Today in History:

148 Series I Volume XI-I Serial 12 - Peninsular Campaign Part I

Page 148 THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN, VA. Chapter XXIII.

Roads.-Two thousand five hundred feet graded and corduroyed on road from General Smith's headquarters to New Bridge by details from the Fifteenth, under Captain Chester. Five hundred feet corduroyed over bottom-land on the north approach to the infantry bridge by details from the Fifteenth, under Captain Chester. Rifle pit 50 yards in length, constructed for the protection of the south approach of the lower trestle bridge by details from the Fifteenth, under Major Magruder.

D. P. WOODBURY.

Brigadier-General of Volunteers.

General J. G. BARNARD,

Chief Engineer, Army of the Potomac.


HEADQUARTERS ENGINEER BRIGADE,
Camp Lincoln, Va., June 19, 1862.

GENERAL: Since my last report, of June 7, the Engineer Brigade has been engaged chiefly in the construction of a permanent bridge across the Chickahominy nearly opposite Dr. Trent's. This bridge was commenced June 9, and completed so as to allow the passage of teams June 14. It was subsequently covered with earth, and the approaches, constructed under Colonel Alexander by other regiments, were completed on the 16th and 17th instant. The dimensions of the bridge are as follows: Length, 1,080 feet; roadway, 11 feet; number of cribs, 40; number of trestles, 6. The accompanying drawing will furnish any other details required.* The Third Vermont Regiment, Colonel Hyde commanding, furnished valuable assistance in covering a portion of the crib work after completing excellent approaches on the south side.

For the last week Captain Spaulding, with a detachment of 250 men, has been engaged in constructing an infantry bridge about 1 mile above the permanent bridge. Good progress has been made in the work.

June 17 and 18 several detachments of the brigade, amounting to some 400 men, were engaged in constructing bridges and corduroying on the road leading to the railroad station near Fair Oaks and the road from general headquarters to General Smith's division. I have not yet received the reports of the officers in charge of the work.

June 19, a detachment of 50 men, with their officers, still engaged on the road to Smith's division; a detachment of 500 men, with their officers, employed constructing fascines; 224 fascines were made on the line of the railroad near Fair Oaks Station.

D. P. WOODBURY,

Brigadier-General of Volunteers.

General J. G. BARNARD,

Chief Engineer, Army of the Potomac.


HEADQUARTERS ENGINEER BRIGADE,
Near Falmouth, Va., February 7, 1863.

DEAR GENERAL: I referred some of the queries in your letter of the 3rd to Major Spaulding,* whose camp is some 3 or 4 miles off. He hap-

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*Not found.

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Page 148 THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN, VA. Chapter XXIII.