Official Records of the Rebellion

Official Records of the Rebellion: Volume Eleven, Chapter 23, Part 1: Peninsular Campaign: Reports

The Document

The Plan - 17 to 23 April - 24 to 26 April - 27 to 30 April - 1 to 3 May - 4 May - A note on landmines

344 Sunday, April 27, 1862—-a. m.—The 200-pounder Parrott and the remaining two 13-inch mortars were successfully brought into Wormley’s Creek just at daybreak this morning. Great credit is due my assistant, Major Webb, for this work. It was by his energy, perseverance, and coolness during the larger portion of forty-eight hours’ almost continuous labor, for nearly two hours of which he was under the enemy’s fire of shot and shell, that the great difficulties attending the movement of this exceedingly heavy material were overcome. I have given orders to Colonel Tyler (who has already entered upon the execution of them) to mount and place in position the mortars and 200-pounder. I have no change to report in any of the batteries.

Sunday, April 27—p. m.—One hundred and twenty-five barrels of powder were today hauled from Cheeseman’s Landing to depot. The roads to and from the landing are now so bad that it is utterly impossible to bring more than light loads over them. I earnestly request that a strong working party be detailed at once for its repairs. The road in rear of Battery No. 2 is still unfinished. I beg to repeat my application of yesterday and of the day before that a party be detailed to complete it.

Monday, April 28.—Battery No. 1. Platform for 200-pounder laid; chassis, upper carriage, and gun mounted.

345

Battery No. 2. Gabion revetment of embrasures faced with green hides, approaches to magazine improved, and splinter-proofs constructed over entrance to same. This battery was much fired at by the enemy today. One shell struck in the battery and burst. No casualties.

Battery No. 3. Platforms completed, guns placed in position, and magazines filled. Several shots were fired at this battery by the enemy. One shell struck full in the exterior slope of the parapet, and knocked out two or three feet of earth.

Battery No. 4. Four platforms for 13-inch mortars laid and two mortars transferred from barge to battery.

Battery No. 5. No change. This battery was to-day much fired at by the enemy. The firing was, however, extremely wild, the enemy being apparently uncertain of the true position of the battery.

Battery No. 6. No changes.

Battery No. 9. This battery is not yet ready for its platforms. Six 10-inch mortars and beds, fifteen platforms, and 708 shell were hauled to it from depot.

Cheeseman’s Landing. Four companies of First Connecticut Artillery relieved by two companies Fifth New York Regiment. The discharging of the vessel loaded with 10-inch shell was completed. The vessel n which are the 10-inch sea-coast mortars drawing so much water as to be unable to get to the wharf until high water, no mortars were discharged.

Tuesday, April 29.—Battery No. 1. Mounting of the 200-pounder complete.

Battery No. 2. Supplied with mantelets for fifteen embrasures. Work n road continued.

Battery No. 3. Mantelets supplied for three embrasures.

Battery No. 4. Four 1:3-inch mortars and three beds landed aiid two (flattorrns laid.

Battery No. 5. No change.

Battery No. 6. Six platforms for siege guns taken tip and removed to battery No. 10.

Battery No. 9. Garrisoned by two companies First Connecticut Artillery and four 10-inch mortars. Three hundred and eighty-four 10-inch shell amid material for ten platforms hauled in.

Battery No. 10. Garrisoned by one company of Fifth New York. Material hauled iii for four platforms, one platform laid, and two do. partly finished.

Battery No. 1 1. Garrisoned by one company of Fifth New York. Getting out timber, an(l hewing the same for sea-coast mortar platforms.

Cheeseman’s Lauding. Platform material, 20-pounder Parrott guns, and large quantity of shell landed.

Wednesday, April 30.—Battery No. 1. Opened fire at 2 o’clock p. m. with time five 100-pounders and one 200-pounder. Tile fire was first directed at the wharf at Yorktown, where the enemy were busily engaged discharging six or seven schooners. These vessels were soon driven offi The enemy’s large barbette gun was (lirected upon us at intervals of fifteen or twenty minutes. Two of the 100-pounders were turned in that direction with apparent good efiict. The lire of the 200-pounder was directed. upon the vessels, which after leaving Yorktown wharf took refuge behind Gloucester Point. This fire was very effective. The enemy’s fire was well directed, but the protection afforded by the battery effective, and their fire caused its no casualties. Battery No. 1 gives us complete control of the enemy’s water batteries, [346] wharves, and Gloucester. The expenditure was as follows, viz: Solid shot, five from 200-pounder, one from 100-pounder; shell (percussion), sixteen, all from 100-pounder; shell (time fuse), thirteen, all from 100- pounder; shell (filled with Greek fire), four, all from 100-pounder. The performance of the guns was excellent, as was also that of the iron carriages and chassis. Most of the percussion shell failed to explode, and no observable effect was produced by the Greek fire.

Batteries Nos. 2, 3, and 5. No change.

Battery No. 4. One mortar transferred from barge, and two mortars mounted and now ready for service. A third mortar was being mounted when the blocks broke, and further work was delayed for repairs. Three hundred and fifteen shell placed in the battery.

Battery No. 6. Six 4-inch guns removed to Battery No. 10.

Battery No. 10. Six platforms laid for 4.1/2 inch guns and six guns placed in position. One platform for 100-pouuder hauled to the battery.

Battery No. 11. Materials for platforms supplied.

Cheeseman’s Lauding. The following material was landed, viz:

Three 10-inch sea-coast mortars, ten do. beds, four 20-pounder Parrott guns and carriages, four Whitworth guns, fifteen 13-inch shell with Greek fire, a quantity of platforms, implements, &c. I beg to urge the necessity of immediate further repairs upon the road near Cheeseman’s Landing and in front of General Hooker’s division (Yorktown road). It is impossible to haul heavy guns over that portion of the road.

The Plan - 17 to 23 April - 24 to 26 April - 27 to 30 April - 1 to 3 May - 4 May - A note on landmines

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How to cite this article

Official Records of the Rebellion: Volume Eleven, Chapter 23, Part 1: Peninsular Campaign: Reports, pp.344-346

web page Rickard, J (4 February 2007), http://www.historyofwar.org/sources/acw/officialrecords/vol011chap023part1/02022_04.html


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