Today in History:

673 Series I Volume XL-I Serial 80 - Richmond, Petersburg Part I

Page 673 Chapter LII. THE RICHMOND CAMPAIGN.

The following table exhibits the amount of fire of the different batteries under my command during this battle:

Armament.

Company. Commandin No Characte Ammun Remarks.

g . r. ition

officer. expen

ded

(roun

ds)

B, 1st Connecticut Captain 6 4 1/2- 216 Ninth

Artillery Brooker.. inch Corps

guns front

M, 1st Connecticut Captain 6 4 1/2- 331 Do.

Artillery Pratt... inch

A, 1st Connecticut Captain 4 8-inch 259 Do.

Artillery a Gillett.. mortars

H, 4th Connecticut Captain 6 4 1/2- 300 Fifth

Artillery Brown.... inch Corps

guns front

A, 1st Connecticut Lieutenan 6 8-inch 217 Do.

Artillery a t mortars

Patterson

C, 1st Connecticut Captain 10 10-inch 360 Do.

Artillery Pierce mortars

C, 4th New York Lieutenan 6 Coehorn 315 Do.

Artillery t mortars

McPherson

I, 1st Connecticut Lieutenan 4 8-inch 337 Eighteen

Artillery a t mortars th

Jackson. Corps,

front.

I, 1st Connecticut Captain 3 30- 176 Do.

Artillery a Burton.. pounder

Parrotts

D, 1st Connecticut Captain 4 30- 65 Do.

Artillery a Brigham.. pounder

Parrots

D, 1st Connecticut Lieutenan 5 Coehorns 121 Do.

Artillery a t

Williams

F, 1st Connecticut Captain 3 30- 206 Do.

Artillery Dow...... 4 pounder

Parrots 174

8-inch

mortars

G, 1st Connecticut Captain 1 13-inch 19 Do.

Artillery a Osborne.. mortars

G, 1st Connecticut Lieutenan 2 8-inch 136 Do.

Artillery a t 5 mortars

Sergeant Coehorn 334

mortars

K, 4th New York Captain 6 Coehorn 267 Do.

Artillery. Gould.... mortars

Total.............. ......... 81 ........ 3,833

a Half company.

The aggregate of the firing was thus, as follows: 30-pounder Parrott, 447; 4 1/2-inch gun (Schenkl), 847; 13-inch mortar, 19; 10-inch mortar, 360; 8-inch mortar, 1,123; Coehorn mortar, 1,037-weighing over 75 tons.

In each of the 10-inch mortar shells about thirty 12-pounder canister shot were inserted with the bursting charge on top of them. Their effect was thus more than doubled.

At 11.30 p.m. of July 30 I received a telegram from yourself to withdraw all the train on the fronts of the Fifth and Ninth Corps, with a part of that on the Eighteenth Corps; all to be done with urgent haste. In obedience to this order fifty-two siege guns and mortars, with all their ammunition, implements, platforms, mantles, &c., complete, were secretly withdrawn, from the batteries and transported a mean distance of about seven miles, to Broadway Landing, in twenty-seven hours; and the whole material, weighing some 225 tons, loaded on barges and schooners in thirty-six hours from the receipt of the telegram. For the transportation required, some 200 wagons I am indebted chiefly to Brigadier-General Ingalls, chief quartermaster, armies in the field, and in part to Colonel Piper, chief of artillery, Eighteenth Corps, who supplied light battery horse for seven siege guns.

During the service of the guns, the only injury which has occurred is the blowing off the muzzle of a 30-pounder Parrott for about one foot from the face. It was cut smooth with cold chisels, and the gun seems to be as accurate in its fire as heretofore. I have now in position on the Eighteenth Corps front three 30-pounder Parrotts, ten 8-inch mortars, and 16 Coehorn mortars. I shall send the 13-inch mortar back as soon as the track is repaired.

I have had reason to be gratified with the earnest exertions of the officers and men of my command, both my own regiment and the Fourth New York Artillery, to render the siege train as effective as possible, and hope that we have answered your expectations.

43 R R-VOL XL, PT I


Page 673 Chapter LII. THE RICHMOND CAMPAIGN.