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296 Series I Volume XVIII- Serial 26 - Suffolk

Page 296 NORTH CAROLINA AND S. E. VIRGINIA. Chapter XXX.

Itinerary of the Third Brigade, Colonel Mathew murphy, One hundred and eighty-second New York Infantry, commanding, April 9-May 3.*

In accordance with General Orders, Numbers 22, from Headquarters United States Forces, Suffolk, Va., issued April 9, 1863, Brigadier-General Corcoran assumed command of the First Division, seventh Army Corps; whereupon the senior colonel, Mathew Murphy, assumed, by right of rank, command of the Irish Legion, and immediately issued his General Orders, Numbers 5., to that effect, appointing Lieutenant J. Townsend Connolly, of the Sixty-ninth Regiment, his acting assistant adjutant-general, and established his headquarters at Fort Dix, on the southeast front of our lines, facing the Edenton rad.

April 11.-The enemy invested Suffolk and soon after (the next day or so) worked around gradually from the South Quay, when our pickets were first driven in to the Jamestown and Edenton roads. Immediately on the first driven in to the Jamestown and Edenton roads. Immediately on the first alarm the long roll was beaten, and the troops deployed in line along the breastworks, running right and left from Fort Dix. Third relative conditions continued as follows until the siege was raised: The Sixty-ninth Regiment defending works in front of its camp, on the right of the line; the One hundred and sixty-fourth Regiment next in line and first on the left of the said fort; the One hundred and fifty-fifth at first marched up from their camp in reserve and formed along the works, bivouacking at night between the One hundred and sixty-fourth and One hundred and Seventieth Regiments, and on the left of the One hundred and sixty-fourth.

April 15.-No action was taken offensively on the part of this Legion against the enemy until the 15th instant, when a small force was sent out on the Edenton road to reconnoiter., This force consisted of one company from the One hundred and fifty-fifth Regiment (Company I), one company from the One hundred and seventieth, and company from the One hundred and sixty-fourth (Company C), together with a squadron of cavalry from the First New Mounted Rifles, and one 6-pounder,the whole force under the command of Colonel McMahon, of the One hundred and sixty-fourth Regiment, Major Patton having charge of the cavalry and gun. it started from Fort Dix at 2.30 a. m., and, after marching 2 1/2 miles out on the Edenton road, drove in the enemy's mounted pickets, follows them as rapidly as possible to - Mill, where they found a rebel regiment drawn up in line of battle to receive them. The enemy were posted in the rear of a large field, on the right of the road covering a cross-road, which led across the mill-dam to the Somertom road. Here a conflict ensued of half an hour's duration, when the enemy retreated, taking up his second position on the opposite side of the mill-pound. A few well-directed shots from the 6-pounder gun drove him from this place, where re-enforcements arrived to the enemy. Colonel McMahon, after advising with Major Patton, deemed it best to retire, the object of the reconnaissance being accomplished the entire camp equipage of the enemy captured, besides some provisions and 3 prisoners. Our loss was 9 men wounded and 3 killed-12 in all. A list of casualties that have occurred in the entire brigade has been forwarded through the proper channels, with names, nature, &c.; hence it will be better not to recapitulate here, as our space is limited. From this date (15th) until the 24th the brigade was engaged night and day

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* From Return of the Corcoran Irish Legion, Seventh Army Corps, for month of April, 1863.

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Page 296 NORTH CAROLINA AND S. E. VIRGINIA. Chapter XXX.