Report of Lt. J.R. Myrick
Third U.S. Artillery,
on the
engagement at Olustee, Florida
HILTON HEAD, S.C., February 24, 1864.
SIR: I have the honor to report to the general commanding that, pursuant to
directions received from Capt. John Hamilton, Third U. S. Artillery, as he was
about leaving the field near Olustee, on the 20th instant, wounded, I
endeavored (Lieutenants Eddy and Dodge, Third Rhode Island Heavy Artillery,
having left the field, wounded) to withdraw the four pieces of Light Company
E, Third U.S. Artillery, which had been placed on the left and in advance of
Captain Elder's battery of the First U.S. Artillery. I succeeded in getting
two pieces with caissons to the rear (some of the horses of the remaining two
pieces were already lying dead in harness), and as soon as cut loose the
limbers were brought near their pieces, but to no purpose, as from the
well-directed fire of the enemy, which was concentrated upon us (the Eighth
U.S. Colored
, which was the only regiment near the battery, having withdrawn),
horses, drivers, and cannoneers fell either dead or wounded in one pile across
the trails of the pieces. I received at the same time a wound in
my foot, my horse wounded five times and left upon the field.
I would here call the attention of the commanding general to the behavior of
Corpl. A. Barnard, who, after gallantly fighting his piece, fell dead while
endeavoring to get it away.
Finding the horses and men belonging to the two pieces either killed or
wounded, I withdrew from the position myself, the whole line at the time
retiring, the Eighth U.S. Colored having previously done so, and Elder's
battery, as well as Colonel Henry's regiment, in the act. I am confident that
had I old men in the place of the attached Enfans Perdus (who took the
opportunity to go to the rear when the first two pieces were sent off) I could
have got the pieces away. I can pay no higher tribute of praise to those old
soldiers of the battery than to say that they stood by me in my endeavors to
save the guns until they were either killed or wounded. When I retired I
found Elder's battery had occupied a new position, and the remaining section
of Light Company E, Third U.S. Artillery, under Lieutenant Irwin, Third Rhode
Island Volunteer Heavy Artillery, attached for duty, who was fighting it
nobly, on Elder's left. I changed the position of the section to the right
flank to avoid a marsh in rear of the left, and continued retiring in line
with Elder's battery until nearly dark, when my wound compelled me to again
turn over the section to Lieutenant Irwin and go to the rear.
I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. R. MYRICK,
First Lieutenant, Third Artillery.
Capt. P. R. CHADWICK,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
Other Reports from Olustee
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