Cedar Creek After Action Report, Commander, 54th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 8th Corps (OR, 43, 391-2)

HDQRS. FIFTY-FOURTH PENNSYLVANIA VOL. INFANTRY,

Cedar Creek, Va., October25, 1864.

COLONEL: In compliance with your order asking a report of the part taken by the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the action of the 19th of October, I have the honor to submit the following:

On the morning of the 19th, before daylight, when I was first apprised of picket-firing in our front, I ordered the regiment to turn Out under arms, which was done by the companies forming in their quarters and afterward marching up to the breast-work in our front. Before the line could be properly formed the enemy, apparently in a mass, were observed advancing along the whole front and already at the abatis. My regiment opened and maintained a fire until the enemy getting in our rear from the extreme left of the line of works, were compelled to fall back to avoid capture, and in so doing some 24 were taken prisoners, 2 killed, and 5 wounded. As there was no order given to fall hack, a portion of the regiment was rallied at the skirt of the woods in the camp, and disputed tile advance of the enemy for a time, during which Lieut. Joseph Peck, acting adjutant, was killed while urging the men to their duty. Arriving on the turnpike the regiment was partly rallied with the colors and formed with a portion of the Nineteenth Corps, after which it moved back to a point in rear of the Sixth Corps, where a detachment of a few hundred of different regiments of the Army of West Virginia were rallied, after which it moved forward with said detachment and engaged the enemy in a skirt of woods, driving him out and holding it for nearly one hour, in which one man was severely wounded. Afterward again moved back with the detachment to a new position in rear of the Sixth Corps. After this, the respective brigades and divisions being again reformed, my regiment conformed to the movements of its own brigade during the remainder of the day, which was that of a reserve and support to artillery, until evening, when it advanced with the whole line to Cedar Creek, going into bivouac on nearly the same ground occupied before.

I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN SUTER,

Capt., Comdg Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.

Col. MILTON WELLS,

Comdg. Third Brig., First Brig., Army of West Virginia.

 

 

ADDENDA

HDQRS. FIFTY-FOURTH PENNSYLVANIA VOL. INFANTRY,

Cedar Creek, Va., October 24, 1864.

Col. MILTON WELLS,

Commanding Third Brigade:

COLONEL: In compliance with your order calling for a report of the conduct of officers on the 19th instant, I have the honor to submit the following:

There were no commissioned officers of the Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry went to Winchester. Captains Davis and Long and Lieutenant Dunlap were with me throughout the entire day with the regiment. Captain Moulton and Lieutenants Rehr, Gageby, Troutman, and McCracken were on different parts of the field with squads of men of this and other regiments of our brigade, doing service partly with the Nineteenth Corps, and joined their regiment in the afternoon and evening of the same day. This accounts for all the officers for duty in this regiment.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

JOHN SUTER

Captain, Comdg. Fifty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry.