10th NCST, Co. C
Wilson's Warf
Outside Richmond Va,
May 17th, 1864
General,
Under order of Captain Womble, I herewith have the honor to
submit this report for your review of operations during the recent Fort
Pocahontas campaign and encampment at Camp Perkins.
After receipt of orders to proceed with hast to Richmond, our
company divided its command to move with all possible speed through the narrow,
choked roads. We followed directions from a local sign post leading us to Lt.
Jarmin and Camp Perkins. We later came to understand why our camp was named
this. Our camp was overrun by ticks, fleas, mosquitoes and snakes. The
camp was a fine example of what we had come to learn from famed naturalist Capt.
Marlin Perkins, of the zoo Mutual, located in the Wild
Kingdom of Omaha. But with the insects and mud came pleasant winds
and the conditions were made tolerable for the duration of our campaign.
Our white mules pulled our guns and we were relieved to discover
that our requisitioned limber had arrived to replace the former battle damaged
equipment. The rest of the command arrived throughout the night and our command rested
comfortably through the evening. We were encouraged to have such handsome female nurses
encamped with us for the duration of this campaign. Lt. Jarmin's mail arrived
and he displayed his new frock coat to the men. He was greeted with many cat
calls and wahoos from the privates.
The foraging efforts gave us a hearty breakfast to greet Saturday
morning. Attempts at fish were not successful and Union gunboats patrolled the
river frequently, sending us to the woods as they meandered up and down
the James River. Orders were then received to place the guns in defensive
positions behind breastworks which we did expeditiously. Other batteries were
inspected by our officers for care of their equipment and we found Company F of
the cavalry to be devoid of any notion to understand the basic concept of
keeping working equipment, working. We fully expected F troop's cannon wheels
to fall off. We meanwhile, readied our crew for the impending attack that
was foretold by cavalry scouts. Newspaper men were about our men making a pest
of themselves.
About 1:00 PM, our pickets were driven in and infantry support
arose to meet the attack. Supporting the infantry, our battery roared with
shell and case shot tearing large gaps in those people's lines. Shells burst
among the trees around us and our works were kicked up by missiles
intended for our demise. We continued to support our infantry with the enemy
coming to canister range which we let them have liberally. Three or four
charges were driven away by our battery's carefully placed rounds leaving many
Federals on the field. The work of the cannoneers was exemplary in keeping with the sterling reputation
of Charlotte Artillery. The attack was successfully repulsed.
Throughout the night, skirmishing was heard on our right. We were
called to battery and engaged in counter battery fire to silence Federal
artillery. Much shouting and taunting by our men were unsuccessful in
drawing the blue troops from their works. Noteworthy in this action was
Corporal Tyler Godwin. He gathered several volunteers and proceeded on his own initiative
to reconnoiter the situation. He found a Federal flank attack headed
toward our camp. Firing and calling orders to his men he managed to stall the
attack. In the darkness he stumbled upon Union lines and was captured. He
managed to turn his captors sentiments to our cause in time for a patrol of
Colored Infantry coming down the road. He was challenged and shots were fired.
Greatly outnumbered, he called company commands to a phantom battalion,
running and firing as he went. His quick thinking scared the patrol back into
their positions for which they remained for the evening.
Foraging and fishing expeditions late Saturday night and carrying
over into Sunday morning produced disappointing results.
Sunday morning we were ordered to support a cavalry attack on the
fort. Union Cavalry pickets were driven in and our battery was ordered to
umlimber and proceed with our work, which we did. Many shells were thrown at
the fort but seemingly to no effect. Our cavalry charges were close to rising
over the works, sometimes only a few rods away from the top of their bastions.
A parley by our Colonel proved to be fruitless. Union gunboats began shelling
our positions from the river and we were compelled to fall back. Our day was
finished as the cavalry began to fall back around us. Our positions were
abandoned as we repositioned closer to Richmond.
We sustained no casualties. Saturday, we shot 24 shell, 17
case shot, 5 solid bolt, and 8 canister. Saturday night we shot 6 shell
and 3 case shot. Sunday, we shot 9 solid bolt, 24 shell, and 6 case
shot. Two caisson horses were killed but replaced by local stock.
By the mercy and compassion of The Almighty, we are together as a
unit and await your next orders.
Prepared by Pvt. Grover Godwin
Aide to Camp
Charlotte Artillery