Twenty-second U. S. Colored Infantry

Organized at Philadelphia, Pa., January 10-29, 1864. Ordered to Yorktown, Va., January, 1864. Attached to U. S. Forces, Yorktown, Va., Dept. of Virginia and North Carolina, to April, 1864. 1st Brigade, Hincks' Division (Colored), 18th Corps, Army of the James, to June, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Corps, June, .864. 2nd Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Corps, to August, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Corps, August, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 10th Corps, to 1eptember, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 18th Corps, to December, 1864. 1st Brigade, 3rd Division, 25th Corps, December, 1864. 1st Brigade, 1st Division, 25th 3orps, and Dept. of Texas, to October, 1865.

SERVICE.-Duty near Yorktown, Va., till May, 1864. Expedition to King and Queen County March 9-12. Butler's operations south of James River and against Petersburg and Richmond May 4-June 15. Duty at WilIon's Wharf, James River, protecting supply transports, then constructing works near Fort Powhatan till June. Attack on Fort Powhatan May 21. Before Petersburg June 15-18. Siege operations against Petersburg and Richmond June 16, 1864, to April 2, 1865. Deep Bottom August 24. Dutch Gap August 24. Demonstration north of the James River September 28-30. Battle of Chaffin's Farm, New Market Heights, September 29-30. Fort Harrison September 29. Battle of Fair Oaks October 27-28. Chaffin's Farm November 4. In trenches before Richmond till April, 1865. Occupation of Richmond April 3. Moved to Washington, D. C., and participated in the obsequies of President Lincoln, and afterwards to eastern shore of Maryland and along lower Potomac in pursuit of the assassins. Rejoined Corps May, 1865. Moved to Texas May 24-June 6. Duty along the Rio Grande till October, 1865. Mustered out October 16, 1865.

Regiment lost during service 2 Officers and 70 Enlisted men killed and mortally wounded and 1 Officer and 144 Enlisted men by disease. Total 217.

Frederick A. Dyer "A Compendium of the War of the Rebellion" vol. 3

************************************************************************** Report of Col. Joseph B. Kiddoo, Twenty-second U. S. Colored Infantry, First Brigade, of operations May 21.

HDQRS. TWENTY-SECOND U. S. COLORED TROOPS, Fort Powhatan, Va., May 22, 1864. CAPT.: I have the honor to report that the enemy's cavalry, about 100 strong, made a demonstration upon my pickets yesterday at noon. The pickets held them in check until the infantry was formed and the artillerymen got to their guns, both at the time being at work on the trenches. A few shots from Capt. Howell's battery dispersed the enemy. I signaled to Gen. Wild that the enemy had appeared on my picket-line in small force, but had withdrawn. "All quiet." He returned a message to the effect that if I needed help to send him word. At this time the enemy reappeared on my right in about the same or larger force, when I sent to Gen. Wild for a regiment of infantry, fearing that they were the advance guard of a larger force. By this time the gun-boats, by previously agreed upon signals, had got into position and shelled the woods on our right and left.

At this time a section of Capt. Howell's battery passed down the river from City Point on its too Wilson's Wharf. I hailed the boat and took the responsibility of ordering the section ashore to my assistance on the assurance that I had received from Gen. Wild that he would give me any assistance needed. Before Gen. Wild arrived with the First U. S. Colored Troops the enemy had again disappeared. Gen. Wild rode the line with me, and, concluding that it was only a reconnoitering party, left about 5 p. m. with the First U. S. Colored Troops and the section of Capt. Howell's battery, which I had taken the responsibility to stop. I had only two men wounded. The pickets behaved most creditably, one man standing at his post, and after firing and loading three times, fenced with a rebel officer till the disabled the officer, and received a stroke across the face with a saber.

I very respectfully renew my application for a small detachment of cavalry to do vedette duty, that we may have a more timely alarm on the approach of an enemy; also that the section of Capt. Howell's battery ordered away from here be allowed to remain for the present; also that, if consisted with the safety of other posts, I be furnished with more infantry to assist in doing the fatigue duty necessary to make this position secure. It will be remembered by the general commanding that while I may have infantry enough to do the fatigue or man my front line and do the picket duty, yet I have not enough for both.

I take pleasure in reporting that the gun-boats Atlanta and Dawn co-operate with me most cordially and faithfully in everything that pertains to the safety of the post.

I have the honor to be, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. B. KIDDOO, Col., Cmdg. Post.

Capt. COL. A. CARTER, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

Source: Official Records PAGE 168-68 OPERATIONS IN SE. VA. AND N. C. [CHAP. XLVIII. [Series I. Vol. 36. Part II, Reports, Correspondence, Etc. Serial No. 68.]

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Report of Col. Joseph B. Kiddoo, Twenty-second U. S. Colored Troops, Second Brigade, of operations June 15.

HDQRS. TWENTY-SECOND U. S. COLORED TROOPS, In the Field, Va., June 22, 1864. SIR: In accordance with circular of the 20th instant, I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by my regiment in the late actions in front of Petersburg:

On the morning of the 15th I moved with the rest of the brigade from Spring Hill on the City Point road. Approaching the enemy's advanced line of rifle-pits near Baylor's house, I received orders from the colonel commanding the brigade to form line of battle and advance, the Fifth U. S. Colored Troops being at the same time on my right and the Fourth U. S. Colored Troops on my left. I also received orders from the colonel commanding to be ready to charge when ordered. After I had gotten under the fire of the enemy's artillery, concluding that on account of the broken nature of the ground orders could not reach me to charge, or that I could not be found, I took the responsibility and ordered my regiment to charge the line of rifle-pits in my front. The effect with which the enemy's artillery was playing upon my line was the strongest inducement for me to give this order. The charge was gallantly made, and that portion of the rifle-pits in front of my line possessed, together with one 12-pounder howitzer, from the fire of which my men suffered severely while coming from the woods. From thence I marched with the rest of the brigade to the left and toward the main line of the enemy's works. I took position in the first line and on the left of the Fourth U. S. Colored Troops at about 12 m. In this I lost many men in killed and wounded and one officer killed. One company was thrown out as skirmishers, and at about 4 p.m. I received orders from the colonel commanding to send out three more companies and to form a skirmish line with one pace interval. I complied with said order by sending Maj. Cook, of my regiment, in command of the line. He received orders from the colonel commanding to advance his skirmishers till he felt the enemy's line, and to advance against his works when he saw the lines of Gen. Brooks' command advancing. Accordingly, at a few minutes before sundown, Maj. Cook, seeing the line of Gen. Brooks advancing, reports to me that he ordered his line to advance and charge the work in his immediate front, now know as Battery No. 7. He further reports that both officers, and men cheerfully obeyed this order and advanced on the run till they got so far under the guns of the battery as to be sheltered from their fire. At this juncture Maj. Cook ordered his line to break to the right and left, in order to gain the rear of the work. This was promptly done, and Capt. Force and Lieut. Miliken, of my regiment, were the first to enter the work in the rear. These officers, as well as Maj. Cook, report to me that there were two 12-pounder howitzers and one iron piece in the fort when they entered it. The skirmishers of the First were on the left of Maj. Cook's line, and those of the Fourth were on the right, portions of both of which entered the fort after the men of my regiment had possessed it. When the skirmish line advanced I received orders from the colonel commanding to take the rest of my command to its support. I moved out on the double-quick, and finding Battery No. 7 in our possession I turned my attention to Battery No. 8 I found Lieut.-Col. Wright, First U. S. Colored Troops, with a portion of his skirmish line occupying a small lunette between Batteries Nos. 7 and 8, which had been abandoned by the enemy. I proposed that we unite our commands and charge Battery No. 8. He thought it not safe, but proposed to support me if I would do so. I immediately formed a column of companies, left a few of my men on the parapet of the lunette to engage the gunners on Battery No. 8, which were in easy range, and who were playing with some effect upon my men as they were forming for the charge. The charge was made across a deep and swampy ravine. The enemy immediately ceased firing his artillery and took the parapets of the fort and rifle-pit as infantrymen. My men wavered at first under the hot fire of the enemy, but soon, on seeing their colors on the opposite side of the ravine, pushed rapidly up and passed the rifle-pits and fort. Lieut.-Col. Wright came to my support when I had advanced part the way up the opposite side of the ravine and at a time when I was most heavily pressed. The enemy left me one 12-pounder howitzer in the fort, which was immediately turned against Battery No. 9. Lieut. Short, whom I left in care of the wounded and to bury the dead, reports that he buried 11 and brought away 43 wounded. The enemy retreated to Battery No. 9, reformed and advanced apparently to take the work he had just lost. I formed all the men of both regiments and advanced to meet him, and drove him back. At this juncture I would have advanced against Battery No. 9 had it not been that company commanders assured me that the ammunition was about expended. At about 9 o'clock I was relieved by troops of the Second Corps, when I rejoined my brigade.

During the whole day my regiment, both officers and men, behaved in such a manner as to give me great satisfaction and the fullest confidence in the fighting qualities of colored troops. I take great pleasure in calling the attention of the colonel commanding to the gallantry and skill of Maj. Cook while in command of the skirmish line in my front, and for his daring in attacking a heavy work with a line of skirmishers.

A list of casualties will be forwarded with this report.*

J. B. KIDDOO. Col., Cmdg.

Lieut. VANNINGS. Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.

Source: Official Records CHAP. LII.] THE RICHMOND CAMPAIGN. PAGE 724-80 [Series I. Vol. 40. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 80.]

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Report of Capt. Albert Janes, Twenty-second U. S. Colored Troops, First Brigade, of operations September 29-30.

HDQRS. TWENTY-SECOND U. S. COLORED TROOPS, In the Field, Va., October 17, 1864. SIR: In accordance with verbal orders from headquarters First Brigade, Third Division, Eighteenth Army Corps, I have the honor to make the following report of the engagement of the 29th and 30th ultimo, in which the Twenty-second U. S. Colored Troops participated, commanded by Maj. J. B. Cook:

At 4 a.m. on the 29th the regiment moved with the brigade from Deep Bottom, Va., toward the enemy's lies. His pickets were encountered on the edge of a woody ravine (through which runs Four Mile Creek) by the skirmishers of the Third Brigade (Duncan's), which was deployed preparatory to a charge. The First Brigade was moved in column by division, the Twenty-second in front, to the rear of the center of the line as a support. A charge was made by the Third Brigade, which proved unsuccessful. The First Brigade (the support) had in the meantime conformed to the movements of the line. The Twenty-second U. S. Colored Troops was then deployed as skirmishers and moved forward under a heavy fire of artillery from the right, which nearly enfiladed the line. One officer and eight men were wounded by shells from this source. The line moved forward through a dense tangle of underbrush and felled trees into an open plain. Here the first fire of the enemy's pickets was encountered, who were stationed across the plain in a piece of woods. One man was killed and several wounded in crossing this plain. The enemy was found to be in force beyond the woods in rifle-pits covering the New Market road. The rifle-pits had an abatis in front. As the charging column came up to the support of the skirmish line a part of the regiment assembled on the right and moved forward into the works, driving the enemy in confusion from them. After following the enemy a few hundred yards across the road, the regiment, being again deployed, assembled on the left, and with the rest of the brigade moved toward Richmond, on the New Market road, and encamped for the night to the right of Fort Harrison. On the morning of the 30th the regiment moved to the right of the fort, refaced and repaired to earth-works adjacent to the fort. At 1 o'clock the enemy was seen making preparation for an attack. At 2 o'clock our pickets were driven in and five distinct lines of the enemy charged our line. The attack was general. The charging column was repulsed. A second time charged and second time repulsed. A counter-charge was then made by the Twenty-second, which added impetus to the already flying rebels. In this counter-charge the regiment encountered a strong [force] which was stationed under the lee of an isolated fort, and from which we received a volley of musketry which killed several men and wounded two officers (Maj. J. B. Cook and Capt. Jacob F. Force), but they, too, were put [to] flight, and, as no other advantage could be gained, the regiment again took its position in line behind the breast-works. In all the maneuvering the most unflinching bravery was displayed by both officers and men. Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

ALBERT JANES, Capt., Cmdg. Regt.

Lieut. D. L. PROUDFIT, Actg. Asst. Adjt. Gen., 1st Brig., 3d Div., 18th Army Corps.

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Report of Lieut. Col. Ira C. Terry, Twenty-second U. S. Colored Troops, of operations October 27-28.

HDQRS. TWENTY-SECOND U. S. COLORED TROOPS, October 29, 1864. SIR: I have the honor to make the following report regarding the movements of the Twenty-second U. S. Colored Troops since the morning of the 27th of October, 1864:

The regiment moved from Cox's farm with the brigade to which it belonged at 5 a.m. October 27, 1864, taking the Kingsland road to the New Market; from thence to the Darbytown road, thence to the Charles City, thence to the Williamsburg road, where we arrived about 3 p.m. of the same day and took a position in column about half a mile west of the intersection of the route traversed by it on the road. Remaining a short time, we received orders to move over the West Point railroad and away parallel to it in the direction of Richmond. Out advance was undistinguished by anything of importance until we had gone about one mile up this road. At that point we were ordered to prepare to move on the rebel works in front. After some delay, occasioned by a misapprehension of the position of things, the regiment formed line; advanced through a dense belt of woods to a field, on the opposite of which the enemy was posted. From this point the regiment charged across, only to be repulsed. Some companies went to within a few yards of the enemy's works, so near that we could plainly see that they were not heavily manned. Had the regiment left its recruits behind I think we could have gone in. They kept firing their muskets while advancing, and in the midst of the excitement broke and ran, causing the worst of confusion. I will say in behalf of these recruits that they did well so far as they knew how, never having any drill of any account. They did not know how to act, and their conduct might have been foreseen. On the fall of Col. Kiddoo, who was wounded while the regiment was charging across the field, I assumed command, did all I could to urge the men forward, and in the retreat endeavored to check them, which I accomplished. After we had fallen back about 300 yards, the line being formed, those of the wounded who could not get off being carried to the rear, the regiment retreated in good order and without molestation to the position occupied on the Williamsburg road prior to the attempt on the rebel works. After a short rest the line of march was taken up toward Deep Bottom and continued until we reached the Darbytown road, where we bivouacked for the night.

On the 28th, by an easy march, the regiment returned to its former position near Fort Harrison.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

I. C. TERRY, Lieut.-Col., Cmdg.

Lieut. PROUDFIT, Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen.