Thomas Wentworth Higginson, Massachusetts in the Army and Navy during the war of 1861-1865, vol. 1: prelminary narrative

In the attack on the Weldon Railroad, below Petersburg, under General Warren (August 18-21), the Massachusetts troops engaged were the 18th, 21st, 29th, 32d, 35th, 36th, 39th, 56th, 57th and 59th Infantry, the 1st Cavalry and the 3d, 5th, 9th and 11th batteries, almost all incurring small losses and the 39th suffering especially with 17 killed or mortally wounded and 246 missing, mostly prisoners. Lieutenant-Colonel Peirson was severely wounded, leaving Capt. F. R. Kinsley in command of the 39th, who was himself made prisoner a day or two later. Lieut. Wm. T. Spear was mortally wounded. Lieut. Horace M. Warren, adjutant of the 59th, was also killed, with Capt. J. W. Ingell (15th Mass.) and Lieuts. Robert T. Bourne (22d Mass.) and A. J. White (35th Mass.).¹ A small battalion of recruits and re-enlisted men, formerly belonging to the 18th Mass., captured 50 prisoners and a flag.

At Summit Point, Va., the 37th Mass. Infantry had a picket skirmish with some loss (August 21), and at Reams' Station (August 23-25) the 28th Infantry and the 10th Battery lost some lives and the latter 19 prisoners. Prisoners were also taken from the 19th and 20th Infantry.

At Poplar Spring Church or Peebles' Farm (September 30–October 1) the small remaining band of the 18th Mass. again did itself credit, its captain, Luther S. Bent of Quincy, commanding the skirmish line and being brevetted as major ‘for gallant and distinguished services at the battle of Peebles' Farm.’ The 35th Mass. had the largest number of killed and mortally wounded at this battle, besides 156 taken prisoners. The 11th, 21st, 29th, 32d, 36th, 56th, 57th, 58th and 59th also had casualties. Among the killed were Capts. C. H. Johnson (58th Mass.) and O. S. Sampson (21st), and Lieut. J. W. Fiske (58th Mass.). At Arthur's Swamp, Va., on the same day, the 1st Mass. Cavalry had a skirmish; as had the 40th Mass. at Chapin's Farm, where Lieut. J. A. Fitch was killed (November 30) ; and also the 1st Heavy Artillery at Yellow Tavern (October 1-5 ); the 24th Infantry and 4th Cavalry at Darbytown Roads (October 7 and again October 13); while the 57th made a reconnaissance to Boydtown Plank Road (October 8); all with small losses.

At Hatcher's Run, Va. (Oct. 27, 1864), in connection with the Boydtown Plank Road movement, took place a contest in which the action of the