History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

1864 PETERSBURG CAMPAIGN. 575
even in the face of overwhelming odds, and escaped from an enemy who was
sanguine of their utter annihilation.
From about the middle of July, until the close of September, the regiment
was kept almost constantly in motion, freqently meeting and skirmishing with
the enemy, and performing severe picket duty. This service took it to both
sides of the James, and to various points along the lines-on the 17th of July,
to Malvern Hill; on the 30th, to the Petersburg and Norfolk Railroad; August 10th, to Fort Powhattan; on the 14th, to Sycamore Church, on the Petersburg and Norfolk Stage Road; on the 19th, to Mount Sinai Church; on the
26th, to Mill's House, on the Norfolk Railroad; and on September 2d, to Yellow Tavern.
On the 29th of September, the regiment crossed to the north of the James
and joined General Butler's Army. Soon afterwards an attempt was made to
force the works before Richmond. Kautz, with his cavalry, passed round to
the Mechanicsville Road, and working his way through the felled timber which
obstructed it, approached, under cover of darkness, the enemy's lines. Alarmed by the pickets he at once opened a terrible fire. After remaining in position
within range of his guns for an hour, during which he poured out his ammunition without stint, the command was ordered to retire. The loss in the regiment in killed and wounded was about twenty. In connection with the division
of General Terry, the Fifth assaulted the enemy's lines on the Boydton Plank
Road on the 1st of October. The engagement was severe and lasted over two
hours, but was fruitless. Again on the 3d, the enemy, while out reconnoitering, attacked and was handsomely repelled by the Fifth.
The enemy having concentrated a heavy force in front of Kautz's Division,
now reduced to about nine hundred men, on the morning of the 7th opened a
furious attack. He was at first repulsed with severe loss, but renewing the
contest he came on in redoubled strength, and with the spirit of desperation.
Still he was checked by the steady fire of the cavalry. Stung by the obstinate
resistance of this comparatively insignificant force, he again pushed on his columns and finally succeeded in driving it back and possessing the lines. The
opposing force which was led by Longstreet and Picket, numbered six thousand.
The Fifth lost fourteen killed, twenty-seven wounded and seventy-two taken
prisoners, nearly half its effective strength. Colonel Kleinz, Captains. Kerr
and Galliseth and Lieutenant Clayton were among the wounded.
On the 27th the fragment which remained of the regiment was attached to
a force under General Weitzel, which, proceeding out upon the Charles City
Road, attacked the enemy. The Fifth suffered only slight casualties. On the
10th of December it was again advanced upon the Charles City Road, where,
with two companies of the Twentieth New York Cavalry, it was charged with
holding the picket line, connecting with the Eleventh Pennsylvania on the
right. Early in the morning a body of cavalry and a brigade of infantry of
Longstreet's troops made an attack, and a warm contest ensued. Gaining no
advantage by manceuvring or fighting, he finally concentrated his forces and
struck heavily upon that part of the line held by the Fifth. It met the shock
without yielding, and gallantly charging in turn, drove him back and compelled him to relinquish the contest. The loss was seven killed and fourteen
wounded. Among the latter was Captain Galliseth and Lieutenant Schrader.
For its gallantry on this occasion, General Ord, commanding the Department,
directed General Kautz to issue the following order, addressed to Colonel