Confederates had abandoned and began an attack upon Elliott's troops which were forced back after a long and severe contest. The other brigade attacked on the right of Griffin but was repulsed. The support of Ord and Warren did not come up to the expectations and at 9:15, after four hours of desultory fighting, Burnside received a peremptory order to withdraw his troops from the enemy's lines and cease offensive operations. This order was sent into the crater with instructions to the brigade commanders to consult and determine as to the time and manner of retiring. They sent back a request that a heavy fire of artillery and infantry should be opened to cover the withdrawal, but before the messenger reached Burnside the enemy made another attack and the men fell back in some disorder Page 681 leaving the wounded to fall into the hands of the Confederates. The Union loss on the 30th was 419 killed, 1,679 wounded and 1,910 missing. Marshall and Bartlett were both captured and 23 regimental commanders were reported either killed, wounded or missing. On the Confederate side the loss in Elliott's brigade was 677, and as Weisinger's brigade lost about as heavily the total casualties among the enemy numbered probably not far from 1,000, most of whom were killed or wounded, as but few prisoners were taken by the Federals. On July 5, General Early, commanding the Confederate forces in the Shenandoah valley, crossed the Potomac near Shepherdstown and moved toward Washington, hoping thereby to compel Grant to withdraw troops from in front of Richmond and Petersburg for the defense of the national capital and thus giving Lee an opportunity to once more assume the offensive. Grant did send Wright with the 6th corps to Washington and this corps was not with the Army of the Potomac again until the early part of December. Soon after the mine explosion Lee felt that he could reduce his force at Petersburg and sent Kershaw's division to reinforce Early in the valley. Grant met this movement by sending Sheridan with two divisions of cavalry early in August to operate against Early. After the failure of Burnside's mine no more assaults were made on the Confederate fortifications, the Union army conducting the siege by regular approaches, raids against the railroads and various movements by detachments. A few days after the battle of Hatcher's run (October 27) the army went into winter quarters and from that time until the next spring the operations were confined to occasional picket firing and artillery duels. Late in the summer Butler conceived the idea of cutting a canal across the narrow neck of the peninsula known as Dutch gap, by means of which the Union gunboats could ascend the James river without running the fire of the Confederate batteries. The isthmus was less than half a mile in width and by the close of the year the canal was completed, except a bulkhead at the upper end. This was blown up on New Year's day, but the earth fell back in the canal and the enemy immediately planted a battery opposite the entrance to the canal, thus preventing its being opened, and the whole scheme came to naught. By the latter part of March, 1865, numerous changes occurred in the Union army. Hancock had been sent north to organize a new corps and the 2nd was now commanded by Major-General A. A. Humphreys, the divisions being commanded by Miles, Barlow and Mott. Cutler's division of the 5th corps was no longer in existence as a separate organization. The divisions of the 6th corps were commanded by Wheaton, Getty and Seymour. After the mine explosion Burnside was, at his own request, granted leave of absence, the command of the 9th corps being turned over to Major-General John G. Parke. Willcox took command of the 1st division, Potter of the 2nd and Brigadier-General John F. Hartranft of the 3d. Sheridan still commanded the cavalry of the army, the 1st and 3d divisions, commanded by Devin and Custer, being known as the Army of the Shenandoah under command of General Merritt, and the 2nd division was commanded by General George Crook. Wilson had been sent to General Thomas at Nashville, Tennessee The Army of the James, Major-General E. O. C. Ord commanding, was composed of the 24th and 25th corps and some detached troops guarding the defenses of Bermuda Hundred and the landings along the James. The 24th corps, under Major-General John Gibbon. 1ncluded the divisions of Foster, Devens and Turner, and the 25th, Major-General Godfrey Weitzel commanding, consisted Page 682 of the divisions of Major-General August V. Kautz, Brigadier-General William Birney, and the cavalry division under Brigadier-General Ranald S. Mackenzie. On the last day of March the total strength of the army that was destined to close the war in Virginia was 114,335 men. On February 27, 1865, Sheridan, with the two divisions of cavalry, left Winchester and moved up the Shenandoah valley via Staunton and Charlottesville to within a short distance of Lynchburg, destroying the James river canal for some distance, and on March 27 effected a junction with Grant's army in front of Petersburg and Richmond. A few days before his arrival Lee and Jefferson Davis, president of the Confederacy, held a conference in Richmond, at which it was decided to abandon the Richmond and Petersburg lines as soon as the railroads would admit of it, the purpose being to unite Lee's forces with those of Johnston in North Carolina and attack Sherman there. Lee knew that Grant was preparing for a movement against the Danville and South Side railroads and to counteract this he proposed a sortie against the works on the east side of Petersburg, which he believed would oblige Grant to concentrate there, thus thwarting the design on the railroads and postponing the evacuation until the weather was more favorable. The point selected for the attack was a redoubt known as Fort Stedman, about a mile from the Appomattox and not more than 150 yards from the Confederate works. This part of the line was held by the 9th corps, Willcox on the right, Potter on the left and Hartranft in reserve, Fort Stedman being garrisoned by a detachment of the 14th New York heavy artillery under Major G. M. Randall. Gordon's corps was chosen to lead the assault, in which he was to be supported by portions of Hill's and Longstreet's commands. At this time Lee's army was in desperate straits for food. The capture of Fort Fisher in January had closed the port of Wilmington to the Confederacy, thus making it impossible to obtain supplies from abroad. It had become a common occurrence for squads of Confederate soldiers, impelled by the hope of securing better rations, to desert with their arms in their hands and come over to the Union lines. About 4 a. m. on March 25 several such squads, claiming to be deserters, left the enemy's works and when near enough made a dash and overpowered the Federal pickets. Immediately three strong columns emerged from the Confederate abatis, one moving straight on Fort Stedman, one on Battery No. 10, a short distance north of the fort, and the third against Battery No. 11, about the same distance on the south of it. The second column broke the main line between Batteries 9 and 10 and then turned toward the fort, taking it on the flank. The garrison was soon overpowered and the guns of the fort, as well as those of Battery 10, were turned on Willcox's troops. Batteries 11 and 12 were quickly captured by the column that had turned to the right, and for a little while it looked as though Gordon's attack was to be a complete success. When the assault was commenced it was so dark that friends and foes could not be distinguished and the artillery of the other batteries could not be used. As soon as it was light enough General McLaughlin, whose brigade occupied the line near Battery 11 opened a mortar fire on the enemy there and soon afterward carried the battery at the point of the bayonet. He then entered Fort Stedman, not knowing it was in the hands of the enemy, and was taken prisoner. Gordon was under the mistaken impression that there were some forts in the rear of the main line and the column which captured Battery 10 was moving to capture these forts when it came in contact with Hartranft's division, which was coming up to Willcox's support, and was driven back to the battery and Fort Stedman. Page 683 Battery 12 was retaken soon after No. 11, and by 7:30 Parke had driven the Confederates there into the fort, upon which was concentrated the fire of several of the Union batteries on the high ground in the rear. A heavy cross-fire of artillery and infantry was also brought to bear on the open space between the lines, rendering it almost impossible for the enemy to return to his own works or to receive reinforcements. Hartranft then moved against the enemy in the fort and recaptured the position with comparatively small loss, capturing 1,949 prisoners, most of whom had sought shelter in the bomb-proofs, and 9 stands of colors. Many of the Confederates were killed or wounded by the murderous cross-fire, while endeavoring to get back to their own lines. The Union loss was 494 in killed and wounded and 523 missing. The 2nd and 6th corps were then directed to make a reconnaissance of the enemy's works in front of Fort Fisher on the right of Fort Stedman, and to attack if it was found the force there had been sufficiently weakened to support Gordon. The intrenched picket line was carried and the Union troops advanced close to the main works, when it was found that Hill occupied them with a force too strong to be assaulted. The enemy tried to recapture the picket line at several points, but every attack was repulsed. In this affair the Union loss was about 900 in killed and wounded and 177 missing. The Confederate loss in killed and wounded was about the same and nearly 1,000 were captured. Grant was now in shape to operate against the railroads on Lee's right. On April 1 the Confederate forces under General Pickett were defeated in the battle of Five Forks, and on the morning of the 2nd the 6th corps broke through the Confederate lines near Hatcher's run, about 4 miles southwest of Petersburg. In an attempt to recover the captured line General A. P. Hill, one of Lee's ablest lieutenants, was killed. The defeat of Pickett and the breaking of his line determined Lee to evacuate the Petersburg fortifications before it was too late, and early on Sunday morning, April 2, he sent the following despatch to General J. C. Breckenridge, Confederate secretary of war: "I see no prospect of doing more than holding our position here till tonight. I am not certain that I can do that. If I can I shall withdraw tonight north of the Appomattox, and, if possible, it will be better to withdraw the whole line tonight from the James river. The brigades on Hatcher's run are cut off from us; the enemy has broken through our lines and intercepted between us and them, and there is no bridge over which they can cross the Appomattox this side of Goode's or Beaver's, which are not very far from the Danville railroad. Our only chance, then, of concentrating our forces is to do so near the Danville railway, which I shall endeavor to do at once. I advise that all preparation be made for leaving Richmond tonight. I will advise you later, according to circumstances." This despatch reached Richmond at 10:40 a. m. and was handed to President Davis while in attendance upon the service at St. Paul's church. He at once left the church and late in the day, in company with the officials of the Confederate States, took a train for Danville. That night the Confederate army withdrew from Richmond and Petersburg and commenced its last march, the line of which was up the Appomattox river toward Amelia Court House. During the winter the people of Richmond had been kept in ignorance of the real state of affairs and gave themselves up to pleasures, confidently expecting to hear any moment of a great Confederate victory. Lee's despatch, therefore, created consternation among them and there was a mad rush for the railroad stations in the desire to leave the doomed Page 684 city. But transportation was out of the question, as every available coach and car were loaded with the officials, attaches and effects of the government, and to make matters worse orders had been issued that none should be permitted to board the trains without a pass from the secretary of war, who could nowhere be found. Ewell's command was the last to leave the city, and scarcely had his rearguard departed when a fire broke out near the center of the town and the mob took possession. Stores were broken open and plundered, private residences were robbed and new fires kindled, until the city was a perfect pandemonium. At 3 a. m. on the 3d Parke and Wright discovered that the enemy had been withdrawn from the trenches in their front, and upon advancing ascertained that Petersburg was evacuated. Willcox was ordered to occupy the town with his division, while the remainder of the 9th, with all of the 6th and 2nd corps, pushed on after Lee. Weitzel, who commanded the Union forces on the north side of the James, was informed by General Devens about 5 o'clock that the Federal pickets had possession of the enemy's line. Two staff officers, with 40 of the headquarters' cavalry, were sent forward to receive the surrender of the city, in case the Confederates had evacuated it, and soon afterward Weitzel followed with the divisions of Kautz and Devens. Entering the city by the Osborn pike, Weitzel rode direct to the city hall, where he received the formal surrender of the city at 8:15 a. m. For several days Lieut. J. L. de Peyster, a son of Major General J. W. de Peyster, had carried a United States flag upon the pommel of his saddle, ready to raise it over the Confederate capitol when the city should fall into the hands of the Union forces. The same flag had waved over Butler's headquarters at New Orleans. Scarcely had the surrender been made before de Peyster, in company with Captain Langdon, chief of artillery on Weitzel's staff, raised this flag over the state house, bringing Virginia once more under the realm of the Stars and Stripes.


Petersburg, Virginia, February 27-March 28, 1865. Sheridan's Expedition. On the 27th Major-General P. H. Sheridan left Winchester for an expedition to the front of Petersburg, the object being the destruction of the Virginia Central railroad, the James river canal, and the capture of Lynchburg, after which Sheridan was to join General Sherman's army in North Carolina or return to Winchester. His forces consisted of the 1st and 3d cavalry divisions of the Army of the Shenandoah, respectively commanded by Brigadier-General T. C. Devin and Bvt. Major General G. A. Custer; one section of the 2nd and one of the 4th U. S. artillery, and a pontoon train, the total strength being about 10,000 men. Mount Crawford was reached on March 1, and here about 200 of Rosser's Confederate cavalry were discovered trying to burn the bridge over the middle fork of the Shenandoah. Two regiments of Capehart's brigade swam the river above the bridge, charged and routed Rosser, pursuing him nearly to Staunton, killing a few of his men and capturing 30 prisoners, with 20 wagons and ambulances, Capehart's loss being 5 men wounded. This caused General Early to retreat from Staunton to Waynesboro, where he intrenched a position. At Staunton Sheridan detached a part of his command for the destruction of some stores at Swoope's station, and pushed on with the main column, Custer's division in advance, for Waynesboro. At Fisherville, 6 miles from Staunton, Custer's advance encountered the enemy's pickets and drove them rapidly to Waynesboro. Without waiting for the 1st division to come up, Custer sent the 2nd brigade against Early's position, to display the force in the works, and directed Lieut.-Colonel Whitaker to take three regiments of Page 685 Pennington's brigade to the extreme right. The 1st Connecticut, 2nd Ohio and 3d New Jersey, all armed with Spencer carbines, were moved to the right and dismounted under cover of the woods. When they were in position to attack, Woodruff's section of horse artillery opened fire with such vigor that the Confederates were compelled to lie down behind their embankment. Wells and Capehart moved their brigades to the attack in front, at the charge, and at the same time the three regiments on the right caught the enemy on the flank, the whole movement being so sudden that Early's men were completely routed and fled in all directions, leaving 11 pieces of artillery, with their horses and caissons; 200 wagons loaded with subsistence, with their teams and harness; a large quantity of ammunition; all the camp equipage and officers' baggage; the headquarters' papers; 16 battle flags and 1,600 prisoners in the hands of the Federals. On the 3d the expedition moved toward Charlottesville, which place was reached on the 4th, the bridges, depots, etc., between Staunton and Charlottesville having been destroyed during the march. At Charlottesville the command divided, the 1st division moving to Scottsville on the James river, and the 3d, with the wagon trains, along the Lynchburg railroad, destroying the bridges and culverts as far as Buffalo river. The two divisions came together near New Market, where the dam and locks on the canal were thoroughly destroyed. At Duguidsville. on the 8th, the Confederates fired on Devin's division from across the river, but the 5th U. S. cavalry was dismounted and covered the retirement of the rest of the division. All the locks on the canal between Goochland and Duguidsville were destroyed, as well as large stores of cotton, tobacco and subsistence. Columbia was reached on the 10th, where the expedition rested for a day, and on the 12th the march was resumed toward the Virginia Central railroad, which was struck at Tolersville on the 13th, and several miles of track torn up. The next day Custer directed his march toward Ground Squirrel bridge, while Devin moved along the railroad to the South Anna. Both bridges were destroyed after a slight skirmish with the guards, in which the 5th U. S. cavalry captured a number of prisoners and 3 pieces of artillery. The 1st division was here ordered to move toward Hanover Court House and the 3d to push south as far as Ashland, but upon learning that a considerable force of the enemy under Longstreet was moving to intercept the expedition, the two divisions were united, the whole command recrossed the South Anna and moved along the north bank of the Pamunkey to White House landing, which was reached on the 18th. Here the expedition rested until the 25th, when it again took up the march and two days later rejoined the Army of the Potomac. During the movement Sheridan's forces captured 1,603 prisoners, 2,154 horses and mules, 16 battle flags, 17 pieces of artillery and over 2,000 stands of small arms. The line of march was marked by wholesale destruction. Sixteen large mills and factories 26 warehouses and 8 railroad depots, together with their contents of valuable stores, were laid in ashes; 47 miles of railroad track, 30 miles of telegraph, 49 canal locks, 44 railroad and several wagon bridges, 10 water tanks, and about 40 canal and flatboats all loaded with provisions, etc., were completely destroyed.


Petersburg, West Virginia, October 29, 1862. Detachments of 23d Illinois and Ringgold Pennsylvania Cavalry and Battery L. 1st Illinois Artillery. The detachment, under Lieut.-Colonel James Quirk, while in pursuit of a party of Confederate cavalry, which had run off 200 head of cattle in Hardy county, came up with it at daylight 5 miles from Petersburg. A few shells quickly dispersed the enemy and the cattle Page 686 were recovered. The Federals suffered no loss, but it was thought that the enemy had 3 men killed. Sixteen Confederates were taken prisoners.


Petersburg, West Virginia, March 3, 1864. Detachment of Ringgold Pennsylvania Cavalry. Lieut. Benjamin W. Denny, with 27 men, was sent out on the Moorefield road from Petersburg on a scout. A short distance out he encountered a small force of the enemy, which he drove back until it was reinforced, and he in turn was obliged to fall back with a loss of 7 men missing. Two Confederates were wounded.


Petersburg, West Virginia, June 19, 1864. Pendleton Home Guards. Captain John Boggs, with 30 men of his company, was returning from New Creek with supplies, when he was attacked near Petersburg by about 60 of McNeil's men, under command of a Lieut. Dolen. The Confederates drove the guards to the woods, captured several horses and burned 1 wagon. Boggs rallied his men and recaptured the train. In the fight Dolen was killed, several of his men were wounded and the rest driven to the mountains. Boggs lost 6 killed and several wounded.


Petersburg, West Virginia, October 11, 1864. Pendleton Home Guards. Captain John Boggs, with 198 men, met a detachment of the enemy under Harness, 2 miles south of Petersburg, and the fight which ensued lasted about 3 hours. The results were not reported. Petersburg, West Virginia, (Note). Besides the engagements above noted, mention is made in the official records of skirmishes in the vicinity of Petersburg on September 7 and 12, 1861; January 10 and 15, and September 6, 1863, but no circumstantial reports of these affairs can be found.


Petersburg Gap, West Virginia, September 4, 1863. (See Moorefield, same date.)


Petersburg & Weldon Railroad, Virginia, May 5-11, 1864. (See Kautz's Raid.)


Petit Jean, Arkansas, July 10, 1864. Detachment 3d Arkansas Cavalry. Captain John W. Gill, with a company of this regiment, had a fight with Captain Adams' company of Confederates on the Arkansas river near Petit Jean, in which 2 of the enemy were killed and several wounded. The Union force suffered no casualties.


Peyton's Mill, Mississippi, September 19, 1862. 2nd Iowa Cavalry. Colonel Edward Hatch, of the 2nd la. cavalry, moved forward from Jacinto toward Peyton's mill. When within 2 miles of that place he began skirmishing with the enemy's pickets and drove them into the mill. A regiment of dismounted cavalry appearing was immediately engaged, but after 20 minutes' fighting was put to rout with a loss of 5 killed, 10 wounded, and 6 captured. Hatch reports no casualties in his command.


Phelps' Bayou, Louisiana, April 26, 1863. (See Clark's Bayou.) Philadelphia, Tennessee, September 27, 1863. General H. W. Halleck, reporting on the east Tennessee campaign, states that after Rosecrans had fallen back to Chattanooga, Burnside " had occupied Philadelphia and other points on the south side of the river with small garrisons. The enemy surprised some of these forces, and captured 6 guns, 50 wagons, and 600 or 700 prisoners. The remainder retreated to Loudon and succeeded in holding the crossing of the river." This is the only mention of the affair in the official war records.


Philadelphia, Tennessee, October 15, 1863. 45th Ohio Cavalry. Colonel Frank Wolford, commanding an unattached cavalry brigade in the east Tennessee campaign, reports that about 100 Confederates Page 687 attacked the wagon train of the 45th Ohio 6 miles from Philadelphia on the Cotton Port road, but the guard repulsed them, killing 2.


Philadelphia, Tennessee, October 20-22, 1863. Colonel Frank Wolford's Unattached Cavalry Brigade. At 10 a. m. on the 20th Wolford learned that between 1,200 and 1,500 Confederates had attacked the wagon train of his brigade 6 miles from Philadelphia, and immediately sent the 1st and 11th Kentucky cavalry to its assistance. These two regiments got in the enemy's rear and were cut off. Another body of the enemy approached from Sweet Water and with the rest of his men, about 700, Wolford attacked and drove them back several times. Owing to the enemy's superior numbers Wolford was finally obliged to fall back, abandoning his 6 pieces of artillery. During the following two days the Confederates were again driven out of and beyond Philadelphia. The Federal loss, all of which occurred on the 20th, was 7 killed, 25 wounded and 447 captured.


Philadelphia, Tennessee, March 1, 1865. Detachment 7th Tennessee Mounted Infantry. Captain William A. Cochran, reporting from Athens under date of March 2, says: "I sent a scout out yesterday after the guerrillas that were near Philadelphia. They ran into the rear of them and killed 5 or 6, and captured 7 horses and large amounts of other property, such as clothing, boots and shoes. We took no prisoners."


Philippi, West Virginia, June 3, 1861. U. S. Forces under Brigadier-General T. A. Morris. Two columns, one under Colonel B. F. Kelley and the other under Colonel Ebenezer Dumont, moved on opposite sides of the river against Philippi and at daylight attacked simultaneously. The movement was a complete surprise, the enemy being routed without difficulty and with little resistance. A force was immediately sent in pursuit, during which 6 were killed and a number wounded. The only casualty on the Federal side was the wounding of Colonel Kelley.


Philippi, West Virginia, March 20, 1862.


Phillips' Creek, Mississippi, May 21, 1862. 2nd Division, Right Wing, Army of the Tennessee. This action was an incident of the siege of Corinth. As the lines were being extended along the ridge between Phillips' and Bridge creeks, the pickets of Davies' division encountered a brigade of Confederate infantry posted on the Corinth side of the former. Davies ordered up a field battery and threw a few shells into the enemy's ranks, when they fell back and the whole Union line was moved up to the creek, where it intrenched.


Phillips' Cross Roads, North Carolina, March 4, 1865. Kilpatrick's Cavalry. On the evening of the 3d the cavalry went into camp near Phillips' cross-roads, about 10 miles south of Wadesboro, the 1st brigade being in the rear. As Hampton and Wheeler were both known to be in the vicinity, and an attack by their combined forces was expected, the 2nd Kentucky was sent about three-fourths of a mile and the 9th Pennsylvania a mile and a half to the rear, with orders to station themselves behind barricades facing to the rear to guard against a surprise. About 7 a. m. on the 4th the pickets of the 9th Pennsylvania were attacked several times, but each time the enemy was repulsed. Believing the attacking party to be a small one, Lieut.-Colonel Kimmel, commanding the regiment, sent a detail of 100 men under Lieut. Bassler to gain the enemy's rear. Bassler gained a hill in the rear of the Confederates, but found the attacking force to be Dibrell's entire brigade and reported the fact to Kimmel, who was immediately afterward ordered to rejoin the brigade. About 11 a. m. the enemy changed his tactics and began mass1ng his forces on the right of the 1st brigade and the left of the 2nd. The pickets of the 2nd brigade were attacked and forced back with slight loss, and the Page 688 l0th Ohio, dismounted and behind a barricade, was flanked from its position and fell back to the line of battle which Colonel Atkins, commanding the brigade, had formed with the rest of his command. The 1st brigade then passed through the lines of the 2nd and Atkins held his position at the cross-roads until all the divisions had passed, withdrawing about 5 p. m. and skirmishing with the enemy as he rejoined the main body. During the evening there was considerable firing along the Federal front, but very few casualties were reported. Phillips' Ferry, Georgia, July 8, 1864. (See Chattahoochee River.)


Phillips' Fork, Kentucky, May 10, 1863. 44th Ohio Infantry. Colonel Samuel A. Gilbert, reporting to Brigadier-General O. B. Willcox, states that 100 men of the 44th, under Captain Alpheus H. Moore, pursued 300 Confederates up the Red Bird river and attacked them at Phillios' fork. The enemy fled at the first fire and the Federals followed, capturing some arms, equipments, etc. Several Confederates were wounded.


Philomont, Virginia, November 1, 1862. Pleasonton's Cavalry. The cavalry division reached Philomont about noon and drove out some of Stuart's Confederate cavalry. A squadron was then sent out to reconnoiter the road to Union, but was attacked by a superior force of the enemy and forced back. Colonel David McM. Gregg, with the 3d Indiana and 8th Pennsylvania, was sent to the support of the squadron engaged. Gregg dismounted part of his men, threw them forward as skirm1shers and drove the enemy from a piece of woods. While this was taking place, Pennington's battery opened a vigorous fire on the Confederates, forcing them to change the position of their artillery, which then began throwing grape and canister into the woods where Gregg's skirm1shers were. In the meantime their cavalry fell back to a position behind the artillery and Gregg retired, having lost 2 killed and 13 wounded. The enemy's loss was somewhat heavier.


Philomont, Virginia, November 9. 1862. Major E. V. White, commanding a battalion of Virginia (Confederate) cavalry, reported on the 14th that 4 of his men "drove out of the town of Philomont 50 Yankee cavalry, wounding 1 Yankee, capturing 2 negroes and 3 wagons from the rear of a long train, which they brought safely to camp." Federal reports make no mention of the affair.


Pichaco Pass, Arizona, April 15, 1862. 1st California Cavalry.


Pickett's Mill, Georgia, May 27, 1864. (See Dallas.)


Piedmont, Virginia, June 5, 1864. Department of West Virginia. Major-General David Hunter, commanding the army in the Lynchburg campaign, after crossing the Shenandoah river at Port Republic, bivouacked his command a mile south of that town and at an early hour on the 5th advanced on the Staunton road. About 6 a. m. the Confederate skirmishers were encountered and after a sharp skirmish driven back. At the village of Piedmont, not far from Mt. Crawford, the enemy was found drawn up in an advantageous position and at 9 a. m. the battle was commenced by artillery firing. An hour later the 1st infantry brigade, under Colonel Augustus Moor, moved forward on the right and drove the Confederates from their advanced position. Colonel Joseph Thoburn occupied the left with the 2nd brigade on elevated ground. By 11:30 a. m. the Federal artillery silenced the enemy's guns. An hour after noon the 1st brigade attacked the enemy's line in front, and after a hard fight was compelled to fall back without carrying it. At 2 p. m. the Confederates made a determined attack on Moor's front, but with the aid of a cross fire from the artillery he was able to hold the position. Thoburn meantime moved his brigade across the open space between his own and Moor's brigades, and when the Confederates made their attack he Page 689 fell upon their exposed flank. They at once gave way, and Moor, quick to follow up the advantage, charged over the breastworks in his front and added to the enemy's confusion. Colonel John E. Wynkoop's cavalry brigade next assaulted the Confederate right and the rout was complete. This affair cost the Federal forces little' less than 500 men in killed, wounded and missing. Hunter captured 1,000 men, and estimated the Confederate loss in killed and wounded at 600. Piedmont, West Virginia, November 28, 1864. Company A, 6th West Virginia Infantry. A force of some 300 Confederates, under the command of Major McDonald, approached the town about 2 p. m. on the New Creek road. Captain Fisher, commanding the company of Union soldiers, commenced skirmishing with the enemy some distance from the town, but as he had but 35 men he decided to fall back across the river and take a position on a hill which would give him a good command of the town and its approaches. Here he repulsed two attempts to cross the river, keeping up the fight for 3 hours, when the Confederates retreated in the direction of Elk Garden, leaving 1 man dead on the field and 1 mortally wounded. Ten or 15 wounded were carried away. Fisher's company met with no casualties whatever. Piedmont Station, Virginia, May 16, 1863. Detachment of Virginia and Pennsylvania Cavalry. Captain Summer's company of Maryland cavalry was surprised at Charlestown about 1 a. m. and the greater part of the command taken prisoners, together with some 75 horses. Captain Utt, with about 120 men, started 1n pursuit and came up with the Confederates near Piedmont Station in Fauquier county, and a sharp skirmish ensued, in which all the Union prisoners and horses were recaptured, as well as 40 of the Confederates, with their horses and equipments. Captain Utt and a sergeant were killed. The enemy lost 2 men killed and a number wounded.


Pierson's Farm, Virginia, June 16-17, 1864. Detachment, 36th U. S. Colored Infantry; 2nd and 5th U. S. Cavalry. While on an expedition from Point Lookout, Maryland, to Pope's creek, Virginia, the detachment, Colonel Alonzo G. Draper commanding, encountered the enemy at Pierson's farm on the afternoon of the 16th. Draper ordered a charge and started himself to lead it, but when within a few hundred yards of the enemy's lines he discovered that he was accompanied by only his staff and part of his escort, the main body having failed to obey the order to charge. Under the circumstances he hastily withdrew, but the next morning he again advanced with 200 infantry and 36 cavalry and found the Confederates, estimated at 600 strong, 'busily engaged in constructing a barricade across the road. Concealing the cavalry and 50 of the infantry at the bend of the road, Draper advanced with the remainder of the infantry and opened fire at 500 yards range, directing his men to fire at the bottom of the barricade. After a few volleys the enemy hastily withdrew, taking several killed and wounded with him. No Federal casualties were reported. Pigeon Mountain, Georgia, September 14-18, 1863. (See Catlett's Gap.)


Pigeon's Ranch, New Mexico, March 28, 1862. (See Glorieta, same date.)


Piggot's Mill, West Virginia, August 25, 1861. Brigadier-General Henry A. Wise (Confederate) reported that his command was ambushed near Piggot's mill while going to the assistance of another detachment. Wise's loss was 1 man killed and 5 wounded, but he does not state the loss of the Federals. His report is the only mention of the affair in the official records of the war. Pig Point, Virginia, June 5, 1861. Steamer Harriet Lane. This vessel came within a mile and a half of the Confederate battery on Pig Point and opened fire. After firing, using some 33 shots from her Page 690 11 and 32-pounder guns, she withdrew out of range, having had 6 men wounded by the return fire of the battery. The only report of the affair is a Confederate report, which states that no one in the garrison was killed, although one of the big guns was disabled.


Pike Creek, Missouri, October 25, 1862. Detachment of 12th Missouri Cavalry. Major Bazel F. Lazear, reporting to Brigadier-General J. W. Davidson from east of Thomasville, says: "Yesterday, at 12 a. m., we drove Boone out of his camp on a high hill on the divide between the waters of Pike creek and Eleven Points river. We chased him over the hills all the evening, killing 8, taking 18 prisoners, 25 stand of arms, and 12 horses. They are completely broken up."


Piketon, Kentucky, November 9, 1861. 33d and part of 2nd and 59th) Ohio Infantry and 142 Mounted Men. This detachment, under Colonel Joshua W. Sill, advanced on Piketon from Prestonburg. The mounted men encountered a Confederate reconnoitering party on the farther side of the west fork of the Big Sandy river and drove it back. After deploying skirmishers it was found that the town was deserted, except for a few mounted men who were driven out by a few shots from the artillery. The cavalry then occupied the place. On the way to Piketon several minor skirmishes occurred with scouting parties of the enemy. The casualties of the affair were 1 killed and 3 wounded' on the Confederate side and 1 killed on the Federal side.


Piketon, Kentucky, April 15, 1863. Detachment of 39th Kentucky Mounted Infantry. Colonel John Dils with 200 men of the 39th attacked the Confederates at Piketon at daylight. After sharp skirmishing for over an hour the enemy was obliged to surrender the town, the 87 members of the garrison becoming prisoners. All the stores in the place fell into the hands of the attacking party. No casualties were reported. Pikeville, Arkansas, June 26, 1864. (See Clarendon, same date.) Pikeville, North Carolina, April 11, 1865. Portion of Hospital Train of Army of the Tennessee. Asst. Surg. S. C. Rogers, with 23 convalescents and hospital attendants, proceeded from Goldsboro the day after the army moved. When near Pikeville the train was attacked by Confederates, thought to have been bushwhackers, and the escort was compelled to take to the woods. Rogers and another man were the only Union men who escaped.


Pillowville, Tennessee, November 15, 1863. Detachment of 4th Missouri Cavalry. Captain Theodore W. Hencke, with 100 men. surprised a conscripting party of the enemy, 34 strong, at 10 a. m. The Confederates fled at the first fire, Hencke and his men pursuing for 3' miles, during which time they killed 5 and captured 3. There were no casualties on the Federal side.


Pilot Knob, Missouri, September 26-27, 1864. (See Fort Davidson.)


Pilot Knob, Tennessee, August 20, 1862. (See Louisville & Nashville R. R- Pinckney Island, South Carolina, August 21, 1862. Detachment of 3d New Hampshire Infantry. A party of 100 Confederates surprised the camp of a company of the 3d New Hampshire infantry just before daylight. The result was the complete rout of the Federals, with a loss of 4 killed. 2 wounded and 36 captured or missing. The enemy had 8 wounded.


Pine Barren Bridge, Florida, November 17, 1864. Detachments of 2nd Maine and 1st Florida Cavalry. Lieut.-Colonel Andrew B. Spurling, with 450 men, while on an expedition from Barrancas to Pine Barren bridge, captured the Confederate picket at the bridge, then charged across, surprised and captured the entire guard, 38 in number, with 47 horses, 3 miles and 75 stands of arms, w1thout firing a shot.


Pine Barren Creek, Alabama, Dec 17-19, 1864. (See Pollard, December 13-19 1864.)


Pineberry Battery, South Carolina, April 29, 1862. Crew of Gunboat Hale. Captain Alexander C. Rhind attacked the Confederate battery at Pineberry and after a spirited engagement succeeded in landing and destroying the 2 guns. While returning with the gunboat he was twice attacked, near Willstown and White Point, but got his command off without a casualty. The Confederate report makes no mention of any loss.


Pine Bluff, Arkansas, October 25, 1863. 5th Kansas and 1st Indiana Cavalry. Brigadier-General John S. Marmaduke, with some 2,500 Confederates, approached Pine Bluff on the morning of the 25th and after a demand to surrender had been refused drove in the Federal pickets. About 9 o'clock he approached the works, hastily formed by throwing up barricades of cotton-bales, but the Federal artillery was planted so as to command every street leading into the square, where Colonel Powell Clayton, commanding the post, had disposed his men to the best advantage. From 9 a. m. until 2 p. m. the fighting continued, the enemy meantime setting fire to some buildings in the vicinity, hoping to drive the Federals out, but the fire was quickly extinguished by a bucket brigade formed of the negroes in the town. Later in the day Marmaduke retired, having lost 40 killed and wounded. Clayton's casualties amounted to 16 killed, 39 wounded and 1 missing among the troops, and 5 negroes killed and 12 wounded.


Pine Bluff, Arkansas, June 17, 1864. (See Monticello Road, same date.)


Pine Bluff, Arkansas, June 21, 1864. 27th Wisconsin.


Pine Bluff, Arkansas, July 2, 1864. 64th U. S. Colored Troops.


Pine Bluff, Arkansas, July 22. 1864. 9th Kansas Cavalry. Major-General Frederick Steele, commanding the Department of Arkansas, in his report of operations for the month of July, states that on the 12th "Major L. K. Thacher, 9th Kansas cavalry, while on a scout 15 miles northwest of Pine Bluff, surprised the camp of Captain Lightfoot, of Cabell's command, wounding 1 man, capturing 2 horses, 3 guns, and a large amount of provisions and medical stores, which he destroyed."


Pine Bluff, Arkansas, July 30, 1864. Detachment of 13th Illinois Cavalry. A detail of 40 men, under Lieut. James E. Teale, left Pine Bluff on the 29th to repair a break in the telegraph line between that place and Little Rock. The next day when about 10 miles from Pine Bluff, the advance, across a bayou from the main force, was fired upon from the woods. Teale immediately ordered his men to mount and follow him across the bridge. A heavy fire was poured into the column as it approached the bridge and when Teale reached the other side he discovered that only 2 men had crossed with him, the remainder having broken and fled. In attempting to recross, Teale. found he was cut off and made for the woods, finally reaching Pine Bluff. A detachment was immediately sent to the scene of the action, where 2 Union men were found dead, and 3 wounded. Of those not killed or wounded all but 5 succeeded in reaching Pine Bluff. Pine Bluff, Arkansas, September 11, 1864. Detachment of the 1st Indiana Cavalry. This action was a part of the operations of an expedition sent out from Pine Bluff by General Powell Clayton. (See Brewer's Lane and Monticello.) Pine Bluff, Arkansas, January 9. 1865. Detachment of 7th Missouri Cavalry. As an incident of an expedition in the vicinity of Pine Bluff, _a detachment under Lieut. Sanders came upon a band of guerrillas and immediately attacked. The enemy was forced back some distance to his reserves, which were in turn driven until reinforced, when the Union advance was for a time effectually checked. Subsequently, however, the Confederates were routed and driven for more than a Page 692 mile, losing 4 dead and 4 wounded. Sanders had 1 man slightly wounded.


Pine Bluff, Arkansas, March 4, 1865. Detachment of 13th Illinois Cavalry. The detachment, under Captain John H. Norris, was sent out to repair the telegraph line near Pine Bluff. Norris learned the whereabouts of a band of guerrillas and when within a short distance of the place he and 14 men dismounted, moved stealthily toward the camp and fired a volley into it. It was Norris' plan to draw the enemy's fire and then retreat to the main body, but the Confederates became so confused at the fire that he and his men charged and drove them out of the camp. None of the Union men were killed, while the guerrillas lost 5 killed and a number wounded.


Pine Bluff, Tennessee, August 20, 1864. Detachment of 83d Illinois Mounted Infantry. Captain William W. Turnbull with 11 men pursued 6 Confederates, said to be guerrillas, and captured from them a horse and a gun, when he was attacked by 110 men under the Confederate General Woodward. The enemy fired a volley at 20 yards and then charged, overpowering the Federals and killing Turnbull and 7 of his men. Of the others 2 were captured and 2 escaped through the timber.


Pine Island, South Carolina, May 10, 1864. Lieut.-Colonel J. Welsman Brown, commanding the Confederates at Secessionville, reported that 16 Federals landed on Pine island and immediately went to work cutting an opening in the timber. The Confederate batteries opened upon them, and the Federal artillery on Folly, Morris and Long islands replied. The firing was kept up until well along in the night. This report, which is the only official mention of the affair, says nothing of any casualties.


Pine Mountain, Georgia, June 9-14, 1864. Army of the Cumberland. Pine mountain, sometimes called Pine hill and Pine knob, is about 3 miles northwest of Kennesaw mountain. It was near the center of the Confederate line after General Johnston fell back from his position at Dallas and New Hope Church, and was occupied by Bate's division of Hardee's corps. On the 9th General Thomas began closing up his lines on the mountain and for the next three days there was almost constant skirmishing. On the morning of the 14th Thomas pushed Palmer's corps and the left of Howard's into the re-entrant angle between Pine mountain and the Confederate works farther east. Hardee, fearing that Bate was about to be cut off, asked Generals Johnston and Polk to go with him to reconnoiter the position. The Federal batteries had been ordered to open fire on any parties that might be seen on the heights overlooking the Union camps, and when the three Confederate generals were discovered on the summit of Pine mountain the 5th Indiana battery began shelling them. The second shot from one of the rifled guns killed General Polk, and Johnston, finding the position too exposed, ordered Bate to withdraw, the movement being executed the following night under cover of darkness.


Pine Mountain, Tennessee, August 17, 1862. Detachment of the 6th Kentucky Cavalry. General G. W. Morgan, commanding the Union forces at Cumberland gap, sent Captain Martin to make a reconnaissance toward Big creek and Rogers' gap. Martin left camp on the night of the 16th and the next day encountered Kirby Smith's advance near Pine mountain. In the skirmish which ensued Martin was routed and returned to camp with 60 of his men missing. The force opposed to him was Ashby's cavalry, and was estimated at 600 strong. The Confederate loss was not learned. Pine Mountain, Tennessee, September 8, 1862. Detachment of the 25th Brigade, Army of the Ohio. Colonel J. A. Cooper, with 400 men belonging Page 693 to the 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th East Tennessee volunteers, left camp at Cumberland gap on the morning of the 6th for a reconnaissance in the direction of Pine mountain. Early on the morning of the 8th he learned that some Confederate cavalry were moving by way of Big Creek gap toward Kentucky. Lieut. Smith with 25 men was sent to Stinking creek; Lieut. Dunn with 25 to the base of Pine mountain; Lieut. Crudgington to a position near Archer's place on the north side of the mountain, while Cooper with the remainder of the detachment moved along the top of the mountain to where the Big Creek gap road crossed it. Smith became engaged with the Confederates about 10:30 a.m. and succeeded in forcing them back toward the mountain until he was joined by Dunn, when they were driven rapidly back upon the main body under Cooper. Here they were met by a destructive fire and fled in confusion down the mountain, only to be captured by Crudgington and his men near Camp Pine Knot. In this action not a single Union man was hurt. The enemy lost 7 killed. 13 wounded and 95 captured, together with 83 horses, 37 stands of arms, a number of saddles and equipments and a Confederate mail containing important letters. Cooper was congratulated by General Shields, commanding the brigade, for the masterly manner in which he handled his men and the success of the expedition.


Pineville, Missouri, June 23, 1862. Detachment of 2nd Wisconsin Cavalry. Brigadier-General W. Scott Ketchum, acting inspector general of the department of the Mississippi; reporting from St. Louis on June 24, says: "Major Miller, 2nd Wisconsin cavalry, routed rebels under Major Russell at Pineville yesterday morning at 6:30, taking several prisoners, horses, mules, and other property.


Pineville, Missouri, August 9, 1863. (See Garden Hollow, same date.)


Pineville, Missouri, August 13, 1863. 6th Missouri State Militia Cavalry and 1st Arkansas Cavalry. Colonel Edwin C. Catherwood, reporting his operations in the pursuit of the Confederate leader Coffee, states that on the 13th he met the enemy at Pineville in McDonald county, and completely routed him, with a loss in killed and wounded of between 60 and 70 men.


Piney Branch Church, Virginia, May 15, 1864. (See Spottsylvania.)


Piney Factory, Tenn., October 29, 1863. (See Centerville.) Piney River, Missouri, February 18, 1864. 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Lieut. W. T. Chitwood with a detail from the 8th Missouri militia was ordered to pursue a band of guerrillas which had robbed a stage. On his way to the guerrilla camp he overtook and killed 2 of the party, and upon arriving at the camp, containing 10 men, he attacked, killing 2 and wounding 1.


Piney River, Virginia, June 12, 1864. (See Amherst Court House.)


Pin Hook, Louisiana, May 10, 1863. (See Caledonia, same date.) Pink Hill, Missouri, March 31, 1862. Detachment of 1st Missouri Cavalry. Captain Albert P. Peabody with 30 men. while in pursuit of some guerrillas under Quantrill, scouted the country in the vicinity of Pink hill. While passing a double log house his command was fired upon. He immediately dismounted his men, deployed them and after firing at the house for an hour or more a charge was made which drove the enemy from cover. Six of the guerrillas were then killed, while but 3 of Peabody's men were wounded.


Pink Hill, Missouri, June 11, 1862. 7th Missouri Cavalry Militia. A mail escort of 24 men under Captain J. F. Cochran was attacked near Pink hill by a band of Quantrill's men and 2 of the men were killed by the first volley. The remainder then charged the brush, driving the enemy from cover and either killing or wounding several. Besides the 2 Federals killed 3 were wounded later in the action.


Pinos Altos, Arizona, February 25, 1864. Detachment of 5th California Page 694 The Union Army Infantry. Learning that a band of Indians was about to return to Pinos Altos, Captain James H. Whitlock with a detail of men started for that place and about dusk of the 25th entered the town. The troops killed 13 of the 19 Indians present, without suffering any casualties themselves.


Pinos Altos Mines, New Mexico, January 29, 1863. Detachment of 5th California Infantry. Indians attacked two companies of the regiment while hunting in the vicinity of the Pinos Altos mines. One soldier was killed and 1 wounded, while the Indians were driven off with a loss of 20 killed and 15 wounded. Pisgah, Missouri, September 10, 1864. Detachment of 4th Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Major George W. Kelly, reporting from Boonville, under date of September 11, says: "Lieut. Kerr, with detachment 4th Missouri state militia, had a skirmish with 60 guerrillas, under Captain Taylor, some 5 miles northeast of Pisgah yesterday evening, killing 4 and wounding several; our horses being fatigued was all that saved the entire band from being broken."


Pitman's Cross-Roads, Kentucky, October 19, 1862. 19th Brigade, Army of the Ohio. During the pursuit of the Confederates from Perryville to London, the 19th brigade, under Colonel William B. Hazen, after removing fallen trees from the road for some distance reached a point within half a mile of the cross-roads before dark. A sharp skirmish was there engaged in, but no casualties were reported.


Pitman's Ferry, Arkansas, October 27, 1862. Detached Troops. At 6 a. m. on the 25th Colonel William Dewey, of the 23d la. infantry, with part of his own regiment, portions of the 24th and 25th Missouri infantry, 1st Missouri state militia infantry and Stange's battery, left Camp Patterson under instructions to march to Pitman's ferry on the Current river. A few miles out he was joined by part of the 12th Missouri cavalry and about 8:30 a. m. on the 27th, when within a mile of the ferry, learned that the enemy was forming line of battle on the other side of the river. The artillery was sent forward at the gallop, the infantry followed on the double-quick and went into line of battle on each side of the road about 100 yards from the ferry. A few shots from the battery served to start the enemy in retreat, followed by Lieut. Millar's company of the 25th Missouri, supported by Captain Houston with Company A of the 23d la. These two companies returned about noon with the information that the Confederates had outrun them and could not be overtaken. No casualties were reported.


Pitman's Ferry, Arkansas, November 25, 1862.


Pitt River, California, August 5. 1861. 1st U. S. Dragoons. As an incident of a scout from Fort Crook, California, a detail under Lieut. John Feilner came upon a party of Indians driving stolen cattle in the Upper Pitt river valley, Feilner at once attacked, 1 Indian was killed and 3 wounded, while the soldiers had but 1 man, Feilner, wounded.


Pittsburg, Tennessee, March 1, 1862. U. S. Gunboats Lexington and Tyler and Illinois Sharpshooters. Under cover of the fire from the gunboats some sailors and two companies of the sharpshooters landed near Pittsburg and destroyed a house where a Confederate battery was stationed. The enemy received reinforcements and compelled the Federals to return to the gunboats with a loss of 2 killed, 6 wounded and 3 missing. No Confederate casualties were reported.


Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, March 16, 1862. 5th Ohio Cavalry. A cavalry detachment sent out on a reconnaissance from Pittsburg landing by General William T. Sherman, returned about 1 a. m. of the 17th and reported the Memphis road occupied by the enemy. A skirmish had resulted in driving back the enemy about a mile, taking 2 of them prisoners. Four of the cavalrymen were wounded.


Pittsburg Landing, Tennessee, April 6-7, 1862. (See Shiloh.)


Plains Store, Louisiana, May 21, 1863. Portion of the 1st Division, 19th Army Corps. At the start of the campaign against Port Hudson Major-General Christopher C. Augur's division proceeded from camp on Merritt's plantation on the 20th. The next day his advance encountered the enemy some three-quarters of a mile from Plains store, and drove him back to that place, where the Confederates were found in force and a severe engagement opened. It was not until after dark that the enemy was driven from the field with a loss in killed wounded and missing of 89. The Union casualties were 15 killed, 71 wounded and 14 captured or missing.


Plains Store, Louisiana, April 7, 1864. (See Port Hudson, same date.)


Plaquemine, Louisiana, June 18, 1863. Detachments of 28th Maine, 131st New York infantry and crews of steamers Lasykes and Anglo-American. About 6:30 a. m. the guard at Plaquemine was attacked by some 300 Confederates. Lieut. Witharh and 22 men of the 28th Maine were captured, but Captain Albert Stearns and 13 of his men succeeded in making their escape. After gaining possession of the town the enemy immediately proceeded to Bayou Plaquemine, firing upon the crew of the steamer Lasykes, killing 1 man and then burning the -vessel, as well as the steamer Anglo-American. The Confederates had 1 man killed and 2 wounded in this affair.


Plaquemine, Louisiana, August 6, 1864. Troops of District of Baton Rouge. About 100 Confederate mounted infantry drove in the Federal pickets at Plaquemine and part of them succeeded in penetrating to the streets of the town, when the Union pickets were reinforced and drove the Confederates out. Three Federals were killed or wounded, and 4 were captured. The Confederate loss was supposed to have been about the same.


Platte County, Missouri, July 3, 1864. Detachment of 9th Missouri Militia Cavalry. A report from Brigadier-General Clinton B. Fisk under date of July 4, 1864, from St. Joseph, Missouri, says: "Lieut.-Colonel Daniel M. Draper, with a detachment of the 9th cavalry Missouri state militia, attacked a band of guerrillas in Platte county yesterday, killing 6 and wounding 3 of the villains. We captured 15 horses and many revolvers. Two of our men were wounded."


Platte Valley, Steamer, November 18, 1861. (See Price's Landing, Missouri)


Plattsburg, Missouri, October 27, 1861. Organization not recorded. Confederate loss, 8 killed and 12 captured. Plattsburg, Missouri, July 21, 1864. Detachment of the 89th Enrolled Missouri Militia. About 9 a. m. Captain Turney with 26 men went out from Plattsburg to reconnoiter. An hour later the Confederates appeared in force before the town and under a flag of truce demanded a surrender. Before a reply could be made Turney was cut off while on his way back, and Captain Benjamin F. Poe, commanding the garrison. ordered a retreat, but before the post could be evacuated Turney cut his way through the enemy's lines and the combined force repulsed the attack. The Confederate loss was not reported. The garrison lost 1 man, Turney, killed and I wounded.


Pleasant Grove, Louisiana, April 8, 1864. (See Sabine Cross-Roads.) Pleasant Grove, Utah Territory, April 12, 1863. Detachment of 3d California Infantry. Five men under Lieut. Francis Honeyman, the advance of an expedition against hostile Indians, reached Pleasant Grove on the 12th and about 6 p. m. a band of 100 Indians attacked, forcing Honeyman and his men to take refuge in an adobe house, which the Indians besieged, hoping to capture some horses. They finally retired without doing any damage further than taking with them all the stores, horses, etc., in the town.


Pleasant Hill, Georgia, April 18, 1865. 4th Michigan Cavalry. During Wilson's raid this regiment under Lieut.-Colonel B. D. Pritchard came upon a refugee train and several Confederate soldiers at Pleasant Hill. The enemy showed fight but after a sharp skirmish was defeated with a loss of 2 killed, 1 mortally wounded and 3 captured.


Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, April 7, 1864. (See Bayou de Paul.)


Pleasant Hill, Louisiana, April 9, 1864. Banks' Red River Expedition. During the night of the 8th and 9th of April, Banks' command after its decisive repulse at Sabine cross-roads on the 8th, retired to Pleasant Hill, 15 miles distant. As it was almost a certainty that the Confederates would follow up their advantage of the day before, the Federal troops were drawn up in line of battle to await the attack. The 1st brigade of the 19th corps formed the right, resting on a ravine, the 2nd brigade was in the center and the 3d brigade on the left. The Confederates moved toward the Federal right. Only light skirmishing occurred during the afternoon but at 5 o'clock the attack was increased, the Federal skirmishers being driven in. The left flank received the heaviest onset, the enemy advancing in two oblique lines extending well over to the right of the 3d brigade. This part of the line gave way and fell back on the reserves, thus exposing the front, right and rear of . the 1st and 2nd brigades. The Confederates pressed their advantage until they approached the reserves, when a countercharge, led by General Mower in person, checked the enemy. All of the reserves were then ordered up and the Confederates were driven from the field. The Federal casualties in this day's engagement were 93 killed, 655 wounded and 293 captured or missing; the Confederate losses as a whole are not known, but in Parsons' division of Missouri infantry alone were 33 killed and 288 wounded.


Pleasant Hill, Missouri, July 11, 1862. Detachment, 1st Missouri Cavalry. Captain Kehoe, acting without orders, took 61 men and went in pursuit of some of Quantrill's guerrillas. About 10 a. m. he came up with them at Sears' farm, 3 miles west of Pleasant Hill. The enemy fired and the 6 men acting as Kehoe's advance guard were all killed in the first volley. In the skirmish that followed 9 others were wounded and the remainder of the detachment was compelled to retire. The enemy's loss was not learned. (See Big Creek Bluffs, same date.)


Pleasant Hill, Missouri, May 15, 1863. (See Big Creek, Missouri, same date.)


Pleasant Hill, Missouri, September 5, 1863. Detachments of 5th and 9th Kansas Cavalry. This force, under Lieut.-Colonel Charles S. Clark, encountered a gang of guerrillas while on a scout from Coldwater grove and killed 6 of them. Subsequently another party of bushwhackers was surprised on Big creek by a portion of the same detachment and routed, 4 being killed and as many wounded. Clark also captured 8 horses with saddles and bridles. Pleasant Hill, Missouri, August 26, 1864. Detachment of 2nd Colorado Cavalry. Colonel James H. Ford, reporting from Kansas City, under date of August 27, says: "Fourteen foot-scouts, under Corporal Shaw, had a fight with not less than 60 bushwhackers yesterday morning, 8 miles east of Pleasant Hill, killing 2 and also wounding 2, and disabling some horses. No one hurt on our side."


Pleasant Hill Landing, Louisiana, April 12-13, 1864. (See Blair's Landing, same date.)


Pleasureville, Kentucky, June 9, 1864. Kentucky State Guards. During Morgan's Kentucky raid a train containing the state property was started from Frankfort under guard of citizens, militia, and clerks. When it arrived near Pleasureville the road was discovered to be on fire and the engine was immediately reversed. Confederates in the Page 697 bushes at once opened a fire on the train, but notwithstanding that every 200 or 300 yards it had to be stopped to remove obstructions from the track, it reached Frankfort without a man of the guard being killed or wounded. Plum Butte, Kansas, June 12, 1865. A report from Bvt. Brigadier-General James H. Ford, commanding the district of upper Arkansas, states that on the same day that the Indians attacked a train at Cow creek station, they also attacked one at Plum Butte, but were driven off without loss. This is the only official mention of the affair. Plum Creek, Nebraska, December 8, 1864. Troops of Eastern Sub-district of Nebraska. The itinerary of the sub-district states that on the 8th a small body of Cheyennes attacked a train and its escort of 18 men at Plum creek but were repulsed. In their attack the Indians lost 3 killed, and killed 1 of the escort.


Plum Point, Tennessee, May 10, 1862. U. S. Gunboats. Brigadier-General W. K. Strong, reported from Cairo, Illinois, on the 11th, as follows: "The rebel gunboats and rams made an attack on our flotilla yesterday morning. Two of their gunboats were blown up and one sunk. The remainder returned with all possible haste to the protection of Fort Pillow." The attack was made at Plum Point, 4 miles above Fort Pillow, and according to Confederate reports none of their vessels was seriously injured, though they admit a loss of 3 killed and 10 or 12 wounded.


Plymouth, North Carolina, September 2, 1862. Company F, 9th New York, and 1st North Carolina Infantry.


Plymouth, North Carolina, December 10, 1862. 3d Massachusetts and 1st North Carolina Infantry. At 4:30 a. m. the Federal pickets of the post of Plymouth were driven in by a considerable force of the enemy. The garrison took refuge in the custom-house and after the Confederates had succeeded in burning a large part of the town they were driven away. The Union gunboat Southfield was disabled by the enemy's first fire, and was unable to render the garrison any assistance. The roll-call of the next morning showed 30 Federals missing, 1 of whom was undoubtedly killed. The Confederates had 7 men wounded.


Plymouth, North Carolina, April 17-20, 1864. U. S. Forces commanded by Brigadier-General Henry W. Wessells. Plymouth is situated on the right bank of the Roanoke river, about 8 miles from Albemarle sound. In April, 1864, it was held by General Wessells with a force composed of the 16th Connecticut, 85th New York, 101st and 103d Pennsylvania, and two companies of North Carolina volunteer infantry; two companies of the 12th New York cavalry; two companies of the 2nd Massachusetts heavy artillery, and the 24th New York independent battery of 6 guns. The line of defenses extended from 2 miles above the town to half a mile below, the three principal redoubts being known as Forts Gray, Wessells and Williams. Along the river in front of the line were the gunboats Miami, Southfield and Ceres and the picket-boats Bombshell and Whitehead, all under command of Captain Charles W. Flusser of the U. S. navy. The total strength of the garrison was about 3,000 men. About 4 p. m. on the 17th the enemy—Hoke's, Ransom's and Kemper's brigades—advanced on the Washington road and drove in the pickets, the skirmishing continuing until dark. At daylight on the 18th the Confederates opened a heavy artillery fire on Fort Gray, at the upper end of the line of intrenchments, but the garrison there held, out and effectively replied to the enemy's cannonade. During the day the Bombshell, while communicating with Fort Gray, received several shots below her water line, but managed to reach the town, when she sank at the wharf. The Ceres, which was above Fort Page 698 Gray when the attack commenced, passed down under a heavy fire and joined the squadron in front of the town, losing 9 men in killed and wounded on the trip. Early on the morning of the 19th the Confederate ram Albemarle came down the river and engaged the Southfield and Miami, sinking the former and disabling the latter, and causing the other vessels to drop down the river to the sound for safety. The Confederate land forces then surrounded the town and with the assistance of the Albemarle succeeded in capturing Fort Wessells, but at all other points they were repulsed with heavy loss. At daylight on the 20th the attack was again renewed. Fort Gray was captured after a desperate fight, in which the enemy lost heavily, and Wessells withdrew all his men to Fort Williams, which was an enclosed work near the center of the line. This gave the enemy possession of the town and in a short time an artillery fire was opened upon the fort from four different directions. An infantry assault on the redoubt was repulsed, but the steady cannonade from the ram and the land batteries soon began to tell and at 10 a. m. Wessells displayed a flag of truce, asking for a conference with the Confederate commander. The surrender gave the Confederates possession of the government stores at Plymouth and all the Union troops became prisoners of war. The total loss in killed, wounded and captured was 2,834 men. On the 13th Wessells had asked for reinforcements, but General Butler declined to send additional troops. Major-General John J. Peck, commanding the District of North Carolina, directed General Palmer to send all his available infantry to Wessells' assistance, and these troops had reached the mouth of the Roanoke, when news of the surrender was received. Had Wessells received reinforcements when he asked for them there is no doubt that the Confederates would have met with an ignominious defeat. As it was he held out for more than three days against a force that outnumbered his own at least five to one. Plymouth, North Carolina, October 31, 1864. (See Naval Volume.)


Pocahontas, Arkansas, April 21, 1862. Army of the Southwest. Confederate accounts (unofficial) mention a skirmish with General Curtis' advance at Pocahontas on this date, but do not state what Confederate troops were engaged nor give any results of the action.


Pocahontas, Tennessee, September 25, 1862. (See Davis' Bridge, same date.)


Pocahontas County, West Virginia, January 22, 1863. 2nd West Virginia Infantry and 1st West Virginia Cavalry. As an incident of a scout in this county the detachment under Major Henry C. Flesher, stopped for the night at Gibson's, where the Confederates, who had been pursuing from Cockleytown, attacked the rear, killing 2 men and capturing 15. Owing to the exhausted condition of the horses the Federals were unable to pursue when the enemy withdrew.


Pocotaligo, South Carolina, May 29, 1862. 50th Pennsylvania, Detachments of 8th Michigan and 79th New York Infantry and 1st Massachusetts Cavalry. Colonel Benjamin C. Christ, commanding the detachment, left Beaufort on the night of the 28th to make a demonstration on the railroad. The command was on the main-land by daylight and the march was at once begun to Port Royal ferry. Two miles from the ferry the enemy's pickets were encountered and steadily driven back until the column reached the causeway leading into Pocotaligo. This was taken after some rather severe fighting, and one company advanced over the bridge, all of which had been removed except the string pieces. Although it took considerable time some 300 more men were sent over in this way and the Confederates retreated to the woods. The object of the expedition having been accomplished Christ withdrew to Garden's corners, the enemy's cavalry Page 699 following for some distance. The casualties were 2 killed and 9 wounded on the Federal side and 2 killed, 6 wounded and 1 missing of the enemy.


Pocotaligo, South Carolina, October 22, 1862. The operations about Pocotaligo on this date included the skirmishes at Caston's and Frampton's plantations, an account of which is given under the title of "Brannan's Expedition from Hilton Head."


Pocotaligo, South Carolina, January 14-16, 1865. 17th Army Corps. Pursuant to orders from Major-General Oliver O. Howard, commanding the right wing of Sherman's army in the campaign of the Carolinas, Major General Frank P. Blair moved from Beaufort with the 17th corps to establish a depot of supplies at the mouth of Pocotaligo creek, where easy water communication could be had with Hilton Head. Blair moved via Port Royal ferry, where a pontoon was laid, and about 5 miles from the ferry the enemy was encountered, strongly intrenched. One brigade of the 3d division turned the position, driving the Confederates back toward Pocotaligo. At Stony creek another detachment was found drawn up behind a barricade, but it was flanked out by General Leggett with a part of the 3d division, and this body also fell back toward Pocotaligo. On the 14th the main force of the enemy was found in a strong position at Pocotaligo, and as soon as Blair's advance appeared, fire was opened with both artillery and musketry. Skirmishers were thrown forward through a flooded rice field to within musket range, but before any decisive movement could be carried out darkness fell and put a stop to operations. Early the next morning it was discovered that the enemy had evacuated his works and Blair moved on to Pocotaligo. On the 16th an expedition was sent out to open communications with the 15th corps, but a strong force of Confederate cavalry was encountered and the expedition returned without having accomplished its purpose. During the engagements in this movement the losses were slight on both sides. Pocotaligo, South Carolina, January 26, 1865. The only official mention of an affair on this date is that of Confederate General Joseph Wheeler, who stated in a despatch to General McLaws that his pickets were driven in by a large force of the Federals.


Pocotaligo Bridge, South Carolina, October 21-23, 1862. (See Brannan's Expedition from Hilton Head.)


Pocotaligo Road, South Carolina, December 20, 1864. Detachment of the 33d U. S. Colored Infantry. Lieut.-Colonel Trowbridge left camp at 3:30 p. m. with 300 men, and when near Stewart's plantation, some 3 miles beyond the Union picket line, he encountered a strong cavalry picket line of the enemy, posted with their left on the Pocotaligo river and the right on a swamp on the west side of the road. Trowbridge sent two companies, under Major Whitney, to get between the Confederates and the swamp with a view to cutting off their retreat, but the movement was discovered, the enemy opening fire on Whitney's men and then falling back on the reserves, some 30o strong. Trowbridge then formed line of battle and charged, when the enemy broke and fled, leaving 1 man dead on the field. A number of abandoned haversacks, guns, blankets, etc., indicated a more severe loss. The Union casualties were 7 men wounded.


Pohick Church, Virginia, August 18, 1861. Detachment of 1st New York Cavalry. A company sent out from Alexandria under Captain William H. Boyd met a party of 20 Confederate cavalry at Pohick Church. Boyd charged, routing the enemy completely and wounding 2 of them. One Federal soldier was killed and 2 more were reported missing.


Pohick Church, Virginia, December 18, 1861. 115th Pennsylvania Infantry Page 700 and 1st New Jersey Cavalry. This affair was a skirmish between some Confederate pickets, 6 or 8 in number, and a Federal reconnoitering party. The enemy fled at the first volley. No casualties were reported.


Pohick Church, Virginia, March 5, 1862. Detachment of 63d Pennsylvania Infantry. A detachment of this regiment, under Lieut.-Colonel A. S. M. Morgan, was fired into from ambush by Confederates and before reinforcements could arrive the enemy had escaped in the thick underbrush. Three of the Union party, 2 of them officers, were killed and 1 man wounded.


Poindexter's Farm, Virginia, July 1, 1862. The Poindexter farm lay adjacent to Malvern hill, where was fought the last of the Seven Days' battles in McClellan's Peninsular campaign of 1862. (See Seven Days' Battles.)


Point Isabel, Texas, August 9, 1864. Fatigue party of 81 st Corps d'Afrique Engineers. Seventy-five men were sent from Brazos Santiago to Point Isabel under Captain Jordan for the purpose of procuring lumber. About noon they were attacked by 150 Confederate cavalry and some sharp skirmishing ensued, during which the enemy lost 2 killed and several wounded. Fearing for the safety of the steamer in which they had been transported, Jordan withdrew and returned to Brazos Santiago.


Point Lookout, Virginia, May 13, 1864. Detachment of the 36th U. S. Colored Infantry and Seamen from the Potomac Flotilla.


Point Mountain Turnpike, West Virginia, September 11, 1861. Detachment of 15th Indiana Infantry. Companies D and F, under Captain William J. Templeton, were sent to take position at the junction of the Point Mountain and the Huntersville pikes. On the morning of the 11th Templeton's pickets were driven in and Templeton, unable to effectually check the enemy's advance, sent for reinforcements. Another portion of the 15th Indiana was sent him, but learning soon afterward that a larger force was on its way to flank him he retired, having lost 2 killed. 3 wounded and 1 captured. The Confederate loss was not reported.


Point of Rocks, Kansas, January 20, 1865. Point of Rocks, Maryland, August 5, 1861. 28th New York Infantry.


Point of Rocks, Maryland, September 24, 1861. 28th Pennsylvania Infantry. About 9:30 a. m. between 100 and 200 Confederates attacked the camp of the 28th Pennsylvania from the ruins of the bridge across the Potomac at Point of Rocks. The firing was from musketry but the Federals replied with artillery, which soon drove the enemy from his position. No casualties were reported.


Point of Rocks, Maryland, December 19, 1861. 28th Pennsylvania Infantry. About 10 a. m. a Confederate 2-gun battery opened upon the camp of the 28th Pennsylvania The Federal infantry were deployed and placed in positions of safety, while the artillery replied with such vigor and accuracy that in half an hour the Confederates retired. There were no casualties in the Union camp and if the enemy suffered any the fact was not reported.


Point of Rocks, Maryland, September 7, 1862. Russell's Company, 1st Maryland Cavalry. While the Confederate army was crossing the Potomac Captain Russell, notwithstanding the vastly superior numbers of the enemy, made a dashing attack, killed 3 men, captured 17 prisoners and made his escape without casualty. The affair was of slight importance, but it was one of the most gallant actions of the war.


Point of Rocks, Maryland, June 17, 1863. Detachment, 2nd Maryland Potomac Home Brigade. Captains Summers and Vernon were sent with their companies to seize and hold Point of Rocks until further Page 701 orders. When near their destination they were overpowered by White's battalion of cavalry, which greatly outnumbered their force. Summers states the Union casualties as 1 killed, 3 wounded and 4 missing. White's report of the same affair says he killed 4, wounded 20 and captured 53, without the loss of a man.


Point of Rocks, Maryland, June 9, 1864. 2nd U. S. Colored Cavalry. Point of Rocks, Maryland, July 5, 18564. 8th Illinois Cavalry. Lieut. Colonel David B. Clendenin with his regiment arrived at Point of Rocks from Washington at 2 p. m. to find Mosby, with 2 pieces of artillery and 200 men, posted on the south bank of the Potomac. A skirmish of half an hour ensued, during which Clendenin lost no men and the enemy 1 killed and 2 wounded. Later in the evening the same regiment frustrated an attempt on the part of Mosby to cross the river at Noland's ferry.


Point Pleasant, Louisiana, June 25, 1864. 64th U. S. Colored Infantry.


Point Pleasant, Missouri, March 6-18, 1862. (See New Madrid, same date.)


Point Pleasant, West Virginia, March 30, 1863. One company under Captain John D. Carter. The reports of this affair are meager. Confederates attacked the garrison and forced it to take refuge in the court-house. After some hours of fighting (whether with or without the aid of reinforcements is not recorded) the enemy was repulsed, having lost 72 in killed, wounded and missing. The Federal loss was 2 killed, 3 wounded and 6 captured.


Point Washington, Florida, February 9, 1864. 7th Vermont Infantry. Some 32 refugees, under Captain James L. Galloway, and Lieut. George Ross' company of the 7th Vermont, left camp at Point Washington to move on the camp of Floyd's company of Confederates. The camp was surrounded and 52 men captured without difficulty. At noon next day, while the Federals were eating, they were attacked by 100 Confederate cavalry and after a brief skirmish were overpowered and the 2 officers and 16 men captured.


Poison Spring, Arkansas, April 18, 1864. (See Camden, Arkansas, Expedition to.)


Polk County, Missouri, August 28, 1864. 6th Provisional Enrolled Missouri Militia. Captain Pace and 7 Confederate cavalrymen were attacked by Captain Samuel W. Headlee and 15 men of the Missouri regiment. Pace and 1 man were killed, 1 was wounded and 1 captured. The Federal squad did not suffer any loss. Polk's Plantation, Arkansas, May 25, 1863. 3d Iowa and 5th Kansas Cavalry. Detachments of the two regiments under Major Samuel Walker, while on a reconnaissance from Helena, were attacked at Polk's plantation by a superior force of Confederates and compelled to fall slowly back. On reaching a bridge a stand was made and a line of battle formed ready to meet a Confederate charge, but the enemy withdrew without assaulting. The loss of the 3d la. was 5 wounded, while the enemy was known to have had 2 killed.


Pollard, Alabama, July 23, 1864. Detachment of 14th New York Cavalry. As an incident of an expedition from Barrancas, Florida, the advance of the expedition, Company M, 14th New York cavalry, met a small force of Confederate cavalry at the junction of the Pollard and Perdido Station roads. The Federals were successful in the brief encounter, capturing 3 members of the 7th Alabama cavalry.


Pollard, Alabama, December 13-19, 1864. 82nd, 86th and 97th U. S. Colored Infantry. An expedition under Colonel George D. Robinson from Barrancas, Florida, reached Pollard on the 16th. After burning some Confederate stores a return march was begun and severe f1ghting occurred at all the streams which Robinson had to cross from the Page 702 Little Escambia to Pine Barren creek, where the enemy was decisively repulsed. The Federal loss during the expedition was 17 killed and 64 wounded, Robinson among the latter.


Pollard's Farm, Virginia, May 27, 1864. This is but another name for the engagement at Dabney's ferry in the campaign from the Rapidan to the James. (See Dabney's Ferry.)


Pollock's Mill Creek, Virginia, April 29-May 2, 1863. (See Fitzhugh's Crossing.)


Pollocksville, North Carolina, May 16, 1862. 2nd Maryland Infantry. About noon the advanced pickets of the 2nd Maryland were attacked and driven in by a considerable force of Confederates. The outposts withstood the attack and in the sharp skirmish which followed the enemy lost 2 or 3 killed, a number wounded and 2 captured. The regiment was drawn up to receive an attack, but it was not made and before nightfall, pursuant to orders, Colonel J. Eugene Duryee, commanding, ordered the regiment to withdraw.


Pollocksville, North Carolina, January 19, 1863. (See White Oak Creek.)


Pomme De Terre, Missouri, October 13, 1861. A party of 7 Confederates, while foraging for wheat on the Pomme de Terre, were fired into by a squad of Federals in ambush and 2 of the enemy were wounded. A larger detachment of the enemy started in pursuit, but failed to come up with the Federals. The only official mention of the affair is a Confederate report, so there is no way of ascertaining what Union troops participated.


Ponchatoula, Louisiana, September 15, 1862. Detachments of 12th Maine, 13th Connecticut and 26th Massachusetts Infantry. Owing to the heavy draft of the boats in which the expedition embarked it was impossible to surprise Ponchatoula as had been planned, but notwithstanding this the attack was made. Major George C. Strong, at the head of 112 men. made a march of 10 miles and when within a mile of the village the whistle of a locomotive gave the enemy notice of his approach. On entering the place his column was met by a discharge of canister from a Confederate light battery. Strong deployed his men and poured in such a destructive fire that the enemy was obliged to retreat. Strong lost 21 men killed, wounded and missing while the enemy's killed alone numbered 20.


Ponchatoula, Louisiana, March 24-26, 1863. Detachment of Sherman's Division, Department of the Gulf. Brigadier-General T. W. Sherman, commanding the defenses of New Orleans, sent out an expedition to drive the Confederates out of Ponchatoula and destroy the bridges on the Jackson railroad. The expedition consisted of the 6th Michigan, 9th Connecticut, 14th and 24th Maine, 165th and 177th New York infantry, and was commanded by Colonel Thomas S. Clark, of the Michigan regiment. Upon arriving at North pass, Clark left Lieut.-Colonel Smith with the 165th New York to move up the railroad to within 3 miles of Ponchatoula, while the main body proceeded by water up the Ponchatoula river to Wadesboro landing, the same distance from the town on the west. Smith was instructed to hold his position on the railroad until he heard the signal to advance given from the landing. Clark's men disembarked at noon on the 24th, the signal gun was fired and both detachments moved on the town, driving the enemy before them. Clark reached the town first, drove out the Confederates and took possession. Smith became engaged with the enemy in a sharp skirmish, in which he had 3 men wounded, and did not reach Ponchatoula until 3 p. m. The next day the detachment destroyed two bridges, after which the main body retired 3 miles south of town, leaving six companies of the 6th Michigan, under Major Clark as a picket and provost guard, with instructions to fall back on the main body Page 703 in case of attack. On the evening of the 26th the pickets were attacked, and pursuant to orders fell back, but the Confederates declined to pursue. The Union loss during the movement was 9 men wounded. The enemy lost 3 killed and 11 wounded.


Ponchatoula, Louisiana, May 9-18, 1863. (See Amite river, same date.)


Pond Creek, Kentucky, July 6, 1863. 39th Kentucky Mounted Infantry and 65th Illinois Infantry. The detachment, under Colonel Daniel Cameron', in an expedition from Beaver creek, Kentucky, into southwestern Virginia was attacked at Pond creek by a superior force of the enemy. The Federals charged up a steep hill completely routing the Confederates, who left 5 dead and a number wounded on the field and some 20 were taken prisoners. Cameron sustained no loss.


Pond Creek, Kentucky, May 16, 1864. 39th Kentucky Mounted Infantry.


Ponder's Mill, Missouri, September 20, 1864. Detachment of 3d Missouri State Militia Cavalry. During Price's Missouri raid a scouting party sent out by order of Brigadier-General Thomas Ewing, was surrounded at Ponder's mill on Little Black river, and all but 10 were either captured or killed.


Pond Springs, Alabama, May 27, 1864. Detachment of the 3d Brigade, 4th Division, 16th Army Corps, and Long's Cavalry. Colonel J. H. Howe, of the 32nd Wisconsin infantry, was ordered to march from Decatur to Courtland with his own regiment, the 25th Indiana, the 17th New York, and 2 pieces of Battery D, 2nd Illinois light artillery, the object being to develop the enemy and if possible bring him to an engagement. As the command emerged from the woods about a mile from Confederate General Roddey's camp at Pond Springs, and 5 miles from Courtland, they found the enemy drawn up in line of battle about 1,500 strong, with a battery of 4 guns in position commanding the road. Long dismounted one regiment of cavalry as skirmishers and Howe placed his artillery in position supported by his infantry. A few rounds served to silence the enemy's guns and the appearance of the two regiments of cavalry drove the Confederates in a panic toward Courtland closely pursued by Howe's whole force, the pursuit being kept up until 8 p. m. Howe's casualties were 5 men slightly wounded. The enemy's loss was not ascertained.


Pond Springs, Alabama, June 29, 1864. Detachments of 9th Ohio Cavalry and Infantry from post of Decatur. The report of Colonel Charles C. Doolittle, commandant of the post of Decatur, contains the following: "June 29, two companies of the 9th Ohio cavalry and about 800 infantry, under Colonel Grower, of the 17th New York veteran volunteers, attacked and partially surprised the camp of Colonel Patterson at Pond Springs, captured 1 lieutenant and 9 men, his wagons, ambulances, camp and garrison equipage, officers' baggage, and a lot of horses and mules; killed and wounded several of the enemy; no loss on our side."


Pond Springs, Alabama, August 9, 1864. Detachment of 1st Brigade. 4th Cavalry D1vision, Army of the Cumberland. Lieut.-Colonel W1lliam F. Prosser moved out on the Moulton road from Decatur to Pond Springs with 500 cavalry on the 8th. At daylight of the 9th he came upon the retreating Confederates and attacked, capturing 12 men, 250 head of cattle, 225 sheep, 75 horses and mules and a number of contrabands. The casualties, if any, were not reported. Pond Springs, Alabama, December 29, 1864. (See Hillsboro, same date.)


Pontotoc, Mississippi, April 19, 1863. (See Grierson's Raid.) Pontotoc, Mississippi, February 17, 1864. 3d Illinois Cavalry. During the Meridian expedition Captain Andrew B. Kirkbride with the 3d Illinois charged into Pontotoc and finding no Confederates there proceeded Page 704 2 miles on the Houston road, where some pickets were encountered and driven back. Then Gholson's command was met and by the charge of two companies was driven into a swamp immediately in the Federal front. Kirkbride found that if he advanced he would be flanked, so accordingly ordered one company to flank on the Red Land road, and another on the road leading to the right while two companies skirmished in the swamp. On orders from the brigade commander the regiment was withdrawn, the object of the reconnaissance having been accomplished. Seven of the enemy were killed.


Pontotoc, Mississippi, July 11, 1864. Advance of Right Wing, 16th Army Corps. During the expedition to Tupelo, under Major-General Andrew J. Smith, it was learned on nearing Pontotoc that McCulloch's brigade of Confederate cavalry occupied the town. The 7th Kansas was deployed as skirmishers, driving back the enemy's advance line, and at the same time Grierson's cavalry attacked upon their right flank. The outcome was the retreat of the Confederates, leaving their dead and wounded (number not reported) in the hands of the Federals.


Pony Mountain, Virginia, September 13, 1863. Cavalry Corps, Army of the Potomac. In the advance of the Union forces from the Rappahannock to the Rapidan. the movements of the army could be observed from the Confederate signal station on Pony mountain, about 3 miles southeast of Culpeper. Brigadier-General Alfred Pleasonton, commanding the cavalry corps, sent a brigade to the left, while with the main body he engaged the enemy in front. The Confederates were well posted behind trees and fences, but the 1st Michigan made a gallant charge up the slope of the mountain, drove them from their position and pursued to Raccoon ford, a distance of 2 miles. A signal station was then established on the mountain and communication opened with the headquarters of the 2nd corps. The 1st Michigan captured a few prisoners, which were the only casualties reported on either side.


Pooler's Station, Georgia, December 7-9, 1864. (See Jenks' Bridge.)


Poolesville, Maryland, September 5, 1862. Major-General James E. B. Stuart, commanding the cavalry of Lee's army in the invasion of Maryland, reports that after crossing the Potomac river his advance brigade (Lee's) moved to Poolesville, where it encountered a body of Federal cavalry. An attack was made, in which the greater portion of the Union command was captured. Poolesville, Maryland, September 7-8, 1862. Detachments of 3d Indiana and 8th Illinois Cavalry. On the 7th two squadrons of each of the above regiments made a dash into Poolesville and captured the cavalry vedettes, the only Confederates in the town. The next day the regiments, with a section of artillery, were ordered to occupy the town. As they approached some Confederate cavalry were seen moving in retreat down the Barnesville road and a portion of the 3d Indiana pushed after them. They had not proceeded far before the Confederates opened upon them with 2 pieces of artillery. The Union artillery was then brought into action and soon silenced the enemy's guns. The Confederates were then charged and driven from the town and its vicinity. The losses were 1 killed and 12 wounded on the Union side and 10 killed, wounded and missing on the Confederate.


Poolesville, Maryland, November 25, 1862. A Confederate report states that Captain George W. Chiswell, of the Confederate army, with 46 men of the 35th Virginia cavalry battalion, surprised and captured 16 Union soldiers and a telegraph operator at Poolesville. This is the only official mention of the affair, so it is not known who the Federal participants were.


Poolesville, Maryland, December 14, 1862. The report of Major Elijah V. Page 705 White, 35th Virginia cavalry battalion (Confederate), states that his command crossed the Potomac river at Conrad's ferry and arrived at Poolesville about 8 p. m. A demand was made upon the Federals quartered in the town hall to surrender, and upon its being refused the building was fired upon and the occupants, after losing 2 killed and 8 wounded, capitulated. Twenty-one prisoners were taken. White lost 1 man killed. As the only official mention of the affair is a Confederate report, there is no way of ascertaining what Union troops were engaged.


Poplar Bluff, Missouri, February 27. 1864. Detachment of 3d Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Captain Abijah Johns, reporting from Patterson under date of February 28, says: "My scout in from below Poplar Bluff. Captured and burned rebel train, destroying a great many shotguns and rifles and corn. Killed 2 jayhawkers; had 1 man slightly wounded in finger."


Poplar Spring Church, Virginia, September 30-October 2, 1864. Parts of the 5th, 9th and 2nd Army Corps and Gregg's Cavalry Division. Poplar Spring Church was about 5 miles southwest of Petersburg, 2 miles west of the Weldon railroad at Globe tavern, and near the right of the Confederate line. The capture of Fort Harrison, on the north side of the James, by the Union forces on the 29th forced General Lee to send reinforcements to that side of the river, and General Grant determined upon a reconnaissance toward the enemy's right with a view of attacking the works if it was found that the force there had been sufficiently weakened by the withdrawal of troops. In any event the demonstration was to be made sufficiently vigorous to prevent further detachments being sent to Fort Harrison. General Warren, commanding the 5th corps, moved on the morning of the 30th, with the divisions of Griffin and Ayres, from the left of the Union line toward the church. He was followed by General Parke, with the divisions of Willcox and Potter of the 9th corps, while Gregg's cavalry was sent farther to the left and rear. Griffin found the enemy in an intrenched position on the Peebles farm and immediately attacked T1is works, carrying a redoubt and a line of rifle-pits, taking 1 gun and about 100 prisoners. In the afternoon, as Parke was moving to Warren's left, Potter's division met the enemy near the Pegram house. Understanding that Griffin's division was to support his right, Potter disposed his forces for an attack. The skirmishers were gradually forced back to about a quarter of a mile beyond the Pegram house, where the enemy was encountered in force, with a battery in position to enfilade the road. Griffin had failed to make connection with Potter's right and it was soon discovered that the enemy's line overlapped that flank. Fearing that he would be cut off, Potter issued orders for a change in the disposition of his men. but before the change could be effected the Confederates made a determined attack on the exposed flank, forcing back the Union ranks in some confusion. The 7th Rhode Island, which had been held in reserve, was directed to form a new line near the Pegram house and stop all who were falling to the rear. Curtin's brigade was drawn back to the new line, the enemy was checked for the time being, and Griffin's division came up in time to aid in repelling the next assault. The Federals then took up a position along the line of the works captured from the enemy earlier in the day, the 9th corps connecting with the 5th on the right, the left refused to cover the Squirrel Level road, and during the night this line was intrenched. But little fighting was done on October 1. Gregg, who had moved on the Vaughan road to the Union left, was attacked, but the attack was repulsed. Warren was also attacked, but held his position and Page 706 drove back the Confederates with slight loss on both sides. In the afternoon Mott's division of the 2nd corps reported to Parke and was massed in the rear of the 9th corps. On the 2nd Parke advanced, and after some sharp skirmishing established a line of intrenchments about a mile from that of the enemy. This line was connected with the works on the Weldon railroad and later was extended to the rear on the left, through the Pegram farm, to cover the Squirrel Level road. The Union casualties in the several engagements about Poplar Spring Church were 187 killed, 900 wounded and 1,802 missing. The Confederate loss was not ascertained. Po River, Virginia, May 10, 1864. The engagement along the Po. river on this date was part of the operations about Spottsylvania Court House in the campaign from the Rapidan to the James. (See Spottsylvania.)


Port Conway, Virginia, September 1-3, 1863. 3d Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac. The gunboats Satellite and Reliance were captured by the Confederates on the night of August 22, and were kept stationed at Port Conway, on the Rappahannock river, about 10 miles south of King George Court House. On September 1 Brigadier-General Judson Kilpatrick was ordered to proceed to Port Conway with his cavalry division and Battery E, 4th U. S. artillery, under command of Captain S. S. Elder, and either recapture or destroy the two vessels. That same day he drove in the Confederate pickets near King George Court House, and from that point advanced on three roads to Port Conway, driving the enemy across the river late in the evening. About 6 o'clock the next morning Elder planted his guns both above and below the gunboats, opened fire at a range of 700 yards and soon drove the enemy from the boats. By 8 o'clock the Satellite was so badly riddled that she commenced sinking and all the guns were turned upon the Reliance. The ironclads that were to cooperate failed to put in an appearance, and after keeping up the fire until 11 a. m., Kilpatrick withdrew to Lamb's Creek Church, where he had a slight skirmish with the enemy, after which he went into camp. The Confederates took advantage of the opportunity to remove the machinery and guns from the gunboats, but the hulks were so badly damaged by Elder's fire that they were abandoned as useless. Had the ironclads come up both vessels could have been easily recaptured. Kilpatrick's loss was 3 killed and 3 wounded. The enemy's loss was not reported.


Port Gibson, Mississippi, May 1, 1863. 13th Army Corps, and 3d Division of the 17th Corps. Port Gibson is a small village a few miles southeast of Grand Gulf. The engagement here was the beginning of Grant's active campaign against Vicksburg. The 13th corps. Major-General John A. McClernand commanding, left Bruinsburg about 4 p. m. on April 30, with Carr's division in advance, followed its order by Osterhaus, Hovey and A. J. Smith, and moved toward Port Gibson. That same afternoon Confederate General J. S. Bowen, commanding the garrison at Grand Gulf, learning that Grant had crossed the Mississippi at Bruinsburg, sent a portion of Green's brigade to guard the approaches to Port Gibson, and at the same time telegraphed to Pemberton that the Union army was on the east side of the river. Pemberton became alarmed and ordered Tracy's and Baldwin's brigades, of Stevenson's division, to reinforce Grand Gulf. About an hour after midnight Carr came in contact with Green's brigade, posted across the road about 3 miles west of Port Gibson. A slight skirmish ensued, which resulted in the withdrawal of the Confederates, and the Union troops rested on their arms until daylight. Page 707 At this point the road from Bruinsburg to Port Gibson divides. When daylight came Green's brigade was drawn up across the southern and Tracy's across the northern road. McClernand ordered Osterhaus forward on the right hand road to attack Tracy, and Carr on the left hand road against Green. At 5:30 Osterhaus was engaged, and met with such a stubborn resistance that he was unable to make any further advance until late in the afternoon. Carr formed his line with Benton's brigade on the right of the road and Stone's on the left, and moved forward against Green, who was strongly posted on a ridge. In the advance the two brigades became separated, leaving a gap in the line, which was closed by Hovey's division about 7 o'clock, when a determined assault was made, the ridge was carried, 2 cannon, 3 caissons and about 400 prisoners being captured. Green fell back toward Port Gibson, closely pressed by Hovey and Carr. Near the village they encountered Baldwin's brigade coming up to Green's support, and a severe contest of an hour and a half followed. Bowen in the meantime had ordered Cockrell to send three regiments to Port Gibson. These arrived about noon and two regiments were sent to the assistance of Baldwin and one to Tracy. Green's brigade was withdrawn from the southern road and sent to Tracy also. Bowen himself arrived on the field about this time and led two of Cockrell's regiments in a desperate effort to turn the Union right, but Burbridge's brigade, of A. J. Smith's division, came up at this juncture and was thrown forward to meet the movement. At the same time Hovey brought four batteries into position to enfilade Bowen's line, forcing him to retire in some confusion. Not knowing the strength of the enemy opposed to him, McClernand sent back for reinforcements. McPherson sent Stevenson's brigade to the support of Carr and Hovey and J. E. Smith's to Osterhaus. About 5 p. m. the latter got into position to strike the enemy on the right flank, while Osterhaus renewed the attack in front. Tracy had been killed early in the engagement and Green, who was now in command, hurriedly retreated in the direction of Grand Gulf, burning the bridge over Bayou Pierre behind him, thus checking pursuit. Before Stevenson's brigade reached the scene of action Baldwin was driven from his position, falling back through Port Gibson and destroying the bridge over the south fork of Bayou Pierre. Sunset found the Federals in possession of the field, with a loss of 131 killed. 719 wounded and 25 missing. Bowen's entire force numbered about 8,500 men, but he was able to hold the whole 13th corps in check the greater part of the day, owing chiefly to his advantageous positions. He reported his loss as being 68 killed, 380 wounded and 384 missing. This action is also known as "Anderson's Hill," "Thompson's Hill' and "Magnolia Hills."


Port Gibson, Mississippi, October 10, 1863. (See Ingraham's Plantation, same date.)


Port Gibson, Mississippi, December 26, 1863. Mississippi Marine Brigade, and Cavalry.


Port Gibson, Mississippi, July 14, 1864. 1st Division, 17th Army Corps. The itinerary of the 1st brigade, 1st division, 17th army corps of an expedition from Vicksburg to Grand Gulf says: "July 14.—Marched to Port Gibson; skirmished with the enemy during the forenoon." This is the only official mention of the affair. On the same day, the 2nd New Jersey cavalry, acting as rear-guard for the main column of another expedition, from Memphis, Tennessee, to Grand Gulf, Mississippi, was several times attacked, but each time succeeded in repulsing the Confederates, although a foraging party of 26 men of the regiment was cut off and captured near Port Gibson.


Port Gibson, Mississippi, September 30, 1864. Detachments of 2nd Wisconsin Infantry, 5th and 11th Illinois and 3d U. S. Colored Cavalry and 26th Ohio Battery. As an incident of an expedition from Vicksburg to Rodney and Fayette, Mississippi, the detachment, under Colonel Embury D. Osband, reached Port Gibson at 4 p. m. Thirty of Cobb's Black river scouts congregated in the town were charged and driven with a loss of 2 killed. Osband had 1 man killed. Port Gibson, Mississippi, May 3-4, 1865. 9th Indiana Cavalry. Colonel George W. Jackson with his regiment, while on an expedition from Rodney, charged into Port Gibson on the 3d. One of the enemy was killed and 2 were captured. Next morning 125 Federals met and drove a number of Owen scouts several miles on the Gallatin road, but without taking any prisoners.


Port Hudson, Louisiana, March 13-14, 1863. 19th Army Corps and Farragut's Fleet. This was a demonstration by General Banks in the rear of Port Hudson, to enable Farragut's gunboats to pass the Confederate batteries for the purpose of ascending the Mississippi river to assist in the reduction of Vicksburg. On the 13th General Grover's division of the 19th corps left Baton Rouge for Port Hudson. The divisions of Generals Emory and Augur followed at daybreak on the 14th, and by 2 p. m. communication was established with the fleet, which was then lying at Prophet's island, 5 miles below Port Hudson. The enemy's pickets on the roads to the rear of the Confederate works were driven in and the infantry lines were pushed up to within 600 yards of the enemy's intrenchments, though it was impossible for Banks to repair the bridges and bring up his artillery in time to cooperate with the fleet by a concentrated fire from his batteries. Farragut had to pass a line of batteries about 4 miles in length. In the afternoon the mortars and two of the gunboats opened on the batteries, continuing the bombardment until 9:30 p. m., when the signal to advance was given from the flag-ship Hartford. The flag-ship took the lead, with the gunboat Albatross lashed to her side. Then followed the Richmond and Monongahela, the Genesee lashed to the former and the Kineo to the latter, the Mississippi bringing up the rear. The Hartford and Albatross ran the gauntlet successfully; the Monongahela, when opposite the center of the batteries, received a shot that disabled her machinery and was compelled to drop back out of range of the fire; the Richmond was disabled by a shot through her steam drum and followed the Monongahela; the Mississippi ran aground when about half way past the batteries, where she sustained a heavy fire for half an hour, when she was fired and abandoned, the crew escaping to the shore opposite Port Hudson. The vessel drifted down a short distance and exploded. One cause for the failure of the undertaking was that the smoke from the guns of the Hartford and Albatross hung low over the water and obscured the surface of the river, making it difficult for the vessels in the rear to follow their correct course. So accurate was the aim of the Confederate gunners that at one time it looked as if the entire fleet was doomed to annihilation. The total Union loss was about 70, the greater portion of which occurred on the Mississippi. The Confederate reports state their loss as 1 killed and 19 wounded. (For a description of Confederate fortifications about Port Hudson see the following article.) Port Hudson, Louisiana, Siege of, May 25-July 9, 1863. 19th Army Corps, Department of the Gulf. The village of Port Hudson, located on a bend of the Mississippi river, 25 miles above Baton Rouge and about 150 miles from New Orleans, was fortified by the Confederates in the summer and fall of 1862. The works were of great strength, the parapets Page 709 having an average thickness of 20 feet and rising to a height of 15 feet above the bottom of the ditch in front. The batteries were about 80 feet above the water and mounted 20 heavy siege guns, which commanded the river for some distance in either direction. Beginning at Ross' landing, about a mile below the village, a line of earthworks of strong profile ran eastward for about a mile, thence northward and finally turned to the west, coming to the bank of the river at the mouth of Thompson's creek, half a mile north of the town. Near Ross' landing was an enclosed bastioned work; at the southeast salient, where the line turned northward, was another strong redoubt known as "the Citadel;" a third work stood nearly east of the village, not far from the Baton Rouge road, and a fourth was at the upper end of the line facing Thompson's creek. Altogether the line was over 3 miles in length, and on April 1, 1863, was manned by something over 16,000 men, with 30 pieces of field artillery, under command of Major-General Frank Gardner, but by the middle of May this force had been reduced to about 7,000 men in order to reinforce General Pemberton at Vicksburg. The reduction of Port Hudson was necessary for the opening of the Mississippi river, and when General Grant began the siege of Vicksburg General Banks, commanding the Department of the Gulf, concentrated his army against Port Hudson. At that time the 19th corps consisted of four divisions. The 1st division, under Major-General C. C. Augur, was composed of the brigades of Chapin, Weitzel and Dudley; the 2nd division, Brigadier-General T. W. Sherman commanding, consisted of the brigades of Dow, Farr and Nickerson; the 3d division, commanded by Brigadier-General W. H. Emory, included the brigades of Ingraham, Paine and Gooding; the 4th division, commanded by Brigadier-General Cuvier Grover, was made up of the brigades of Dwight, Kimball and Birge. At the beginning of operations against Port Hudson, Banks brought with him from the Red river country the divisions of Grover and Emory and Weitzel's brigade. The remainder of Augur's division and that of Sherman, stationed at Baton Rouge, joined Banks a few miles east of Port Hudson on May 25, the Confederate outposts were driven in, and the next day the place was fairly invested. On the 19th General Joseph E. Johnston sent an order to Gardner to evacuate the post and join him at Jackson. This order did not reach Port Hudson until late on the 24th, and before it could be carried out Banks' army of nearly 40,000 men was in front of the intrenchments. Banks formed his line with Grover on the right; next Emory's division, temporarily commanded by General Dwight; Augur occupied the center, and Sherman was on the left. As soon as the troops were in position orders were issued for an assault and between 5 and 6 a. m. on the 26th the artillery opened a sharp fire on the Confederate works. This continued until 10 o'clock, when Grover moved forward to the attack. The ground in his front was broken and the troops moved with difficulty, though they gallantly pushed up close to the works and continued the fighting until 4 p. m. The attack in the center and on the left was delayed and did not commence until 2 p. m., when the whole line moved forward with determination, reaching the ditch, but the parapet proved too formidable and at dark the troops were withdrawn. During the next few days there was almost constant skirmishing, while the Federals advanced their position as much as possible and intrenched. Siege guns were brought up and placed in position, and on June 13 Banks made a demand for the surrender of the garrison. This was refused and another assault was ordered to be made at daylight on the 14th. Dwight moved forward under cover of a ravine and attacked the Citadel, while the main assault was made by Grover and Weitzel on the right. Neither column was successful, though the Federal lines were advanced and the Page 710 ground thus gained was intrenched and held during the remainder of the siege. Dwight gained an eminence from which an approach was run to the Citadel; a mine was prepared and charged with 30 barrels of powder, but just as it was about ready to spring, the garrison capitulated. The Union loss in the two assaults was 49b killed, 2,945 wounded and 358 missing. Among the wounded was General Sherman, who lost a leg. The Confederate loss was comparatively small. On July 7 Banks received a letter from Grant, announcing the fall of Vicksburg. Salutes were fired and the vociferous cheering of the Union troops told the Confederates that something out of the ordinary had occurred. That afternoon a rumor of Pemberton's surrender became current among the besieged and Gardner asked Banks to give him some official assurance that the report was correct. In reply Banks sent the Confederate commander a copy of Grant's letter, upon the receipt of which Gardner proposed the appointment of commissioners to arrange the details of a surrender. This was assented to and the commissioners met at 9 a. m. on the 8th. By the terms agreed upon the entire garrison was surrendered as prisoners of war, and all arms, munitions, public funds and materials of war passed into the hands of the victorious army. The Confederate troops laid down their arms on the morning of the 9th and the Mississippi river was open for the passage of Union vessels for its entire navigable length. Of the prisoners 5,593 were paroled and some 500 sick and wounded were retained in the hospitals. The Confederates lost while the siege was in progress about 800 men. Over 5,000 stands of small arms, 51 pieces of artillery, large quantities of ammunition, etc., fell into Banks' hands. The commissary stores were small, practically everything having been consumed during the siege, in the last days of which it is said the Confederates had no meat except that of mules and rats.


Port Hudson, Louisiana, April 7, 1864. Detachment of 118th Illinois Mounted Infantry. Captain Joseph Shaw, with 100 cavalry and a gun of the 25th New York battery, was sent out to protect a telegraph line repairer. About 8 miles out, near Plains store, this escort was attacked by a superior force of the enemy and compelled to fall back, which they did in good order until within a mile and a half of the town, when another Confederate detachment came up on the Springfield landing road and attacked on the flank. In the fight which ensued the enemy captured the piece of artillery, together with 16 men and 8 horses. Five of Shaw's men were wounded.


Port Hudson, Louisiana, May 28, 1864. A small force of Confederates attacked and plundered the pest-house of the post of Port Hudson, situated on the opposite bank of the river. The medicines were destroyed and the hospital supplies taken. The surgeon in charge, John W. Mason, was taken prisoner.


Portland, Missouri, October 16, 1862. 1st Battalion Missouri Cavalry Militia. A party of Porter's Confederate troops having occupied Portland, a Federal battalion, 120 strong, started in pursuit. At Jackson's mill the enemy's pickets were first discovered. They were driven in, one portion of them making for the town and the other toward the left. Both were pursued, but the latter was lost in the thickets. When the Federals arrived in the town the larger portion of the enemy had already been ferried across the river, but the 40 or 50 left were charged and dispersed up the river. The Confederates lost 7 killed in this encounter.


Port Republic, Virginia, June 8-9, 1862. 1st Division, Department of the Rappahannock. Port Republic is a town situated at the confluence of the North and South rivers where they form the south fork of the Shenandoah river. The South river is easily fordable and at the time of the operations in the Shenandoah valley in 1862 it was spanned by a Page 711 wooden bridge. During the pursuit of Jackson in the valley Brigadier-General James Shields, commanding the 1st division of the Department of the Rappahannock, learned that the Confederates were awaiting a lowering of the waters of the river. Accordingly he ordered the 3d and 4th brigades and 14 pieces of artillery, all under Colonel Samuel S. Carroll, to proceed to Port Republic and guard the crossing, hoping thus to get Jackson between himself and Fremont. At 6 a. m. on Sunday, June 8, Carroll's advance approached the town, which was occupied by a small cavalry force, and in a brilliant dash across the south stream the Federal cavalry drove the enemy out and across the bridge spanning the north stream. Two pieces of artillery were immediately brought forward and placed so as to command the bridge and the infantry was brought into the town. Before the latter could be deployed the Confederates returned in force and the Federal cavalry fell back in disorder without offering any resistance. Seeing that it was impossible to hold his position, Carroll ordered a retreat toward Conrad's store, 15 miles down the river. The Union loss on the 8th was 9 killed, 20 wounded and 1 missing. On the same day the battle of Cross Keys was fought and during the night Ewell's division joined the Confederates at Port Republic . Early the next morning the enemy was seen massing his infantry and cavalry on Carroll's left, and before long was attacking in force on the right, held by the 7th Indiana under Colonel James Gavin. Carroll with reinforcements went to Gavin's aid and succeeded in repulsing the attack, but in the meantime the left gave way and the batteries were captured. The order to retreat was then given, the 5th Ohio infantry bringing up the rear. The Confederates turned the captured guns on the retiring Federals, which created some confusion, but after falling back for some 4 or 5 miles reinforcements came up under Shields and repulsed the pursuing enemy. The Federal losses on the 9th were 67 killed, 393 wounded and 558 captured or missing. The Confederate casualties were 92 killed, 693 wounded and 36 missing.


Port Republic, Virginia, September 26-28, 1864. Cavalry of the Army of the Shenandoah. On the 26th, while the main body of the Union army was near Harrisonburg, Sheridan sent General Torbert, with Wilson's division and Lowell's brigade of Merritt's, to destroy the Virginia Central railroad bridge at Waynesboro, and, as a diversion to cover this movement, directed Merritt to move with the rest of his division to Port Republic . When within 2 miles of Port Republic Devin's brigade, which was in advance, encountered some of McCausland's cavalry, drove them across the river to Weyer's cave, not far from Brown's gap, when a division of Confederate infantry attacked Devin on his right and rear, forcing him to fall back toward the river and take a position where he had an open field in his front. Here he was joined by the other brigade, Taylor's battery was thrown into position and opened a vigorous fire on the Confederates, forcing them to fall back to the woods. Merritt then sent word to General Powell at Piedmont to bring up his division, with a view to capturing Early's train. The 6th and 7th Michigan, commanded by Colonel Deane and Major Darling, had made one attempt to capture the train, but had been compelled to give up the undertaking by the superior strength of the guard. When Powell came up he quickly drove back a body of the enemy's cavalry, but in doing so developed a large force of infantry and artillery and was forced to retire across the South river, where he went into camp for the night. The next morning he again advanced, leaving the 2nd West Virginia and two squadrons to guard the camp and train. About the same time Fitzhugh Lee crossed the river 2 miles above and suddenly attacked Powell's camp, driving back the small force in charge. Powell changed front, recalled that portion of his division that had already crossed the river, and attacked Lee with such vigor that Page 712 he was forced to retreat somewhat precipitately. Powell started to pursue, but a heavy column of infantry, cavalry and artillery was discovered moving out from Brown's gap, evidently intent in cutting off the division, but Powell prevented the success of the maneuver by slowly falling back to Cross Keys, where he joined Merritt's command and formed in line of battle. Instead of attacking the Federal cavalry at Cross Keys the Confederates moved off to Port Republic, which place they evacuated on the morning of the 28th, the rear-guard being attacked by Kidd's and Schoonmaker's brigades and driven in the direction of Waynesboro. No report of casualties during these engagements.


Port Royal, South Carolina, November 7, 1861. Com. Dupont's Fleet . Port Royal harbor was defended by two forts, Walker and Beauregard, the former on Hilton Head island and the latter on Bay point opposite and about 3 miles distant. Fort Walker was garrisoned by a Confederate force under General Drayton and mounted 20 guns, only 13 of which could be directed against an attack by the fleet in front. The garrison at Fort Beauregard was commanded by Colonel Dunovant. This fort mounted 19 guns, but only 7 were in positions to be used against an attack by water. At 9 am. 19 Union battleships moved up into the harbor in close order, firing upon Fort Beauregard as they passed, then circling to the left poured a broadside into Fort Walker. This circuit was made three times, when some of the vessels took a flanking position, from which they could rake the parapet of Fort Walker, and in a short time most of the guns of that work were disabled. Meantime the bombardment was kept up against Fort Beauregard with like result. Early in the action a caisson was exploded by a shell from one of the gunboats, and the bursting of a rifled 24-pounder killed or wounded several men. The incessant and well aimed fire of the battleships finally compelled the evacuation of both forts and Port Royal fell into the hands of the national forces, thus affording a camping ground and base of operations for the army commanded by Brigadier-General T. W. Sherman. (See also naval volume.)


Port Royal, Virginia, April 26, 1865. (See Garrett's farm, same date.)


Port Royal Ferry, South Carolina, January 1, 1862. Part of Expeditionary Corps. The Confederates had established batteries at Port Royal ferry on the Coosaw river, to obstruct the navigation of that stream, and Brigadier-General Thomas W. Sherman, commanding the expeditionary corps on Beaufort island, determined to dislodge them. This work was intrusted to Brigadier-General Isaac I. Stevens, whose force consisted of the 8th Michigan, 47th, 48th and 79th New York, 50th and 100th Pennsylvania infantry, about 3,000 men, while five gunboats of Com. Dupont's fleet, under command of Captain C. R. P. Rodgers of the U. S. navy, were directed to cooperate with the land forces. The plan was for Stevens to cross over from Brick-yard point on Port Royal island at daylight on the 1st, the crossing to be covered by the gunboats, two of which were to take position in the Coosaw for that purpose, while the other three were to enter Whale branch as soon as it was light enough to see and move up toward the ferry. Considerable delay occurred in crossing, so that it was noon before Stevens was ready to begin his attack. The 79th New York was in advance, with two companies thrown forward as skirmishers. Immediately following this regiment were 2 howitzers that had been sent up from one of the gunboats, supported by the 8th Michigan and 50th Pennsylvania, with the 47th and 48th New York in reserve and the 100th Pennsylvania guarding the flatboats and keeping open a line of retreat in case it became necessary. As the line advanced the enemy opened a vigorous fire from a masked battery on the right, and Colonel Fenton, commanding the 8th Michigan, was ordered to dislodge it. Fenton deployed his regiment as skirmishers and, protected by the thickets and ridges in the ground, advanced against the battery, but soon developed a large force of infantry in support. The reserves were then pushed out Page 713 to the right, while Colonel Christ sent part of the 50th Pennsylvania to the left, under instructions to gain the rear of the enemy if possible. The movements were well executed and the Confederates were pressed back at all points. As soon as the line began to move forward the gunboats commenced throwing shells over the heads of the Union troops into the fort, which created considerable consternation in the enemy's ranks. In the meantime Colonel Leasure, commanding the 100th Pennsylvania, who was under orders to cross over and assist in the assault on the fort if circumstances favored such a movement, saw from his point of observation that the Confederates were about ready to evacuate their works, and threw over a detachment under Lieut.-Colonel Armstrong, which reached the fort just as the enemy was leaving it and the skirmishers of the 79th New York were taking possession. Armstrong then made a reconnaissance to the northward and found that the enemy was in full retreat. The Union loss in this engagement was 2 killed, 12 wounded and 1 missing. The Confederates reported a loss of 8 killed and 24 wounded.


Port Walthall Junction, Virginia, May 7, 1864. Detachments of 10th and 18th Army Corps. Early in the morning the brigades commanded by H. M. Plaisted, William B. Barton and J. C. Drake of the 10th corps and Hiram Burnham's brigade of the 18th corps, all under Brigadier-General W. H. T. Brooks, moved on the Bermuda Hundred road to cut the Petersburg & Richmond railroad from Chester Station to Port Walthall junction and farther south if practicable. Shortly after starting a small force of the enemy was discovered at the opposite end of a causeway leading through a marsh. The 8th Connecticut was thrown forward as skirmishers, supported by the rest of Burnham's brigade, and the cavalry was sent to the turnpike. Plaisted's brigade was thrown to the right, where it proceeded down a ravine under cover to the railroad and at once started to destroy it. Barton's brigade moved to the left of Plaisted's, but it was with some difficulty and rather heavy loss that the Confederates were driven back and the railroad gained. After some hours spent in tearing up tracks and destroying buildings, etc., Brooks withdrew, having suffered a loss of 20 killed, 229 wounded and 40 captured or missing. One of the 2 Confederate brigades engaged lost 22 killed, 142 wounded and 13 missing. The casualties in the other were not reported.


Post Oak Creek, Missouri, March 26, 1862. Missouri State Militia Cavalry. After driving a band of guerrillas from a position 3 miles south of Warrensburg, Major Emory S. Foster with 40 men came upon them again strongly posted behind logs and fence rails on the bank of the Post Oak creek. Foster dismounted his men and after maintaining a vigorous fire for some time a charge was ordered, which drove the Confederates from their position and into the brush. Foster lost 2 killed and 9 wounded, while the Confederate loss was reported at 5 killed and a number wounded.


Potecasi Creek, North Carolina, July 26, 1863. Troops under Major-General John G. Foster. As an incident of an expedition from New Berne to Winton, under General Foster, the Confederates were driven in such haste from the bridge over the Potecasi creek that they did not have time to destroy it. No casualties were reported. Potomac Creek, Virginia, August 23, 1861. U. S. Steamers Yankee and Release. Colonel R. M. Cary, commanding the Confederate batteries at the mouth of Potomac creek, reported that on the afternoon of the 23d the Federal gunboats Yankee and Release opened fire on the batteries; that for 40 minutes the firing was kept up, when the Union participants drew off. The Confederates suffered no losses. The Federal vessels were struck a number of times, but it is not known whether their crews suffered any casualties.


Potosi, Missouri, August 10, 1861. Missouri Home Guards. About 150 Page 714 Confederate cavalry attacked the home guards at Potosi at 6 p. m., but after a few minutes' fighting they were driven from the town with a loss of 5 men wounded. The home guards also had 5 wounded.


Potts' Hill, Arkansas, February 16, 1862. (See Sugar Creek.) Pound Gap, Kentucky, March 16, 1862. 40th and 42nd Ohio and 22nd Kentucky Infantry, and 100 Cavalry. Brigadier-General James A. Garfield, with 600 infantry and 100 cavalry, left Piketon on the 14th and by the night of the 15th was within a few miles of Major John B. Thompson's Confederate camp of 500 men at Pound gap. The Federal cavalry under Major McLaughlin advanced directly up the main road the next morning while the infantry took a circuitous route and got to the rear of the enemy's camp. Attacks on both sides were to be simultaneous, but the infantry was delayed and the cavalry attack was repulsed. It had the effect, however, of allowing the infantry to get close to the camp without being noticed. After receiving a half dozen volleys at long range the Confederates broke and fled, leaving 1 dead and a number wounded. Garfield's force did not suffer any casualties.


Pound Gap, Kentucky, May 9, 1864. Colonel George W. Gallup, of the 14th Kentucky infantry, reporting from Louisa, Kentucky, says: "Major Wise, 11th Michigan, left this morning with three squadrons for the vicinity of Pound gap. Scouts just came in; had a skirmish with one of Morgan's scouts; captured 6 horses, his telegraph operator and instruments, and 1 private; killed 2."


Pound Gap, Kentucky, June 1, 1864. Brigadier-General John H. Morgan (Confederate), in his report of his raid into Kentucky, states that he entered the state via Pound gap, driving in a Federal force of 500 at that point This is the only official mention of the affair.


Powder Springs, Georgia, June 20, 1864. Detachment 1st Division, Cavalry Corps, Army of the Cumberland. Scouting parties were sent out daily by General E. M. McCook, commanding the division, to discover the movements of the enemy and develop his position. On the 20th one of these parties fell in with a small body of Confederate cavalry and drove it back on the picket post at Powder Springs, afterward forcing the picket to retire along the road to Atlanta. These cavalry movements and the engagement at Cheney's farm on the 22nd aided materially in driving the enemy from Kennesaw mountain.


Powder Springs, Georgia, October 2-3, 1864. General John B. Hood, reporting his operations in an effort to draw Sherman away from the vicinity of Atlanta, says that his skirmishers had brushes with the Federal skirmishers on the 2nd and 3d at Noyes' and Sweet Water creeks near Powder Springs. No casualties were reported.


Powder Springs Gap, Tennessee, June 21, 1863. U. S. Troops under Colonel W. P. Sanders. As an incident of Sanders' raid in east Tennessee, with detachments of 1st East Tennessee, 44th Ohio, and 112th Illinois mounted infantry, 2nd and 7th Ohio and 1st Kentucky cavalry and the 1st Ohio artillery, he was opposed at Powder Springs gap by a large force directly in its front, while another detachment came up and began skirmishing with the rear, but by taking country roads the gap was occupied without trouble or serious loss.


Powell County, Kentucky, December 26, 1862. Detachment of 14th Kentucky Cavalry. Major Joseph W. Stivers, with 150 men, while on a scout in Powell count}', came upon the camp of a band of guerrillas on the morning of the 26th. dashed into the camp and utterly routed them, capturing 12 of the outlaws, beside a quantity of clothing, blankets, arms, etc.


Powell's Bridge, Tennessee, February 22, 1864. Detachment of 34th Kentucky Infantry. Simultaneously with the Confederate attack on Wyerman's mill another Confederate force attacked the 50 men of the 34th Kentucky comprising the outpost at Powell's bridge and the block-house was Page 715 assaulted three times but without success. No casualties were reported.


Powell's River, Virginia, December 13, 1863. Colonel Wilson C. Lemert, commanding the Union forces at Cumberland gap, reported that his cavalry came upon the encampment of a Virginia Confederate regiment at Hickory flat, 7 miles beyond Jonesville; that the enemy fired one volley .and fled to Powell's river where he was reinforced by another Virginia regiment. The Federals then opened with artillery and the cavalry charged and drove the enemy in confusion to Stickleyville. The Confederates lost 5 killed and 26 captured.


Powell Valley, Tennessee, June 22, 1863. This was an incident of Colonel W. P. Sanders' raid into east Tennessee, but in his report of the expedition he makes no specific mention of the action at Powell's valley. (See Rogers' gap and Powder Springs gap.)


Powers' Ferry, Georgia, July 12, 1864. (See Chattahoochee River.)


Powhatan, Virginia, January 25, 1865. 1st U. S. Colored Cavalry.


Prairie D'Ane, Arkansas, April 9-12, 1864. (See Camden, Arkansas, Expedition to.)


Prairie Du Rocher, Illinois, April 6, 1864. Detachment 3d Missouri State Militia Cavalry. Captain Henry B. Milks with 18 men, sent out from Farmington, Missouri, to capture or drive out a band of guerrillas, captured 5 before reaching Prairie Du Rocher. The place was charged and the guerrillas stationed there were driven to the bluffs for shelter. After a short but spirited fight the enemy was compelled to abandon his position on the bluffs and take to the woods, leaving 3 dead on the field. Another of the guerrillas was shot while attempting to escape from his captors. Milks had 1 man wounded.


Prairie Grove, Arkansas, December 7, 1862. Army of the Frontier. After the battle of Cane Hill on November 28, the Confederate forces under General T. C. Hindman united with the command of Brigadier-General J. S. Marmaduke at Lee's creek, where the latter had retreated. On December 2, Brigadier-General J. G. Blunt, commanding the Army of the Frontier, sent for Brigadier-General F. J. Herron to bring up his command, consisting of the 2nd and 3d divisions, to reinforce the Union army at Cane Hill. Herron at once started from Elkhorn and his advance reached Blunt about 10 p. m. on the 6th. This advance consisted of detachments of the 2nd Wisconsin, 1st la., 10th Illinois, and 8th Missouri cavalry regiments, about 1,600 men in all. During the night, owing to the negligence of an officer sent to watch the Cove Creek road, Hindman was able to move part of his troops north, passing to the east of Blunt's position on the Fayetteville road. His object was to get between Blunt and Herron and prevent them from forming a junction. Blunt immediately came to Herron's aid over a road leading to Cane Hill mills, east of the Fayetteville road. Herron, with but six regiments of infantry, three batteries and about 500 cavalry, had been attacked by the entire Confederate force at 7 a. m., but managed to drive it back across Illinois creek to Prairie Grove, where he planted his batteries and opened fire. Between 1 and 2 p. m. Blunt came in on Herron's right and stationed his artillery so as to sweep the woods from which the Confederate infantry was firing. From 3 p. m. until dark the musketry firing was uninterrupted. Twice the Union infantry charged the enemy's battery and captured it, but both times the guns were recaptured by the superiority of numbers. When darkness fell, the firing ceased on both sides. The Union troops slept on their arms, expecting a renewal of the engagement in the morning, but during the night the Confederates stealthily retreated southwest across the Boston mountains, leaving Blunt and Herron in possession of the field. The Union casualties were 175 killed, 813 wounded and 263 captured or missing. The Confederate loss was 164 killed, 817 wounded and 336 captured or missing. Blunt's forces in the battle numbered 7,000; those of the enemy 28,000.


Prairie Grove, Arkansas, April 7, 1864. Detachment of 1st Arkansas Cavalry. Colonel M. La Rue Harrison, reporting from Fayetteville on April 8, stated that a gang of Confederates, 22 strong, charged upon the Federal corral keepers, 9 in number, near Prairie Grove and killed all of them.


Prairie Station, Mississippi, February 21, 1864. 1st Cavalry Brigade, 16th Army Corps. During Smith's withdrawal from before West Point during the Meridian expedition a portion of Waring's brigade made a demonstration on the right of the retiring column, thereby checking an attempted flank movement of the Confederates on the railroad. No casualties reported. Prentiss, Mississippi, September 19, 1862.


Presidio Del Norte, New Mexico, April 15, 1864. (See Spencer's Ranch, same date)


Presidio Del Norte, New Mexico, January 21, 1865. The only report of this affair is that of Captain H. Kennedy, a Confederate recruiting officer, whose command was attacked by 130 Federals on the Cibolo river. Kennedy made a desperate dash and cut his way through the surrounding lines, losing 4 killed, 7 wounded and 8 missing, besides all his transportation. The Union loss was not reported.


Presto, Destruction of, February 1-6, 1864. Batteries about Charleston Harbor. The Presto was a Confederate blockade-runner that succeeded in passing the fleet in front of Charleston Harbor on the night of the 1st and ran aground on a bar on the shore of Sullivan's island. She was discovered at dawn on the 2nd, when the three 30-pounder Parrotts in Fort Putnam opened on her at a range of 2,600 yards. The first three shells burst directly over her, driving away the Confederates who were trying to unload the cargo. At 8 o'clock the 300-pounder Parrott in Battery Chatfield opened up with accurate aim at a range of 2,700 yards, one shell going through the furnaces of the stranded vessel. Fort Strong opened soon after at a range of 3,600 yards, firing a shell from a 200-pounder Parrott every 15 minutes until dark. A 100-pounder Parrott was fired at intervals from this fort during the night, and on the morning of the 2nd the 200-pounder sent in 15 shells, 5 of which struck the hull. The vessel was set on fire by the shells on the 2nd but for some cause the fire went out. On the afternoon she was again set on fire and burned until dark, when the fire again went out of its own accord. During the 2nd, 3d and 4th two monitors joined in the bombardment but most of their shots went wild and they finally withdrew. Altogether about 1,000 shells were thrown at the unfortunate vessel and on the morning of the 6th she was a complete wreck. The Confederate batteries on Sullivan's and James islands replied with about 400 shells, but the only casualties reported as a result of their fire were the wounding of 2 men of the 3d Rhode Island artillery at Fort Putnam. The effect of the bombardment was to keep the enemy from getting possession of the cargo of supplies, which would no doubt have been gladly received.


Preston, Missouri, June 16, 1864. (See Big North fork, same date.)


Prestonburg, Kentucky, January 10, 1862. (See Middle Creek, same date.)


Prestonburg, Kentucky, December 4, 1862. Detachment of the 39th Kentucky Infantry. The detachment, numbering about 200 men, while guarding some push boats loaded with supplies, on the way up the west fork of the Big Sandy river to Piketon, was attacked by 800 mounted Confederates under Captain Clarkson about 4 miles below Prestonburg. The Kentuckians put up a spirited resistance, but were finally overpowered and the boats fell into the hands of the enemy, who thus captured about 100 stands of arms, 300 uniforms, 7,000 rounds of ammunition and some commissary stores. The Union report says that the Federal loss was 2 men killed, and placed the enemy's loss at 14 or 15 killed, but Clarkson stated his casualties as 2 killed and 7 wounded.


Price's Landing, Missouri, November 18, 1861. Steamer Platte Valley. About Page 717 200 Confederates, under the leadership of Brigadier-General M. Jeff. Thompson, captured the steamboat Platte Valley at Price's landing about 4 o'clock in the afternoon. Two officers of the 2nd U. S. cavalry were also captured and paroled, one of whom carried news of the event to General Grant at Cairo, Illinois, who immediately ordered out all the available cavalry and sent some 700 or 800 infantry by rail to Charleston, Missouri, in an effort to cut off and capture Thompson, but that wily officer succeeded in making his escape. No casualties were reported.


Prim's Shop, Tennessee, December 25, 1862. Harker's Brigade of Wood's Division. While this brigade was foraging on the Edmondson pike it was attacked on front and flank near Prim's blacksmith shop by about 600 Confederates. The enemy was driven off, but not until he had succeeded in killing 1 and wounding 2 of the foraging party. The Confederates had 3 men wounded.


Prince Edward Court House, Virginia, April 7, 1865. Cavalry Division, Army of the James. In the pursuit of General Lee's army from Richmond and Petersburg, the division, commanded by Brigadier-General Ranald S. Mackenzie, was sent to Prince Edward Court House (now Hampden-Sidney) to cut off the Confederate line of retreat to Danville. At the Court House was a small force of the enemy, which was charged by Mackenzie's advance, 38 captured and the remainder driven precipitately from the town. The Union loss was slight. Here Mackenzie was joined by the cavalry of the Army of the Potomac, under General Merritt, and the entire force moved to Appomattox Court House.


Prince George Court House, Virginia, November 24, 1864. Pickets of 1st Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division, Army of the Potomac. Thirty dismounted Confederates attacked the Union picket line near Prince George Court House about 1 a. m., killed 2 of the pickets, wounded 4 and captured another, besides 18 horses with equipments. The enemy had 1 man killed and 1 wounded.


Prince's Shoals, Missouri, October 6, 1864. Detachments of the 1st and 7th Missouri Cavalry. When General Sterling Price, in his Missouri expedition, reached Prince's shoals on the Osage river he found there a small guard, which was at once attacked arid driven away from the crossing. Portions of the 1st and 7th Missouri cavalry were hurried to the assistance of the guard and the lost position was regained. A request was sent for more troops, but before they could be brought up the main body of Price's army arrived and the Federals were compelled to abandon the crossing. In this affair the Confederates lost 2 killed and 7 wounded. The Union loss was not reported.


Princeton, Arkansas, December 8, 1863. Detachments of 1st, 2nd and 7th Missouri and 1st and 3d Iowa Cavalry and Hadley's Battery. As an incident of a reconnaissance from Little Rock the detachment, under Colonel Lewis Merrill, surprised a Confederate camp 2 miles from Princeton. The enemy, 600 strong, was completely routed, losing 8 killed, 18 wounded and 28 captured. No loss was reported on the Union side.


Princeton, Arkansas, April 28, 1864. (See Camden, Arkansas, Expedition to.)


Princeton, Arkansas, October 21, 1864. 9th Kansas and 1st Missouri Cavalry. The advance of an expedition encountered the Confederate pickets 12 miles from Princeton, drove them back and entered the town to find some 75 Confederates drawn up in line of battle. Upon seeing the size of the Federal force the enemy broke and fled. No casualties were reported.


Princeton, Kentucky, June 10, 1864.


Princeton, West Virginia, May 16-17, 1862. Troops of the District of the Kanawha. While Brigadier-General J. D. Cox was concentrating his forces or1 the Pearisburg road on the 16th, Humphrey Marshall, with some 2,000 Confederates and 3 pieces of artillery, attacked and drove out the Page 718 detachment at Princeton. That night Cox, with the 2nd provisional brigade under Colonel Augustus Moor, moved back and at daylight attacked Marshall, who retired to a wooded hill west of town and there took up a strong position. Cox again attacked and forced the Confederates back to the junction of the Wytheville and Wyoming roads, where Marshall was joined by Williams and Heth, bringing the enemy's strength up to12,000 or 15,000 men. Some fighting occurred during the afternoon, though no serious assaults were made by either side. Late in the day Cox was joined by the 1st brigade under Colonel Scammon, and at 3 a. m. on the 18th fell back about 10 miles to prevent the enemy from getting in his rear. The Union loss at Princeton was 23 killed, 69 wounded and 21 missing. Cox estimated the Confederate loss at from two to three times that number, but Marshall says he had 2 killed and 12 or 14 wounded.


Princeton, West Virginia, May 6, 1864. 2nd Division, Department of West Virginia. This affair was an incident of Crook's expedition against the Virginia & Tennessee railroad. As his advance approached Princeton it encountered a small body of Confederate cavalry, which after skirmishing for a few minutes fled hastily in the direction of Rocky gap. No casualties were reported.


Pritchard's Mill, Virginia, September 15, 1861. Detachment of the 13th Massachusetts Infantry. In order to learn something of the strength and intentions of the enemy operating along the Potomac river, Colonel John W. Geary, commanding the post at Point of Rocks, Maryland, sent Lieut . Brown, with 7 men of the 13th Massachusetts, to reconnoiter along the river as far as Antietam ford. As the party was returning it was fired upon by about 50 Confederates concealed in the bushes about Pritchard's mill on the Virginia side of the river, and 1 man was instantly killed. Brown placed his men in a sheltered position, from which he was unable to withdraw until dark, on account of the continuous fire from the mill.


Proctor's Creek, Virginia, May 12-16, 1864. (See Drewry's Bluff.)


Prophet Bridge, Mississippi, December 3, 1862. (See Water Valley.)


Prosperity Church, Tennessee, April 3, 1863. 1st Cavalry Brigade, Army of the Cumberland. As an incident of an expedition from Murfreesboro to Auburn, the Federal advance encountered a small force of the enemy at Prosperity Church but soon routed and drove it back to Liberty. The Confederates lost 1 man killed and 2 or 3 wounded.


Providence Church, Virginia, November 12, 1862. Detachment of New York Mounted Rifles. This affair was a skirmish between 300 Confederates and the Federal picket stationed at Providence Church. The enemy was repulsed, retiring to the Blackwater river.


Providence Church, Virginia, December 28, 1862. Pickets of forces under Brigadier-General Orris S. Ferry. General Ferry reports that an attack was made on the Federal vedettes at 4 p. m. and that they were driven in. The reserve, however, checked the Confederate advance, then routed and pursued it until the main body, 300 strong, was encountered. No casualties were reported.


Providence Church, Virginia, January 9, 1863. New York Mounted Rifles. Major-General John J. Peck reporting to Major-General John A. Dix, commanding at Fort Monroe, says: "The enemy crossed the Blackwater in considerable force and attempted yesterday to drive in our right at Providence Church. Infantry, cavalry and artillery were employed by the rebels, but they were repulsed by Major Wheelan's New York mounted rifles. At dusk the enemy's advance was charged and driven back upon his support. At intervals through the night shells were thrown from rebel batteries."


Providence Church, Virginia, May 17, 1863. Troops of the Department of Virginia. While a reconnoitering party under Brigadier-General Charles C. Page 719 Dodge was returning from Scott's mill his rear, under Major Alexander C. Patton, was attacked by Confederates, 1 man captured and 3 wounded.


Providence Church Road, Virginia, April 12-13, 1863. The skirmishing on this road was an incident of the beginning of the siege of Suffolk by the Confederates under General Longstreet. (See Suffolk.)


Pueblo Colorado, New Mexico, August 18, 1863. Three companies of the 1st New Mexico Cavalry.


Pulaski, Tennessee, May 1, 1862. Detachment 18th Ohio Infantry, Recruits and Convalescents. Captain John Jumper, with 110 men forming a guard for a lot of Confederate prisoners, was proceeding from Huntsville to Nashville when he learned that 15 or 20 Confederates had attacked a Union telegraph party. Jumper immediately took a portion of his command and proceeded in pursuit. When about 4 or 5 miles from Pulaski the enemy was met and driven back until the remainder of Morgan's force came into the fight. After two hours of desultory fighting the Confederates charged and Jumper and his men were compelled to surrender, having lost 1 man killed and 1 wounded. Jumper reports 6 of the Confederates killed and 3 wounded, but Morgan makes no mention of any casualties.


Pulaski, Tennessee, December 1, 1863. 7th and 9th Illinois Mounted Infantry. Colonel Rowett, with the 7th Illinois, while on a trip to Eastport, encountered the 4th Alabama cavalry, belonging to Roddey's command, and routed it, taking 25 prisoners. On the same day Lieut.-Colonel Phillips, with the oth Illinois, attacked some Confederate cavalry on the Florence road and drove them across the river, capturing 40 prisoners, 5 of whom were commissioned officers, one being General Bragg's inspector-general of cavalry. No Union casualties were reported.


Pulaski, Tennessee, December 15, 1863. Portion of the Army of the Cumberland. Major-General George H. Thomas, commanding the army of the Cumberland in the Chattanooga-Ringgold campaign, reports: "December 15, a , small party of rebels, under Major Joe Fontaine, Roddey's adjutant, was captured by General Dodge near Pulaski. They had been on a reconnaissance along the Nashville & Chattanooga railroad and the Nashville & Decatur railroad."


Pulaski, Tennessee, September 26-27, 1864. Troops of the District of Tennessee. As an incident of Forrest's raid into Alabama and Tennessee his cavalry approached Richland creek near Pulaski on the 26th. The troops defending the bridge were driven back into the block-house and after being surrounded surrendered. The following day the Confederates advanced on the town. Six miles out they encountered some Union cavalry and continually drove it until the Federals took position in the block-houses and fortif1cations of Pulaski. There skirmishing was kept up all day, and toward evening the enemy advanced a heavy skirmish line to within a short distance of the Federal line. During the night the Confederates withdrew. The Union loss was 80 killed and wounded; Forrest did not report his casualties.


Pulaski, Tennessee, December 25, 1864. (See King's Hill, same date.)


Pulaski, Tennessee (Note.) During the war Pulaski lay directly in the path of armies moving between Tennessee on the north and Alabama or Mississippi on the south. Consequently there were frequent collisions in the vicinity between the contending forces. In addition to the engagements above described, the official records of the war mention skirmishes on May 4 and 11, and August 27, 1862; July 15 and October 27, 1863; and May 13, 1864. No circumstantial reports of these affairs were made, however, and nothing can be gleaned concerning them, except that the Union troops engaged on July 15, 1863, were the 3d Ohio and 5th Tennessee cavalry, and those on May 13, 1864, were the 11th U. S. colored infantry.


Pulliam's, Missouri, December 25, 1863. Detachment of 3d Missouri State Page 720 Militia Cavalry. Upon learning of the capture of a company oi the 3d Missouri militia cavalry at Centerville, Major James Wilson started in pursuit. At 3 p. m., Christmas day, he overtook and attacked Reves (who had made the Centerville attack) in his camp. The Confederates, with the exception of 30 or 35, turned and fled into the brush. Those who stayed and fought were either riddled with bullets or killed by the saber and all the Federals taken at Centerville were recaptured. Wilson had 1 man killed and 8 wounded; the Confederate casualties, by the Union report, were 30 killed, 3 mortally and 2 slightly wounded.


Pumpkin Vine Creek, Georgia, May 25 to June 5, 1864. (See Dallas.) Pungo Landing, North Carolina, October 16, 1863. Steamer Fawn. While the steamer Fawn was proceeding to Corn jack, Currituck Court House, it was fired into from the shore at Pungo landing. The volley, which was from 30 muskets, severely wounded the captain of the vessel. On board the steamer was Lieut.-Colonel William Lewis of the 5th Pennsylvania cavalry. On the return trip the 1st battalion of this regiment was taken on board at Cornjack and disembarked at the landing to search for the enemy, but he had made his escape.


Purcellville, Virginia, July 16, 1864 . 1st Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, Army of West Virginia. The brigade, commanded by Colonel W. B. Tibbitts, attacked the enemy's wagon train at the junction of the Purcellville road with the Leesburg pike, and captured 150 prisoners and 200 wagons. A large Confederate force came up before he could get away with his captures and he was compelled to relinquish all but 54 of his prisoners and 80 wagons. Of these he burned 43 and succeeded in bringing off the remainder. He also captured and brought off 100 horses and 50 mules. No report of casualties.


Purgitsville, West Virginia, April 7, 1863. Detachment of 4th Brigade, 1st Division, 8th Army Corps. Upon learning that a small foraging party had become separated from its guard and had been attacked and captured, Colonel Jacob M. Campbell, commanding the brigade, despatched all his available cavalry under Captain Work in pursuit. Near Purgitsville, Work came up with the guard of the captured foraging party, being slowly driven by a superior force of Confederates. A charge threw the enemy into confusion, killing 3, capturing 3 and wounding 14. Three of the Federals were wounded.


Purdy Road, Tennessee, March 31, 1862. (See Adamsville.) Quaker Road, Virginia, March 29, 1865. 1st Division, 5th Army Corps. When General Grant began, on the morning of March 29, to extend his lines to the left, to envelop the right of the Confederate works in front of Petersburg, the 5th corps, Major General G. K. Warren commanding, moved out at 3 a. m. to the junction of the Vaughan and Quaker roads, where a junction was to be effected with the left of the 2nd corps. About 5 o'clock the enemy's skirmishers were driven away from the crossing of Rowanty creek, and at 8 o'clock the head of Warren's column reached the cross-roads. About noon he received an order from headquarters to move up the Quaker road to the little creek called Gravelly run. Griffin's division (1st) was at once started, but upon arriving at the creek found the bridge gone and a small force on the opposite bank to resist the crossing of the stream. Although difficult to ford, a skirmish line succeeded in getting over, when the Confederates retired after firing a few shots, thus giving the pioneers an opportunity to rebuild the bridge. A pontoon bridge was also thrown across the creek, Griffin's division crossed over, followed by Crawford's, the latter taking position on Griffin's left. The line then advanced, the resistance of the enemy gradually increasing until between 3 and 4 p. m., when a heavy force was found drawn up in line of battle near Arnold's old sawmill. The fight was opened by Chamberlain's brigade, which moved forward Page 721 under a heavy fire, driving the enemy from a piece of woods and advancing his line to the edge of the timber. A few minutes later the Confederates returned to the attack, the greater part of Anderson's and Johnson's divisions being hurled against Chamberlain. The brigade was being slowly forced back, when Griffin brought up Battery B, 4th U. S. artillery, which opened an effective fire on the enemy, and at the same time parts of Gregory's and Bartlett's brigades were sent to Chamberlain's assistance. The timely arrival of these reinforcements, and the continuous firing of the battery, soon forced the Confederates to beat a hasty retreat, leaving about 200 prisoners in the hands of the Federals. Warren reported the loss of Griffin's division as 370 killed and wounded. Among the latter were General Chamberlain and General Sickel. The enemy's losses were not definitely learned, but Griffin states in his report that 130 of their dead were buried by his pioneers. After the Confederates were driven back the line was advanced to the Boydton plank road and intrenched. (See Five Forks for further information of this flank movement.)