Colonel Hawkins, commanding the 1st brigade, and LieutenantColonel Bell, commanding the 2d, both displayed a conspicuous courage, as did also the regimental commanders. Lieutenant-Colonel Clark commanded the 21st Massachusetts, Major Schall the 51st Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-Colonel Kimball the 9th New York, and Lieutenant-Colonel Griffin the 6th New Hampshire. Captain Fearing, the aide-de-camp of General Burnside, accompanied me as a volunteer aide, and rendered efficient and gallant service; also Captain Ritchie, A. C. S., and Lieutenants Gordon and Breed, of the Signal Corps. My own aides, Lieutenants Reno and Morris, behaved with their usual gallantry. As soon as the brigade and regimental reports are furnished I will forward them, together with a complete list of killed and wounded. The enemy's loss was considerable, but they succeeded in carrying off most of their wounded. Several, however, were left on the field, one of whom was a captain of the 3d Georgia regiment. The colorbearer of the 3d Georgia was shot down by the 21st Massachusetts, while defiantly waving his traitorous flag. The enemy had from six to ten pieces of artillery, and from eighteen hundred to two thousand men. We approached to within thirty miles of Norfolk, and undoubtedly the defeat of one of their best regiments, the 3d Georgia, produced considerable panic at Norfolk. I have the honor to be, respectfully, J. L. RENO, Brigadier-General Commanding 2d Division. Colonel Clark's official report was as follows: HEADQUARTERS 21ST MASS. VOLS., STEAMER "NORTHERNER." CAPTAIN EDWARD M. NEAL, A. A. G. Captain: I have the honor to report that, in accordance with orders from Acting Major-General Reno, the 21st Massachusetts Volunteers embarked upon the transport steamer "Northerner" at five o'clock P. M. on the 17th instant, and proceeded to the mouth of the Pasquotank River in Albemarle Sound, where we arrived about sunrise on the 19th. The regiment was here transferred to the light-draught steamers "Ocean Wave" and "Massasoit," and afterwards to small row-boats and launches, which were run in as near the shore as possible at a point on the north bank of the river, about three miles be1 The rebel official report, given hereafter, admits fourteen pieces of artillery. — ED. low Elizabeth City. Officers and men now cheerfully sprang into the water and waded to the land, where the line was immediately formed and muskets loaded. We numbered five hundred picked men, and were furnished with two days' rations and sixty rounds of ammunition. Three regiments, the 9th and 89th New York Volunteers, and the 6th New Hampshire Volunteers, had been landed about two o'clock A. M., and sent forward under command of Colonel Hawkins, to take possession of a bridge near South Mills, where are extensive stone locks on the Dismal Swamp Canal. A little before seven o'clock General Reno followed with the 51st Pennsylvania Volunteers and the 21st Massachusetts Volunteers, which regiments had been delayed about four hours by the want of suitable pilots to bring up their transports. The column advanced rapidly along an excellent road, through a level and fertile district, halting a few moments occasionally for water and rest. About ten o'clock, as we were lying by the road-side, we were astonished to see a large body of troops coming down upon our right flank. "Attention" was immediately sounded by the buglers, and the general rode out to reconuoitre. He was not a little chagrined to find that Colonel Hawkins, with his command, having been misled by his guide, had marched ten miles further than was necessary to reach this point, and, instead of having surprised the enemy by an early arrival at the bridge, had merely exhausted his men by a wearisome march. The weather was now very oppressive, and the men began to suffer greatly from the heat and the want of water, as their canteens were emptied early in the day, and there had been no opportunity for refilling them. As no halt had been made for breakfast, and hard bread and salt beef could not well be eaten without water, they were also faint from want of food. Before noon large numbers had fallen out from all the regiments, utterly unable to proceed; and General Reno, who was now in advance with the 51st Pennsylvania and 21st Massachusetts, was just about to order a halt for dinner, when most unexpectedly a brisk fire of round shot and canister was opened upon us. The battery of the rebels was skillfully masked by the smoke from a dwelling-house and out-buildings on the highway, which had been set on fire for this purpose, and our advance guard was close upon it when the cannonade commenced. General Reno at once ordered the 51st Pennsylvania to take shelter in the woods, on the left of the enemy's position, and sent back for the remaining regiments and the four howitzers, which were under command of of the ex Colonel Howard of the Marine Artillery. In consequence treme exhaustion of the men, considerable time elapsed before they could be brought into position for the attack, and the artillery of the rebels continued firing for more than an hour without interruption from us, and without doing us much damage, as they had few shells, and the range was too great for canister. Many trees and a few men were injured by their round shot, which were thrown with considerable accuracy. The rebels had one light battery of six guns stationed on the main road behind the burning buildings, and another one about fifty yards to the right of the first, upon a road running in that direction. The batteries were supported by two regiments of infantry, numbering about eighteen hundred men, and a squadron of two hundred cavalry. The 3d Georgia Volunteers was formed in line of battle in a grove of young pines, some three hundred yards behind and to the left of the burning buildings, and their skirmishers were thrown far out into the swampy forest on their left to prevent us from getting in their rear. By command of General Reno, I advanced with my regiment as rapidly as the green-brier and tangled underbrush would permit, marching by the flank, toward the line of the 3d Georgia, until fired upon by their skirmishers. Two companies were then ordered into line and to fire several volleys into the swamp from which the bullets came, when the rebels retired. My regiment was now entirely in the rear of the batteries and very near the 3d Georgia, whose traitorous flag was distinctly seen among the pines. Company K, under Captain Davis, was sent forward into the swamp to follow up the rebel skirmishers and prevent any attack upon our rear. Company G, commanded by Lieutenant Wheeler, was then ordered to advance to the fence between the woods and the cleared field and open fire upon the Georgians. This difficult task was performed in the most admirable manner amid a perfect storm of bullets, and the company gallantly formed along the fence and drove out the skirmishers of the enemy, some of whom fired upon them from a distance of not more than twenty yards. The entire regiment was now ordered to form in line behind the fence, and commence firing as rapidly as possible, and the battle was fairly opened. The position of my regiment was all that could be desired, as we were well protected by the fence and bushes, were in the rear of the batteries, and immediately upon the left of the Georgians, our line being at right angles to theirs, so that our fire was constantly right oblique. Upon our left was the 51st Pennsyl About vania, then the 9th New York, then the 89th New York. half an hour after the firing commenced, the 9th New York (Hawkins's Zouaves) charged across the open field towards the enemy, but were repulsed by a destructive volley from the 3d Georgia Volunteers. The 21st Massachusetts being thus temporarily relieved from their fire, immediately sprang over the fence into the open field, and killed the color-sergeant, who was defiantly waving the rebel flag several yards in front of the regiment. Our entire line now advanced from the woods, and charged with shouts and cheers across the cleared ground, while the 6th New Hampshire, which had supported our howitzers in front of the enemy's position, poured in a tremendous volley by command of General Reno, who happened to be with them at the moment. The rebels fled precipitately to the woods, and were seen no more. As it was now nearly night, and our forces were quite exhausted, and as we had no cavalry, it was quite impossible to pursue them. The 21st was at once formed in line, and, having stacked arms, sat down upon the battle-ground to rest. Squads from each company were now sent out to pick up the killed and wounded and their weapons. Our hospital was established in a house near by, and the regiment prepared to bivouac on the very spot in the forest which they had occupied during the fight, the fence which had served so well as a protection by day furnishing excellent fuel for the camp-fires at night. Orders were issued to build large fires around the battle-field, and to provide transportation for such of the wounded as were able to be moved. About thirty of them were unavoidably left behind, in charge of Dr. 0. Warren, acting surgeon of the 21st, who cheerfully remained, subject to the tender mercies of the rebels. The choice of surgeon for this duty was made by lot. Chaplain Ball labored, as usual, most assiduously to promote the comfort of the wounded both on the field, at the hospital, and especially on the return to the transports and on the voyage to Newbern, when, in the absence of any surgeon, he kindly dressed their wounds and administered such remedies as the circumstances allowed. At nine o'clock Lieutenant Reno, aide-decamp, started with the 9th New York Volunteers to take possession of a drawbridge near Camden Court House, and prevent its destruction in case the enemy should attempt it. The other regiments silently left their places in the woods, and moved along the road past the hospitals, the wagons with the wounded took their position in the centre of the column, and the general followed with the 21st Massachusetts as rear-guard. Company D, under Lieutenant Barker, performed in the most efficient manner the very arduous and unpleasant duty of rear-guard to the regiment. Not only were they obliged to be constantly on the look-out for the enemy, but they were compelled to labor incessantly to urge and assist forward the numerous stragglers who fell out from the various regiments. Between Company D and the rest of the 21st Colonel Howard was placed with two howitzers. A more wearisome march has been seldom made by any troops. The night was dark; the soft, clayey mud, from three to twelve inches in depth; and the men worn out by the march previously made that day, besides having passed through the excitement and fatigue of the battle. Nevertheless, the greater part of them bore up manfully, and, though terribly exhausted, moved steadily onward to the landing, where the head of the column arrived about five o'clock in the morning. I am happy to report that while the 21st were enabled to do much damage to the enemy, they suffered comparatively but a slight loss. Not a man was injured by artillery, and but fifteen by infantry, owing to our excellent position. Only two others failed to come up with the regiment, although the 21st constituted the rear-guard on the return march, and these both fell out before the battle. Notwithstanding the difficulties of the march, every rifle taken from camp was returned to it in good condition, including those of the killed and wounded, except one thrown away by an exhausted man, and the two in the hands of the missing men. On the whole, I think I may safely say that nearly every officer, non-commissioned officer, and private did his duty to the extent of his ability. The members of the 21st will remember with peculiar pleasure that on the 19th of April, 1862, just one year after the blood of Massachusetts men was first shed by rebels at Baltimore, we conquered them at the battle of Camden, and we shall be no less proud of this name inscribed upon our war-worn banner than of Roanoke and Newbern. I am, Captain, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, W. S. CLARK, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding 21st Mass. Vols. Our wounded, left on the field in charge of Surgeon Warren, were well treated by the rebels, and were paroled and sent within our lines, together with our beloved and gallant surgeon, as soon as they could bear transportation. The rebel artillery and the brave 3d Georgia regiment |