Description:

Civil War

Siege of Petersburg 8th New Jersey Volunteers Handwritten Account 

 

3pp DS signed by Major Virgil M. Healy (died 1871), commanding officer of the 8th New Jersey Volunteers, as "Virgil M. Healy" at the bottom of the third page. Docketed on the lightly toned fourth page. The "Congress" embossed cream blue-lined bifold paper is in near fine condition, with expected light paper folds and a few chipped edges. Each page measures 7.75" x 9.75".

 

The report addressed to W.J. Rusling, written in a "Camp near Petersburg, Va." on August 8, 1864, contains a detailed record of the 8th New Jersey Volunteers' movements during the beginning phase of the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign popularly known as the Siege of Petersburg. Healy was complying with Army of the Potomac Special Orders No. 209, dated August 5, 1864, which ordered all commanders to report their troop movements during the recent campaign.

 

Healy's account provides a mostly day-by-day record of the first part of the Richmond-Petersburg Campaign, June 12-June 30, 1864, a period to which he refers to as the "5th Epoch".

 

Union forces had been threatening Petersburg, a city located 24 miles south of the Confederate capital at Richmond, since the winter of 1864. The Siege of Petersburg lasted over nine months, between June 9, 1864-March 25, 1865. Union forces would construct over 30 miles of trenches around the Confederate stronghold of Petersburg during the siege. Combatants were locked in a standstill and bunkered down within a system of interconnected channels that would anticipate the trench warfare of World War I.

 

Several references in Healy's account are nevertheless specific to this specific Civil War context: Union black troops and Confederate sharpshooters.

 

With untouched spelling:

 

"June 12th the regiment left Coal Harbor and marched toward the Chickahominy which it reached and crossed on the afternoon of the 13th. On the 14th crossed the James at Windmill Point on transports. On the 15th marched to before Petersburg, where we occupied the works captured from the enemy. On the 16th reversed the works occupied by us where we remained until evening. We then advanced upon the enemy, driving him before us and taking a position, one hundred years in front of his works, where we fought all night, twice replenishing our ammunition and holding our ground, with the following loss: three enlisted men killed and two (2) commissioned officers and nineteen (19) enlisted men wounded.

 

On the 17th remained in rear of works built by our troops. On the 18th advanced again on the enemy capturing two lines of works and on the same day assaulted the next line where we were repulsed with the loss of one (1) enlisted man killed and one commissioned officer and eight (8) enlisted men wounded. On the 19th built new works under fire of sharpshooters by which one man was killed and one wounded. On the 20th remained in the works until night when we were relieved by colored troops and went to the rear works.

 

On the 21st marched to the left toward the Weldon Rail Road and built works. On the 22d took up an advanced position where while engaged in building works, we were attacked by the enemy in rear and on our left flank, and were compelled to fall back to our original position of the 21st with a loss of Eleven (11) enlisted men missing and two (2) wounded…Total casualties during the time embraced in this report, three (3) commissioned officers wounded and (5) enlisted men killed and thirty-one (31) wounded.

 

It is with no ordinary feeling of pleasure that I have the honor to inform you, that through the untiring exertions and hearty co-operation of my officers -- to whom I return my heartfelt thanks -- and to the willing obedience of the brave men, whom it has been my honor to command during this most trying campaign; I have always been able to keep my regiment in an efficient state of discipline and well in hand for any emergency.

 

It would be invidious in one to particularize either officers or men where all have been so deserving, the record of those pages speak more forcibly than any language, I could employ, let it speak for them."

 

Healy was very proud of his regiment's performance, especially considering the high casualty rates. During this two week period, the 8th New Jersey Volunteers lost one-third of its total fatalities recorded in May-June, 1864; according to a regimental history, 15 soldiers were killed, 140 were wounded, and 25 went missing during that two-month-long period.

 

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