WEST VIRGINIA
ADJUTANT GENERALS' PAPERS

Union Regiments
1861-1865
Ar382

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10th West Virginia Infantry
(Field and Staff, Companies A - K, Unassigned/Recruits)
Box 17, Folder 11

Transcription

General:
In conformity with your request, I have the honor to submit the following resume of the history of my regiment:

From the time that recruiting for the Tenth Regiment Virginia Infantry commenced under my superintendance, in the latter months of 1861 the men as fast as collected were kept on duty guarding the frontier from Glenville to Buckhannon. General W. S. Rosecrans, then commanding Dept of W. Va., appreciating their superior adaptation to such service, because of their knowledge of the country and the habits and haunts of the enemy's guerillas, who infested those districts.

In March 1862 organization was commenced by the muster-into service of four companies of the regiment, with myself as Lieut Col in command. Soon after this I was placed in command of "Cheat Mountain District" composed of the counties of Upshur, Braxton, Webster and Randolph. Thus the line to be guarded by the Tenth Virginia Infantry, then but partially organized, augmented by a single company of cavalry (the Ringgold) and a section of Ewing's Virginia battery was extended eastward to Beverly and Elkwater in Randolph County:

Under this arrangement the border was protected for several months, many guerilla bands being effectually dispersed, captured or driven out of Western Virginia, while others were, almost to a man, exterminated. During this time, in the many encounters which detachments of the regiment had with the enemy, the latter, although frequently found in largely superior force, were defeated and routed, with a single exception: this was at Buckhannon, where a small force for some time checked the command of the rebel General Jenkins, but at length, were compelled to withdraw in the face of numbers which compared to their own were as six to one:

In the defense of this vast extent of territory the command was so successful as to elicit from Major Genl Fremont Commanding "Mountain Department" the warmest expression of his commendation, and thanks for skillful management, activity prowess and courage displayed, and from the loyal people of those counties, who I am happy to say were ever on the alert, ready to cooperate with the troops in the furtherance of our cause, their esteem and gratitude.

In September 1862 Head Quarters of the regiment were removed from Buckhannon to Bulltown, where, for the first time since its complete organization (in June '62) as many as seven companies were concentrated to oppose the advance of the enemy, who under General Loring had occupied the Kanawha valley and were maintain a considerable force at Summersville:

While here the regiment was as heretofore very successful in punishing the marauders of that section:

On the sixth of October a detachment was sent to Big Birch, thirty three miles from Bulltown, where the enemy kept a strong picket. The expedition made quite an important capture of prisoners and horses but being entirely overcome by the fatigue of a march of fifty five miles in less than thirty hours it was overtaken upon the return march, on the night of the 7th by the enemy's cavalry from Summersville and lost in prisoners one commissioned officer and twenty five enlisted men - they were, however, very soon exchanged and returned to duty.

In the latter part of the same month (October 1862) the regiment was attached to the command of Brig Genl R .H. Milroy under whom it took up the line of march November 4th for Beverly, where, all detachments being collected, the march was resumed and the command removed via Webster to New Creek W. Va. from which point it marched, on the sixth of December, going via Petersburg, and Moorefield, to Winchester Va, reaching the latter place on the first day of January 1863.

While in the division of General Milroy at Winchester Va. the regiment accompanied several expeditions up the Shenadoah Valley – In these expeditions no casualties were sustained, but unfortunately, exposure to the changing weather of a most inclement winter, on the march from Bulltown to Winchester and after its arrival at the latter place, resulted in disease, from which the command did not fully recover, until the ensuing summer; The deaths from disease, (principally Typhoid fever) from December 1st 1862 to June 1st 1863, numbering forty three (43).

In May ‘63 the regiment was ordered back to West Virginia and even after it's arrival at Webster station was attached to the command of Brig Genl Averell, by whom it was ordered to Buckhannon and thence on the Seventh of June to Beverly - On the second of July, following, while stationed at that place with a squad of cavalry and four guns, an attack was made by the enemy, under Col Wm. L. Jackson.

In this affair the regiment behaved in a most commendable manner, although the vastly superior force of the enemy who had entirely surrounded the place compelled our forces to act on the defensive and thus no general engagement of the infantry was brought about - the loss of the regiment here was five killed and three wounded.

The regiment was engaged at the battle of "Droop Mountain" on which occasion both officers and men behaved in a most admirable manner, never once faltering but continually driving the enemy, who in its immediate front were in superior strength with great natural advantages, until the action was concluded by most complete victory.

The losses sustained in this fight were eight (8) killed and twenty eight (28) wounded. Four of the latter have since died. It has also accompanied almost all of the expeditions which have reflected so much credit upon the brigade of General Averell.

The regiment now numbers eight hundred and twenty eight (828) an is in good condition as to health, instruction, discipline and general efficiency for the field.

I have the honor to be Genl

Very respectfully
Your most obedient Servant
T. M. Harris
Colonel
F. P. Pierpont
A. G. state of W. Va.

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Field Report
10th Regt W. V. Infy.

10th WV Infantry