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 12

Transcription

General
I have the honor to submit the following brief statement of the operations of the Tenth regiment West Virginia Infantry.

Memoranda: From the time that recruiting for the regiment commenced in the latter months of 1861, the men, as soon as enlisted were assigned to duty on the frontier of the Department of Western Virginia, then commanded by Genl Rosecrans. These men, many of them driven from their homes by the guerillas of Gilmer, Braxton, Webster and Pocahontas counties, were especially adapted to frontier defense, by their knowledge of the country and of the habits of the rebel marauders by whom it was infested and were stimulated to extraordinary exertion by wrongs already suffered and homes to defend.

In March 1862 organization was commenced by the muster of four companies into the United States service with Thomas M. Harris as Lieutenant Colonel commanding, and the line to be guarded by this regiment, one company of cavalry and a section of artillery was extended from Glenville to Elkwater.

Under this arrangement the border was protected for several months, many guerilla bands being effectually dispersed or driven out of West Virginia whilst others were, almost to a man exterminated. Indeed, so successful was this small command in the defense of that large territory, as to elicit frequent expressions of commendation and thanks from the Major General Commanding, and also to secure the confidence and gratitude of all the loyal people of those counties, for the skillful management, zeal and courage displayed.

In the meantime organization of the regiment was completed, Lieut. Col. Harris promoted to the Colonelcy, and in the month of September 1862 headquarters were removed from Buckhannon to Bulltown, where, for the first time, as many as seven companies were concentrated.

While here, the command was as heretofore successful in breaking the marauders of that section. In the latter part of October 1862, the regiment was attached to the command of General Milroy, under whom it took up the line of march (Nov 4th) for Beverly where all detachments were collected and the command removed via Webster and New Creek to Winchester Va, reaching the latter place on the first day of January 1863.

While in the division of General Milroy at Winchester, the regiment took part in several expeditions up the valley of the Shenandoah; No casualties were sustained in any of these expeditions, but, unfortunately, exposure to the changing weather of a most inclement winter on the march from Bulltown to Winchester and afterwards, resulted in disease from which the command did not recover until the ensuing summer. The deaths of disease (chiefly fever) from Dec 1st 1862 to June 1st 1863 numbered forty three.

On the Tenth of May 1863, the regiment was ordered back to West Virginia and soon after its arrival at Webster station was attached to the brigade of General Wm. W. Averell by whom it was sent to Buckhannon and thence on the seventh of June to Beverly. On the second of July following, while stationed at Beverly, an attack was made upon the place by the enemy under Col. Wm. L Jackson. This was the first time that the regiment in a body had met the enemy, who were here held at bay for two days notwithstanding their great numerical superiority, until the arrival of reinforcements compelled them to retreat, beaten. I shall not give casualties here as I propose, at the conclusion of this report to make a tabular statement of battles in which we have been engaged and casualties sustained in each.

The regiment was engaged in the battle of Droop Mountain on the sixth of November 1863, and was highly complimented by Genl Averell commanding for gallantry displayed in that action, and afterward formed a part of a number of those expeditions or "raids" which have reflected so much credit upon the command of that distinguished officer.

With Headquarters at Beverly, the regiment remained in West Virginia until about the fifteenth of June 1864, when it was removed to Martinsburg. On the third of July the advance of the enemy under Early was encountered and for some time successfully resisted at Leetown Va. by a small body of troops of which the Tenth W. Va. was a part. On the 6th and 7th of the same month it was engaged in a series of skirmishes at Maryland Heights, and for some days afterward was on the march with the troops then retreating before Early who was pressing his invasion into Maryland with the capture of the national capital an avowed object. Engaged at Snickers Ferry Va on the seventeenth and on the twenty fourth of July at Winchester Va. IN the latter engagement the regiment was in the command of the lamented Col Mulligan who fell on that day and the losses sustained prove how gallantly our portion of the line was held until the Comdg General ordered a retreat, in our immediate front, the enemy in very heavy force, were more than once repulsed with terrible slaughter. In a small engagement at Berryville Va Sept 3rd 1864 and in the battle of "The Opequan" suffered a heavy loss in killed and wounded and was complimented on the field by Genl Sheridan.

At Fishers Hill, on the 22nd of Sept. the battle flag of the Tenth W. Va. was one of the first on the enemy's works which were carried by assault by the Army of West Virginia. On the thirteenth of October 1864 the regiment was engaged at Strasburg Va and on the nineteenth of that month in the great battle of "Cedar Creek" - in a word - the history of this regiment during the months of September, October and November 1864, is coincident with that of Sheridan's Army in the victorious campaign of the Shenandoah Valley. The regiment with the rest of the First Infantry Division, Army of W. Va. was ordered Dec 19th 1864 to Washington City where it embarked for the Army of the James arriving on the 25th of that month. We are now encamped on Chapin's Farm about seven miles from the rebel capital.

The foregoing is but an epitome of the history of the Tenth Regt West Virginia Volunteers. To describe the long, toilsome marches, many nights of watching performed and difficulties overcome- infinitely more trying than the battle, whose very horrors but stimulate the courage that wins it - would be impossible. Yet all is cheerfully borne, even sought by the American Volunteer in the cause of his Country and the Right.

In conclusion, General, allow me to say in behalf of the regiment - We are proud of our record, of our old, torn flag and of the humble part that we have performed toward the suppression of the great rebellion. Having seen it through its successive stages for three years we are now in a position where we hope and expect before many months to be “in at the death.”

I am, very respectfully
Your obedient servant
O. P. Boughner
Adjutant 10th W. Va. Inft Vols.
To Genl. F. P. Pierpoint
A. G. West Virginia

Report of Battles in which 10th W. Va. Vols has been engaged and casualties in each January 15th 1865

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Jan 15th 1865
History of 10th Regt W. Va. Vol.

10th WV Infantry