O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME 9 [S# 9]
MARCH 14, 1862.--Battle of New Berne, N. C.
No. 11. -- Report of Lieut. Col. William S. Clark, Twenty-first Massachusetts Infantry.
HEADQUARTERS TWENTY-FIRST MASS. VOLS.,
Camp Reno, New Berne, N. C., March 16, 1862.
CAPTAIN: About 9 o'clock on the morning of the 13th instant the Twenty-first Massachusetts Volunteers, 743 strong, landed at the mouth of Slocum's Creek, and by order of General Reno advanced about 2 miles through the pine woods along the south bank of the river Neuse toward New Berne. Arriving out upon a large open field, the regiment stacked arms, to await the arrival of the general with the rest of the brigade. Company G, under Lieutenant Taylor, formed the advance guard, and discovered a short distance into the woods beyond the cleared space a large number of wooden barracks, which had been evacuated about two hours before by the rebel cavalry, whose equanimity had been disturbed by shells from the gunboats. An advance of 4 miles brought the regiment to Croatan, where we found a very extensive earthwork running at right angles to the highway.
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Among the incidents of the day perhaps the following may not be out of place here: Capt. J. D. Frazer, of Company H, was wounded in the right arm just before charging, and dropped his sword. He, however, instantly picked it up with his left hand and led on his men with the colors. At the time of the retreat from the battery he was unable to clear the ditch, and fell into the water. As soon as the rebels discovered him they ordered him to get up, took him back over the parapet, and removing his sword, placed a guard of three men over him. When his captors in their turn retreated again he was unable or unwilling to move as rapidly as they, and when he had detained his guard sufficiently long to permit him to attempt it, he drew his revolver and declared he would shoot the first one who stirred. They surrendered to him and were delivered over to the Fourth Rhode Island as prisoners of war. The lieutenant to whom Captain Frazer gave his sword was also captured and the sword returned to its rightful owner. Captain Frazer, before the close of the fight, was again in command of his company. Private J. A. Miller, of Company A, in clambering over the parapet in the retreat, dropped his rifle into the ditch, and rather than leave his pet remained searching for it until captured. He was ordered to the rear of the enemy with a guard, and as the bullets were rather numerous in the air, he laid himself down between two logs and forgot to get up when his captors retreated.
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Hoping this report of the part performed by the Twenty-first Massachusetts Volunteers at the memorable battle of New Berne may be satisfactory, I am, captain, very respectfully, yours,
W. S. CLARK,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Twenty-first Mass. Vols.
Capt. EDWARD M. NEILL,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Brigade.
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O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLI/1 [S# 83]
AUGUST 1, 1864.--Skirmishes near Independence, Mo.
No. 2.--Report of Col. James H. Ford, Second Colorado Cavalry.
INDEPENDENCE, Mo., August 1, 1864.
I sent two scouts out to-day, one west under Lieutenant Parsons, and Sergeant Coy, with his pet lambs, south. Coy ran on two camps, one of twenty-five and one of forty; killed 1, wounded 2; our loss, 1. Enemy scattered every way; we hear of them in all directions from here. Scout leaves Pleasant Hill to-night; leave here to-morrow morning be fore daylight.
J. H. FORD,
Colonel Second Colorado Cavalry.
Captain STEGER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
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