Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 9.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[470] other. The crews took to their small boats, and made their escape to the opposite bank of the river.

A gunboat there escaped the section when it withdrew. About three P. M. six or eight transports, (schooners,) towed by a tug and convoyed by a gunboat, came up the river, as also several small river steamers. The guns were drawn up behind a bluff at Wayne's Oak, and, when the transports were opposite, ran to the edge of the bluff and opened on them. Some seventy shots were fired into the transports, damaging them severely; the tug was also damaged. The gunboat opened on the battery as soon as discovered, firing shell, spherical case, and grape from her large guns. She fired some thirty rounds. No damage was done the battery, all her shot either falling short or passing over our heads.

Officers and men behaved with the greatest gallantry and coolness, firing their guns as if no gunboat was in their vicinity, and seemed convinced that a gunboat was not so dangerous as they had supposed.

The enemy were much annoyed on their trips, and kept several gunboats engaged in shelling the woods and vicinity, doing no damage. They even fired at the houses in the vicinity, occupied only by inoffensive families.

On the evening of the seventh, the batteries returned to their camp.

Respectfully submitted.

General; Enclosed I send you my report of the artillery of your division. I must apologize for its coming in so late; but on your leaving Crew's farm, I was put on duty with the cavalry, in command of the Ninth North Carolina, late on picket duty. It was impossible for me to prepare it, from the fact that I was put into camp of instruction, with several drills a day, and to study my new arm, as they had brigade drills, &c. I did not receive your kind note inviting me to accompany you west until after you had left, though I had heard through Major Brent that you invited me.

I met Captain Eustis in Richmond, and asked him to deliver my answer to you. Accept my thanks for your kindness and the flattering invitation contained in your note.

I am, General, yours respectfully,

I had the honor, a few days since, to receive your note, directing me to render a report of the service of the artillery, at Garnett's farm, near New Bridge, at Savage's Station, and at Crew's farm.

The different batteries of the division performed arduous picket duty on Garnett's farm, from about the tenth of June, to the twenty-ninth of June, at which date the enemy vacated his lines, and the division started in pursuit. Previous to the twenty-ninth of June, the batteries under fire, and engaged with the enemy, were Woolfolk's, Lane's, and Moody's batteries, at Mrs. Price's house, overlooking the New Bridge. These batteries were engaged several times, firing on the working parties of the enemy at the bridge, causing them to desist from the work; and in every instance they drew the fire of the enemy's batteries from the opposite side of the river, which, being long-range guns, we could not reach. The officers and men of these commands behaved with coolness and gallantry, and on these several occasions lost several men killed and wounded. On the twenty-eighth of June, to prevent the enemy from working on some advanced intrenchments, Brown's and Lane's batteries were brought into action near Mr. Garnett's overseer's house, and, after a quarter of an hour's shelling, drove the enemy from their new works. The enemy opened on these two batteries with twelve rifle guns of large calibre, (twenty-pounder Parrott.) The engagement was kept up for half an hour, when the batteries were withdrawn, having accomplished the object for which they had been ordered out — some of the enemy's batteries being behind works and out of range. In this action, two men were killed and several wounded, and some six horses disabled.

On the twenty-sixth of June, from the same position, in the morning, Lane's and Moody's batteries opened again on the enemy's intrenchments, which the enemy had re-occupied, driving them out again. Their fire was replied to by several of the enemy's batteries behind works. The action was kept up for half an hour, when our guns were withdrawn, and there was but little prospect of injuring the enemy's batteries, half masked in the woods and behind strong intrenchments. The same experiment was repeated by our batteries in the evening — Lane's, Woolfolk's, Page's, and T. Jeff's batteries being engaged with some results. Captain Kirkpatrick, of Major Nelson's reserve artillery, was also engaged on the twenty-sixth, with two guns.

On the twenty-seventh of June, Moody's and Brown's batteries engaged the enemy's works, as he showed signs of vacating them. He replied with alacrity, showing he was still strong. I mention those two batteries especially, as they were, each of them, under very heavy artillery fire. None of the captains, except Brown, had their entire batteries in action. They went into action with their rifle sections. Generally, officers and men behaved well. In these different actions some eight men were killed and twenty wounded. Lieutenant----, of Brown's battery, was killed. Lieutenant Merwin, of Moody's battery, had an arm shot off. Lieutenant Merwin got out of a sick bed to go into action with his company.