HEADQUARTERS SIEGE TRAIN,
Broadway Landing, Va., January 6, 1865-12.20 a.m.

Bvt. Major General H.J. HUNT,
Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: General Grant has ordered me on special duty with two of my companies
now in your command. I have selected Company B, at Broadway Landing, and
Company L, in Battery 12 and Fort Haskell. I have arranged to relieve the
latter so as to secure the proper service of the batteries. Major Cook will
command the regiment in my absence.

Yours, in great haste.
HENRY L. ABBOT,
Brevet Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, NINTH ARMY CORPS,
January 8, 1865.

Bvt. Major General H.J. HUNT,
Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac:

At about 12.30 p.m. yesterday the enemy opened fire from the Chesterfield
battery with two guns upon Fort McGilvery. Batteries 4 and 5 replied with good
effect.

JNO. C. TIDBALL,
Brevet Brigadier-General, Commanding Brigade.

ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Camp before Petersburg, January 10, 1865.

Brigadier-General RAWLINS, Chief of Staff, Armies of the United States:

I have the honor to submit for the consideration of the lieutenant-general the
necessity for establishing general regulations for the organization of the
artillery of our armies, defining its duties, its relations to other troops,
the powers and functions of its officers providing for its government and
administration, and for the force necessary to discharge its duties. I do this
because of the many evils, which exist in this arm, not only affecting its own
character and standing but injurious to the whole service. The absence of any
such code, of any recognized head or central authority specially charged with
its direction, and of established prescriptive rights and duties, are
sufficient to account for the evils I refer to, and are my reasons for bringing
the subject directly to the notice of the lieutenant-general. The want of a
code of regulations would soon break down any branch of the service. Of the
two special arms, the engineers have a chief of bureau and a special code,
whilst its sister service, the artillery, has neither. In the case of neither
of them, however, are there any comprehensive rules adapted to the existing
condition of the service and providing for the relations of these arms to each
of their and for their duties in large armies. It can, I think, be shown that
as a consequence grave inconvenience and injury have resulted. I have here to
deal specially with the artillery, but the same general principles as to
organization and administration apply to both. If in an army the artillery
consisted only of field batteries, serving as auxiliaries with other troops,
the necessity would exist for a proper organization which would fix its
position and relation to those troops and provide for the casualties and
exigencies of service. The experience of our service proves this. A French
six-gun batter is allowed 234 enlisted men; an English, about the same number:
an American, but 147, a number barely sufficient to serve the "battery of
maneuver" efficiently, leaving nothing for contingencies. As soon as the
number of men is diminished by the casualties of battle, by sickness, details
&c., the number of guns in each battery must be reduced, or men must be
detailed from the infantry or cavalry to make good the losses. These men are
not serviceable as artillerists; the frequently dislike the duty; and from the
time the details are made a continued struggle is going on between regimental
and battery commanders for their possession. This is but one of the more
obvious evils to which even the field artillery is subjected, and which has
had a bad effect upon its efficiency.

Field operations, however, involve other duties for the artillery. In marches
near the enemy it is often desirable to occupy positions with guns for special
purposes; to command fords, to cover the throwing and taking up of brigades,
and for many other purposes for which it would be inconvenient and unadvisable
to withdraw their batteries from the troops. Hence the necessity for a reserve
of artillery, the batteries of which have labored under the same and oven
greater inconveniences than those attached to the corps, as they have no troops
upon which to call for details, the army corps furnishing men to their own
batteries with reluctance. Butter in a large army, especially in offensive
operations, there are still other duties to provide for: positions must be
entrenched and occupied lines of field-works constructed, depots, important
bridges, passes, &c., fortified, and all these require skilled labor and
artillery.

To furnish the armaments of these fixed positions from the field batteries
great and unnecessary expense, and hence the necessity for foot artillery
available for such duties. The construction and repair of batteries, platforms,
magazines, &c., is the proper work of the artillery, requires special
instruction to prepare the material and perform it well and expeditiously, and
in the organization of a large army all these things should be provided for,
even if the probability of such services is not foreseen for at any time the
necessity may present itself, and the consequent change and dislocation of
organized commands to meet the emergency occasions evils and waste of men
greater than those the original organizations were meant to avoid.

A siege train, or at least the nucleus of one, is an almost indispensable part
of the organization when operating in an enemy's country. The train would not
usually accompany the army, although I believe that eight or twelve siege guns
moving with it would always be of great value. The 20-pounder Parrotts are too
heavy for field guns and too light for heavy work. The material of a siege
train and a small force of well instructed men should always be held ready. The
value of Abbott's train to this army has been incalculable. When the train is
brought up for service, the artillery teams and wagon transportation required,
and the additional troops, can often be supplied for the special siege labors
from a well organized artillery reserve. At Yorktown the reserve was kept, men
and horses, hard at work on the labors of siege and furnished besides a number
of its officers for engineer duties proper. No command worked harder or was
more usefully employed.

In all armies excepting ours, and formerly in our army also, all ordnance
duties pertain to the artillery the officers not immediately on duty with the
troops constituting a part of the "general staff" of the army. The reasons for
this are obvious: artillery and ordnance duties are intimately connected with
each other and are coextensive with he army. It is impracticable for any
special ordnance department to furnish sufficient officers or men to perform
the ordnance duties of an army, and they must be furnished by details from
other branches of the service. The artillery can best provide for these details
at the smallest expense of men and material, as from the nature of its duties
it must have an organization of similar character throughout the army for its
own special purposes. The artillery of modern armies is therefore so organized
in men and material as to suffice for the ordnance duties, and the general
commanding the artillery furnishes from his command the special guards,
officers, &c., required and becomes responsible for all the duties. We have now
two organizations with distinct heads reporting to the general commanding the
army. An officer of the ordnance department on the staff of the chief of
artillery, and a comparatively small increase of the artillery staff, would
provide for all ordnance duties at a great reduction of expense and
transportation and to the manifest simplification of the duties of a commanding
general. By law the ranking artillery officers of divisions and corps are ex
officio, in addition to their other duties, "chiefs of artillery and ordnance."
It is therefore apparently the intention of Congress that the duties should be
united in the field. This cannot be well don unless the chief of artillery, of
the army is also chief of ordnance. The commanders of artillery brigades cannot
be expected to report to or receive orders from lieutenants or captains of
ordnance, and the positive law of Congress has not, except in rare instances,
been executed.

I have now sketched in general terms the nature of the duties of artillery of
modern armies when serving in campaign.
As an "arm of service" it has grown up from the modest beginnings, and every
step in advance has been forced upon the different nations by the lessons of
experience, from the time when each battalion had a company of grenadiers and
one or two cannon hauled by hand or by contract until as at present it forms
one of the most powerful and costly elements of an army: organized as a unit,
commanded and administered by its own officers, specially educated and set
apart for the purpose and distributed according to the wants of the service,
under the special code which the nature, variety, and extent of its duties
requires.

Our present organization or rather want of one, is a long stride toward the
ancient system; although it does not divide the guns up among the battalions,
it adopts that organization in principle, by considering the artillery as an
integral portion of the division or brigade or other fraction of an army with
which it serves. It thus breaks up the arm as a unit, deprives it of a uniform
system of administration renders esprit de corps impossible, and subjects the
army to the whims and caprices as well as the various systems, of as many
officers as there are distinct army commands with batteries assigned to them.

The prevailing idea in our armies that artillery and engineer officers above
the rank of captain are merely staff officers is the natural result of our
organization, and has led to infinite mischief ot the service. It belongs to
the same period and the some class of ideas which required that general
officers should reside at general headquarters and be detailed by the roster
for the direction of troops when work was to be done. In all other armies a
juster knowledge now assigns general officers of all branches of the service to
organized commands, and in ours infantry and cavalry generals are so assigned
whilst the theory is still maintained that an artillery officer of rank cannot
command artillery and if he does it must be as a staff officer, and his orders
must be given in the name of some general officer outside the artillery to give
them binding force. This has degraded the arm and deprived it of officers
essential to its efficiency, driven many of the best of them from the service,
deprived those who remained of promotion, and has led to a slur being
officially cast on a whole class of officers as being useless in General
Orders, Numbers 126, 1862, War Department, respecting field and staff officers
of artillery.

There was at the beginning of this war a special reason for adopting an
anomalous organization: there has been none for continuing it after that
special reason disappeared. But few artillery officers, and those mostly of the
lower grades, had been instructed in battery duties, not half a dozen of them
had ever commanded artillery in battle. In the new requirements of artillery
the field officers of volunteers were wholly uninstructed and it was deemed
proper in the first months of active operations to give to the officers who had
been instructed the command of the batteries on the field officers of
volunteers were wholly uninstructed, and it was deemed proper in the first
months of active operations to give to the officers who had been instructed the
command of the batteries on the field. The duties of field officers or chief
of artillery were made purely administrative. The batteries were assigned to
divisions then 12,000 strong, giving four batteries-one regular and three
volunteer-to each division the captain of the regular battery an instructed
officer, commanding the four. As time passed, battles were fought, the regular
captains were appointed to staff duties or otherwise promoted and removed from
the artillery, the volunteer chiefs of artillery became instructed in their
duties, the divisions were reduced in strength, half their batteries were
withdrawn, and a reserve for the corps placed under the command of the chiefs
of artillery the chief of artillery of the army being placed in command of the
whole.

It is scarcely necessary to state now why that organization has not been
carried out; the object of this paper is to have it restored and secured, and
by authority that will make it binding upon officers of all ranks.

I respectfully proceed to state the principles which, in my judgment, should be
adopted in establishing the organization, assigning when necessary some of the
reasons which commend them:

First. The proper proportion of field artillery varies according to
circumstances from one to five pieces to 1,000 men. In this army it has
generally been fixed at three; it might, if efficiently organized be placed at
two or two and a quarter as a minimum.

The total amount of artillery should be fixed and maintained without regard to
temporary increase and diminution of troops in the army. Two-thirds of the
guns should be attached to the troops, the remainder being in reserve. The
amount attached to troops is that which they would ordinarily require; for
emergencies they can draw on the reserve artillery.

Second. In attaching artillery to troops it should be laid down as a principle
that no artillery command should be of less strength than would warrant the
assignment to it of a complete staff, administrative and military, in order
that all needful supplies may be insured to it and its discipline and
instruction secured.

Whether the guns shall be assigned to divisions or army corps will therefore
depend on the strength of the divisions. In the artillery, as in other arms,
concentration is favorable to discipline instructions efficiency and especially
to economy. But as artillery is attached immediately to the troops of other
arms as auxiliaries and for special purposes its operations are subordinate to
those of the cavalry and infantry, concentration must not be carried so far as
to deprive the troops of the speedy use of their guns when needed. When,
therefore, the artillery is attached to the army corps and circumstances make
it desirable batteries may be, when near the enemy camped or marched with the
divisions but unless the division are detached to a distance from the corps the
batteries should draw their supplies, &c., from the artillery train. They
should always be considered a part of the artillery brigade, to which they
should return as soon as circumstances permit.

It is advisable in our service that the artillery should be attached to army
corps. A division of less than 10,000 men would not have sufficient artillery
with it to warrant a distinct administrative staff. There should be a major to
every two batteries of six or three batteries of four guns each and a superior
officer, a lieutenant-colonel or colonel to every four or six batteries. To
each artillery brigade attached to an army corps there should be assigned a
force of foot artillery for the various duties, artillery and other, required
of foot troops; this force would vary according to circumstances from two to
three battalions. The artillery of the corps should be under the command of a
general officer of artillery, to whom all orders for its employment should be
given. When two or more batteries are detached to a division they should be
under the command of a field officer, who reports and sustains the same
relations to the division commander that the chief of artillery does to the
corps commander. (See paragraph 489, General Regulations.) The grand park of
the artillery, consisting of the ordnance stores, tools, reserve ammunition,
and small-arms, &c., the batteries of reserve and of position, and a force of
foot artillery should be under the command of a general officer, who reports
direct to the chief of artillery.

The batteries should be organized into one or more brigades. The store and
ammunition trains should be under a field officer, with a competent command of
foot artillery, to insure the prompt execution of all duties connected with
them. Such an organization as the grand park is indispensable to a large army.
It enables the corps to move unincumbered with mass of material which they
could not otherwise dispense with, and permits of a safe reduction of the
total amount of such material with the army. Its reserve batteries furnish the
means of replacing inefficient ones in the corps and refitting the latter.

When the reserve artillery of this army was broken up this summer it was found
necessary to retain the ammunition trains, and during the summer no less than
eleven batteries which had become surplus with the corps, but were needed with
the army, were sent to these trains. The want of the previous organization was
immediately felt. There should be with the park not only a general supply of
artillery, but also of small ammunition. By such an arrangement 100 rounds
per man- 40 on the person, 40 with the corps reserve, and 20 in the grand
park-would probably supply the wants of the most severe campaign, the park
promptly replacing the expenditures of the corps after a battle.

The principal duties of the reserve batteries are:

First. To re-enforce the artillery of corps and on the line of battle.

Second. To occupy positions as the necessity arises, without depriving the
troops of their own batteries.

Fourth. To act in mass upon important points, or in certain cases to replace
large bodies of infantry or cavalry, which can thus be rendered disposable.

A battle rarely takes place without showing the necessity of a reserve of
artillery for some or all of these purposes.

The siege train, if small, could also be attached to the grand park; if large,
it would report direct to the chief of artillery, who would furnish its guards,
escorts, and additional troops for the service of the train when its operations
required them.

For the service of the artillery a certain force of foot troops is
indispensable. The duties required are the defined duties of foot artillery,
and require for the performance of most of them specially instructed troops.
This force furnishes details of men to the field batteries when shorthanded,
parties for the construction of works on the field and for other works, for
the construction and repair of magazines, the fabrication of gabions, facines,
&c., for preparing and laying platforms, and for all labors requiring special
instruction and practice to insure rapidity and perfection for the construction
of stables, shelters, &c., for the animals of the large trains, for guards
attached to the artillery for escorts on the march, pioneers, and all other
duties for which infantry must now be detailed. For detached works or lines,
such as those now held by us, it will furnish the garrisons so far as its
numbers will permit, or, at least, the men necessary to serve thee guns with
which they are armed, without drawing upon the corps for the field batteries,
which should always be free to move with them. It would thus save the increase
of field batteries to meet such duties with the enormous expense it entails,
and the injury to the batteries themselves, and to the extent of its own
numbers furnish the garrisons, and so far obviate the necessity of drawing on
the infantry division.

It is very certain that the nature, extent, variety, and amount of duty
involved are fully sufficient to demand this special force and have not been
fully appreciated in our army. For the purposes named a regiment of foot artillery
is required in the artillery command of each army corps.
For the grand park of an army of 100,000 men two or three regiments, at least,
should be furnished.
When these troops are not required for their special duties they can be used in
battle as a reserve for infantry purposes. They would thus act together, be
exceedingly useful, and inspired by esprit de corps on whatever duties
employed.
With so large a force of heavy (foot) artillery it is but just to provide
fully for the artillery duties before supplying these troops to infantry
divisions.

The whole artillery force should be under the command of the chief of artillery
of the army, who should be responsible for its organization, equipment
instruction supplies, discipline and efficiency with the necessary staff and
powers to meet his responsibilities. This unity of command and administration
is necessary to insure uniformity throughout the army, system, and economy, as
well as efficiency to enable the whole arm to be used according to
circumstances to the greatest advantage, to enable the experience of this arm,
now frittered away to be made useful, to insure uniformity of rewards and
punishment in the administration, and to protect the interest of all. Without
this unity that esprit de corps, without which the highest efficiency cannot be
obtained, is impossible.

The artillery serving immediately with the troops should be considered as
detached to the corps or division and not forming an integral portion of it. It
should be subjected to the ordinary rules of service of troops so situated-that
is, the commander should have the fighting use of the batteries, the artillery
commander making his stated returns, &c., to artillery headquarters which
should centralize all that relates to the personnel and material of the
artillery of the army as in the French service, upon which ours is modeled, as
well as in all other armies of whose organization I have any knowledge. There
is no necessity of any conflict of authority or powers in this case any more
than in the engineers, as the general instructions for the employment of both
emanate from the general commanding an army, to whom the chiefs of artillery
and engineers as well as corps commanders are directly responsible.

HENRY J. HUNT.
Brevet Major-General, Commanding.

Report of Major Wilbur F.Godspeed, First Ohio Light Artillery, Chief of
Artillery, Fourth Army Corps, of operations December 15,1864-January 5,1865.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, FOURTH ARMY CORPS,
Huntsville, January 13,1865.

COLONEL: I have the honor to report herewith the part taken by the Artillery
Brigade of this command in the battles before Nashville, and in the pursuit of
the enemy:

I received orders on the evening of the 14th of December, 1864, from the
general commanding to have one rifle battery report to General Elliott,
commanding the Second Division, Fourth Army Corps, and one 12-pounder battery
to report to each of the other division commanders at 6 o'clock the next
morning. I accordingly ordered Battery G, First Ohio Light Artillery, Captain
Alexander Marshall, to report to General Elliott, Battery B, Independent
Pennsylvania Artillery, Captain Jacob Ziegler commanding, to report to General
Kimball, and Battery M, Fourth U.S. Artillery, Lieutenant Samuel Canby
commanding, to report to General Beatty, commanding Third Division, Fourth Army
Corps. These batteries moved with their respective divisions. The other
batteries I kept inside the works until about 3 p.m., when I received orders
from the general commanding to put a battery on the line to the right and front
of the Third Division. I relieved Battery M, Fourth U.S. Artillery, and ordered
them into the position, and put Battery E, First Michigan Artillery, in the
position that Battery M, Fourth U.S.Artillery, had occupied. General Beatty's
line advanced, and he sent me word that he wanted a battery. I ordered the
Sixth Ohio Independent Battery, Lieutenant Baldwin commanding, to report to
General Beatty, but before he could get into position the battery that it was
intended he should engage was captured by General Beatty's division. Night
coming on the Sixth Ohio Battery was ordered to bivouac in the rear of the
corps for the night. The other batteries were ordered back to their old camps.
The batteries engaged on the 15th of December, 1864, were B, Independent
Pennsylvania Artillery; G, First Ohio Light Artillery; M, Fourth U.S. Light
Artillery; E, First Michigan; Sixth Ohio Independent Battery, and the
Twenty-fifth Indiana Battery.

I gave orders on the evening of the 15th of December,1864, for Battery G, First
Ohio Light Artillery, to report to General Kimball; Sixth Ohio Independent
Battery to report to General Beatty at daylight next morning, to move with
their respective divisions, and follow their main line up whenever it advanced.
About 10 a.m. on the 16th I put the First Kentucky Battery in position on the
right of the Franklin pike. They were afterward moved farther to the front, and
on the right of the Third Division, in which position they remained until the
retreat of the enemy. Battery B, Independent Pennsylvania Artillery, had two
pieces disabled about 12 m., and I relieved them and put Battery M, Fourth
U.S.Artillery, in their position. This battery remained with the First Division
during the remainder of the day. The batteries engaged on the 16th were the
Sixth Ohio Independent Battery, First Kentucky Battery, Battery G, First Ohio
Light Artillery, Battery B, Independent Pennsylvania Artillery, and Battery M,
Fourth U.S. Artillery. The line advanced as the enemy fell back. Batteries G,
First Ohio Light Artillery, Sixth Ohio Light Artillery, and M, Fourth
U.S. Artillery, were left on the line with their respective divisions. This
night the other batteries were put in camp about one mile and a half in the
rear of the main line. On the 17th the First Kentucky Battery moved with the
First Division, G, First Ohio Light Artillery, with the Second Division, and
the Sixth Ohio with the Third Division. There was nothing of importance
occurred until we arrived at Rutherford's Creek on the 20th of December,1864.
Here Battery G, First Ohio Light Artillery, was engaged for a short time and
lost one man. On the 22nd and 23rd crossed Duck River. On the 23rd the First
Kentucky Battery, being with the advanced division, fired a few shots with good
effect at the enemy's cavalry. After moving along with the corps until we
arrived at Pulaski, Tenn., I was ordered by the general commanding to leave
three 12-pounder batteries and put their horses to the other four batteries. I
left M, Fourth U.S. Artillery; E, First Michigan, and Battery B, Independent
Pennsylvania Artillery. The other batteries of the brigade marched with the
corps until their arrival at Huntsville, Ala., where I received orders from
General Wood to go to Pulaski and bring up the batteries I had left there. I
took the horses from the batteries in Huntsville and started back to Pulaski on
the 7th of January, 1865; arrived in Pulaski on the 8th of January, 1865, and
remained there one day to get the horses shod. Started from Pulaski to return
to Huntsville on the morning of the 10th, arriving in Huntsville on the 12th of
January, 1865, and put the batteries in camp. For the various parts that the
different batteries took in the late campaign I would respectfully refer you to
the accompanying reports in detail from the battery commanders.

Ammunition expended: Three-inch rifled, solid shot, 7; percussion-shell, 952;
fuse-shell, 627; case-shot, 1,183; total, 2,769. Twelve-pounder [light] gun,
solid shot, 715; fuse-shell, 692; case-shot, 856; canister, 13; total, 2,274.
Total amount, 5,043.

Casualties: Enlisted men, killed, 2; wounded, 5; aggregate, 7. Horses, killed,
4; disabled, 12; aggregate, 16.

I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W.F. GODSPEED,
Major First Ohio Light Arty. and Chief of Arty., 4th Army Corps.

HEADQUARTERS SIEGE ARTILLERY,
Broadway Landing, January 17, 1865.

Brevet Major-General HUNT,
Chief of artillery, Headquarters Army of the Potomac:

The battery of 4 1/2-inch guns will be ready by to-morrow afternoon. I have
been General Ord, who entirely refuses to allow any company of First
Connecticut Artillery to be taken from bermuda Hundred lines. I have no other
available troops.

GEO. B. COOK,
Major First Connecticut Artillery, Commanding.

SPECIAL FIELD ORDERS, HDQRS. DEPT. OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Numbers 14.} Eastport, Miss., January 17, 1865.

III. the artillery of the Detachment Army of the Tennessee, Major General A.
J. Smith commanding, will be organized into a brigade, consisting of four
batteries of four guns each, two batteries of light 12-pounders, and two 3-inch
Rodmans, all under command of a chief of artillery, who will receive orders
from Major-General Smith and the chief of artillery of the Army of the
Cumberland. The chief of artillery of Major-General Smith's command will
immediately equip his four batteries completely by transferring horses,harness,
and other necessary material from the batteries ordered to Johnsonville and
Paducah, turning in surplus guns to the ordnance department at Nashville, Tenn.
All horses and harness belonging to batteries ordered to Johnsonville and
Paducah will, after supplying the batteries of General
Smith's command, be turned in to the quartermaster's department and ordnance
department at Nashville. Captain John W. Lowell, Company G, Second Illinois
Light Artillery, is appointed chief of artillery to Major-General Smith's
command.

IV. The Ninth Indiana Battery will proceed to Paducah, Ky., to await orders for
muster out of service. The quartermaster's department will furnish
transportation.

V. the following-named batteries will proceed to Johnsonville, Tenn., and
report for duty to the commanding officer of the post; the quartermaster's
department will furnish transportation: Battery A, Second Missouri Artillery;
Battery I, Second Missouri Artillery; and Cogswell's Independent Illinois
Battery.

VII. The batteries of the Fourth Corps will be reduced to four-gun batteries,
to be selected by the chief of artillery of that corps. Two of the surplus
batteries, to be designated by the corps commanders, will be sent to Decatur,
Ala., and one to Bridgeport, Ala., dismounted, the horses and harness sent to
Chattanooga and turned in to the quartermaster's department accordance
department at that post. Battery F, First Ohio Light Artillery, will be
retained as the mounted battery at Decatur, Ala.

VIII. The Kansas battery will proceed to Chattanooga, Tenn., and join the light
artillery reserve, reporting to Captain Bainbridge, Fifth U. S. Artillery.

IX. The Ninth Ohio Battery, now at Bridgeport, Ala., will be dismounted. The
horses and harness will be turned in to the proper departments at Chattanooga,
Tenn.

X. Two mounted batteries will be stationed at Nashville as part of the garrison
artillery.

By command of Major-General Thomas:
HENRY M. CIST, Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT, ORDNANCE OFFICE,
Washington, D. C., January 20, 1865.

ASST. ADJT. General , DEPARTMENT OF THE CUMBERLAND,
Chattanooga, Tenn.:

SIR: In order that an accurate list may be prepared in this office of all the
forts, permanent batteries, and field works in the possession of the United
States on the 1st day of January, 1865, you are requested to furnish this
office, as soon as practicable, with a complete list of all such works in your
department at that time. Every detached work of any description which is armed
with field, siege, or garrison guns in position, not accounted for to the
office on a light battery return of ordnance stores, hold be included. The name
or number of the work, it geographical position, the number and kind of guns
mounted, the name of the commanding officer and post-office address, should all
be given. Printed forms showing the particulars required, and on which the
statement is to be made, are sent herewith.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. MAYNADIER,
Colonel and Acting Chief of Ordnance.

SPECIAL ORDERS, HDQRS. MILITARY DISTRICT OF KENTUCKY,
Numbers 20.} Lexington, January 21, 1865.

IV. Colonel N. S. Andrews, Twelfth U. S. Colored Artillery (heavy), is hereby
relieved from duty with his regiment and announced on the staff of the general
commanding as chief of artillery for the Military District of Kentucky, with
headquarters at Lexington, Ky. He will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
This order to date from July 25, 1864.

By command of Brevet Major-General Burbridge:
CHAS. M. KEYSER,
Captain and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES,
Fort Magruger, Va., January 21, 1865.

Major General EDWARD O. C. ORD,
Commanding Department of Va. and N. C., Fortress Monroe, Va.:

GENERAL: In compliance with Special Orders, No.-, headquarters Department of
Virginia and North Carolina, I have the honor to state the location and
description of this for and Redoubts Numbers 5 and 6, as also the number, kind,
and caliber of ordnance and ammunition.

Fort Magruger is situated about one mile and a half from the village of
Williamsburg, west by south of it, and is oblong in shape, with bastions in the
west, south, and east sides, inclosed on the north, west, south, and part of
east side, with abatis, ditch about fifteen feet wide and twelve feet deep,
sally-port on the north side, with draw-bridge. There are seven magazines, one
of them lately built. The fort is manned by 400 men, and mounts the following
guns, for which I subjoin list of ammunition: Two 20-pounder Parrott guuns, in
fine order - rounds fuse-shell, 251; rounds spherical-case, 40; rounds
case-shot, fixed, 168; rounds blank cartridges, 287. One 3-inch Parrott gun, in
good order - rounds fuse-shell, 50; rounds case-shot, fixed, 100; rounds blank
cartridges, 27. Four 12-pounder brass howitzers, in go order - rounds
fuse-shell, 2; rounds spherical-case, 200; rounds shell, fixed, 354; rounds
canister, fixed, 200; rounds solid shot, 123. One 8-inch howitzer, in poor
condition - rounds grape, 2; rounds canister, 46; rounds shell, strapped, 30;
rounds blank cartridges, 184. One 24-pounder howitzer, in poor condition -
rounds canister, fixed, 30; rounds shell, strapped, 92; rounds case-shot, 48;
rounds canister, 69; rounds solid shot, 20; rounds strapped shot, 40; rounds
blank cartridges, 183. Four 42-pounder carronades, in poor order - rounds
canister, 209; rounds grape, 378; rounds solid shot, 129; rounds shot, fixed
and strapped, 50; rounds strapped shell, 101; rounds blank cartridges, 787. Two
12-pounder iron guns, old pattern, in poor condition - rounds canister, 32;
rounds canister, fixed, 104; rounds carcasses, 18; rounds spherical-case, 226;
rounds shell, fished, 121; rounds solid shot, foxed, 224; rounds blank
cartridges, 30. One 8-inch mortar, no ammunition. Three Nugent's repeating
rifles, useless - rounds ammunition, 2,044.

Redoubt Numbers 5 is situated about a quarter of a mile from Fort Magruger, and
west of it. This redoubt is square, containing about 22,500 square feet, and
occupied by 200 men, and surrounded on all sides by a wide ditch and abatis;
sally-port on east side, with gates. It mounts two guns: One 12-pounder iron
gun, old pattern, in poor condition - rounds shell, fixed, 144; rounds
spherical-case, 160; rounds shell, fixed, 120; rounds canister, foxed, 87;
rounds shot, foxed, 8. One 6-pounder iron gun, old pattern, in poor condition -
rounds solid shot, 42; rounds canister, 20; rounds shell, fixed, 12; rounds
spherical-case, 43; rounds shot, fixed, 12.

Redoubt Numbers 6 is about one-quarter of a mile from redoubt Numbers 5 and
half a mile west of Fort Magruger, and is about the same size as Numbers 5,
manned by the same number of men (200), surrounded by a wide
ditch and abatis, sally-port on the east side, and mounting three guns: Two
12-pounder iron guns, old pattern - rounds solid shot, 171; rounds
spherical-case, 144; rounds canister, 130; rounds shell, 150. One 6-pounder
iron gun, old pattern - rounds shot, 50; rounds spherical-case, 28; rounds
fuse-shell, 14; rounds canister, 36.

There are several other redoubts in the immediate neighborhood of this fort,
built by the rebels before their evacuation of this place in May, 1862. There
are no guns in them, nor are they manned.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. J. MORRISON,
Colonel Sixteenth New York Volunteer Artillery, Commanding Post.

SPECIAL ORDERS,} HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Numbers 10. }
Fort Fisher, N. C., January 21, 1865.

II. Bvt. Brigadier General H. L. Abbot, chief of artillery, will immediately
take from Fort Fisher the 12-pounder guns now in that work and place them in
the line of defenses toward Wilmington in such position as he may deem best,
making a detail from the artillerists of his command to man them. General Abbot
will make requisition on these headquarters for the necessary fatigue parties.

By order of Major General A. H. Terry:
A. TERRY,
Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

OFFICE OF CHIEF ENGINEER, MILITARY DIVISION OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
New Orleans, January 23, 1865.

MAJOR-GENERAL COMMANDING:

Fort Grant, Vicksburg, as modified, four rifled siege guns, twenty 8-inch siege
howitzers, three siege mortars. Fort McPherson, Natchez, four 8-inch siege
howitzers, one 10-inch siege mortar, three Cochorn mortars. Morganza, six
heavy field howitzers. Port Hudson, one 8-inch siege mortar, three Coehorn
mortars. Baton Rouge, none required.

Respectfully submitted.
M. D. McALESTER,
Captain of Engineers and Chief Engineer.

SPECIAL ORDERS,} HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
Numbers 23.} New Orleans, January 23, 1865.

1. Captain Daniel Webster, First Wisconsin Battery Light Artillery, is
announced as acting chief of artillery at these headquarters, and will be
obeyed and respected accordingly.

By command of Major-General Hurlbut:
C. S. SARGENT,
First Lieutenant , Second Louisiana Vols. , and Actg. Asst. Adjt. General

HEADQUARTERS SIEGE ARTILLERY,
Steamer Governor Chase, James River, January 24, 1865.

Brigadier-General RAWLINS,
Chief of Staff, Armies of the United States;

GENERAL: I have the honor to report my arrival in accordance with the inclosed
order from General Terry. I left three 30-pounder Parrotts of my train at Fort
Fisher; the rest is still on the steamer C. C. Leary, at Beaufort, N. C.,
awaiting orders. General Terry retained it, not feeling authorized to order it
away without instructions from the lieutenant-general. As it comprises all the
reserve siege guns of my train, I would respectfully request that the train
afloat on the C. C. Leary be ordered back to Broadway Landing. This will leave
three 30-pounder Parrotts of mine at Fort Fisher, besides the entire rebel
armament, with abundant supplies of ammunition. Even if it be intended to use
more Parrot guns in that vicinity it would be better to send them on another
vessel, as the C. C. Leary draws too much water to enter Cape Fear River, and
to discharge her cargo on the open beach is extremely difficult.

Three companies of the First Connecticut Artillery, belonging to my siege
train, were also detained by General Terry temporarily, as they were ordered to
his command by the lieutenant-general. General Terry, however, fully
appreciated that they were needed with my train, and promised to endeavor to
have them returned to me with as little delay as possible, applying for a full
heavy artillery regiment in their place.

As I took them from their batteries on the lines in front of Richmond, where
they are really needed, and as, if not returned, their places will have to be
supplies by a corresponding detachment from another regiment, thus impairing
efficiency by breaking up regimental organizations, I would earnestly request
that they be ordered back to report to me with as little delay as practicable.

My detachment of Volunteer Engineers has been retained by General Terry, their
service being needed. My detachment from General Graham's naval brigade has
been ordered to rejoin their command.

I am, general, respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY L. ABBOT,
Brevet Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding Siege Artillery.

[Inclosure.]
SPECIAL ORDERS,} HEADQUARTERS U. S. FORCES, Numbers 11. }
Fort Fisher, N. C., January 22, 1865.

III. Bvt. Brigadier General H. L. Abbot, U. S. Volunteers, is relieved from
duty as chief of artillery of this expedition, and will proceed to City Point,
Va., and report to the lieutenant-general commanding the Armies of the United
States. The major-general commanding desires to express to General Abbot his
thanks for the zeal, ability, and energy evinced by him in landing the siege
train of this command upon the open ocean beach under the most disadvantageous
circumstances.

By order of Major General Alfred H. Terry:
ADRIAN TERRY,
Captain and Assistant Adjutant-General.

BROADWAY LANDING, VA., January 24, 1865-8 p.m.

Brigadier-General RAWLINS,
Chief of Staff, Armies of the United States, City Point;

If possible, please order me a telegraph operator; one is absolutely essential
to the proper performance of my duties. I lost thirty-six hours in the
Wilmington expedition for want of one, and now need one greatly in getting
those siege guns in position on James River. Please expedite the arrival of my
train and companies from Fort Fisher as much as possible. I need both greatly
in getting these guns in position.

HENRY L. ABBOT,
Brevet Brigadier-General of Volunteers.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE JAMES,
January 24, 1865.

Brevet Brigadier-General ABBOT:

The batteries at Crow's Nest and Fort Brady are expending a large amount of
ammunition. If measures have not been taken to keep a liberal supply at these
points, Major-General Gibbon, commanding Army of the James, directs that it be
attended to at once.

JOHN A. KRESS,
Lieutenant and Chief Ordnance Officer.

BROADWAY LANDING, VA., January 24, 1865-8 p. m.

Brigadier General R. INGALLS,
Chief Quartermaster, Armies in the Field, City Point:

I had to leave my twelve wagons and teams at Fort Fisher by order of General
Terry. I brought back the wagon-master and teamsters, who are especially
valuable to me from knowing the best roads to my batteries. I need the twelve
teams very much, at once, to get the heavy guns in position on James River. If
possible have the teams and wagons replaced, leaving me the same men.

HENRY L. ABBOT,
Brevet Brigadier-General of Volunteers.

Report of Captain Henry H. Pierce, First Connecticut Heavy
Artillery, commanding Fort Brady, of operations January 23-25.

FORT BRADY, VA., January 26, 1865.

SIR: I have the honor to report that, pursuant to written instructions from
headquarters Department of Virginia and North Carolina, dated January 21, 1865,
every available officer and man in command was put hard at work to get my fort,
them much damaged by recent rains, in readiness to receive the rebel rams. All
hands worked with a will, and, as far as possible, everything was in good and
seasonable order. Previous to their coming had verbal notification from the
same course as the written.

About 8 p. m. January 23 my lookout man, stationed on the parapet, discovered
the rams approaching, floating, not steaming, down the river. Thanks to the
vigilance of my own officers and men and those of Captain Bach, commanding
colored supports, I was not taken by surprise, as no alarm was given by our
pickets on the opposite shore nearly a mile above, and the first shot fired at
the enemy's boats was from my own heavy guns. Gave them in the neighborhood of
twenty-five shots while floating a distance of thirty or forty rods; should
have given them more had my best gun, left 100-pounder, not been dismounted at
the second shot by one of the enemy's shell and my two left 30-pounders been
run off the platforms, owing to their (platforms) being too narrow to admit of
any but direct fire. Put the latter pieces in position again and fired them;
also moved my right 30-pounder, previously so placed as not to bear on the
river, by hand, outside the fort into the ditch, but, owing to the extreme
difficulty of moving it in the mud, was unable to get it there in season to use
before the boats had passed; this gun, however, did good service on their
return.

In consequence of the mal-construction of Fort Brady, was unable to fire down
the river; and by reason of the embrasures having been built special reference
to the enemy's land batteries, my left 100-pounder being destroyed, was
prevented from injuring the boats after passing a certain point, and that point
above my work.

The rams came down by twos, lashed together, which was the cause of my
mistaking, in the obscurity of the night, the actual number for three, as I
reported by orderly to department headquarters.

The construction and position of my battery with regard to the crest of the
river-bank renders it little adapted for protection against gun-boats, and my
parapet is so low on the down-river side that they could completely enfilade me
with their stern guns without receiving a shot in return. Filled and placed
sand-bags there during the night of the 23rd to form a slight barrier.

During all this time the enemy were incessantly annoying us from their land
batteries, comprising sixteen or more heavy guns, making good shots all the
while. Did not pay much attention to them until the next day morning, when they
opened one gun from Semmes in direction of our Sawyer battery. As I could get a
good range, opened and dismounted it; all the enemy's guns replied to my fire,
but should not have stopped had I not received orders from department
headquarters to cease; dismounted another of their pieces before the order
reached here.

After the boats went down, apparently somewhat crippled, had verbal and written
instructions from General Turner, chief of staff, to be on the watch for their
return. Had all my serviceable pieces loaded and pointed, and threw out pickets
as far down as Dutch Gap. Am greatly indebted to captain Bach and the officers
under him for their coolness and willingness to take every pains to give me
timely warning. About 3 a. m. January 25 was apprised by Captain Bach's pickets
of the return of the boats; was on the lookout and had all prepared; waited
until they came directly opposite, fired, and knocked over the smoke-stack of
the leading one (this was accomplished by the gun in the ditch); thought she
was sinking, but the next boat took her in tow. Sent one shot at each of the
rams and iron-clads, five, in all, from the same piece as they passed by, then
had to wait until they arrived in front of my three remaining pieces. Worked
them as rapidly surely as possible, and succeeded in sending some 125 solid
shot at them before steaming out of range. Struck them time after time, as the
sound showed, but the shots crumbled or glanced off. All this was under a
terrific fire; the enemy putting from 1,000 to 1,500 heavy shell in and around
my battery. Was at no time silenced by their guns. Consider the rebels boats to
have been much crippled in their passage down and up.

Looking at the caliber and position of my guns, the weakness of my parapet, and
the security of the enemy's fire, cannot but deem it fortunate that the affair
turned out so favorably.

But three men - two engineers and one colored support - were killed inside the
works upward of forty of my company were knocked down by splinters, &c., and
slightly scratched, but some none so injured as to be unfitted for immediate
duty.

Cannot help speaking again and again of the splendid behavior of my officers,
Lieutenants Deming and Miller, and of my men. Am accountable in a great measure
to them for the entire success of the whole affair.

Since writing the above, have discovered that my other and only 100-pounder was
cracked at the muzzle by one of the enemy's shell; can use it in case of
necessity.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. H. PIERCE,
Captain, First Connecticut Artillery.
First Lieutenant C. A. TRUESDELL,
Adjutant First Connecticut Artillery.

SPECIAL ORDERS, } HDQRS. MIL. DIV. OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
Numbers 27.} New Orleans, La. , January 27, 1865.

3. The following batteries of light artillery, now under the command of the
chief of artillery and ordnance, Military Division of West Mississippi, will
report to Major General F. Steele for assignment to duty with the troops
under his command at Kenner, La. , viz: The Second Connecticut, the Second,
Fourth, Seventh, and Fifteenth Massachusetts, the Twenty-first and Twenty-sixth
New York, the First Indiana and Seventeenth Ohio Batteries. The major-general
commanding at Kenner will cause these batteries to be carefully inspected,
their deficiencies ascertained, and the whole put in thorough condition for
immediate and active field service.

By order of Major General E. R. S. Canby:
C. T. CHRISTENSEN,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

Reports of Lieutenant Henry A. Pratt, First Connecticut Heavy Artillery,
Commanding Batteries Parsons and Wilcox, of operations January 23-24.

BATTERY PARSONS, VA.,
January 28, 1865.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to forward the following report of the part taken
by Batteries Parsons and Wilcox in the late engagement with the rebel rams:

About 10 p. m. January 23 intelligence was brought that one ram had passed the
picket-line and that another was in sight. Owing to the extreme darkness they
were not visible from my batteries until close at hand. One was so far down
that my guns could not be brought to bear upon it. I therefore opened on the
lower one with my mortar and on the river above with my 100-pounder. The lower
one put out anchor at the instructions and began to clear a passage. I placed
six men at the river edge to watch them. To annoy the working party, my spare
men opened with musketry. Lieutenant Bergin, in charge of the mortar, fired
thirty-one rounds at the obstruction; of these twenty-nine burst a few feet
above the water, just over the obstructions two did not burst. At about
midnight the first ram passed the obstructions, and was soon followed by a
second. Meantime the fire from the 100-pounder continued, but owing to the
darkness it was impossible to observe the effect. After an hour or two the rams
returned and returned and proceeded a short distance up the river. Two other
boats were reported as lying together under the Howlett Battery, landing troops
on the left bank of the river. Both batteries continued their fire until
morning - the mortar firing with long forces at the rams; the gun directing an
occasional shell at the rams when their smoke revealed their position,
but mostly using case-shot to annoy the supposed landing party; solid shot were
reserved for daylight. The night firing was very uncertain, as there was no
means of correcting the range. It is probable that several shots from the gun
may struck the rams, as they were heard to strike and richolet, and it was
observed during the day that shots which struck the water did not richolet.
During the night forty-four rounds were fired from the gun, fifty-five from the
mortar - thirty-one at the instructions as before stated, the remaining
twenty-four at the rams on their return from below. At daybreak I discovered
that two rams and one wooden gun-boat were apparently aground on the left side
of the James. The largest ra,m and the gun-boat were together, the boat partly
behind the ram. Some 300 or 400 yards to the right was the smaller ram. I
estimated the distance from Battery Parsons at about 1,500 yards. The rams were
so situated that the line of fire from my battery was very far from
perpendicular to their broadside; this caused the projectiles to easily glance
off. As soon as the breach-sight could be used I opened with long
percussion-shell, Sergeant Fox pointing the gun; the second struck the wooden
beat, the third, forded at an elevation of four degrees, penetrated it, causing
a magnificent explosion. As soon as the smoke lifted struck the ram with a
percussion shell, which bounded off; we then tried solid shot; of six fired at
the larger ram, one did not take the grooves, five struck it far. I then
directed to fire at the smaller ram, Corporal Hunt pointing; of nine shots, one
did not take the grooves, one went over, seven struck the ram. I then used long
shell again, next short shell, last case-shot. Fired in all, after daybreak,
from the 100-pounder, fifty-seven rounds. While firing the last fourteen the
rams were in motion and the last disappeared as I fired my last round. Of the
forty-three rounds fired at the boat and rams, while stationary, three did not
take the grooves, four went, ten fell a little short, twenty-six struck fair.
Of the fourteen fired while the rams were moving, four struck fair, ten fell
short; probably nearly every shot would have struck the mark had I not been
obliged to change the ammunition so many times; some which fell short struck
the rams, I think, below their water line. I wished, if possible, to get under
their armor. I deem the long shell superior in accuracy to the other
ammunition, solid shot come next; out of thirteen solid shot which took the
grooves, after daybreak, only one failed to strike the rams. Sergeant Fox
struck them six times in succession, Corporal Hunt, five, with long shell and
solid shot. During the forenoon twenty-five mortar shells were fired with long
fuses - two struck a ram, others struck very close; the charge used was two
pounds and upward. The engagement closed about noon, the t, the flood tide
enabling the rams to float. The rebel land batteries opened on Battery Parsons
with mortars, columbiads, and light pieces, about a dozen in number; the
smaller ram fired one shot, the only one fired by the rebel navy. Officers on
picket directly opposite the rams state that most of my shots glanced off, but
that the armor of the rams was started and partially ripped off in a number of
places.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. A. PRATT,
First Lieutenant, First Connecticut Artillery, Commanding Batteries Parsons and
Wilcox.

Report of Lieutenant Ebenezer P. Mason, First Connecticut Heavy Artillery,
Commanding Battery Sawyer, of operations January 23-24.

BATTERY SAWYER,
James River, Va., January 29, 1865.

SIR: Pursuant to instructions from headquarters Siege Artillery, Line of
Bermuda Hundred, dated January 28, 1865, I have the honor to submit the
following report of the part taken by this battery in the engagement with the
rebel rams on the 23rd and 24th instant:

About 8 p. m. the 23rd Fort Brady opened fire; the Cox Ferry batteries replied;
I opened, hoping to draw the enemy's fire from Fort Brady, in order to enable
Captain Pierce to serve his guns more rapidly on the rebel rams, if they were
in the river. I was partially successful, drawing the fire of two 10-inch
columbiads and one 8-inch rifled gun. I expended five case-shot, six
percussion-shell, 100-pounder, and five 10-inch mortar shell.

At 10 p. m. Lieutenant Reed, commanding navy picket detachment, reported to me
that a high-pressure side wheel steamer lay at the obstructions and was
attempting to remove them, and that two rams lay in the channel about 400 yards
above. The night was so dark that I was unable to discover their exact
positions excepting by the explosion of the shell from Battery Parsons. I fired
at the rams three 100-pounder solid shot, at intervals of about fifteen
minutes, with what effect I am unable to tell, and at the steamer nine 10 inch
mortar shell, nearly all of which burst well, annoying the men at work on the
instructions very much. At 12.30 a. m. the rams dropped down the river to the
obstruction where my 100-pounder would not bear on them. At 3 a. m. the 24th
one ram dropped down the stream opposite Sleepy Hollow, about 550 yards from
the battery, and remained there at anchor about forty-five minutes. While she
lay there one mortar shell, fired at 60 degrees elevation, charge twelve
ounces, without bursting charge, struck her on the deck without any visible
effect; immediately after, however, she hove up her anchor and changed her
position. Thinking it might be her intention to land a force of marines and
attack the battery and destroy the signal tower, I posted the supernumerary men
(about thirty), with muskets, near the wharf, to prevent any boats landing. The
ram, after dropping down stream bout 100 yards, chaged her course and steamed
up the river out of sight; not being able to discover her position I ceased
firing daylight. While she lay opposite Sleepy Hollow I fired at her nineteen
mortar shell, at 60 degrees elevation, without bursting charge; I cannot state
positively that but one struck her. The firing was very accurate, all the shell
striking within a radius of ten yards. Soon after daylight I discovered the rams in
the channel, about 2,000 yards distant, and partially covered by the bank of the river
and a grove of trees. I again opened and fired from the 100-pounder six case-shot,
three percussion, two case-shot, and two mortar shells struck the rams. From this
point the only visible damage was by the case-shot, which perforated the
smoke-stacks; the percussion-shell burst against her side. The solid shot did
not appear to penetrate - some of them after striking rolled back into the
water, others ricochetted beyond.

I also fired after daylight at the land batteries (not being able to bear on
the rams), with the 100-pounder, eleven case-shot. At about 12 m. the rams
succeeded in getting off the bar and steamed around the bend. During the
morning of the 24th battery received the fire of three 10-inch columbiads, one
8-inch and one 7-inch rifled gun.
The men behaved wishy the utmost coolness and served the pieces with skill and
alacrity.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. P. Mason,
First Lieutenant , First Regiment Connecticut Arty., Commanding Battery.

Report of Lieutenant Charles N. Silliman, First Connecticut Heavy Artillery,
commanding Battery Spofford, of operations January 24.

BATTERY ANDERSON, VA.,
January 30, 1865.

LIEUTENANT: In accordance with instructions, I have the honor to make the
following report as the result of the artillery practice at Battery Spofford,
Va., during the engagement with the enemy's rams on the 24th instant:

At about 7 a. m. I opened fire from one 30-pounder Parrott gun, at an elevation
of 4 degrees, the distance to the first ram being about 1,700 yards. The first
shot fired tumbled, and consequently fell short; the second took the groves and
struck the boat near the smoke-stack, the shot having no visible effect. Of the
number of shots fired, but two failed to take the grooves. I fired during the
engagement sixty-two projectiles, of which six were solid shot, forty-eight
percussion-shell, and eight fuse-shell; of the number fired, twenty-seven
struck the rams with no visible effect, with the exception of one solid shot,
which, I think, penetrated near the forward port-hole on her starboard side;
several shell struck near the smoke-stack, and I think some of them perforated
it. Of the six solid shot fired, five struck the rams, and all, with the one
exception, either glanced off or were crushed against her sides. I think had
more solid shot been at hand, the result would have been much more
satisfactory.

Very respectfully,
CHAS. N. SILLIMAN,
Second Lieutenant , First Connecticut Arty., Commanding Battery Spofford.

Reports of Bvt. Lieutenant Colonel John G. Hazard, First Rhode
Island Light Artillery, commanding Artillery Brigade, of operations February
5-7 and March 25.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, SECOND ARMY CORPS,
February 12, 1865.

MAJOR: In obedience to instructions received from headquarters of the corps,
February 4, 1865, three batteries of this brigade were got in readiness to
move. On the evening of the 4th I was informed that only two batteries would
go, and designated Battery K, Fourth U.S. Artillery, Brevet Captain Roder
commanding, with a section of Battery B, First Rhode Island Artillery,
attached, and the Tenth Massachusetts Battery, First Lieutenant J. Webb Adams
commanding. Captain Roder was directed to report to Brevet Major-General Mott,
commanding Third Division, at 6.30 a.m. February 5, and Lieutenant Adams to
Brigadier-General Smyth, commanding Second Division, at the same hour. Captain
A.J. Clark, First New Jersey Artillery, was left in command of the batteries on
the First Division line. The batteries moved with the troops at 7 a.m. on the
Vaughan road toward Hatcher's run. When the First Brigade of the Third Division
carried the ford at the run, one section of Battery K, Fourth U.S. Artillery,
was put in position to cover the ford of the Third Division, and another to
protect the flank, and remained there during the day. When General Smyth's
division moved toward Armstrong's Mill ford it was followed by the Tenth
Massachusetts Battery. One section was placed in position near the Armstrong
house, covering the ford and another commanding the Duncan road. The remaining
section, under command of Lieutenant Day, was at a later hour, put in position in rear
of the Tucker house. At about 5.30 a.m. the enemy attacked our forces on the right
of the Duncan road; the section of Adams' battery, placed to cover the ford,
commenced firing to the rear. At the point where McAllister's brigade was
connecting with the Third Division the enemy forced our troops back at one
time, but, with the assistance of a vigorous shelling from two sections of
Adams' battery, which had been brought to bear on this point the enemy were
driven back. During the attack on General McAllister's brigade the four guns of
Adams' battery were enabled to render good service, as their fire enfiladed the
advancing line of the enemy completely. The assault was successfully repulsed,
and on examination of the ground showed that the artillery fire had been very
destructive.

No casualties occurred during this engagement, and only one horse was killed.

During the night of the 5th Smith's section of Roder's battery was sent to the
neighborhood of the Armstrong house, and the rest of Roder's battery moved back
from the Vaughan-road ford at the time of the withdrawal of the Third Division,
and were placed in reserve near the Cummings house.

In the afternoon, when the Fifth Corps was engaged and had returned from
Dabney's Mill, Smith's section, from its position near the Armstrong house, and
a section of the Tenth Massachusetts Battery, near the same house, kept up a
vigorous fire on the enemy in the woods opposite the Armstrong-Mill ford.
Nothing worthy of remark occurred until the afternoon of February 7, when
Smith's section again opened fire on the woods in front of the advancing line
of the Fifth Corps, and continued to fire until our troops advanced so far as
to render it dangerous to them.

The batteries remained in their positions until the 11th instant, when they
were disposed on the new entrenched line now held by the corps.

The casualties during the three days were, 3 horses killed, 1 horse wounded.

Respectfully submitted.
JNO. G. HAZARD,
Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, U.S. Volunteers, Commanding.
Major SEPTIMUS CARNCROSS,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Corps.

SPECIAL ORDERS, } HDQRS. MIL, DIV. OF WEST MISSISSIPPI,
Numbers 45.} New Orleans, La. , February 14, 1865.

6. The following- named batteries, comprising the siege train, now preparing
for active service in the field, are hereby relieved from duty in New Orleans
and will report direct to Brigadier- General Totten, chief of artillery and
ordnance, at these headquarters, viz: Companies B, C\, H, I, K, L, M, First
Indiana Heavy Artillery, and the Eighteenth New York Battery. General Totten
will prepare and hold his command in readiness for movement at any moment. As
soon as transportation can be conveniently provided Lieutenant Colonel B. F.
Hays, commanding First Indiana Heavy Artillery, with his regimental staff, will
report to Brigadier- General Totten for duty with the siege train.

By order of Major General E. R. S. Canby:
C. T. CHRISTENSEN,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, NINTH ARMY CORPS,
February 21, 1865.

Bvt. Major General H. J. HUNT,
Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: I have the honor to report that at about 1 p. m. yesterday Captain
Cooper, commanding Coehorn mortars in Battery 15, opened upon the enemy's
working party, who were erecting a new abatis in front of the fort to the left
of the Baxter road. The enemy replied from his 8-inch and Coehorn mortar
batteries on Cemetery Hill and rifled guns and 12-pounder to the front of Forts
Morton and Haskell. To this fire Forts Mortar and Haskell and Batteries 15 and
14 replied, and continued firing the enemy ceased. There men of Third New
Jersey Battery, in Fort Haskell, were slightly wounded, and Captain Cooper's
camp, in Battery 15, was partly destroyed. A few mortar shells were exchanged
by Battery 5 and the rebel mortar battery without material damage, with the
exception of one infantryman slightly wounded.

I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. C. TIDBALL,
Brevet Brigade-General.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, NINTH ARMY CORPS,
February 22, 1865.

General HUNT,
Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac:

Yesterday at 10 a. m. the enemy opened from Cemetery Hill with six mortars. Six
shots were fired in return from Sedgwick. At 1.30 p. m. two guns in Battery 9
fired at a wood-work, and were replied to by the enemy's Coehorn mortars. The
shell thrown by the enemy were of a new kind, being so cast and grooved on the
inside as to cause them to burst into twelve different pieces. These pieces are
of a diamond shape.

JNO. C. TIDBALL,
Brevet Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, NINTH ARMY CORPS,
February 23, 1865.

Bvt. Major General H. J. HUNT,
Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac:

About 11 a. m. yesterday Battery 5 opened, to which all rebel batteries bearing
upon Battery 5, Fort McGilvery, and Battery 9 replied. To this fire the
above-named forts replied, firing until the enemy ceased. Three infantrymen
killed and three wounded in Battery 9 Enemy are placing heavy artillery in fort
to the left of Baxter road; supposed to be 18 or 24 pounders.

J. C. TIDBALL,
Brevet Brigadier-General.

FEBRUARY 24, 1865-11 a. m.

General TIDBALL, Chief of Artillery, Ninth Corps:

General Grant orders a shotted salute of 100 guns at 4 p. m. to-day. You will
have it fired your front. Please Jacknowledge receipt of this by telegraph.

HENRY J. HUNT,
Brevet Major-General and Chief of Artillery.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, NINTH ARMY CORPS,
February 26, 1865-11.15 a.m.

General HUNT,
Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac:

Batteries opened fire yesterday afternoon to ascertain the state of the
enemy's artillery. The latter replied principally with mortars. No material
change could be observed in his artillery.

JNO. C. TIDBALL.

CIRCULAR.] ARTILLERY HDQRS., ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
March 1, 1865.

The proportion of ammunition for the horse artillery will be as follows: Rifled
guns-thirty shell, fifteen shrapnel, five canister; Napoleons-twelve shot, six
shell, six shrapnel, eight canister for each chest. For the rifled guns,
ammuniton, must be uniform-that is, shells or shrapnel of different systems
will not be alowed. Schenkl ammunition is recommended, as the use of Hotchkiss
is objected to by other troops, on account of the stripping of the lead band,
which endangers skirmishers and other troops in front of the artillery. You
will hereafter in drawing ammunition keep the proportions named in view. Solid
shot is much more and shrapnel much less valuable than is generally supposed,
and the large porpoertion of hollow shot used has been unfavorable both to the
usefulness and reputation of the artillery.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY J. HUNT,
Brevet Major-General and Chief of Artillery.

Reports of Bvt. Brigadier General Henry L. Abbot, First Connecticut Heavy Artillery,
Commanding Siege Train, of operation January 1 - March 31.

HEADQUARTERS SIEGE ARTILLERY,
Brodway Landing, Va., March 2, 1865.

GENERAL: In obedience to the circular of July 29, 1864, I have the honor to
submit the following report of my operations during the month of January last.
The amount of firing is shown by the following table: Coehorn mortar, 219;
8-inch siege mortar, 636; 10-inch siege mortar, 15; 10 inch sea-coast mortar,
144; 30-pounder Parrott, 879; 4 1/2-inch gun, 3; 100-pounder Parrott, 209;
field guns, 137 rounds; making a total of 2,242 rounds, weighing about
fifty-one tons, or at a rate of about 1.6 tons daily.

The most important event during the month on these lines was the attempt of the
rebel fleet to pass the obstructions in James River on the night on January 23,
when I think it may fairly be claimed that my batteries prevented a serious
disaster. Three rams, the wooden gun-boat Drewry, a small steam torpedo-boat,
and perhaps more, passed Fort Brady about 8 p. m., under cover of the darkness.
they received about twenty-five shots from the fort - armament, two 100-pounder
Parrotts and three 30-pounder Parrotts. The fort was instantly opened upon by
the rebel land batteries, mounting some dozen guns, and their fire soon
disabled one of the 100-pounder guns. The fleet passed on to a point near the
rebel Howlett Battery, out of range of Fort Brady. My batteries below Fort
Brady were three in number: Parsons and Wilcox - armament, one 100-pounder
Parrott and one 10-inch sea-coast mortar; Spofford - armament, one 30-pounder
Parrott, placed in position about 7 a. m.; and Sawyer - armament , one
100-pounder Parrott and two 10-inch sea -coast mortars. About 10 p. m. a ram
succeeded in reaching and began removing the obstructions, receiving thirty-one
shots from the mortar in Wilcox and nine from those in Sawyer, with musketry
fire from all the spare artillerymen while so engaged. At 3 a. m. one ram
passed the obstructions and anchored about 600 yards above Sawyer, where she
remained for forty-five minutes. This position was only exposed to mortar fire.
One shell fired at 60 degrees elevation struck her, and she immediately moved
up the river nineteen shells had been fired at her while in this position.
During the night firth-four rounds form the 100-pounder and twenty-four rounds
from the mortar in Parsons and Wilcox and three rounds from the 100-pounder in
Sawyer were fired at the fleet above the obstructions. The darkness prevented
the effect of this from being known.

At daylight two rams and the Drewry were discovered aground near left bank,
some 1,500 yards above Parsons. Fire was at once opened from that battery with
long percussion-shell from the 100-pounder. The second shot struck the Drewry
and the third exploded her magazine, completely destroying her.
As soon as the rams could get afloat they retreated out of range, near Howlett
Battery, leaving the torpedo-boat aground. About 3 a. m. on 25th they escaped
up the river past Fort Brady, receiving a number of rounds in the darkness,
several of which struck them.

The ammunition used in this engagement consisted in part of solid shot, and in
part of shell - percussion and time - and case. Unfortunately the line of fire
when the rams were aground was oblique, and the projectiles glanced off without
penetrating. Officers on picket directly opposite, however, report that the
armor was started and partially ripped off in a number of places. During the
firing my batteries, especially Forts Brady and parsons and Wilcox, were under
a very heavy fire from the rebel land batteries. Three men were killed in the
former, and a large number slightly injured from fragments, &c. Too much
commendation cannot be given to Captain Pierce, commanding Fort Brady, and to
Lieutenants Pratt, Mason, and Silliman, commanding the other batteries, for
their excellent conduct. The total firing, including those fired in reply to
the rebel land batteries, was about 500 rounds of siege ammunition. Lieutenant
W. G. Ball, Thirteenth New York Artillery, also moved a 20-pounder Parrot
(field gun) to the bank of the river and fired eighty-five rounds, at a range
of about 1,400 yards, with creditable zeal.

At 6.30 p. m. on January 5 I received an order from General Grant to embark a
siege train, which ultimately proved to be destined for Fort Fisher. I was to
accompany it with a sufficient detail of artillerymen from my command and a
company of volunteer engineers from General Benham's brigade, also a small
detachment from general Graham's naval brigade. During January 6 I was waiting
transforation, but removed three companies of First Connecticut Artillery from
the lines, and also two 30-pounder Parrotts and four Coehorn mortars. The
propeller C. C. Leary, 841 tons, reported at 8 a. m. on January 7, and my
ordnance officers at once began loading her, from both sides, with all possible
dispatch with the ordnance. They employed about 150 men. The propeller Scott,
1,086 tons, reported at 3 p. m., with 50,000 feet of lumber on board. By 8 p.
m. she was ready to sail, with two companies (280 men) and thirty-six mules. At
7.30 a. m. of January 8, the propeller Governor Chase, 746 tons, reported. At
noon she was ready to sail, with two companies (282 men) and forty-one animals.
During the evening the three steamers, with my headquarters on the Leary,
dropped down to City Point, where I received written orders from General Terry.
My command consisted of 20 officers, 568 men, 77 animals, 12 wagons, sixteen
30-pounder Parrotts, 20 Coehorns, with 8,000 rounds for former and 6,600 for
latter, 50,000 feet of lumber, &c. We took nineteen days' rations, four being cooked.
We sailed at daylight of January 9, and reached Fort Monroe that evening. On
January 10 we were detained by a severe storm, but sailed at 8 a. m. of January
11, arriving at Beaufort, N. C., on the following day in time to join the fleet
then starting for Fort Fisher, where we arrived about 5 p. m.

During January 13 we were ordered to remain on board. On January 14 I put the
engineer company on shore, with thirty-seven animals, rations, forage, &c. The
sea was too rough to land the guns. The steamer was anchored, and a warp of
3-inch rope, 120 fathoms long, was secured to be beach. The men were pulled in
surf-boats, and the animals slung, hoisted overboard, and towed ashore by the
warp. On the 15th the sea was smoother. I had brought three launches and a
detachment of thirty-five men of General Graham's naval brigade, under
lieutenant nelson, to aid in disembarking my train. I also received all the
assistance required from the navy. Acting Muster Z. L. Tanner, aided by Acting
Ensign L. Pope, both of the Rode Island, took charge of removing the stores,
&c., from the ship's side to the beach, and labored most faithfully and
skillfully on January 14 and 15 to accomplish all that was possible. On January
15, three 30-pounder Parrotts, complete, with ammunition, &c., another company,
the rest of the animals, the wagons, &c., were unloaded. The guns were unloaded
in the following manner: They were raised from the hold, and slung overboard,
by using purchases from the masthead and the yards strengthened by a prevented
brace. They were carefully lowered overcoat, and placed on the launch (one at a
trip), with very considerable risk, owing to the rolling of the ship. The
launch was then pulled along the warp to the edge of the surf, and the gun
rolled overboard. It was draped up by about 200 men pulling upon a rope secured
to it. It was a slow and dangerous process, and only possible in very smooth
sea. The carriages, ammunition, &c., were landed in a similar way.

Fort Fishere was carried by assault on the evening of January 15, and the
disembarkation of my train was at once suspended. Captain Hatfield, my ordnance
officer, was ordered by me to make a survey of the fort. A copy of his sketch
will be forwarded to the department upon his return from a leave of absence.

The following list of captured guns was taken:

Smooth-bore ordnance.

......................................................Good.......Disabled.......Total

11-inch Brooke............................... 2....................................2

10 inch columbiad..........................13.................2................15

10-inch sea-coast mortar.................1.....................................1

8-inch columbiad.......................... 11................ 1................12

32-pounder, iron............................ 3 ................4 ................ 7

32-pounder carronade................... 5 ................1 ..................6

24-pounder, iron............................1 ............... 1 ................. 2

24-pounder Coewhorn (iron)..........2 .................................... 2

12-pounder howitzer, U. S............ 1 .................................... 1

12-pounder howitzer, T. F............ 1 ..................................... 1

12-pounder gun, U. S................... 3 ..................................... 3

6-pounder gun, U. S..................... 2 ..................................... 2

6-pounder gun (iron).................... 1 ...................................... 1

1.5-inch gun.. ................................................ 1 .................... 1

Volley gun.. ................................................... 1 .................... 1

Total.......................................... 46 ..............11 ..................57

Rifled Ordnance.

....................................................Good .......Disabled.........Total.

8-inch Armstrong (150-pounder).. 1 ..................................... 1

8-inch Blakely.............................. 1 ..................................... 1

7-inch Brooke, double bands ....... 1............... 2................... 3

6.4-inch Parrott, U. S................... 1 ..................................... 1

6.4-inch Brooke, double bands ... 4 ..................................... 4

6.4-inch, single band.................... 4 ................ 2................... 6

6.4-inch, no bands.. .................... 2 ................ 2 .................. 4

5.8-inch, no bands.. .................... 1 .......................................1

4.6-inch Blakely.. ....................... 1 ....................................... 1

4.2-inch Parrott (Numbers 2) ..... 1 ....................................... 1

4.2-inch, banded.. ........................................... 1 .................. 1

3-inch banded Richmond.. .......... 2 ....................................... 2

3-inch Whitworth.. ..................... 1 ....................................... 1

2.2-inch Whitworth, ML............. 1 ....................................... 1

Total..........................................21 ................. 7 .................28

Many of the carriages of the huns in good order were disabled. Immense
quantities of ammunition, ordnance stores, &c., were taken.

On January 20 a storm drove my vessels to sea, where they remained on the
following day, returning on 22nd. On this date General terry relieved myself
and staff, ordering me to report to Lieutenant-General Grant in person, leaving
my command temporarily to garrison Fort Fisher and my train afloat at beaufort,
N. c. I arrived at City Point on January 24, when General Grant at once ordered
my train and three companies back to these lines, and placed me speadilly in
charge of preparing additional land batteries to oppose the rebel fleet. After
making all needed arrangements for placing four more 100-pounder Parrotts and
three more 30-pounder Parrotts in position on James River, I received al leave
of absence for thirty days, starting on January 27.

With reference to such an expedition as that at Fort Fisher, I am fully of the
opinion that the ordnance (siege) should be loaded on side-wheel steamers, on
account of their greater seediness. There are very few days in the winter when
a 30-pounder Parrott can be landed from a propeller on an open beach.

On relieving me General Terry published an order, a copy of which I inclose
herewith.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY L. ABBOT,
Bvt. Brigadier General of Volunteers, Captain of Engineers, U. S. Army.

HEADQUARTERS SIEGE ARTILLERY,
Broadway Landing, Va., March 5, 1865.

GENERAL: In obedience to the circular of July 29, 1864, I have the honor to
submit the following report of my operations during the month of february,
1865:

I was absent on leave of absence until February 27.
The following table exhibits the amount of firing during the month on these
lines: Coehorn mortar, 357; 8-inch siege mortar, 509; 10-inch siege mortar,
103; 30-pounder Parrott, 609; 4-inch gun, 63; 100-pounder Parrott, 1; field
guns, 3 rounds; making a total of 1,645 rounds, weighing about 32 tons, or at a
rate of about 1.1 tons daily, an amount less than in any preceding month.

There has been so much discussion of late as to the merits of the different
kinds of guns and ammunition now in use in our service that I have decided to
report upon certain records which I have been accumulating here, remarking that
it is possible that future firing may modify the results obtained:

First, as to endurance. The only failures have been the bursting of a
24-pounder Sawyer (rifled), and the blowing off of the muzzle of a 30-pounder
Parrott, caused by the explosion of a shell in the bore. The gun was not
destroyed; the face was cut smooth with a cold chisel, and its accuracy seems
not impaired. the following table shows the extent of the tents, the record of
a few guns showing the largest amount of firing being selected:

One hundred-pounder Parrott.- Numbers 11, fired 302 times; Numbers 13, fired
533 times; Numbers 15, fired 304 times; Numbers 20, fired 458 times. All old
guns; irked an unknown number of times before coming into my possession.

Thirty-pounder Parrott.- Numbers 100, fired 1,210 times; Numbers 101, fired
1,404 times; Numbers 121, fired 970 times; Numbers 255, fired 1,487 times;
Numbers 256, fired 1,472 times; Numbers 259, fired 1,392 times; apparently
uninjured.

Four and one-half-inch ordnance.- Numbers 41, fired 457 times; Numbers 89,
fired 578 times; Numbers 96, fired 499 times; Numbers 97, fired 519 times. All
rendered dangerous from not being botched when made; this is a great defect in
these guns which should be removed.

Eight-inch siege mortars.- Numbers 20, fired 1,530 times; Numbers 24, fired
1,614 times; Numbers 25, fired 1,521 times; Numbers 26, fired 1,536 times;
Numbers 32, fired 2,015 times; Numbers 36, fired 2,016 times. Apparently
uninjured, the vents, even, not showing much wear.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY L. ABBOT,
Captain of Engineers, U. S. Army, Bvt. Brigadier General of Viols.,
Commanding

HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, NINTH ARMY CORPS,
March 14,1865.

Brevet Major-General HUNT,
Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac:

About 3 p.m. yesterday the enemy opened from rifle batteries on Baxter road and
8-inch columbiad and mortar batteries near Petersburg pike. Battery 14, Forts
Morton and Avery, and Battery 15 replied to this fire slowly until the enemy
ceased. The camp of Captain Cooper in Battery 15 was partially destroyed and
the platform of one of the 10-inch mortars in Fort Morton blow up. No
casualties.

J.C. TIDBALL, Brevet Brigadier-General.

Report of Major George Ager, First Connecticut Heavy Artillery,
of operations March 25.

HEADQUARTERS SIEGE BATTERIES,
Before Petersburg, Va., March 27, 1865.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to transmit the following as the part taken by the
batteries under my command in the action of March 25, 1865:

About 4 a. m. the garrison of Battery Numbers 10, consisting of about sixty men
of Company K, Captain John M. Twiss commanding, were alarmed by the sentinel
on guard, that the enemy were assaulting our lines. Before the mortars could be
brought into action the enemy had captured the picket-line, and were advancing
over the parapet. Small-arms were brought into use, and for a short time the
enemy were held in check by a hand-to-hand conflict. Owing to the darkness the
entire garrison of this advanced battery was captured. Captain twiss having
been wounded, went to the rear, where a portion of his company was stationed,
formed them, and continued the action from bomb-proof. By this time the enemy
had flanked him on the right and left, and receiving no support he conducted
his men to Battery Numbers 4, where he reported to me. Lieutenant Odell,
commanding one section of this battery, was killed at the commencement of the
assault. At daylight I was informed that Fort Sterdam, including Battery
Numbers 10, was in possession of the enemy, and that they were massing troops
there. I immediately ordered Batteries Numbers 4, 5, 8, and 9 to concentrate
their fire on the fort and vicinity. This was done with good effect until our
troops prepared to charge and retake the line.

Battery Numbers 12, on the left of Stedman, opened fire at the first alarm, and
continued until the enemy had formed a line of battle in their rear, when the
mortars were turned and several shells thrown among the troops there forming.
But finding themselves the particular object of the enemy's fire, and it being
impossible to serve the pieces any longer, Lieutenant Lewis, commanding, led
his men by the left to Fort Haskell, where this company with small-arms
assisted in repulsing the assaults on this fort, at the same time directing
their mortar fire on the battery previously occupied. Having been informed that
a charge was to be made by the infantry retake the line, I ordered Lieutenant
Casey, who had reported to me with the remainder of K Company, to follow up,
and, if successful, to take possession of Battery Numbers 10 and prepare for
immediate action. This was done with promptness. He and his small detachment,
arriving at the works with the charging column, found the implements destroyed
and carried off, making it impossible to use the mortars.

In conclusion I take great pleasure in saying that the conduct of both officers
and men is deserving of the highest praise, and for promptness and energy could
not be excelled. Especially I may mention Captain Twiss, commanding Company K,
at battery Numbers 10; also Lieutenant Casey. Through the energetic efforts of
these officers the enemy were kept in check long enough to enable the works on
their right and left to prepare for action and repulse the assaults.

Lieutenant Lewis, commanding Company L, at battery Numbers 12 and Haskell,
Lieutenants Bingham and Couch, of the same company, are deserving of much
credit for the manner on which these batteries were served. Lieutenant Bangs,
Company E, at Battery Numbers 5, deserves to be mentioned, for through the fire
of three separate batteries was directed on his work, it was entirely ignored,
and his concentrated fire of four 8-inch mortars and two 30-pounder guns was
directed on Fort Stedman, and with terrible effect. At his battery one of the
enemy's shells penetrated and burst inside the magazine, and through there were
four barrels of powder in it at the time, strange to say ot failed to ignite,
and no injury was done.

GEORGE AGER,
Major First Connecticut Artillery, Commanding.
Lieutenant C. W. FILER,
First Connecticut Arty., Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

[First indorsement.]
HEADQUARTERS SIEGE ARTILLERY,
Broadway Landing, Va., March 29, 1865.

Respectfully forwarded to artillery headquarters, Army of the Potomac.

I proceeded to the spot when notified of the attack, and was personally
cognizant of the accuracy of most of Major Ager's report. The only thing which
should be added is, that he himself exhibited great judgment and skill in
commanding his batteries and that his exertions contributed much to the
successful result of the affair. By his concentric fire the enemy were severely
cut up and demoralized both while trying to form and when on their retreat.

HENRY L. ABBOT,
Brevet Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding.

[Second indorsement.]
ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
June 1, 1865.

This report, received after the active operations of the recent campaign
commenced, is respectfully forwarded to be placed amongst the other reports of
the action of the 25th of March, when the enemy attacked and for a short space
held Fort Stedman. The reports of the siege batteries were not made to
Major-General parke, commanding the lines at that point.

HENRY J. HUNT,
Brevet Major-General, Commanding.

Report of Lieutenant Rhode Lewis, First Connecticut Heavy
Artillery, commanding Company L, of operations March 25.

BATTERY Numbers 12,
Before Petersburg, Va., March 25, 1865.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report the part taken by Captain William G.
Pride's company (L), First Connecticut Artillery, in the engagement of 25th
instant.

It was reported to me at 4 a. m. that the enemy were advancing and then past
our picket-line. I immediately ordered the company to stand to their pieces,
which order was scarcely complied with, when an officer of the Twenty-ninth
Massachusetts reported to me that Battery Numbers 11, command taken prisoners.
I immediately commenced shelling Battery Numbers 11 until ordered by a
battalion commander to cease firing, which I immediately complied with, as I
saw his battalion ready to charge and retake the work. I then saw two lines of
the enemy advancing on my position from the rear, the rear line at about 500
yards distance; these I shelled by reserving my mortars until they came within
100 yards, when I ceased firing on them with mortars and opened with musketry.
Seeing the strengthened of the enemy, which I this must have been 1,000, and
being without support on either flank, I ordered the company to Fort Haskell,
which place was reached, with a loss of thirteen men taken prisoners. On
joining Lieutenant Bingham's detachment at Fort Haskell, I opened fire on my
old battery, Numbers 12, and on Fort Stedman from two Coehorn mortars, which I
kept up until the enemy were driven out; Lieutenant Bingham, in the meantime,
replying to the enemy's batteries in front from the other two Coehorns. As soon
as our infantry came within 150 yards of Battery 12, Lieutenant Couch and
Sergeant Mcnamara re-entered the work, taking 1 lieutenant of the Twenty-sixth
Georgia Regiment and 12 men prisoners. As soon as we regained the battery, I
opened fire on the retreating and on their picket-lines from four Coehorn
mortars, which was continued until they had nearly all regained their lines.

I am much indebted to Lieutenant Couch and Sergeant McNamara for their coolness
and decision during the engagement; to them I must ascribe the small loss in
prisoners by the company. I would also recommend to your notice Private James
T. Murphy, Company L, First Connecticut Artillery, for distinguished bravery
during the engagement, he having been in charge of a light 12-pounder gun of
the Third New Jersey Battery, after most of the cannoneers belonging to the
piece were disabled.

The following is the loss of Company L, First Connecticut Artillery, during the
engagement: 1 enlisted man killed, 5 wounded, and 13 missing (supposed to be
prisoners).

I am, sir, yours, most respectfully,
R. LEWIS,
First Lieutenant , First Connecticut Artillery, Commanding Company L.

Report of Lieutenant William H. H. Bingham, First Connecticut
Heavy Artillery, of operations March 25.

FORT HASKELL, VA.,
March 25, 1865.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by
my detachment of Company L, First Connecticut Artillery, in the engagement of
the 25th instant, before Petersburg:

I was apprised of the attack of the enemy about 4 a. m. by heavy musketry
firing on my right near Fort Stedman, which place was very soon reported to
have fallen into their possession. I immediately ordered my men under arms,
marched them to their pieces, and awaited further developments of the enemy's
movements. I very soon detected a strong skirmish line of enemy advancing in
our own front; they had reached and commenced to remove the abatis. I
immediately directed my men to man the parapet with their small-arms, as the enemy
were too close for mortar firing, and much depended upon a well-manned parapet at that
critical moment. The enemy were soon repulsed by canister and infantry fire,
and retired in the direction of Fort Stedman. My attention was then given to
the enemy's artillery in our immediate front, which annoyed us much. I deemed
it not expedient to fire my mortars from their platforms, as the contiguous
parapet was heavily manned by infantry and the effect of mortars being fired
over their heads would have been demoralizing. Two of them were fired from the
terre-plein and two unoccupied gun platforms. Upon being joined by Lieutenant
Lewis, commanding Company I, was informed that Battery No 12 and line to the
right was in the possession of the enemy. Two of my mortars were then trained
upon the captured works, which were soon evacuated. The enemy retreated to
their works in confused masses, rendered none the less so by the concentrated
fire of my mortar battery, whose shell struck in their midst, doing, I believe,
good execution. The engagement lasted about four hours, in which time I
expended 225 rounds Coehorn shells, sustained no casualties in my own detachment.

I cannot speak in too high terms of the conduct of my men throughout the
engagement. Those not employed firing the mortars made very good use of their
small-arms. I think I am not saying too much by stating that the gallant manner
in which Fort Haskell was defended checked what seemed at first to be a
disaster, but by our continued efforts was rendered a success.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. H. H. BINGHAM,
Lieutenant, First Connecticut Artillery.

Report of Lieutenant James H. Casey, First Connecticut Heavy
Artillery, of operations March 25.

BATTERY K, FIRST CONNECTICUT ARTILLERY,
Before petersburg, Va., March 26, 1865.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor herewith to report the part my company took in the
engagement of the 25th of March, 1865.

The first intimation we had of the attack was by hearing the yelling and firing
all round us. As soon as we reached our mortars we found the enemy on all sided
of us, and we were driven back after hard fighting and being flanked.
Lieutenant John Odell was killed at the beginning of the fight, and Captain
Twiss was wounded, so the charge of the company devolved on Lieutenant Casey,
who, after having been driven back, collected some of the company and reported
to major Ager at Battery Numbers 4. He remained there a short time, and was
then ordered to proceed with the company to the battery, now being charged upon
by our forces, and it if was taken to open fire with the mortars. He found the
implements destroyed and scattered about, so that he was unable to fire any.
The company's loss sums up to 49 in killed, wounded, and missing; there were 4
killed, 4 wounded, and the rest are missing. We took some prisoners, but how
many I cannot tell. We have lost none of our pieces, and only one is damaged,
and that slightly.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JAMES H. CASEY,
Second Lieutenant, First Connecticut Artillery.

Report of Captain William C. Faxon, First Connecticut Heavy
Artillery, commanding Fort Emery, of operations March 25.

FORT EMERY [VERY], VA.,
March 25, 1865.

SIR: I have the honor to report that in the engagement this morning I fired
thirty-three percussion shell - ten at a body of the enemy's troops occupying a
position in rear of Fort Stedman and the remainder in reply to the 8-inch
columbiad and light guns immediately in my front, which opened on this for and
on our own troops passing in rear, and which open silenced. The firing on the
enemy's troops was by direction of a major on the staff of Major-General Parke,
who pointed out the position, and who reported that it did considerable damage
to the enemy.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
W. C. FAXON,
Captain, First Connecticut Artillery, Commanding Battery.

Report of Lieutenant Frank D. Bangs, First Connecticut Heavy Artillery,
Commanding Battery Numbers 5, of operations March 25.

BATTERY 5, March 25, 1865.

LIEUTENANT: In obedience to Orders, Numbers 11, from headquarters Siege
Batteries, I have the honor to report, that I was aroused about 4 o'clock this
a. m. by firing in the vicinity of Fort Stedman; upon going out found that the
enemy had broken our line at that point and taken the fort. I immediately
ordered my company to fall in; stacked arms; manned the pieces; caused the
company rations to be brought inside the inclosure, but refrained from firing
(except one gun on Chesterfield) until I was certain of the position of our own
and the enemy's troops. The enemy's batteries, both guns and mortars, fired
hotly upon me, but I preferred keeping my ammunition for their infantry,
excepting to be cut from communication with headquarters and not knowing when I
could get amy more. As soon as I was sure of the enemy's whereabouts I opened
upon them with two 30-pounder guns and three 8-inch mortars, and continued the
fire until they were driven back to their own line. From my own observation,
and the report of others who were nearer, I am confident that the fire of this
battery was very effective and aided materially in hastening the retreat of the
enemy from Fort Stedman. The only serious damage received by this battery was
by a 30-pounder shell from the Chesterfield, which penetrated the right
magazine and exploded inside, killing one man; but by the what I consider a
providence in our favor, the powder, of which there was four barrels in the
magazine, did nor explode. After the repulse of the enemy from Fort Stedman, I
turned the battery on the battery of the enemy, who had been annoying me, their
fire soon slackened, and finally ceased entirely, when, after shelling out a
sharpshooter who has been giving me some trouble, I gave the order to cease
firing and repair damages. The amount of ammunition expended you will find in
the report of the day.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
FRANK D. BANGS,
First Lieutenant, First Connecticut Artillery, Commanding Battery.
Lieutenant W. S. MALONY,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Siege Batteries.

I would mention that both officers and men behaved in the most gallant manner,
never flinching, always at their posts, cool, brave, and efficient.

F. D. BANGS,
First Connecticut, Commanding.

Report of Lieutenant Henry D. Patterson, First Connecticut Heavy Artillery,
Commanding Fort Morton, of operations March 25.

FORT MORTON, VA.,
March 26, 1865.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to report that I fired forty-three mortar shell
and five 4 1/2-inch percussion-shell yesterday. I opened two mortars on Cemetery
Hill battery, which was firing on our troops in rear Fort Haskell. the other mortars
were directed on the batteries near the Petersburg pike. They burst a large number
of shell in the fort, wounding four men of the Fifty-first Pennsylvania; no casualties
in Company A. They opened one new mortar where they were digging day before
yesterday, in rear of the Crater.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. D. PATTERSON,
Lieutenant, First Connecticut Artillery, Commanding Battery.
Lieutenant W. S. MALONY,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Siege Batteries.

Report of Lieutenant John O'Brien, First Connecticut Heavy
Artillery, commanding Battery Numbers 4, of operations March 25.

BATTERY Numbers 4,
Before Petersburg, Va., March 26, 1865.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part
sustained by Colonel I, First Connecticut Artillery, the garrison of battery
Numbers 4, during the engagement of yesterday:

At 4 o'clock in the morning I heard firing on the line near Battery Numbers 10,
but I supposed it was wholly confined to the pickets. At 5.30, an hour and a
half later, I saw indications that an advance had been made by the enemy upon
our lines near Battery Numbers 10. I had the company under arms and made
arrangements for a defense, when I received orders to open on the enemy, who
were now in possession of Fort Stedman and battery Numbers 10; these orders
were received at daylight. I fired 130 rounds of percussion and 6 rounds of
time-fuse shell, nearly all of which were thrown into an advancing column of
the enemy, which was in rear of the last-named work. About fifteen shell were
thrown into the Chesterfield battery. This battery opened upon Battery Numbers
5 and the line of works near it, and six were thrown into a retreating column
of the enemy when it was on the plain in front of Battery Numbers 9. Fearing an
advance, in case of the failure of a pending charge by our forces, fired only
when the enemy's troops were in sight, having only about 100 rounds for each
piece (three pieces).

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN O'BRIEN,
First, Lieutenant , First Connecticut Artillery, Commanding Battery Numbers 4.

Report of Lieutenant Azro Drown, First Connecticut Heavy
Artillery, commanding Battery Numbers 9, of operations March 25.

SIEGE BATTERIES, Numbers 9,
Before petersburg, Va., March 26, 1865.

LIEUTENANT: In compliance with order Numbers 11, I have the honor to make the
following report:

As soon as the alarm was given by the pickets on the morning of the 25th
instant. I immediately manned my pieces and opened fire on the enemy's line of
battle, which was formed directly in my front; this line soon being broken, I
directed my fire upon Fort Stedman, Battery Numbers 10 and vicinity; and also
upon the road leading from the rear of Fort Stedman and Battery 10, passing the
rear of my battery, this road being occupied by the enemy in force to a point
within 200 yards of my battery; Fort Stedman and Battery Numbers 10 also being
occupied by the enemy, they landing turned their pieces upon my battery - one
shot from Fort Stedman striking my magazine. I kept up a steady fire upon these
points, with good effect, until the enemy commenced retreating, when I shelled
their retreating columns, until the last of them disappeared behind their
works. The enemy's mortar and gun batteries on my front kept up a steady fire
upon my battery during the action, but I made no reply to them. My works were
somewhat damage by the enemy's fire, but fortunately there were no casualties
among my men.

I expended during the action 266 rounds of ammunition, all of which exploded
well, as far as could be observed, with the exception of a few rounds which I
fired with fuses not quite enough for the range - my long fuses all being
expended.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
A. DROWN,
Second Lieutenant , First Connecticut Artillery, Commanding Battery.

Report of Lieutenant Colonel WILLIAM H. Ross, First Michigan Light Artillery,
Chief of Artillery, of operations January 27- March 24.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTEENTH ARMY CORPS, OFFICE CHIEF OF ARTILLERY,
Goldsborough, N. C. , March 25, 1865.

MAJOR; I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of
the artillery in this corps on the South Carolina campaign from Beaufort, S. C.
, commencing January 27, to Goldsborough, N. C. , ending March 24. The
batteries in the corps are designated as follows:

First, Company H, First Illinois Light Artillery, four 20- pounder Parrott
guns; second, Twelfth battery Wisconsin Volunteer Light Artillery, four 12-
pounder Napoleon guns; third, company B, First Michigan Light Artillery, four
3- inch Rodman guns fourth, company H, First Missouri Light Artillery, six 12-
pounder Napoleon guns.

I joined the command at McPhersonville, S. C . , January 30, 1865, in pursuance
of Special Orders, Numbers 3, January 28, headquarters Department and Army of
the Tennessee. I found the batteries organized as a brigade, but assigned to
divisions as follows and under the immediate command of Division commander;
Company H, First Illinois Light Artillery, commanded by Captain Francis De
Gress, assigned to Second Division; Twelfth Battery Wisconsin Volunteer Light
Artillery, Capt. William Zisckerick commanding, to First Division; company B,
First Michigan Light Artillery, Lieutenant Edward B. Wright commanding, to
Third Division; Company H, First Missouri Light Artillery, Captain Charles M.
Callahan commanding, to Fourth Division.

Engagements: The batteries have been so far separated that I have been unable
to get minute details of some of the battles and skirmishes, effects of fire,&c.

Company H, First Illinois Light Artillery: February 3, skirmish at "Store; "
firing five rounds; shelling the woods where the enemy were lodged. February 15,
took position with one section on the advance line commanding enemy's defenses
of Congaree Creek brigade; fired there rounds with great precision and good
effect. February 16, it was found necessary to put a battery in position on the
extreme left in order to command rebel batteries, which were shelling the main
road leading to the main bridge over Congaree River, and in order to accomplish
this it was necessary to run the blockade of the rebel batteries, which I ordered
and which was gallantly performed by this battery, Captain De Gress leading the
column in sections. The position was gained without casualties; firing commenced
and the rebel batteries silenced.
Major- General Howard then ordered one section of this battery placed in the
road at west end of bridge way over Congaree River, commanding the main street
in the city of Columbia in which the rebel cavalry were moving. The street was
briskly shelled and made untenable. The battery was then ordered by Major-
General Logan to cross Saluda River and take position on west bank of Broad
River, which was accomplished without difficulty. Here the battery shelled the
woods on the opposite side of River; effect unknown. Rounds fired during the
day, 110. February 22, one section of this battery took position at Peay's
Ferry, on Wateree River, to cove the crossing; here one percussion shell was
fired; effect unknown.

Twelfth Wisconsin Battery: January 29, one section of this battery was ordered
to Combahee River from Garden's Corners, supported by one brigade of FIRST
Division. The enemy were found on the opposite side of River and their position
shelled; thirty- eight rounds of ammunition expended; the section returned to
camp at night; result of firing unknown. February 1, one section engaged in
shelling the enemy near Hickory Hill, where he was posted behind rail piles.
Twenty- six rounds of ammunition expended; the section returned to camp at
nigh; result of firing unknown. February 1, one section engaged in shelling
the enemy near Hickory Hill, where he was posted behind rail piles. Twenty- six
rounds were fired with good effect, routing the enemy in confusion. February
15, battery took position west of Congaree Creek, firing at retreating cavalry.
Thirty rounds ammunition expended; result unknown. February 16, battery in
position before Columbia; shelled the city, expending thirty- one rounds
ammunition. February 17, battery in position on west bank of Broad RIVER;
shelled the woods on opposite bank, firing forty-nine rounds ammunition. March
20, the battery was engaged on the advance of FIRST Division during the day,
skirmishing for several miles, expending twelve rounds ammunition. March 21,
battery aligned with the advance of First Division, and briskly engaged the
enemy with but little cover; expended 222 rounds ammunition. Firing continued
during the night at intervals of fifteen minutes with each piece. Too much
cannot be said of the main line of the enemy, with rude covering, they fought
with brilliant success, the enemy' works and dead demarking the fire of his
battery. During this engagement two men of their battery were wounded- private
Robert Shields lost right leg and Private Festus Johnson received severe flesh
wound in left leg. Company B, First Michigan Light Artillery; February 6,
shelled the woods on Little Salkehatchie River, where the enemy wee strongly
posted, and did much to dislodge him; expended five rounds ammunition.
February 15, battery with Third DIVISION made a feint at crossing Congree River
six miles below Columbia, at a crossing on that stream, here expending six
rounds ammunition; effect unknown. March 20, one section of battery put in
position to shell enemy's position at Cox's Bridge, on Neuse River. This
section expended twenty- six rounds ammunition at his point, but owing to the
wooded condition of the country the effects of the fire were unknown. The enemy,
however, ceased their fire, burned the bridge, and further demonstrations for
the battery were not needed. March 21, one section of this battery was detached
temporarily by my order from Third Division and placed on lines of First
Division, near Mill Creek, on the right of one section of Twelfth Wisconsin
Battery, when firing at intervals of fifteen minutes to each gun was kept up
during the night under a galling fire from the enemy's sharpshooters. The
wisdom of battery commanders displayed in ordering the men to get cover
immediately after firing prevented undue casualties; one man slightly wounded
in the engagement. This section expended sixty- three rounds ammunition during
the night.

Company H, First Missouri Light Artillery; This battery moved from its camp at
Savannah with Fourth Division on 28th of January, and owing to movements of
Division did not get engaged until February 16 before Columbia, on Congaree
River, where the battery took position, shelling the rebel works, expending 135
rounds ammunition with but a faint reply from the enemy. March 16, one section
of this battery skirmished with the enemy two miles east of Little Rockfish
[Little Cohera] Creek, expending five rounds of ammunition; effect unknown, as
a farther advance was not found necessary. March 21, the battery took an
advanced position on the line of Fourth Division, in the line of the corps,
cannoneers throwing up their own works, when firing commenced early in the
afternoon; after the first and second sections were advanced to support the
skirmishers and went into action without works, continuing a rapid fire until
daylight of 22d, expending 431 rounds ammunition, with casualties of 1 man
mortally and 1 slightly wounded.

I cannot speak in too much praise of the behavior of both officers and men. All
have done nobly their part and duty, reflecting honor upon their respective
States and Government. The circumstances of country and position chosen by the
enemy rendered the artillery of less than ordinary service. I am gratified,
however, to state that nothing of moral or physical endurance on the part of
officers and men has been lacking, and whatever the exigencies of the service
might have demanded, I am satisfied that the element was present.

Loss of animals: Company H, First Illinois Light Artillery, 2 horses by
disease, 3 ridden off by deserters; Twelfth Wisconsin Battery, 2 horses and 1
mule captured with men, 2 horses by disease; B, First Michigan Light
Artillery, 3 horses by disease; H, First Missouri Light Artillery, 3 horses by
disease.

Gain of animals: Company B, First Michigan Light Artillery, 14 horses and 2
mules captured;

Animals: Upon taking command of artillery of the cororses in the several
batteries very much reduced in flesh, fully 50 per cent, being unserviceable,
caused by starvation at Savannah. I am gratified to report that owing to light
marches and abundance of forage, together with commendable care, the animals
have greatly improved, and after a march of over 500 miles I find but a few
that are unserviceable.

Ammunition: The 12- pounder ammunition is good. The 20- pounder Parrott
ammunition proves defective; the powder in the shells is insufficient and poor,
and the fuses are not reliable. The 3- inch Rodman ammunition from Saint Louis
is defective in powder and the fuses are very poor. The expenditures of
ammunition during the campaign have been promptly reported weekly and are
herewith attached consolidated.
Casualties: Attached to this report will be found a complete list of killed,
wounded, and missing, and of prisoners, and a report of deserters. In
conclusion, I would add that efforts are now being made to equip the batteries
in the most effective manner for another campaign, and I trust will be found
ready when again called upon to advance upon the enemy.

I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. H. ROSS,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Artillery.
Major T. W. OSBORN,
Chief of Artillery, Department and Army of the Tennessee

Report of Major John A. Reynolds, First New York Light Artillery,
Chief of Artillery, of operations January 17-March 24.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, TWENTIETH ARMY CORPS,
Goldsborough, N.C. , March 25, 1865.

COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the artillery of
this corps during the recent campaign:

Battery I, First New York Artillery, Captain Winegar, left Savannah, Ga. , on
the 17th of January and joined the Third Division, General Ward, at
Hardeeville. Battery M, First New York, Lieutenant Newkirk, and Battery C,
First Ohio, Lieutenant Stephens, left on the 18th of January with the First
Division, General Jackson, and Battery E, Independent Pennsylvania Artillery,
on the 27th instant, with the Second Division, General Geary. A few shots were
fired by Battery M, First New York Artillery, at Robertsville, January 29, and
by Battery I, First New York Artillery, near Lawtonville, February 2, the enemy
attempting to hold the road and check our advance.

On the 2nd of March our skirmishers drove the enemy through Chesterfield; they
burned the bridge across Thompson's Creek, about one mile from town, and as our
troops advanced, opened on them with artillery. One section of Batteries I,
First New York, and C, First Ohio Artillery, took position and soon compelled
them to withdraw their battery. On the 16th instant the enemy were found to be
in position behind a line of works near Averasborough. Batteries I and M, First
New York Artillery, and C, First Ohio Artillery, took position in an orchard to
the left of the road, about 500 yards from the enemy's line. They soon silenced
their artillery, blowing up one limber, killing all the horses, and driving the
cannoneers from their piece.

One wheel horse on another piece was killed as they were attempting to withdraw
it, compelling them to abandon that also. The infantry getting on their right
flank and rear at this time compelled them to evacuate their works. The
captured gun, about 200 yards in advance of their works, was immediately turned
upon them, expending all tund in the chests of both gun and howitzer. Our
batteries were at once moved forward and occupied their vacated works. There
were captured here one 12-pounder gun and one 12-pounder howitzer, both with
limbers and harness complete, and three good horses, the others being killed,
besides one limber and caisson, all of which, except the horses, were destroyed
or rendered unserviceable. The enemy now fell back about one mile to another
line of works. Battery I, First New York Artillery, advanced with our lines,
taking position about 200 yards from the enemy. The infantry afterward retiring
to a position farther to the rear, the battery was withdrawn. About 5 p. m.
Battery M was placed in position on the road, and threw up a slight work in
front of their guns. During the night the enemy withdrew. On the 19th the enemy
were again found in force near Bentonville, the Fourteenth Corps being engaged
as we came up. Our corps was hurried forward, the batteries arriving and taking
position just in time to check an advance of the enemy who had broken the lines
of infantry, and taken three pieces of artillery from the Fourteenth Corps. The
enemy afterward made several assaults upon the lines, but they were each time
met by a rapid fire from the batteries, which checked every advance.

During the night the enemy fell back to their original position. Many of their
dead left on the field showed the effectiveness of the artillery fire. The
batteries remained here in position until the morning of the 22nd, when they
marched toward Goldsborough, arriving on the 24th, and camping about two miles
from town.

I remain, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. A. REYNOLDS,
Major and Chief of Artillery, Twentieth Corps.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, SECOND ARMY CORPS,
March 27, 1865.

I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by this command
in the operations of the 25th instant:

At about 6 a.m. the command was ordered to harness up and hitch in. Battery F,
First Pennsylvania Artillery, was moved from its camp and parked near Third
Division headquarters at 12 o'clock. Battery B, First Rhode Island Artillery,
and B, First New Jersey, Artillery, were parked in rear of Battery F, in
anticipation of being placed in position at the Watkins house. At 5 p.m. one
section of Roder's battery was placed in position on the right of Miles'
division, to protect his flank in case of an attack at that point. At 5.30 p.m.
the other section of the battery was placed in position at the Skinner house,
and opened fire on the enemy in the woods with solid shot, expending
thirty-three rounds. The two sections of the battery remained in position until
after dark, when they were withdrawn by order of Major-General Miles, and took
up their old position in Battery A. During the day the Tenth Massachusetts, B,
First New Jersey Artillery, Eleventh New York, and First New Hampshire fired on
the enemy's position from their respective works, but the distance being so great
it is doubtful if they rendered any material assistance. During the attack upon
General Miles, Battery E, Fifth U.S. Artillery, was ordered to report to me, by
order of Major-General Griffin. I placed one section in position near the
enemy's old work in rear of the Skinner house, to right of Roder's battery. On
account of its being a three-inch battery I considered it would be of little or
no use in firing over the heads of our troops. After firing a few rounds I
ordered it to the rear. On the withdrawal of the troops the batteries of the
command were ordered to their former positions.

There were no casualties nor loss of material.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. G. HAZARD,
Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
March 28, 1865.

Lieutenant-Colonel HAZARD,
Commanding Artillery, Headquarters Second Corps:

General Wright says you propose to withdraw your guns form Forts Welch, Gregg,
and Sampson to-morrow morning. General Meade says that General Wright will hold
the Sixth Corps here to-morrow at least, and these forts must have their
artillery. Arrangements must be made accordingly. The forts on your line, A, B,
C, D, E, you report March 26 as having twenty guns; General ord can replace
sixteen. You reported Welch, Gregg, and Sampson twelve guns; sixteen are of
these I understand that twelve are of surplus sections. If these are all sent
back it will take twenty-eight guns form your artillery, leaving you but five
batteries, and General Medw directs that rather than strip the forts you take
but twenty-eight guns form your artillery, leaving you but five batteries, and
General Meade directs that rather than strip the forts you take but twenty
guns, five batteries, with your corps. I wish you, therefore, to arrange to
keep the guns in Forts Sampson, Welch, and Gregg. If you can put two surplus
sections in, you will keep your six batteries with the corsp. The batteries you
propose to end to Colonel Tidball will therefore be left, four guns with
General Ord and twelve with General Wright, which will remain with him until
the Sixth Corps line is abandoned, and will then report to General Tidball,
unless otherwise ordered. These arrangements must e made at once, and you will
report to me what batteries move with your corps, and that provision is made to
leave the sixteenth guns on the line as directed.

HENRY J. HUNT, Brevet Major-General.

HEADQUARTERS SECOND ARMY CORPS, March 28, 1865.

Brevet Major-General HUNT,
Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac:

I have arranged to leave four guns in Fort Gregg, four in Fort Sampson, and
four in Battery A, and to take six batteries with me. If General Ord brings
with him sixteen guns it will be sufficient to arm the line to the left of
Battery A. Shall take two of my guns from Fort Welch, leaving four in it
belonging to Sixth Corps. i trust this arrangement will be satisfactory. Shall
take with me Battery B, Rhode Island; B, New Jersey; K. Fourth United States;
M, First New Hampshire; Tenth Massachusetts, and Eleventh New York, leaving on
the line, in command of Captain C. A. Clark, Twelfth New York, Sixth Maine,
and F, First Pennsylvania. Please answer by telegraph as soon as convenient if
this arrangement meets with your approbation.

JNO. G. HAZARD,
Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel and Chief of Artillery.

ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
March 28, 1865.

Brevet Brigadier-General ABBOT,
Commanding Siege Train:

GENERAL: On the movement of to-morrow taking place you will report to
Major-General Parke, who remains in command of the lines of Petersburg and City
Point. Should you require wagons for transporting ammunition to the lines you
will obtain them on ampliation to the commander of the Artillery Reserve, with
whom and General Tidball, who will be in command of the artillery, you will
make the necessary arrangements. This is rendered necessary because the
quartermaster's department needs the wagons you have heretofore used.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY J. HUNT,
Brevet Major-General and Chief of Artillery.

Reports of Major Charles Houghtaling, First Illinois Light
Artillery, commanding Artillery Brigade, of operations January 20-March 23.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY Brigadier , FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Goldsborough, N. C. , March 30, 1865.

COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the Artillery
Brigade, Fourteenth Army Corps, during the campaign from Savannah, Ga. , to
Goldsborough, N. C. , embracing a period of sixty-two days, beginning on the
20th day of January. 1865 and ending on the 23 day of March, 186:

On the 20th of January we moved from Savannah, Ga. , and on the 28 the we
camped at Sister's Ferry. At this time Battery C, First Illinois Light
Artillery, and Battery I, Second Illinois Light Artillery, were reporting to
the First Wisconsin Battery and the Nineteenth Indiana Battery were reporting
directly to me.

I crossed the River with my command on the 5th day of February, and put the
Fifth Wisconsin Battery in position on the left bank of the River to guard
against the approach of a rebel gun-boat reported to be descending the River
from Augusta. On the morning of the 7th of February I broke camp and moved to
Brighton Cross-Roads, when the Fifth Wisconsin Battery was reported (by order
of General Davie) to General Baird, commanding the Third Division, Fourteenth
Army Corps.

From this time till the conclusion of the campaign, Battery C, First Illinois;
Battery I, Second Illinois, and the Fifth Wisconsin Battery reported to the
different division of the corps, and under the immediate control of the
commanders.

On the 17th of February I crossed the Saluda River, after a March of ten days,
during which time I moved with the corps headquarters train, crossing the South
Edisto River on the 13th, and the North Edisto on the 14th, of February. On the
19th I crossed Broad River. The country between the Saluda and Broad Rivers
afforded a greater amount of forage and subsistence for the men than any other
previously passed through. On the 28th day of February I crossed the Catawba
River after a delay of five days on its right bank, occasioned by heavy and
continuous rains which raised the River to such a height that the pontoon
bridge was swept away, sustaining a loss of fourteen boats.

On the 4th of March the Great Pedee River was reached eight miles above Cheraw;
the distance from the Catawba to the Great Pedee, eighty-five miles; the time
consumed by the March, five days; the weather during the time a continuous
rain-storm, and the roads a bottomless pit of mud. After a delay of two days on
the right bank of the Great Pedee the command crossed over the 7th, and the
11th reached Fayetteville. Between the Great Pedee and Cape Fear Rivers is a
continuous forest of pine, which affords neither forage for animals nor
subsistence for men. On the 14th Cape Rear River was crossed, after a half of
two days at Fayetteville. During the engagement of the 16th the artillery was
massed on the left of the Averasborough road under my direction, but was o
engaged.

On the 19th Battery C, First Illinois, and the Nineteenth Indiana Battery were
heavily engaged, sustaining a loss as follows:

Battery C, 4 men killed, 3 wounded, and 1 captured, and 5 horses killed;
Nineteenth Indiana Battery, commanding officer mortally wounded, 3 enlisted men
wounded, 3 guns captured, and 20 horses killed and captured.

On the 20th remaining battery, Fifth Wisconsin, was engaged for a short time,
sustaining no loss. We reached Goldsborough on the 23rd.

I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CHARLES HOUGHTALING,
Major, Commanding Artillery Brigade, Fourteenth Army Corps.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY Brigadier , FOURTEENTH ARMY CORPS,
Goldsborough, N. C. , March 30, 1865.

Report of the part taken by the Artillery Brigade, Fourteenth Army Corps, in
the engagements of the 19th, 20th, and 21st of March, 1865:

On the 19th of March Battery C, First Illinois Light Artillery, was put in
position by direction of General Carlin on the right and left of the old
Continental road to Goldsborough, supported by the right of General Carlin's
division (First Division, Fourteenth Army Corps). From this position 302 rounds
of ammunition were expended. The battery was opposed to a battery of artillery
and a strong line of infantry. About 1 o'clock the battery was assisted by the
Nineteenth Indiana Battery; subsequently it moved father to the left by
General Carolin's order, gaining a position just as the lines gave way. If tell
back three-quarters of a mile and was then put in a position by me on the left
of the old Continental road, where it remained steadily engaging the enemy till
night.

The Nineteenth Indiana Battery relieved Battery C by my direction. From this
position it expended eighty-eight rounds of ammunition. It was here supported
by General Robinson's brigade, of the First Division, Twentieth Army Corps, and
when the line gave way three guns were lost. Battery I, Second Illinois Light
Artillery, was put in position by me on right and rear of the last position
taken by Battery C about 2 p.m. , when it rear steadily till dark. The
remaining gun of the Nineteenth Indiana Battery was punt in position by my
order on the right of Battery I.

The Fifth Wisconsin Battery came up on the morning of the 20th. It was put in
position by General Baird on the ground occupied by Battery C and the
Nineteenth Indiana Battery on the 19th, where it remained till dark, when it
withdrew and parked in rear of the lines. From this position if fired twenty
rounds of ammunition. Subsequently one gun, lost by the Nineteenth Indiana
Battery, was recovered. The batteries remained in these position till the enemy
retreated on the night of the 21st of March.

I desire to make special mention of Second Lieutenant Palmer F. Scovel,
commanding Battery C, First Illinois Light Artillery, and First Sergt. Jonathan
Miller, and Sergt. William McIntyre, for their gallant and meritorious conduct
under the very severe fire to which they were exposed and during the confusion
created by the infantry when it gave way. I would most respectfully recommend
them for performance. The fire from this battery was accurate and destructive.
Early in the engagement one of the enemy's limbers was struck and blown up.

No blame is attached to the officers and men of the Nineteenth Indiana Battery
in the unfortunate loss of three of their guns. It was one of those misfortunes
which cannot be provided against. The commanding officer lost his life in
trying to save his battery. Lieutenant Keeler succeeded to the command and
brought tho balance of the battery off in good order. Second Lieutenant Judson
Rich, commanding Battery I, Second Illinois Light Ad his battery well and is a
deserving officer.

The fire from all the artillery was accurate and well-directed, and officers
and men alike acquitted themselves honorably.

I am, Colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CHARLES HOUGHTALIN,
Major, Commanding Artillery Brigade, Fourteenth Army Corps.

Report of Bvt. Major General William F. Barry, U. S. Army, Chief of Artillery.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY, MILITARY DIV. OF THE MISSISSIPPI,
Goldsborough, N. C. , March 31, 1865.

GENERAL: I have the honor to report the operations of the artillery of the
armies under your command during the Carolina campaign of February and March,
1865.

In consideration of the peculiarities of the campaign, involving long and rapid
marches over bad roads and at an inclement season of the year, the same
precautions which were so advantageously taken for your Savannah campaign of
last autumn were agin observed. The number of guns was reduced to one per 1,000
effective bayonets, and each artillery carriage was provided with eight draught
animals.

The whole number of field batteries was sixteen, comprising sixty-eight guns,
which were distributed and of calibers: 20-pounder Parrotts,12-pounders,
3-inch rifles. Including the reserve supply, each gun was furnished with 350
rounds of ammunition.

A careful and critical personal inspection, made a few days preceding our
departure from Savannah, satisfied me that in all essentials the artillery was
in excellent condition for any kind of work. The results fully justified these
expectations. During the whole march the artillery supplied itself, unaided by
infantry or cavalry, with provisions for its officers and men, forage for its
animals, and to a great extent with fresh horses and mules captured in the
country. A tabular statement is appended to this report, showing the extent to
which this unusual artillery service was performed.

No gun or artillery carriage of any description was abandoned, disable, or at
any time even a temporary impediment to the march of the infantry columns-a
fact the more creditable to the artillery, since in many places the roads were
of the worst possible description.

Although the nature of your operations did not, except at the battles of
Averasborough and Bentonville, call for any general use of artillery, yet in
support of skirmish lines, brushing away cavalry, and covering the crossings of
several difficult and important rivers, it was advantageously used at the
following-named times and places, namely:

January 20, 1865, Pocotaligo, Seventeenth Army Corps.

January 28, 1865, Combahee, Fifteenth Army Corps.

January 29, 1865, Robertsville, Twentieth Army Corps.

February 1, 1865, Hickory Hill, Fifteenth Army Corps.

February 2, 1865, Lawtonville, Twentieth Army Corps.

February 2, 1865, Whippy Swamp, Seventeenth Army Corps.

February 3, 1865, "Store' at Duck Creek, Fifteenth Army Corps.

February 6, 1865, Little Salkehatchie, Fifteenth Army Corps.

February 9, 1865, Binnaker's Bridge, Seventeenth Army Corps.

February 11, 1865, North Edisto, Seventeenth Army Corps.

February 15, 1865, Congaree Creek, Fifteenth Army Corps.

February 16, 1865, Columbia, Fifteenth and Seventeenth Army Corps.

February 17, 1865, Broad River, Fifteenth Army Corps.

March 16, 1865, Little Rockfish Creek [Little Cohera?], Fifteenth Army Corps.

At the battle of Averasborough, March 16, the batteries of the Twentieth Corps
were promptly and judiciously posted by Major Reynolds, the chief of artillery
of that corps, and by the precision and rapidity of their fire did most
excellent service in dislodging the enemy from his intrenched line, and the
consequent capture of three of his guns.

At the battle of Bentonville, March 19, 20, and 21, it was the fortune of the
artillery to play a more conspicuous part. The batteries of the Fourteenth and
Twentieth Corps were hotly engaged on the 19th, and after the first temporary
advantage gained by the enemy, in which the Nineteenth Indiana Battery, not by
any fault of its own, lost three of its guns (one of which was recaptured next
day), they poured in a fire so steady, rapid, and effective that all of the
enemy's frequently repeated assaults were successfully repulsed. On the 20th,
and particularly on the 21st, the batteries of the Fifteenth Corps lent most
efficient aid in advancing our own lines, in repelling the enemy's assaults,
and in inflicting heavy loss upon him. both of these fields of battle gave
abundant proof of the precision of our artillery fire.

Expenditure of ammunition.

Fourteenth Army Corps..........1,007 Rounds

Twentieth Army Corps..............832 Rounds

Army of Tennessee.................1,665 Rounds

Total......................................3,504 Rounds

If to the operations of your armies, the legitimate fruits of which they really
are, be credited the guns captured at Charleston and Wilmington (excluding from
the number of the latter those capture at Fort Fisher and the other forts at
the mouth of Cape Fear River), the total artillery captured during the past ten
months by troops under your immediate command will exceed 700 guns.

Throughout the campaign the ammunition, fuses, and prismers proved unusually
good and reliable, the only fault observed being sand cracks and insufficient
bursting charges in a few of the 20-pounder Parrott projectiles, want of care
in the screwing of the Bormann fuse in 12-pounder projectiles, and insufficient
bursting charges in many of the Hotchkiss 3-inch shell and case-shot.
Ammunition and fuses received from Saint Louis Arsenal appear to be more
complained of (especially the fuses) than that received from other places.

In conclusion I am gratified to be able to commend the offices and men for
attention to their duties in preparation for the field, and for good conduct
after entering it; for the details of which I respectfully invite attention to
the sub-reports which will be laid before you.

The services of the following-named officers give evidence of industry,
intelligence, and gallant conduct, and entitle them to notice and reward,
namely:

Major Osborn, First New York Artillery, chief of artillery Army of the
Tennessee; Major Reynolds, First New York Artillery, chief of artillery
Twentieth Army Corps; Major Waterhouse, First Illinois Artillery, chief of
artillery Seventeenth Army Corps; Lieutenant-Colonel Ross, First Michigan
Artillery, chief of artillery Fifteenth Army Corps; Major Houghtaling, First
Illinois Artillery, chief of artillery Fourteenth Army Corps. I respectfully
ask that each of these officers, who have also served faithfully and creditably
through the Atlanta and Savannah campaigns, be recommended for promotion by
brevet.

The officers of my staff, Major Dickson, inspector of artillery; Captain
Marshall, assistant adjutant-general; Captain Merritt and Lieutenant
Verplanck, aides-de-camp, at all times performed cheerfully and well the duties
with which they were charged.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WILLIAM F. BARRY,
Brevet Major-General, Chief of Artillery.

HDQRS. THIRD DIV., TWENTY-FOURTH ARMY CORPS,
TROOPS TEMPORARILY ATTACHED, Richmond, Va., April 5, 1865.

Captain ANGEL, Chief of Artillery:

CAPTAIN: The general commanding directs me to say that if you are attacked that
you will order the caissons and horses to the other side of the river. The fort
should be held against any one force of cavalry the enemy might bring against
it. If you have not infantry sufficient you will please report what are needed
to hold the place at all hazards. It would seem that with the artillery and
the infantry support that they would be able to repulse any attack which the
enemy might direct against it. The commanding officer of the fort will place
infantry, and vedettes at a suitable distance in front and around, so that the
officer in command may be notified of any approach of the enemy in time to
have the artillery and troops to repulse any attack that the enemy may be
disposed to make.

It has been reported that the enemy intend with their cavalry to make an attack
upon the detached works.

Commanding officers will be held responsible that these works are well
defended, and if an attack is made the enemy are repulsed. They will use the
utmost vigilance that our forces are not surprised.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. W. HOOKER, Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS,} HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, TWENTY-FOURTH
ARMY CORPS Numbers 68.} April 13, 1865.

I. The batteries of this brigade stationed near Richmond will have two days'
rations cooked and everything in readiness to move at day-light to-morrow
morning, April 14, 1865.

II. Captain William Stitt, commanding Battery A, First Pennsylvania Artillery,
will report to Colonel E. H. Ripley, commanding First Brigade, [Third
Division], Twenty-fourth Army Corps, immediately upon receipt of this, for
orders and be ready to move his command at 6 a. m., April 14, 1865.

III. Captain Enoch Jones, commanding Battery H, Third New York Artillery,
will report to Colonel M. T. Donohoe, commanding Second Brigade,
[Third Division], Twenty-fourth Army Corps, immediately upon receipt of
this, for orders and be in readiness to move his command at 6 a. m., April
14, 1865.

By command of Captain J. R. Angel, acting chief of artillery.
D. W. BURDICK,
First Lieutenant , Tenth New York Art., Actg. Asst. Adjt. General

GENERAL ORDERS, HDQRS.1ST DIV., 7TH ARMY CORPS,
Numbers 15.} AND POST OF LITTLE ROCK, Little Rock, Ark, April 14, 1865.

Captain T. F. Vaughn, Battery A, Third Illinois Artillery, is hereby
announced as chief of artillery of the First Division, Seventh Army
Corps, and Post of Little Rock. Battery commanders will hereafter report
through his office.

By order of Bvt. Major General F. Salomen:
A. S. KENDRICK,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

Report of Bvt. Lieutenant Colonel John G. Hazard, First Rhode
Island Light Artillery, commanding Artillery Brigade.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, SECOND ARMY CORPS,
April 19, 1865.

MAJOR: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to orders from
headquarters Second Corps, dated March 28, 1865, I directed Captain J. W.
Roder, Battery K, Fourth U. S. Artillery, and Captain George K. Dakin, M,
First New Hampshire Artillery, to report to Brevet Major-General Miles; Captain
J. Webb Adams, Tenth Massachusetts Battery, and Lieutenant William B.
Westcott, B, First Rhode Island Artillery, to Brigadier-General Hays; and
Captain A. J. Clark, B, First New Jersey Artillery, and Lieutenant James A.
Manning, Eleventh New York Battery, to repot to Brevet Major-General Mott,
commanding Third Division. The commands broke camp March 29, at 6 a. m., the
Second Division, Brigadier-General Hays, leading. After crossing Hatcher's Run
about half a mile, Battery B, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Lieutenant
William B. Westcott, was put in position on the right side of the road facing
toward Dabney's Mill; the Third Division, Brevet Major-General Mott, moved out
to the left of Second Division; the batteries went into park on the Vaughan
road, near the Brown house; First Division, Brevet Major-General Miles, with
its batteries, moved to the left and connected with Third Division, its
batteries went into park on the Vaughan road, near the Brown house; First
Division, Brevet Major-General Miles, with its batteries, moved to the left and
connected with Third Division, its batteries accompanying it. The corps
remained in this position during the night; the batteries unhitched and
unharnessed.

Thursday, March 30, the First and Third Divisions advanced their lines, the
left of the First Division crossing the Boydton plank road and connecting with
right of Fifth Corps. Captain Roder's battery (K, Fourth U. S. Artillery) was
placed in position on the left of First Division, near Raineys house, and
covering the left of the line; M, First New Hampshire Artillery, was put in
position at junction of Boydton plank road and Quaker road, a little to the
left of Captain Roder's battery and covering the left front of First Division,
which crossed the Boydton plank road near Rainey's house nd about 700 yards in
advance of old position. Battery B, First New Jersey, and Eleventh New York
Battery still in park near the Brown house. About 7 p. m. Battery B, First
rhode Island, moved into position near the Crow house, on the Second Division
front. tenth Massachusetts Battery moved up in a field near Dabney's Mill and
parked. Batteries remained in these positions all night.

Friday, March 31, batteries in same position, firing occasionally in reply to
the enemy, when about 12 m. the enemy commenced a spirited attack on the right
of the Fifth Corps. Captain Clark, Battery B, First New Jersey Artillery, and
Lieutenant Manning, Eleventh New York Battery, were hurried up, and Captain
Clark's battery put in position in front of Rainey's house, covering the new
line of First Division, which was being advanced to check the enemy, who had
succeeded in driving the right of Fifth Corps from its position. Eleventh New
York Battery relieved a battery of Fifth Corps on the crest to the right of
Rainey's house; immediately upon Eleventh New York Battery taking position they
opened fire and succeeded in silencing the enemy's reach orchard battery. The
First Division succeeded in checking and afterward in driving the enemy to his
main line of works, and establishing a new line upon the ground thus occupied.
At 9 p.m. Captain Clark's battery was put in position was put in position on
this new line, about one mile and a half in advance of his previous position;
remained until 12 p. m., when the battery was withdrawn and parked near Boydton
road at 3 a.m. At 11 p. m. K, Fourth U. S. Artillery, and Eleventh New York
Battery changed position, a smooth-bore battery being found more effective in
the position on the line occupied by Eleventh New York Battery changed
position, a smooth-bore battery being found more effective in the position on
the line occupied by eleventh New York Battery; Tenth Massachusetts Battery was
moved from filed near Dabney's Mill, and put in position on the right of B,
First Rhode Island Artillery, at Crow's house; at dark this battery was
withdrawn and moved to extreme left of line and parked near Rainey's house.
During the day K, Fourth U. S. Artillery, and M, First New Hampshire Artillery,
succeed in silencing and keeping quiet the enemy's artillery, which was in a
large work on the Boydton road.

Saturday, April 1, early in the morning, Battery B, First Rhode Island
Artillery, in position at Crow's house, engaged the enemy's battery,
which was a small redoubt. At 6 p.m. the right section was advanced about 300
yards, and threw up covering for its men. About 4 p. m. Battery B, First New
Jersey Artillery, was put in position again near Rainey's house. With the
exception of Battery B, First Rhode Island Artillery, the batteries were not
engaged.

April 2, at 4 a. m. the Tenth Massachusetts Battery, Captain Adams, took
position on the Boydton plank road, on the right of Captain Dakin's battery,
and at 7 a. m. engaged the enemy. About daylight the enemy opened upon Battery
M, First New Hampshire Artillery; his fire was replied to by that battery and
the Tenth Massachusetts Battery until 9 a.m., when it was observed that the
enemy was evacuating the works. A reconnaissance was sent out under General
McAllister, the batteries covering the movement. Captain roder's battery opened
on a small work that the infantry were about to charge; he succeeded in driving
the artillery out, when our troops took possession. At this time it was found
that the enemy was evacuating his entire line from Hatcher's Run to the Boydton
road. Mott's division was ordered to advance, and Battery K, Fourth U. S.
Artillery, and Eleventh New York Battery were assigned to move with it, which
they did, occupying the enemy's works, and afterward moving by way of plank
road toward Petersburg. Captain Clark's battery and M, First New Hampshire
Artillery, were ordered to follow down the enemy's line to White Oak road, and
repot to General Miles, who was assisting Major-General Sheridan's command.
Battery B, First Rhode Island Artillery, was brought up to the plank road and
ordered, together with Tenth Massachusetts Battery, to follow, and report to
General Hays, Second Division; Battery B, First New Jersey Artillery, and M,
First New Hampshire Artillery, by order of General Miles, occupied a position
near the road, and shelled a piece of woods that was supposed to cover the
enemy's cavalry. The batteries continued firing until the enemy was forced to
leave his works and retreat. During this time Captain Roder's battery and
Eleventh New York Battery had marched within two miles of Petersburg, where
Captain Roder's battery was put in position and opened fire on the enemy, who
was attempting to establish an entrenched skirmish line. the distance being so
great, little could be accomplished, and when the division formed line of
battle, the battery was withdrawn and put in position on a high knoll to the
right, where it remained all night.

April 3, the Third Division, accompanied by its batteries, moved from
Petersburg, via River road, to near Wells' Church, where it joined the First
Division and marched to Coleman's house. Through some misunderstanding the
Second Division, followed by its batteries, moved from Wells' Church to near
Petersburg, and then back from Petersburg to the Coleman house, where they
joined and camped with the corps.

April 4, corps started at 6 a. m., batteries following the divisions, and
marched to near the Jones house, and encamped for the night.

April 5, corps moved at 1 a. m., batteries following their divisions, and took
the Namozine road; followed this road four miles, and took a road leading to
the right toward Jetersville; following this road to Jetersville,
crossed the Danville railroad, and took position on the left of the Fifth
Corps. All the batteries were put in position on the line excepting one section
of the Tenth Massachusetts Battery.

April 6, corps moved toward Amelia Sulphur Springs, where we came up with the
enemy's wagon train. M, First New Hampshire Artillery, was put in position, and
opened on the train; Captain Roder's Battery and Tenth Massachusetts Battery
also shelled the train. These batteries continued moving with the advanced
line, shelling the enemy every time he took position, until we came up to him
in a strong position, trying to cover the crossing of his train over Sailor's
Creek. Captain Clarks' and Captain Dakin's batteries were put in on the right
of Third Division, and opened fire on two of the enemy's batteries, causing
them to withdraw hastily. Captain Roder's battery was put in position on the
left of Third Division and opened on the enemy's batteries also. These
batteries assisted materially in the capture of a large train at Sailor's Creek
by causing the enemy's batteries to cease firing. Encamped for the night near
Sailor's Creek.

April 7, moved at 6.30 a.m. cross Sailor's Creek to High Bridge, where the
Tenth Massachusetts Battery, M, First New Hampshire Artillery, and B, First
Rhode Island Artillery, were placed in position and opened fire on the enemy's
retreating columns; also upon a party who were trying to destroy High Bridge.
The enemy son after retreated, leaving a large number of guns, &c. The
batteries continued the march on the right of Farmville, about four miles, to
Price's farm, where the enemy were found strongly entrenched. On the approach
of the head of our column the enemy opened a lively artillery fire. Dakin's and
Clark's batteries were put in position and succeeded in silencing the battery..
The enemy were found so strongly posted in was thought necessary to put more
artillery fire. Dakin's and Clark's batteries were put in position and
succeeded in silencing the battery. The enemy were found so strongly posted it
was thought necessary to put more artillery in position. Roder's battery was
brought up and put on the right of Clark's battery was brought up and put on
the right; Battery B, First Rhode Island Artillery, was placed in position on
the Third Division line. During this time one section of B, First New Jersey
Artillery, Lieutenant Rhein's, was moved to the left about 800 yards, on a
crest on the right of Third Division; Tenth Massachusetts Battery was put in
position on the right of Lieutenant Rhein's section; M, First New Hampshire
Artillery, was advanced about 700 yards, to the new line erected by the First
Division. After dark Roder's battery and Eleventh New York Battery were placed
on and to the right of the old stage road, on the line of the Second Division.
The other batteries remained in their positions all night.

April 8, corps moved at 6 a. m. to New Stone, and halted about 10 p. m.;
resumed the march in the direction of Clover Hill; marched four and a half
miles and bivouacked for the remainder of the night.

April 9, continued the march at 9 o'clock; at 11.30 a. m. halted. Clark's
battery was put in position to cover skirmish line of First Division pending
the result of the conference of Lieutenant-General Grant and General Lee. This
battery remained in position and the other batteries halted in the road until 4
p. m., when the announcement was made that the Army of Northern Virginia had
surrendered. The batteries then went into camp.April 10, commands remained in
camp all day. April 11, batteries moved together, under my command, back on the
same road they advanced to New Store and camped for the night. April 12,
command moved at 6 a. m. by a plantation and from thence by the plank road to
Farmville; parked on the hills near Farmville. April 13, started at 6 a. m.;
camped near Rice's Sation, on the Danville railroad. April 14, started at 6 a.
m. and marched to Burkeville; arrived here at 2 p. m.; went into camp and have
remained here since.

From the nature of the arm of the service, no trophies have fallen into our
hands as pledges of gallantry; but officers and men have performed every duty
promptly and faithfully, and I claim for the artillery of the corps a share of
the laurels so nobly earned by it.

I would make special mention of Bvt. Major T. Fred. Brown, B, First Rhode
Island Artillery; Bvt. Captain J. W. Roder, Battery K, Fourth U. S. Artillery;
and Captain A. Judson Clark, Battery B, First New Jersey Artillery, for their
valuable assistance; also Lieutenant A. M. E. Gordon, acting assistant
adjutant-general, and Lieutenant John G. Deane, acting aide-de-camp, for the
promptness with which they performed their arduous duties.*

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. G. HAZARD,
Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, U. S. Volunteers, Commanding.
Major J. N. CRAIG,
Asst. Adjt. General , Artillery Hdqrs., Army of the Potomac.

Report of Bvt. Brigadier General Charles S. Wainwright, First
New York Light Artillery, commanding Artillery Brigade.

HEADQUARTERS ARTILLERY BRIGADE,
April 21, 1865.

MAJOR: I have the honor to submit herewith my report of the part taken by this
command in the campaign ending with the surrender of the rebel Army of Northern
Virginia.

In accordance with orders four batteries - Fifth Massachusetts, C, E, and L,
First New York - were detached from the brigade, with their proportion of the
quartermaster and ordnance train, and placed under the immediate command of
Bvt. Major Charles A. Phillips, with directions to report to General Tidball
on the morning of the 29th of March. No report of the part taken by these batteries
in the assault on the enemy's lines in front of Petersburg has yet been received at
these headquarters. On the morning of the 29th of March the remaining five
batteries - viz, B, Fourth United States, D and G, Fifth United States; B, D, and H,
First New York Artillery - moved with the corps, at 3 a. m., from the neighborhood of
the Armstrong house, taking the old stage road to thee crossing of Rowanty Creek,
near the Perkins house, and then to the junction of the Vaughan and Quaker
roads. In the afternoon the corps moved down the Quaker road toward the Boydton
plank road, the First Division leading, with Mitchell's battery (B, Fourth
United States) and Rawles' (D and G, Fifth United States) following the Second
Brigade. The two leading brigades had just entered the wood beyond the Lewis
house, about one mile from the junction of the Quaker and Boydton roads, when
the enemy charged and drove our men from the cover after a protracted
resistance. The two batteries following were detained by timber felled in the
road, but this was removed sufficiently to enable Lieutenant Mitchell to get
his four guns through just as our men fell back. Lieutenant Mitchell brought
his battery into position at a gallop, placing two pieces on each side of the
Lewis house, and contributed materially to the repulse of the enemy, with heavy
loss. His two left pieces came into position within close canister range of the
enemy's advancing lines.

I regret to report that Lieutenant Mitchell was severely wounded in the right
arm during the engagement. The battery also lost 1 man killed and 3 wounded.
None of the other batteries were engaged this day.

March 30, before daylight the line held by the corps was pushed forward to the
junction of the Boydton and Quaker roads, Rawles' and Vose's (late Mitchell's)
batteries being placed in position at the junction. During the day Battery D,
First New York, under Lieutenant Johnson, was posted on the left of the Rainey
house, so as to cover that part of our line extending along the Boydton plank
road. The right of the line being thrown forward on the Boydton road some 600
yards, Rawles' and Vose's were moved with it and posted to command a small wood
road which came in from the left. In the afternoon the enemy made an attempt at
this point, but were easily repulsed, the two batteries doing efficient service.

March 31. The line held by the Fifth Corps was this morning taken up by a
portion of the Second Corps, and the Second and Third Divisions were pushed out
across the country to the White Oak road. Mink's battery (H, First New York)
and Johnson's (D, First New York) were placed in position on the left of the
line, to command the crossing of Gravelly Run by the Boydton road, Rawles and
Vose remaining on the Second Corps line. The Second and Third Divisions being
driven back in considerable confusion from the White Oak road, Mink and Johnson
were advanced as rapidly as possible through the woods to positions commanding
the crossing of two small streams. The position taken up by Major Mink was an
excellent one, commanding a small open field and the woods beyond, through
which the enemy were advancing. His practice was most admirable, and inflicted
severe loss on the enemy. That of Johnson's battery was almost completely in
the woods, and the enemy did not come within fair view of his pieces.

April 1 to 9. On the 1st the Fifth Corps joined Sheridan's cavalry and fought
the battle of Five Forks. Neither in this action nor at any time since have any
of the batteries been engaged. On the 9th Rogers and Mink were just going into
position to open on the enemy's trains when the white flag was seen coming into
our lines.

The marching during these nine days was the most severe I have known in all the
campaigns of this army. The roads were for the most part deep with mud; and the
Fifth Corps, operating most of the time with the cavalry, constantly traversed
the country by by-roads, on marches averaging from twenty to thirty miles a
day.

Though the events of the campaign have called for but little use of artillery
in action, the rapid marching and bad roads have necessitated incessant labor
on the part of the battery officers, and still more on the part of those of my
staff, to all of whom I am indebted for valuable services rendered.

Following in support of the cavalry, this corps has done little in the way of
picking up abandoned guns and material. At the battle of Five Forks the united
corps captured five 3-inch regulation guns of United States manufacture and
three caissons. These guns I had hauled to Warren's Station, and turned over to
the quartermaster there for transportation to City Point. The caissons were
destroyed.

On the 3rd of April three light 12-pounder guns were found abandoned in a swamp
near Namozine Creek, which I hauled up to General Sheridan's headquarters and
turned over to his quartermaster.

I remain, major, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
C. S. WAINWRIGHT, Brevet Brigadier-General.
Byt. Major JOHN N. CRAIG, Assistant Adjutant-General.

WASHINGTON, April 23, 1865.

Major-General HALLECK, Commanding:

As requested by you, an ordnance officer will be sent to take charge of the
Tredegar Foundry. Captain Shunk, now at Richmond, has been directed to consult
with you and to take charge of the foundry until the arrival of the officer.

A. B. DYER, Chief of Ordnance.

RICHMOND, April 24, 1865.

Brigadier-General DYER,
Chief of Ordnance, Washington:

I think the Tredegar Works should be put in observation to repair all ordnance
here before it is removed North, This will give employment to mechanics whose
families we must otherwise feed to prevent starvation.

H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General, Commanding.

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
April 24, 1865 - 5.30 p. m. (Received 9.02 a. m. 25th.)

Brigadier-General ABBOT:

You will fire salutes to-morrow, 25th instant, of thirteen guns at day-light
and thirty-six at close of day, and half-hour guns during day. Order in detail
are on the way.

By command of Major-General Meade:
JNO. N. CRAIG,
Brevet Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS SIEGE ARTILLERY,
Broadway Landing, Va., April 25, 1865.

GENERAL: In accordance with the requirements of the circular of July 29, 1864,
I have the honor to submit the following report for March, 1865:

The following u,K<] i in my command: On March 10 the three companies of the
First Connecticut Artillery returned from Fort Fisher, N. C. On March 21
Major-General Hartsuff, commanding Defenses of Bermuda Hundred, announced me as
commander of the artillery brigade of his command. This added a light battery
to my forces, and thus placed me in command of eighteen companies; aggregate,
2,700 men and 199 guns. Of these, eight companies were serving with the Army of
the Potomac, and ten with the Army of the James. On March 28 Brevet
Major-General Hunt ordered me to report temporarily for the former to
Major-General Parke, commanding Ninth Corps. During the month I was detailed by
Major-General Meade as a member of a board to examine certain officer of the
Fifteenth New York Volunteer Engineers, and by Lieutenant-General Grant as a
member of two boards, one to report upon Colonel Tal. P. Schaffner's system of
artillery mining, and the other upon Mr. R. L. Fleming's incendiary shell.
These boards all completed the work assigned them and adjourned.

The following exhibits the firing of my batteries during March: Coehorn mortar,
1,107 rounds; 8-inch mortar, 461 rounds; 10-inch mortar,
139 rounds; 30-pounder Parrott, 485 rounds; 4 1/2-inch ordnance, 342 rounds;
making a total of 2,534 rounds, weighing about 25 tons, or at a rate of about
0.8 tons daily, an amount less than during any month of the siege.

On March 25 an event i which well illustrated the advantages of the system of
fortifications adopted by Colonel Duane, chief engineer, Army of the Potomac.
This system consists, in general terms, of a series of small field-works,
capable of containing a battery of artillery and na infantry garrison of some
200 men each. They are closed at the gorge, well-protected with abatis or
polishing, often supplied with bomb-proofs, and placed at intervals of about
half a mile, on such ground as to well sweep the line on front with artillery
fire. They are connected by strong, continuous infantry parapets, protected in
front by obstacles. they differ from those of the rebel line chiefly in being
closed at the gorge, which is rarely the case with the latter. Fort Stedman is
one of the weakest and most ill-constructed works of the line, being not
protected by abatis in rear, being masked omits right (just in rear of Battery
Numbers 10) by a mass of bomb-proofs, rendered necessary by the terrible fire
which has habitually had place in this vicinity, and being only about 200 yards
distant from the enemy's main line. The parapet had settled greatly during the
winter, and, in fine, the work was very liable to being carried by a sudden
assault. Company K, First Connecticut Artillery, served mortar batteries in
Batteries 9 and 10, and Company L, First Connecticut Artillery, in Battery 12
and in Fort Haskell. At about 4 a. m. of march 25, three divisions of the
rebels, under General Gordon, made a sudden and well-arranged attack upon this
fort. It was a complete surprise, and was successful. Their columns
simultaneously swept over the parapet between Stedman and Battery 9, over
Battery 10, and over Battery 11, former in rear of the fort, and carried it
almost without opposition. From that time to daylight a hand-to-hand fight
raged among the bomb-proofs and on the flanks of the enemy's position. He
assaulted Fort Haskell again and again, but failed to carry it, or Battery
Numbers 9, which, unlike the other named, is closed at the gorge. As soon as
the light would admit, all my own artillery from Batteries 4, 5, 8, 9, and Fort
Haskel, and all the light artillery which General Tidball, chief of artillery,
Ninth Corps, could concentrate upon the position, opened and maintained a
terrible fire upon the enemy. No re-enforcements could join them across the
plain, owing to this fire; their own position was entailing deadly loss upon
them. The reserves of the line were rapidly assembling, and finally, about 8 a.
m., made a gallant charge, which resulted in the recovery of our works, all our
artillery - even including my Coehorn mortars - and in capture of over 1,800
prisoners. The following extract from rebel papers show the effect of our
artillery fire:

It was found that the inclosed works in the rear commanding the enemy's main
line could only be taken bat a great sacrifice.

The enemy massed his artillery so heavily in the neighboring forts, and was
enabled to pour such a terrible enfilanding fire upon our ranks, that it was
deemed best to withdraw.

The enemy enfilanded us from right and left in the capture works to such an
extent that we could no longer hold them without the loss of many men, &c.

If the inclosed works on right and left had not fixed a limit beyond which the
enemy could not extend, I think a great disaster might have i; as it was, my
regiment's loss was heavy, being about sixty men.

The remainder of the month was spent in cannonading and in placing guns for the
great assault of April 2.

My address is, "Colonel First Connecticut Artillery, City Point, via Fort
Monroe, Va."

I am, general, very respectfully, &c.,
HENRY L. ABBOT,
Captain of Engineers and Bvt. Brigadier General of Volunteers.

RICHMOND, VA., April 29, 1865.

Bvt. Brigadier General J. C. KELTON,
Asst. Adjt. General , Military Division of the James, Richmond, Va.:

GENERAL: I inclose herewith a copy of my report to the Chief of Ordnance of the
condition of the Tredegan Iron Works. Referring to a conversation I h ad with
the commanding general in regard to the works, I have to say that there is no
shop at the works for the repair of arms or suitable for that purpose. I do not
think the ordnance department could put the works in operation at present,
consistently with the wants of the department and economy to the Government.

I have the honor to be, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. W. FLAGLER, Captain of Ordnance.

[Inclosure.]
RICHMOND, VA., April 28, 1865.

Brigadier General A. B. DYER,
Chief of Ordnance, U. S. Army, Washington, D. C.:

GENERAL: In accordance with instructions contained in your orders of the 23rd
instant, I have the honor to report that I left Washington on the 24th instant
and arrived in this city on the 26th. I have visited and carefully inspected
the Tredegar Iron Works, and find them in nearly the same condition as when
work was stopped there on the Saturday previous to the evacuation of the city
by the Confederate forces. A sufficient guard is stationed at the works to
protect them. The explosion of an arsenal building in the burnt district near
the works destroyed the greater part of the windows and injured the roofs of
the buildings. The carpenter shop and some other buildings that were destroyed
by fire in 1863 have never been rebuilt.

List of buildings.-The buildings at present consist of one rolling-mill, with
smith's shop for repairs attached; a spike shop for making railroad spikes,
rivets, and cut-nails; a shed closed in and used as a carpenter's and pattern
shop, three foundry buildings, two machine shops, two blacksmiths' shops, one
boiler shop, and an office. There are no storehouses of any kind.
Condition of the shops and machinery.-Generally the shops, mills, and machinery
are in as good running order as when the works were stopped. But as all the
shops have, for the last few years, been pushed to their fullest capacity, and
the supply of the finer machinery, which was formerly purchased from Northern
manufactories, cut off, very few repairs have been made. Some new machines have
been made at the works, but they are not of the best pattern and workmanship.
The lathes and machinery are much worn and would require repairs before nice
work could be done. The leather belting in all the shops is so much worn that
new would soon have to be substituted. All the furnaces require new fire-brick.

Rolling-mill.-The rolling mill, ten puddling furnaces, one rotary squeezer, one
puddle train of rolls, one roll-lathe, five heating furnaces, two trains of bar
and sheet rolls, one trip-hammer, two punches, two shears, and a small smith's
shop for repairs. Except the furnaces this mill seems to be in better order
than any of the other shops. Some of the furnaces are out of order and all
require new fire-brick. There are at this mill about thirty tons of assorted
commercial bar-iron, the most of it tire, bolt, and nail iron. It was
manufactured at the mill.

Spike shop.-The spike shop has one railroad spike machine, which can make about
25,000 spikes per diem, one small machine for making small spikes and rivets of
assorted sizes, and five cut-nail machines. About thirty tons of spikes and
cut-nails are on hand at this shop.

Foundries.-The largest foundry building (for casting guns) has two air furnaces
admitting a charge of 40,000 pounds each, two drying-ovens, two cranes, and
three pits. The latter are at present about two-thirds full of water. Except
the want of fire-brick for the furnaces and the water in the gun-pits this
building is in good condition. There is one other small foundry building for
casting guns. It has one air furnace admitting a charge of 25,000 pounds, two
drying ovens, two cranes and two pits. One of the pits is nearly destroyed and
has been used for other purposes. There is one foundry building used for the
manufacture of projectiles, railroad-car castings, and general work. It has two
cupolas which melt 25,000 pounds of metal each per diem, and one air furnace
(not in use) for melting brass. About 300 shell-flasks of assorted sizes,
flasks for car wheels, and an assortment of flasks for other work are on hand.

Machine-shops.-There are two machine-shops or turning-miles, connected with
lathes and machinery for turning and boring guns and for other heavy work.
There are in them twelve turning and boring lathes suitable for 10-inch guns,
one large lathe for 15-inch guns, one trunning-lathe, and six old turning and
boring lathes. These last are of very old pattern and could not be used
economically. There are also two engine and machinery lathes, one drilling
machine, two lathes, one drilling machine, two lathes expressly for railroad
axles, and two large unfinished lathes for making steamship engines. Upstairs
is a machine-shop for small work, containing fifteen turning-lathes, four
drilling-machines, two planing-machines, and one sear-cutting machine. Outside
the building is a vertical turning-lathe which has been used for boring
cylinder for steamship engines. This machinery is generally much worn.

Blacksmiths' shops.-There is one large blacksmith's shop with twenty-two
forges, and a smaller temporary one with thirteen forges. The smiths' shops are
both in good order.

Boiler shop.-There is one large, commodious boiler shop, and in it three
unfinished boilers, about six tons of boiler iron, and twenty unfinished
torpedoes.

Carpenter's shop.-This is a shed which has been closed in and used as a
carpenter's shop since the burning of the works in 1863. One part of it has no
floor. It has been used for repairing wooden carriages, making patterns, and
doing carpenter work for the shops and buildings.

Unfinished stock on hand.-There are a few unfinished guns on hand, but all of
models not made by the U. S. Ordnance Department. There are two 12-inch
smooth-bore guns cast and the boring nearly completed. Guns of this and other
large calibers have not been turned on the exterior surface, except at the
trunnions and near the muzzle. The exterior surface and form are left as when
cast. There are three small guns, supposed to be light 12-pounders, still in
the molds in the pits, and five light 12-pounders cast, and one cast and bored
and turned except the trunnions. These last are smooth-bore cast-iron guns,
with a wrought-iron re-enforce, and made to fit the 12-pounder field carriage.
There are three unfinished rifled field guns, 2.9-inch bore of the Parrott
pattern, but much heavier than the old Parrott 10-pounder, weighing each 1,500
pounds. There are two old model sea-coast mortars, one cast, and one cast and
bored, and one 8-inch sea-coast mortar, old model, cast and bored, and three
24-pounder iron field howitzers nearly completed. There are also a few finished
guns of various models about the works, but none of them of models made by the
U. S. Ordnance Department. These will be taken in charge by the officer
collecting ordnance. There are among them some Brooke banded and rifled iron
navy guns; three of 6.4-inch caliber, one of 8-inch, and one of 7-inch.

Iron used in the manufacture of guns.-None of the guns in an unfinished state
are made from the Cloverdale glaze iron formerly used as gun iron at these
works. The supply of Cloverdale iron has been cut off for some time by the U.
S. troops. The guns were cast from an inferior Liberty iron from furnaces in
Shenandoah County, Va. There are no records of its tensile strength, density,
or other qualities, and I do not think any have been taken. Aside from the
character of the iron, the appearance of the castings which I examined would, I
think, cause them to be rejected on inspection. There are no unfinished
projectiles on hand.

Materials on hand.-There is very little material of any kind on hand; about
twenty-five tons of pig-iron (Liberty), about thirty tons of bituminous coal,
the rolled iron reported above, and six 8-inch iron chassis rails. The only
coal that can be obtained in this vicinity is that from the Dover pits, which
is a bituminous coal. Anthracite would have to be brought from the North. If
guns were manufactured here the iron for them at present, and for some time to
come, would have to be brought from the furnaces at the North, where it is
manufactured under the supervision of the constructor of ordnance.

Cost of manufacture.-The transportation of coal and iron from the North would
make the cost of material for guns considerably greater here than at the
Northern foundries. Owing to the unsettled state of labor and society here, it
is difficult to estimate the cost of manufacture, even approximately. The cost
in the Southern States was greater than in the North before the war, and the
high prices which must continue here for some time would make the difference
still more. The cost of finishing the guns which have been commenced would be
very small, but, being of models different from those used by our army, they
would be of little use, except as trophies, and owing to the inferior quality
of gun-iron from which they are made their endurance is doubtful. There
is no other unfinished work on h and that could be of use to the Ordnance
Department. Before the furnaces could be used it would be necessary to rebrick
them, and fire-bricks for that purpose would have to be brought from the North.
The fire-bricks which were used here, after the supply on hand at the beginning
of the war was exhausted, were made from an inferior clay and could only endure
the fire for about three days.

Recommendations.-For reasons which have been explained in this report, I do not
deem it advisable or economical to the Government to put these works in
operation. No ordnance stores could be manufactured here with which the
department is not well supplied, and with some of them overstocked, owing to
the sudden stoppage of expenditures in the armies. There are no shops at the
works for the repair of arms. All the drawings belonging to the works have been
either destroyed or carried off. I would respectfully recommend that the
ordnance and ordnance stores at the works be taken away by the officer in
charge of captured ordnance property; that they be sent to such points as you
may direct, and that the works be left in charge of the military authorities
here until the Government decides what disposition is to be made of them. If
they are not put in operation by private parties, some of the machinery might
be moved to Government shops elsewhere. With the exception of the gun
foundries, the works are well adapted to the manufacture of iron and iron parts
for the repair of railroads, cars, agricultural implements, and machines, and
for general iron work.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
D. W. FLAGLER, Captain of Ordnance.

ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 1,1865.

Brigadier-General HAYS,
Commanding Artillery Reserve, Army of the Potomac:

This army is ordered to Richmond, preparatory to marching to Alexandria.
Headquarters will be at City Point to-morrow. General Meade directs that
everything not needed by your command on the march will at once be turned in to
the proper depots at City Point. You will await further orders. Please
acknowledge the receipt of this dispatch.

E.R. WARNER,
Brevet Colonel and Acting Chief of Artillery.

ORDERS. ] HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FOURTH ARMY CORPS,
Richmond, Va., May 4,1865.

The corps will parade to-morrow at 9 o'clock to receive the Army of the Potomac
on its march through Richmond. The line will be formed with the Third Division
on the right, the Second Division in the center, and the First Division on the
left. The right will rest at the corner of Cary and Nineteenth streets and will
extend up Nineteenth street to Main street, along Main to Thirteenth Street, up
Thirteenth ot Capitol street, along Capitol street and around Capitol Square to
Franklin street, along Franklin street to First street, up First street to
Broad street, along Broad street to Brook avenue, and thence out Brook avenue.
Division commanders will time the march of their respective divisions so that
the line can be formed by 9 a.m. Arms will be present by regiments to army,
corps, division, and brigade commanders as they severally pass, after which the
troops will stand at an order arms. Major Abell, chief of artillery, is hereby
charged with forming the line.

By command of Bvt.Brigadier General J.W. Turner:
C.C. ABELL, Major and Chief of Artillery, Twenty-fourth Army Corps.

SPECIAL ORDERS,} HDQRS. TWENTY-FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
Numbers 139.} Camp Lincoln, Va., May 23, 1865.

3. Captain L. L. Langdon, chief of artillery, will take with him on the
expedition Batteries D and M, First U. S. Artillery; Battery D, Fourth U. S.
Artillery; Battery B, Second U. S. Colored Artillery. Horses will be allowed
only for four 4-gun batteries, but all the guns, harness, &c., of the batteries
specified will be taken. Each piece taken will be supplied by the acting ordnance
officer of the corps with 1,000 rounds of ammunition. The white volunteer
batteries of the Artillery Brigade will remain under command of Captain Martin
S. James, Battery C, Third Rhode Island Artillery, and will report direct to
headquarters Department of Virginia.

By command of Major-General Weitzel:
D. D. WHEELER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

HEADQUARTERS ARTILLERY, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
May 25, 1865.

Colonel GEORGE D. RUGGLES,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac:

COLONEL: In conformity with instructions from headquarters Army of the Potomac,
dated April 18, 1865, I have the honor to transmit herewith a list of
recommendations by Brevet Brigadier-General Abbot for promotion by brevet in
the Siege Train of this army. I approve of these recommendations, which cover
the entire period of service of the train in the operations of 1864-65' against
Richmond and Petersburg. The services of these officers and of this regiment
has been on an extremely arduous nature. To say nothing of their labors, they
have bee in the lines constantly under the fire of the enemy. Whilst other
corps have been relieved from time to time there has been no relief for them,
and the performance of their duties has always been faithful, meritorious, and
gallant. I respectfully recommend in addition to these the name of bvt. Captain
W. S. Worth, of my staff, for the brevet of major in the Army for gallant and
meritorious services in the lines before Petersburg and in the operations of
the army from April 1 to April 10, 1865. Captain Worth received his present
brevet especially for gallantry in the attack on the enemy's lines before
Petersburg on June 18, 1864. He has since rendered gallant services
on the lines and in the field, and has the honor to be actively employed on the
staff of the general commanding in the operations which ended with the
surrender of Lee's army.

I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY J. HUNT,
Brevet Major-General and Chief of Artillery.

[Inclosure.]
HEADQUARTERS SIEGE ARTILLERY BRIGADE,
Richmond, Va., May 20, 1865.

Bvt. Major General HENRY J. HUNT,
Chief of Artillery, Army of the Potomac:

GENERAL: As desired in your favor of the 16th instant, I have the honor to
forward a list of names of officers in my command who, in my opinion, merit
promotion by brevet for distinguished services. You will remember that no have
been heretofore recommended by me to yourself, and consequently that this list
covers the entire campaign since last June:

Major George Ager, First Connecticut Artillery, for gallant and distinguished
services before Petersburg in the battles of March 25 and April 2, 1865;
Captain H. H. Pierce, First Connecticut Artillery, for gallant and
distinguished services at Dutch Gap and in the fight with the rebel fleet
January 23, 1865; Cap. S. P. Hatfield, First Connecticut Artillery, for
energetic and efficient performance of his duties as ordnance officer, siege
artillery; Captain William G. Pride, First Connecticut Artillery, for gallant
and distinguished services in repulsions on the line before Petersburg; Captain
John M. Twiss, First Connecticut Artillery, for gallant services in the attack
on Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865, in which he was wounded; Captain G. P. Mason,
First Connecticut Artillery, for energetic and efficient performance of his
duties as acting assistant quartermaster, siege artillery; Captain George
Dimock, First Connecticut Artillery, for gallant and distinguished services
commanding the water batteries on James River, where he was slightly wounded;
Captain B. P. Learned, First Connecticut Artillery, for efficient performance
of his duties as acting assistant adjutant-general, siege artillery; Captain
W. C. Faxon, Captain C. O. Brigham, Captain W. A. Lincoln, Captain G. D.
Sergeant, Captain C. R. Bannon, all of First Connecticut Artillery, for
gallant and distinguished services when commanding important siege batteries
before Richmond; First Lieutenant William H. Rogers, Second Lieutenant C. W.
Smith, Second Lieutenant G. H. Couch, Second Lieutenant Gardner Reynolds, all
of First Connecticut Artillery, for gallant and distinguished services with the
assaulting column and in serving captured artillery during the battle of April
2, 1865, before Petersburg; First Lieutenant Robert Lewis, Second Lieutenant
W. H. H. Bingham, Second Lieutenant James H. Casey, Second Lieutenant Azro
Drown, all of First Connecticut Artillery, for gallant and distinguished
services in the assault upon Fort Stedman, March 25, 1865; First Lieutenant C.
Gillett, First Connecticut Artillery, for active and efficient services as
acting ordnance officer, siege artillery; First Lieuts. F. D. Bangs, H. D.
Patterson, John O'Brien, T. D. Cashin, G. F. Bill, and S. A. Woodruff, all of
First Connecticut Artillery, for gallant and distinguished services when
commanding important siege batteries before Richmond.

This list seems very long, but it should be remembered that over 1,200 tons of
siege ammunition have been expended, and that these officers have had
independent batteries, thus making their services specially conspicuous. I can
vouch, from personal knowledge in each case, as to the merits of the officers.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY L. ABBOT,
Brevet Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding.

RICHMOND, VA., May 25, 1865.

Commanding OFFICER LIGHT ARTY. Brigadier , SIXTH ARMY CORPS:

General Grant directs that the batteries of the Sixth Corps immediately proceed
overland to Alexandria. General Wright will leave the pontoon bridge across the
Pamunkey for its use. The quartermaster at City Point will furnish
transportation and horses for the batteries as far as possible. Those which
cannot be so supplied will be left at City Point for transportation by water.

H. W. HALLECK,
Major-General, Commanding.

Report of Captain Charles E. Winegar, First New York Light
Artillery, Chief of Artillery, of operations April 10-May 27.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, TWENTIETH ARMY CORPS,
Near Washington, D. C. , May 27, 1865.

COLONEL: In compliance with circular from corps headquarters, dated May 25,
1865, I have the honor to submit the following report of the batteries under my
command, also the reports of the different officers commanding batteries, which
I herewith inclose:

At 6 a. m. on the morning of April 10, 1865, the batteries broke camp near
Goldsborough, N. C. ; about 10 a. m. came up to the enemy's cavalry posted in
a dense wood. One section of Knap's (Pennsylvania) battery was ordered forward
on the skirmish line; after firing a few shots they withdrew to take up other
positions. This they continued to do during the day, we driving them as often
as they took positions. During the day we crossed Pole Cat and Moccasin Creeks,
having a very lively skirmish at the latter place, but with no casualties;
using during the day's skirmish sixteen rounds of ammunition; closing the day
by bivouacking on Atkinson's plantation. On the morning of the 11th we resumed
our march toward Raleigh, crossing Boorden's Creek, arriving at Smithfield at
12 m. , camping here for the night. On the morning of the 12th we started at 5
a. m. toward Raleigh, where we arrived on the 13th, crossing en route the Neuse
River, Swift Creek twice, once about two miles from Smithfield, the other time
about fourteen miles. On the 22nd the corps was reviewed by Major-General
Sherman. On the 25th the batteries moved up to Jones' Cross-Roads, having
remained in Raleigh since the 13th. Left Jones' Cross-Roads on the 28th, and
returned to Raleigh, where we remained until the morning of April 30. April 30,
took up our line of march in the direction of Richmond, Va. , crossing en route
the Neuse, Tar, Roanoke, Meherrin, Big and Little Nottoway, and Appomattox
Rivers, passing through Williamsborough and Blacks and Whites, and camping on
Falling Creek, about seven miles from Richmond.

May 11, resumed march toward Alexandria, Va. , passing through Manchester,
across the James River, through Richmond, camping near Cloud's Mills, crossing
en route the South Anna, New Found, Little, North Anna, Mat, Ta, Po,
Rappahannock, and Bull Run Rivers, passing through the towns of Ashland,
Spotsylvania, Chancellorsville, Brentsville, and Fairfax Station. On the
morning of May 24 passed Fairfax Seminary, crossing the Potomac River at Long
Bridge, passing in review through the city of Washington, up Pennsylvania
avenue, thence to our present camp about three miles from the Capitol building
on the Bladensburg pike, where the batteries now remain.

Memoranda: Horses lost on campaign, 141; horses drawn from quartermaster's
department, 3; corn taken, 200 bushels; bacon taken, 100 pounds; flour
taken, 100 pounds; meal taken, 100 pounds.

All of which is respectfully submitted.
CHAS. E. WINEGAR,
Captain and Chief of Artillery.

Report of Bvt. Brigadier General John C. Tidball, Fourth New
York Heavy Artillery, Commanding Artillery Brigade.

HDQRS. ARTILLERY BRIGADE, NINTH ARMY CORPS,
Alexandria, Va., May 28, 1865.

SIR: I have the honor of making the following report of the operations of the
artillery under my directions from the 30th of March to the 3rd of April, the
date of the evacuation of Petersburg by the enemy:

The artillery was stationed on that part of the line occupied by the Ninth
Corps, and extended from Battery Numbers 5 on the Appomattox River to Fort
Howard, a distance of about five miles.

RECAPITULATION.

4 1/2-inch guns........................ 4

30-pounder Parrotts............... 11

Light 132-pounders................ 42

3-inch rifles............................ 34

Total...................................... 91

10-inch mortars...................... 4

8-inch mortars...................... 14

Coehorns mortars................. 22

Total mortars........................ 40

Grand total......................... 131

Opposite to these positions the enemy had in position 91 guns of various
calibers, from 6 pounders to 8-inch columbiads, and 35 mortars also of various
calibers, from 12-pounder Coehorns to 10-inch. Total guns and mortars, 126.

Early on the morning of March 30 the artillery upon the whole line were engaged
in a furious cannonade, which had been commenced at 10 p. m. of the day
previous. At this hour the enemy threw up several rockets, at which signal his
artillery with musketry in addition opened and was replied to. The firing
ceased about 1 a. m. of the 30th.

From this time until 10 o'clock of the 1st of April all was quiet, when, in
obedience to orders from the headquarters Army of the Potomac, fire was opened
by all the batteries upon our line and continued until about 1 a. m. of the
2nd. This fire was replied to most vigorously by the whole of the enemy's
artillery.

At 4 a. m., the hour appointed for the assault upon the enemy's works in front
of Fort Sedgwick, the artillery upon the whole line promptly opened and was
immediately replied to in the most vigorous manner by the enemy, and it is
probable that never since the invention of gunpowder has such a cannonade taken
place.

Captain Twitchell, in command of the guns in Fort Sedgwick and Battery Numbers
21, carried out the instructions he had received with the utmost exactitude.
Firing rapidly with all his guns for an hour, at 10 o'clock on the 1st, and
though at this time the enemy appeared (to some extent) to concentrate his fire
but one gun in five minutes between 11 and 12 o'clock was not exceeded.

At 4 a. m. on the 2nd all the guns in these forts opened rapidly for fifteen
minutes with evident effect, ceasing in the exact time for the infantry to make
the charge that carried the enemy's lines.

The enemy's front line being in our possession the guns were trained and opened
on the line and redoubts in rear and a slow fire kept up during the day, except
when the three charges made by the enemy on the captured works were made.
Captain Twitchell then used his guns with great judgment and promptness, firing
shell and case shot with the best effect. In addition to his other duties
Captain Twitchell was enabled to keep the captured guns in his front constantly
supplied with ammunition.

A detachment of 100 men from the First Connecticut Artillery, commanded by
Lieutenant William H. Rogers accompanied the column of attack upon the
enemy's works in front of Fort Sedgwick and served the captured guns
throughout the day. These men were fully equipped with everything necessary to
serve such artillery as would be captured. They at once seized the enemy's guns
and opened fire upon him as he fell back to his second line.

During the entire day Lieutenant Rogers and his party, while exposed to all the
attacks of the enemy, retained possession of the captured guns, and from
position entirely uncovered from the close fire of the enemy kept up a constant
fire which besides doing great injury to the enemy inspired our own troops to
hold that they had gained. These men were ably seconded by Captain David F.
Ritchie, Battery, C, First New York Artillery, who early in the day occupied a
small work in rear of Fort Sedgwick , but after the enemy's lines were carried
it was deemed advisable to send him with his cannoneers into the captured
battery (Numbers 27), inch which were three iron and two brass 12-pounder guns.
Captain Ritchie led his men in a most gallant manner through the embrasures of
Fort Sedgwick and across the open ground to Battery Numbers 27, and immediately
turned with excellent judgment and effect the guns he found on the enemy. Through
the whole day, notwithstanding the repeated attempts made by the enemy to retake the
works, Captain Ritchie held his own, though at times avoidably short of ammunition
he encouraged his support be cheering representations and personal exposure.

A working party of sixty men detailed from field batteries and provided with
the necessary tools was organized under Captain Eaton, Twenty-seventh New York
Battery, to open a way through the breastworks so that artillery could pass
through and follow up the success of the assaulting column. Captain Eaton
executed this work admirably and advanced two of his own pieces to the open
ground in front of our works, where, notwithstanding the great exposure to the
fire of the enemy, they were worked thought the entire day.

The enemy still holding rear lines of their works in close proximity it was not
advisable or necessary to advance other pieces.

During the night of April 2 a constant fire was kept up from Battery Numbers 5
and Fort McGilvery on the bridge across the Appomattox River, over which it
was supposed the enemy might be retreating. It is fair to presume that this
fire was of considerable annoyance to the enemy.

Early in the morning of the 3rd it was discovered that the enemy had withdrawn
from their lines and were in rapid retreat. Brevet Captain Stone, Fifth U. S.
Artillery, immediately followed with his battery over the skirmish line and
entered Petersburg simultaneously with the infantry.

Fourteen thousand two hundred and fifty-one rounds is the amount of artillery
ammunition expended during the engagement.

The operations herein detailed differ but little from the occurrences which
almost daily transpired from the 17th of June, when the line of Petersburg was
first taken, up to the 3rd of April. During this entire time the artillery was
kept constantly on the alert. Every movement of the enemy was observed, and all
working parties strengthening or extending their works were at once driven
under over by the admirable practice of our artillerists. The same vigilance
and practice being observed by the enemy, the result was an almost daily or
nightly cannonading.

Too much praise cannot be awarded to the officers and men of the artillery for
the cheerful, patient, and hopeful manner in which, under the most trying
circumstances, they performed their duties.

On the 3rd, Major Miller, inspector of artillery, set about collecting the
field pieces and ammunition abandoned by the enemy. The following is a
description of the twenty guns captured in front of the lines occupied by the
corps.

Numbers 1.-A Parrott gun, 3-inch, manufactured by J. R. A. & Co. Numbers 2180.
Carriage made at Washington Arsenal.

Numbers 2.-A Parrott gun, 3-inch, manufactured by J. R. A. & Co. Numbers 2170.
Carriage made by Wood & Bross. New York. 1844.

Numbers 3.-A. U. S. Parrott, 3-inch. Numbers 95. 1861. R. P. P. W. P. F. maker.

Numbers 4.-A U. S. Parrott, 3-inch. No mark.

Numbers 5.-A howitzer, iron, 4 1/2-inch, manufactured J. R. A. & Co.

Numbers 6.-A boat howitzer, 24-pounder, manufactured by the Ames Manufacturing
Company. Numbers 111. 1297-98.

Numbers 7.-A U. S. light 12-pounder brass gun. Numbers 33 1862. Manufactured
by the Ames Manufacturing Company.

Numbers 8.-A Dahlgren 12-pounder gun. Numbers 1817. Manufactured by J. R. A. &
Co.; 1,220 pounds weight.

Numbers 9.- A Dahlgren 12-pounder gun. Numbers 1818. Manufactured by J. R. A. &
Co.; 1,260 pounds weight.

Numbers 10.-A Dalhgren 12-pounder gun. Numbers 1802. Manufactured by J. R. A.
& Co.; 1,250 pounds weight.

Numbers 11.-A Dahlgren 12-pounder gun. Numbers 1797. Manufactured by J. R. A. &
Co.; 1,245 pounds weight.

Numbers 12.-A Dalhgren 12-pounder gun. Numbers 1814. Manufactured by J. R. A. &
Co.; 1,255 pounds weight.

Numbers 13.- A Dalhgren, howitzer, 12 pounder. Numbers 1828. Manufactured by J.
R. A. & Co., 1863; 1,245 pounds weight.

Numbers 14.-A Dahlgren howitzer. Numbers 1858. Manufactured by J. R. A. 7 Co.,
1863; 1,225 pounds weight.

Numbers 15.-A 12-pounder smooth-bore gun. Numbers 2058. Manufactured by J. R. A. & Co.

Numbers 16.-A 12-pounder smooth-bore gun. Numbers 2118. Manufactured by J. R. A. & Co.

Numbers 17.-JA 12-pounder smooth-bore gun. Numbers number. Manufactured by J. R. A. & Co.

Numbers 18.- A 12-pounder smooth-bore gun. Numbers 2126. Manufactured by J. R. A. & Co.

Numbers 19.-A 12-pounder smooth-bore gun. Numbers 2126. Manufactured by J. R. a. & Co.

Numbers 20.-A 12-pounder smooth-bore gun. Numbers 2054. Manufactured by J. R. A. & Co.

A large amount of ammunition was obtained. Brevet Brigadier-General Abbot
collected the heavy ordnance and ammunition, and has, it is is presumed, made a
report of the amount to the chief of artillery, Army of the Potomac.

It was with much pleasure that, in compliance with an invitation from the
major-general commanding the corps. I was enabled to recommend the
under-mentioned officers for promotion by brevet: Captain Ed. J. Jones,
Eleventh Massachusetts Battery; Capt A. B. Twitchell, Seventh Maine Battery;
Captain Theo, Miller, Fourth New York Artillery, Captain David F. Ritchie, C,
First New York Artillery; First New York Artillery; First Lieutenant William
H. Rogers, First Lieutenant George E. Ketchum and Second Lieutenant David B.
Cooper C, First New York Artillery; and also to make honorable mention of Bvt.
Major Christian Woerner, Third New Jersey Battery; Captain John B. Eaton,
Twenty-seventh New York Battery; Captain William McClelland, Battery B, First
Pennsylvania Artillery; Bvt. Captain Val. H. Stone, C and I, Fifth U. S.
Artillery; First Lieutenant John J. Teller, Twenty-seventh New York Battery;
Second Lieutenant Mason W. Page, fifth Massachusetts Battery, Second
Lieutenant Theo. Huysman, fourth New York Artillery, all of whom did excellent
service with their commands in repulsing the assault on Fort Stedman and in
the assault on Petersburg on the 2 day of April, 1865.

The following-named men, who pre-eminently distinguished themselves in working
the guns captured from the enemy, have also been recommended as deserving the
medal of honor: Sergt. David Cole, Sergt. Gustavus A. Rice, Corpl. Samuel T.
Mallet, and Private Hiram Webster, Battery C, First New York Artillery.

Among all who behaved admirably on this duty these men are mentioned by their
commanding officers as having behaved with distinguished bravery and coolness;
their guns were only partially covered, consequently were much exposed to the
enemy's fire. Sergeant Cole distinguished himself by attending to the supply of
ammunition, cross ing the field several times under a hot fire. Sergt. G. A. Rice
was wounded. Corpl. S. T. mallet sighted and fired the first captured gun. Private H.
Webster was wounded.

Considering the very important results obtained and the stubborn resistance of
the enemy, the casualties in this command were very slight, the total number
being 6 men killed and 1 commissioned officer and 20 men wounded. The slight
loss under so heavy a fire may be accounted for from the fact that from long
experience in the position occupied the majority of the pieces were enabled to
be kept under cover.

APPENDIX.

April 3, Petersburg being in our possession, preparations were immediately made
to follow the retreating enemy, and the following batteries were selected to
accompany this corps: Seventh Maine, Eleventh Massachusetts, D, Pennsylvania
Volunteer Artillery, Ninth Massachusetts, and Third New Jersey Batteries. It
not being considered that the other batteries would be required, they were sent
with the Reserve Artillery of the army to City Point, Major Theo. Miller being
placed temporarily in command of the whole. The Second Division being the
leading division of the corps, two batteries, the Seventh Maine and Eleventh
Massachusetts, were attached to it and accompanied it during the march, ready
for any service that might be required. Though none of the batteries were
called into action after the captured of Petersburg good use was made of the
horses and men of the two batteries of the division in collecting the abandoned
and captured enemy's guns.

It having been reported by Captain Twitchell, Seventh Maine Batery who had
arrived with his command at Farmville, that a number of abandoned guns were in
that vicinity, Major R. B. Ricketts was sent to find and collect them. The
total number collected and placed near the railway at Burkeville was 110.

This corps being extended along the whole of the line of railway between
Petersburg and Farmville, a distance of sixty-nine miles, the batteries were
necessarily a long distance apart; while the Seventh Maine Battery was at
Farmville, the Eleventh Massachusetts was at Burkeville, the Ninth
Massachusetts at Nottoway Court-House, Battery D, Pennsylvania Artillery, at
Beasley's house, and the Third New Jersey some miles nearer to Petersburg.

Orders to that effect having been received the batteries (on the morning of
April 20) commenced to march back to City Point, where they arrived in good
order on the 23rd. The commanding officer of the Ninth Massachusetts and Third
New Jersey Batteries were then ordered to report to Brigadier-General Hays, who
had relieved Major Miller in command of the Artillery Reserve, and the
Nineteenth, Twenty-seventh, and Thirty-fourth New York Batteries were ordered
to rejoin this corps to which they originally belonged.

Transports having been provided the six batteries were embarked at City Point
for Alexandria, where they arrived on they arrived on the 28th of April' and
near to which city they are now in park.

In closing this report of the important part taken by the artillery under my
charge in the memorable siege of Petersburg, if affords me pleasure to mention
the efficient , cheerful, and harmonious manner in which the members of my
staff performed their respective duties. The following officers composed it:
Major R. b. Ricketts, First Pennsylvania Artillery, assistant to chief of
artillery; Captain Theodore Miller, Fourth New York Artillery, inspector of
artillery; First Lieutenant Thomas. Heasley, Thirty-forth New York Battery,
acting assistant adjutant general; First Lieutenant George W. Booth, Eleventh
Massachusetts Batery, acting ordnance officer; Captain Harry Brownson, assistant
quartermaster; Captain Daniel S. Tompkins, Twenty-seventh Michigan Volunteers,
acting commissary of subsistence; First Lieutenant Seth N. Hedges, Fourteenth
New York Heavy Artillery, acting ordnance officer, in charge of ammunition train;
Surg. William Ingalls, Fifty-ninth Massachusetts Veteran Volunteers, surgeon-in-chief.

I am, sir, respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. C. TIDBALL,
Brevet Brigadier-General, Commanding.

HDQRS. ARMY OF THE POTOMAC, ORDNANCE OFFICE,
May 31, 1865.

Colonel GEORGE D. RUGGLES,
Assistant Adjutant-General:

SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of artillery and small-arms
received by the ordnance department, captured from and surrendered by the enemy
in the recent campaign, in operations around Petersburg, and against the rebel
army after the evacuation. This does not indlucde the heavy artillery which was
collected by General Abbot and not received by any of the ordnance officers of
this army: Light 12-pounder bronze guns, U. S., 70; light 12-pounder bronze
guns, rebel, 62; 12-pounder cast-iron guns, banded, rebel 34; 3-inch wrought-
iron guns, U. S. 33; 3-inch wrought-iron guns, banded, rebel, 13; 10-pounder
Parrotgt guns, U. S., 10; 20-pounder Parrott guns, U. S., 2; Coehorn mortars,
rebel, 1; 3-inch Whitworth guns, rebel, 1; 12-pounder howitzers, U. S., 5;
12-pounder howitzers, rebel, 3; 3.4-inch Blakerly guns, 1; 3.67-inch rebel
guns, banded, 1; 3.80-inch smooth-bore guns, 2; 24-pounder howitzers, U. S., 4;
24-piunder howitzers, rebel, 2; 24-pounder howitzersf, U. S., Dahlgren, Navy,
1; 12-pounder Armstrong guns, rifled, rebel, 5; 12-pounder iron guns,
re-enforced, rebel, 1. Total number, 251. Rifles and muskets, 21,177; carbines,
1,293; pistols, 163. Total number small-arms, 22,633.*

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
F. H. PARKER,
Lieutenant and Chief Ordnance Officer, Army of the Potomac.

HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FIFTH ARMY CORPS,
Camp Lincoln, Va., May 31, 1865.

Captain L. L. LANGDON,
Commanding Artillery Brigade, Twenty-fifth Army Corps:

CAPTAIN: You will commence embarking at City Point at once, and when embarked
will proceed to Fort Monroe and await further orders. Any supplies necessary
will be furnished on application to Colonel James, chief quartermaster,
Department of Virginia. An opportunity will be given your officers to visit
Norfolk for their pay.

By order of Major-General Weitzel:
D. D. WHEELER,
Lieutenant-Colonel and Assistant Adjutant-General.

ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Camp near Fort Albany, Va., June 1, 1865.

COLONEL: I have the honor herewith to submit a report of the artillery
operations of this army subsequent to March 25, 1865.

The artillery consisted of forty-two field batteries, mostly of four guns each,
and a siege train, as follows:

SIEGE ARTILLERY.

Eleven light 12-pounder field guns, eight 12-pounder field howitzers, one
24-pounder howitzer, two 32-pounder howitzers, nine 20-pounder Parrots (rifle),
four 10-pounder Parrots (rifle), four 3-inch ordnance (rifle), one 6-pounder
Sawyer (rifle)-forty guns of position, twelve 8-inch siege howitzers,
thirty-seven siege mortars (one 13-inch seacoast, six 10-inch sea-coast, ten
10-inch siege, twenty 8-inch siege), thirty-six Coehorn mortars, ten
100-pounder Parrots (rifle), thirty-eight 30-pounder Parrots (siege), fourteen
4 1\2-inch siege rifles, one 30-pounder rifle (Brooke), rebel-188 piece; 62
officers, 1,767 enlisted men; total, 1,829.

The Siege Artillery, under the command of Bvt. Brigadier General Henry L.
Abbot, consisted of 40 guns of position, 75 siege pieces (10 of which
were 100-pounder Parrots), 37 siege and 36 Coehorn mortars; in all, 188 pieces
of ordnance, with their material. Of this train the forty guns of position, two
8-inch siege howitzers, five 8-inch siege and three 30-pounder Brooke (English,
captured form the rebels) were in the Bermuda lines. Two siege guns and six
8-inch seize howitzers were in the City Point lines in position. One
100-pounder Parrott, twenty-eight siege guns, four 8-inch siege howitzers, six
10-inch siege and twenty-eight siege guns, four 8-inch siege howitzers, six
10-inch siege and twenty Coehorn and one 13-inch and three 10-inch sea-coast
mortars were afloat at Broadway Landing.

After the fall of Petersburg the Siege Artillery was employed in securing the
abandoned material of the enemy's forts on the James and in the lines of
Richmond and Petersburg, and in arranging and garrisoning the works. Upon the
movement of this army toward Washington the train and troops were transferred
to the defense of Richmond, by command of Major-General Halleck.

The personal of the train consisted of the First Regiment Connecticut Foot
Artillery and the Third Connecticut Battery of Heavy Artillery; in all, 62
officers and 1,767 enlisted men.

FIELD ARTILLERY.

Second Corps.
Roder's (K), 4th United States, four light 12-pounders.
Brown's (B), 1st Rhode Island, four light 12-pounder.
Clark's (B), 1st New Jersey, four light 12-pounder.
Dakin's (M), 1st New Hampshire, four 3-inch.
Adams', 10th Massachusetts, four 3-inch.
Davey's, 11th New York, four 3-inch.

Fifth Corps.
Mitchell's (B), 4th United States, four light 12-pounders.
Johnson's (D), 1st New York, four light 12-pounders.
Mink's (H), 1st New York, four light 12-pounders.
Rawles' (Dand G), 5th United States, four 3-inch.
Rogers' (B), 1st New York, four 3-inch.

Sixth Corps.
Parsons' (A), 1st New Yersey, four 3-inch.
Adams' (G), 1st Rhode Island, four 3-inch.
Van Etten's, 1st New York Independent, four 3-inch.
Allen's (H), 1st Rhode Island, four light 12-pounders.
Brinckle's (E), 5th United States, four light 12-pounders.
Harn's, 3rd New York Independent, four light 12-pounders.

Ninth Corps.
Roemer's, 34th New York Independent, four 3-inch.
Jones', 11th Massachusetts Independent, four 3-inch.
Rhoads' (D), Pennsylvania, four 3-inch.
Eaton's, 27th New York, four light 12-pounders.
Rogers', 19th New York, four light 12-pounders.
Twitchell's, 7th Maine, four light 12-pounders.

Reserve Artillery.
Mayo's, 3rd Maine.
Start's, 3rd Vermont.
Wright's, 14th Massachusetts.
Strubb's, 2nd Maine.
Rhodes' (E), 1st Rhode Island.
Harris' (H), 1st Ohio.
White's, 4th Maine.
Ritchie's (C), 1st New York.
Matthewson's (E), 1st New York.
Beck's (L), 1st New York.
Phillips', 5th Massachusetts.
McClelland's (B), 1st Pennsylvania.
Milton's 9th Massachusetts.
Stone's (C and I), 5th United States.
Clark's, 12th New York Independent.
McClellan's (G), 1st New York.
Campbell's (F), 1st Pennsylvania.
Rogers', 6th Maine.
Woerner's, 3rd New Yersey.

Second Corps, twelve batteries; Fifth Corps, eleven batteries; Sixth Corps,
nine batteries, Ninth Corps, six batteries; Artillery Reserve, four batteries.
The Horse Artillery was detached form this army with the cavalry. The Second
and sixth Corps and the Reserve Artillery had also six Coehorn mortars, each
with 100 round of ammunition.

Twenty-four of the batteries had two extra caissons each, and in the trains of
the artillery brigades of the corps and of Reserve sufficient wagons were
provided to transport the additional ammunition necessary to carry up the full
supply to 270 rounds per gun. The field artillery comprised 202 guns, 511
artillery carriages, 3,972 horses, 6,123 men, besides the trains and 12 Coehorn
mortars, with their equipments, &c.

On the 29th March the batteries for field service with the corps were ordered
to be reduced to six for the Second and Sixth Corps and five for the Fifth and
Ninth Corps. The reduction was effected at once in the Second and Fifth corps
and the surplus batteries either left temporarily in position on the lines
occupied by the Sixth corps in front of Petersburg or sent to report to
Brigadier-General Tidball, commanding the artillery of the Ninth Corps, who
employed such of them as he required in the lines or in reserve, and ordered
the remainder to report to the Artillery Reserve of the army, at City Point.
For the operations of the artillery in the reduction of Petersburg and
subsequent operations, I respectfully refer you to the reports of the chiefs of
artillery of the respective corps transmitted herewith.

When the Sixth and Ninth Corps moved after the capture of Petersburg they took
with them six batteries each, leaving all the rest of the artillery in reserve
at and near Petersburg. The field artillery with the army was thus actually
twenty-three batteries-in all, ninety-two guns.

The severe marching entailed by the campaign on the batteries which, over bad
road and with scant forage, were required to keep up with the movements of the
cavalry and infantry, broke down many of he horses which at the commencement of
the campaign were not in very good condition, as the allowance of forage during
the whole winter had been restricted, the allowance of hay being but three or
four pounds per diem.

Much additional labor was thrown upon the teams by their employment in hauling
to the rear and securing captured and abandoned artillery. To replace the
horses thus broken down heavy drafts were made on the Reserve Artillery, which,
commencing on the 5th of April sent forward fresh teams to exchange for those
which were broken down. In this way the artillery with the corps was kept in
efficient condition, and was at all times prepared to act with the other
troops. The records and reports show that the artillery bore its full share of
the labors and dangers of this the last campaign of the rebellion.

To the chiefs and commanders of the artillery-Brigadier-General Hays,
commanding Reserve Artillery; Brevet Brigadier-General Wainwright, Fifth Corps;
Brevet Brigadier-General Tidgall, Ninth Corps; and Brevet Brigadier General
Abbot, siege Artillery; Lieutenant-Colonel Hazard, Second Corps; Brevet Major
Cowan, Sixty Corps; to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Fitzhugh, serving with
Artillery Brigade, Fifth Corps; to Majors Ricketts and Miller, of the Reserve,
and Ager, of the Siege Train-too much credit cannot be given for he excellent
manner in which heir duties were performed. These duties were very ardors, and
required for their efficient performance a much larger number of field
officers. As it was, the maximum of efficiency possible under the circumstances
was secured, and I respectfully recommend them and the officers they have named
in their reports to special notice. The officers and men of the batteries maintained
the well earned reputation they had already gained on many fields.

To my staff-Brevet Colonel Warner, inspector of artillery, Brevet Major Craig,
assistant adjutant-general, and Brevet Captain Worth, Eight Infantry,
aide-de-camp-I am indebted for the prompt manner in which their duties were
performed. Colonel Warner's duties were co-extensive with the army; they were
promptly and ably performed. Captain Worth, in additional to his duties on my
staff, served actively on the staff of the major-general commanding in carrying
and transmitting orders on the field.

In my previous reports I have had occasion to all attention to the want of a
proper proportion of field officers for the artillery, and this I did
especially in the reports of the battles of Chancellorsville and Gettysburg;
and as there is no bureau of artillery nor other center of administration for
it, I take this occasion to present the same subject in order that the results
of our experience may not be lost. This is due to the reputation of the
artillery in this war, as well as to the future interests of the service. At an
early period of the war orders were given that field artillery should be taken
into service only by single batteries "in order to save field officers;" this
whilst infantry regiments of a single battalion were allowed four, with their
proper staffs. Why this policy, so contrary to that of all modern armies and so
destructive to the efficiency of the most complicated of all the arms of the
service, was adopted I am at a loss to discern. Its effects have been but too
clear. Not only has the service suffered form the want of officers absolutely
necessary to its highest efficiency and economy, but this system has stopped
promotion in the artillery, and, as a consequence, nearly every officer of
promise as well as of nay distinction has been offered that promotion in the
infantry, cavalry, or the staff which no amount of capacity, gallantry, or good
conduct could secure him in his own arm. The result is that, with a few marked
exceptions, in which officers were willing to sacrifice their personal
advancement and prospects to their love for their arm, the best and most
distinguished of the officers of the artillery accepted positions elsewhere or
left the service in disgust, as opportunity offered. The effect of this and of
other errors of organization has been but too evident; the artillery, although
it has does much better than under the circumstances could have been expected
or even hoped, has not attained to that efficiency which was possible, and has
failed to retain the pre-eminence it once held in our Army and in public
estimation. This sacrifice of efficiency has been made at the expense of
economy. I do not hesitate to say that the field artillery of this army,
although not inferior to any other in our service, has been from one-third to
one-half less efficient than it ought to have been, whilst it has cost from
one-third to one-half more money than there was any necessity for. This has
been due principally to the want of proper organization, which has deprived it
of the experienced officers required for its proper command, management, and
supervision, and is in no respect the fault of the artillery itself.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY J. HUNT,
Brevet Major-General, Commanding.

ARTILLERY HEADQUARTERS, ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
June 1, 1865.

Colonel GEORGE D. RUGGLES,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Army of the Potomac:

COLONEL: In addition to the recommendations for brevets submitted by me on the
25th ultimo, I have respectfully to present the following: First Lieutenant
Colonel E. R. Warner, First New York Light Artillery, and brevet colonel of
volunteers, inspector of artillery Army of the Potomac, to be brigadier-general
of volunteers by brevet for uniform gallantry and good conduct, thought hot the
war and especially for faithful and meritorious services in the lines before
Petersburg and the field operations from March 29 to April 10, 1865. Colonel
Warner has served in the artillery of this army from its organization, in 1861,
as adjutant-general to the Artillery Reserve, as assistant to the chief, of
artillery, and as inspector of the artillery of this army, and chief of its
staff. His services have been of great value to this army. Second, First.
Lieutenant Carl Berlin, First New York Light Artillery, captain by brevet, to
be major of volunteers by brevet for gallantry and good conduct in the lines
before Petersburg and for gallant and meritorious services in the field
operations from March 29 to April 10, 1865. Brevet Captain Berlin is an
educated and accomplished officer, formerly of the Swedish artillery, from
which he resigned to continue in our services. His professional and technical
knowledge have been especially valuable. Third, Bvt. Major John N. Craig,
assistant adjutant-general, to be lieutenant-colonel of volunteers by brevet
for good conduct and meritorious services in the lines before Petersburg and
the campaign of this army from March 29, 1865.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY J. HUNT,
Brevet Major-General and Chief of Artillery.

Reports of Bvt. Brigadier General Henry L. Abbot, First Connecticut Heavy Artillery,
Commanding Siege Train, of operations April 1-May 31.

RICHMOND, VA., June 3, 1865.

GENERAL: I have the honor to submit the following personal report and report of
operations for the month of April, 1865:

The following changes occurred in my command: On April 3 the Ninth Corps moved
forward, leaving my command entirely under General Hartsuff for the time. On
April 23 Companies A and H, Thirteenth New York Artillery, were relieved from
duty with me and ordered to rejoin their regiment. Otherwise everything
remained as heretofore reported.

My artillery was hotly engaged in the battles resulting in the capture of
Petersburg, and in the demonstration made to prevent General Mahone from
leaving the Bermuda Hundred line, firing 5,560 rounds during April 1 and 2. One
hundred wagons were constantly employed in hauling ammunition. In addition to
these usual duties of artillery, a detachment of 100 men and 3 officers,
commanded by First Lieutenant-Rogers, all of First Connecticut Artillery,
accompanied the assaulting column, entered the rebel works near Fort Mahone
with the very advance, and served six pieces of captured artillery, with the
greatest gallantry, for twenty-four hours, when the rebels evacuated the city.
This party was armed with their muskets, and carried lanyards, friction
primers, fuses, and other small articles, the want of which always delays the
opening of fire with captured guns for a few invaluable moments. This clothing
battle of the campaign for us was thus marked by a new and brilliant service.

Immediately after the evacuation prompt steps were taken to remove my own and
the captured artillery. By the night of April 8 all guns, removed. The guns
were the following: 49 of my own train in front of Petersburg, 30 belonging to
the rebel land batteries there, and 22 from their Appomattoz water batteries;
also 4 from their line in front of Bermuda Hundred. By the end of the month 11
more from near Bermuda Hundred front and 34 from the land batteries near Fort
Harrison had also been removed, together with about 50 of my own train form
this part of the line. Everything was afloat and much ordnance had been sent to
Old Point and Washington. Thus the total number of guns, &c., shipped during
the month was about 200 by my command alone.

I have been much interested to see the devices used in different parts of the
rebel line to escape the effect of the artillery fire. Thus, near Hare's Hill,
on the Petersburg front, where I had concentrated a very heavy mortar fire,
their line was a mere labyrinth of trench, with bomb-proof cove in every
available spot. This was often made of railroad iron, covered by about three
feet or dirt, the rails being taken from the iron, covered by about three feet
of dirt, the rails usual taken form the Suffolk road in the vicinity. They had
also made splinter-proofs, at about fifty yards intervals, by laying the rails
form the cost line tot he rear traverses, and putting dirt on top, the cover
being about six feet wide at the crest line. This was evidently used by the men
on duty to avoid fragments. This part of their line was not well defended by
obstructions, a fault which could not be found with that in front of
Bermuda Hundred, where I counted the following, going outward from the parapet;
First fraise; second, ditch; third, abatis; fourth, palisading; fifth,
chevaux-de-firse; sixth, after interval of 150 yards, abatis; seventh, after
interval of 400 yards, an entrenched picket line, with abatis in front. In this
vicinity they had been exposed to much shelling form guns, and had resorted to
the following devise: A continuous spinter-proof wa made in the breast-height
revetment-top two feet above banquette tread, bottom one foot below, width four
feet. This was to every two yards of crest. Here, too, I noticed a strange kind
of mantles, of wood, swung by an arrangement like the usual well-curb. It was
evidently aa very poor device. They often used logs, looped at three feet
intervals, on top of the parapet to cover the heads of the infantry. But as
these and many other odd arrangements will doubt-less be fully reported by the
officers engaged in surveying the lines, I will not cumber this paper with
them.

I am, general, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
HENRY L. ABBOT,
Captain of Engineers, Brevet Brigadier-General of Volunteers.

SPECIAL ORDERS.} HEADQUARTERS OF THE ARMY, }
ADJUTANT-GENERAL'S OFFICE, Numbers 280.} Washington, June 5, 1865.

1. All the batteries of artillery of the regular army, now in this vicinity,
except such as have heretofore been serving in the Department of Washington,
will assemble in one camp, to be selected by Bvt. Major General H.J. Hunt,
chief of artillery of the Army of the Potomac, who in addition to his present duties
will command the artillery camp, and see that such deficiencies as he may find to
exist in any of the batteries are promptly supplied.

By command of Lieutenant-General Grant:
E.D. TOWNSEND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.

HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, 22nd ARMY CORPS,
OFFICE CHIEF OF ARTILLERY, Washington, D.C., June 12, 1865.

Colonel J. H. TAYLOR, Chief of Staff:

COLONEL: As all the troops garrisoning the work around Washington, except a
part of the First Wisconsin and Third Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, have been
or soon will be mustered out of the service, I respectfully recommend that
application be made for the following regiments to replace them, viz: First
Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, Second Connecticut Heavy Artillery, Second New
York Heavy Artillery, Sixth New York Heavy Artillery, Fourth New York Heavy
Artillery, Fourteenth New York Heavy Artillery.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J.A. HASKIN,
Brigadier-General of Volunteers and Chief of Artillery.

WAR DEPARTMENT, June 14, 1865.

Returned to Major-General Halleck.

The Tredegar Works will be turned over to the authorities of the Treasury
Department.

By order of the Secretary of War:
C.A. DANA, Assistant Secretary of War.

GENERAL ORDERS, } HDQRS. DEPT. OF WASHINGTON, }
TWENTY-SECOND ARMY CORPS, Numbers 89. } June 23, 1865.

I. Under instructions contained in Special Orders, Numbers 315, current series,
War Department, Adjutant-General's Office, of June 19, 1865, the following
field-works are announced as composing the defenses of Washington: North of
Potomac-Fort Carroll, Fort Stanton, Fort Baker, Fort Mahan, Fort Lincoln, Fort
Totten, Fort Slocum, Fort Stevens, Fort Reno, Fort Sumner, and Fort Foote;
south of Potomac- Fort Lyon and Redoubts Weed, Farnsworth and O'Rorke, Fort
Ellsworth, Fort Worth, Fort Ward, Fort Richardson, Fort McPherson, Fort
Whipple, Fort Morton, Fort C.F. Smith, Fort Ethan Allen, and Battery Rodgers.
All other forts, batteries, and block-houses of the defenses of Washington will
be at once dismantled, excepting Fort Tillinghast and Fort Craig, which will be
maintained until Fort McPherson, immediately in the rear of the positions
occupied by them, is so far completed as to receive its armament.

II. Under instructions to be issued through the chief of artillery of the
department, and chief engineer of the defenses, division commanders will
dispose of all ordnance and ordnance stores belonging to the forts to be
dismantled, and make the necessary changes in the armament of the works to be
retained.

III. Fort Greble (north of the Potomac) and Fort Corcoran (south of Potomac)
will be used temporarily for the storage of such ordnance and ordnance stores
as the chief of ordnance may designate.

IV. As soon as the artillery, ammunition, and other stores are removed from any
fort, battery, or block-house, the garrison thereof will be withdrawn, and only
sufficient guard left to protect the property. This guard will remain until
further orders from these headquarters.

V. Such property and material belonging to the Engineer Department within the
forts to be dismantled, as in the opinion of the chief engineer of the
defenses may be needed for the completion of the forts to be retained, or is of
such nature as would render it liable to injury, or to be stolen, will be at
once removed to the works where needed, or turned into the nearest engineer
depot.

VI. The chief of artillery and chief engineer of the defenses will render,
with as little delay as practicable to these headquarters, reports of their
action taken under the provisions of this order, and schedule exhibiting proper
strength of garrison for each work to be retained.

VII. The chief quartermaster, Department of Washington, will furnish the
necessary transportation for execution of this order.

By command of Major-General Parke:
J.H. TAYLOR, Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.

SPECIAL ORDERS, } HDQRS. MILITARY DIV. OF THE JAMES,
Numbers 30.} Richmond, Va., June 24, 1865.

In accordance with the instructions of the Secretary of War, the Tredegar Iron
Works in this city and all property belonging thereto will be turned over to
the proper officers of the Treasury Department of the United States.

By order of Major General H.W. Halleck:
J.C.KELTON, Assistant Adjutant-General.

WAR DEPARTMENT, ORDNANCE OFFICE,
October 20, 1865.

Honorable E. M. STANTON, Secretary of War:

SIR: I submit the following report of the principal operations of the Ordnance
Department during the fiscal year ended June 30, 1865, with such remarks and
recommendations as the interests of that branch of the military service seem to
require:

The importance to the country of having the armaments placed in the forts as
rapidly as they can be prepared to receive them is so evident that I have
caused the manufacture of sea-coast gun carriages to be continued as rapidly as
practicable at the two arsenals which possess the proper facilities for making
them; and orders have been given to the several founders, who have been engaged
in making heavy guns for this department, for as many guns as carriages can be
made for.

I have been informed by the chief engineer that he will be prepared to receive
guns in the forts faster than carriages can now be made, and it is in
contemplation to increase the capacity for manufacturing sea-coast carriages.

Experimental wrought-iron field and siege gun carriages have also been made and
tested, with results so satisfactory as to render it certain that these
carriages may be advantageously substituted for the wooden carriages, and it is
proposed to make no more gun carriages of wood. The smooth-bore cannon of large
caliber, which have been used during the war, have given satisfaction, and are
regarded as perfectly reliable. The great importance of having reliable rifled
guns of large caliber is universally admitted, and the attention of this
Government and of the nations of Europe has been directed to that object, but
so far, it is believed, without entire success in its accomplishment.

The many failures, by bursting, of the celebrated Parrott guns in the land and
naval service have weakened confidence in them, and make it the imperative duty
of this department to seek elsewhere for a more reliable rifle gun.

Mr. Horatio Ames, of Falls Village, Conn., invented a plan of making
wrought-iron guns, which many believe would possess those qualities which are
so very desirable for guns of heavy caliber, and although the cost of these
guns was necessarily very great in comparison with the coast of cast-iron guns,
a conditional order was giveno Mr. Ames to manufacture fifteen of them for the
Government, the condition being that the guns should be superior to any rifled guns
in the service. One of these guns was fired under the direction of a board of officers,
who unanimously expressed the opinion that the "Ames wrought-iron guns possess, to
a degree never before equaled by any cannon of equal weigh offered to our
service, the essential qualities of great lateral and longitudinal strength,
and great powers of endurance under heavy charges; that they are not liable to
burst explosively and without warning, even when fired under very high charges,
and that they are well adapted to the wants of the service generally, but
especially whenever long ranges and high velocities are required." The Board
also expressed the opinion that the fifteen Ames 7-inch guns possessed
sufficient weight and strength to receive an 8-inch bore, and recommended that
the gun which had been fired under their direction should be reamed up to eight
inches and subjected to further trial.

They further decided that Mr. Ames had fulfilled the obligation incurred by him
in his contract to furnish the gun, and that so many of the guns as should
endure a proof of ten rounds with the service charge, and pass the proper
inspection, should be accepted and paid for.

Two of the fourteen guns burst in proof, exhibiting serious defects in their
manufacture-defects in welding-which I had been apprehensive could not be
avoided. The guns which endured the proof of ten rounds where accepted and paid
for by this Department.

The guns which was fired under the direction of the Board was bored up to eight
inches and fired twenty-four times with service charges, when it burst,
exhibiting the same defects that were developed in the other guns which burst.
The failures in subsequent firing indicate that these guns cannot be relied
upon, and that no more of them ought to be made for the department.

Believing that, with our present knowledge of the properties of metals and our
skill in working them, reliable rifle guns of large caliber can be made of
cast-iron, I have with your sanction, caused a pair of 8-inch rifle guns of the
supposed proper model and weight to be made. These guns are now at Fort Monroe
undergoing extreme proof, and should their endurance be satisfactory it is
proposed to have other guns like them made.

Statement of ordnance, arms, ammunition, and other ordnance stores procured and
supplied to the Army, and the quantity remaining on hand at the close of the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1865.

..............................................................................On hand 1864........ Purchased........ Issued to........On hand 1865

Fields guns, different calibers.......................................... 875....................1,235................354 ..................1,756

Siege guns, mortars,different calibers...............................346 ..................... 424..................32 .....................783

Sea-coast guns, mortars,different calibers........................812.......................612................593 .................... 831

Cannon balls, shells, projectiles, for field guns...........278,324................969,130 .........676,815...............570,639

Cannon balls, shells, projectiles, for siege guns, mortars....193,297........ 332,305 .......... 14,779 ..............510,823

Cannon balls, shells, projectiles, for siege guns, mortars ...469,619 ........317,658 ........ 178,235 ..............609,042

Artillery carriages for field service ..................................618.........................725 ............... 448 ....................895

Artillery carriages for siege service ................................134.........................131................109.....................156

Artillery carriages for sea-coast forts...............................790 ........................545................797.....................538

Mortar beds ..................................................................142.........................329...................7......................464

Caissons........................................................................616..........................639...............307......................948

Traveling forges..............................................................70..........................116 ................87 .......................99

Battery wagons...............................................................67............................97..................42......................122

Horse equipment.....................................................26,958...................142,497...........95,030.................74,425

Artillery harness for two horses...................................3,029...................... 4,069.............1,255...................5,843

Saddle blankets........................................................79,829.................. 238,388.........197,940...............120,277

Ammunition for field guns.........................................793,455..................702,156 .........286,925 ...........1,208,686

Ammunition for siege guns and mortars ......................3,009..................... 42,738...........15,236..................80,511

Ammunition for sea-coast guns and mortars................4,805......................54,465.............4,631..................54,639

Friction-primes....................................................1,251,842 ................2,242,900 .....1,583,640.............1,911,102

Fuses.....................................................................980,854.................1,300,012 ........ 719,678............1,561,188

Powder.............................................................. 2,329,230.................6,619,925.......5,582,330 ...........3,366,825

A. B. DYER,
Brigadier-General and Chief of Ordnance.

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