Official Records Vol. XI, Part I
p. 33 McClellan to Lincoln May 26, 1862
Brig Gen Porter, V Corps moved with command…. General Morell’s division, composed of the brigades of Martindale, Butterfield, and McQuade, with Berdan’s regiment of Sharpshooters and three batteries, under Capt. Charles Griffin, Fifth U.S. Artillery, followed on the same road.” [road from New Bridge, via Mechanicsville, to Hanover Court-house]
p. 52 McClellan to Stanton, June 26, 1862 – p. 54: at noon on June 26, enemy approached – “Mead’s brigade was ordered up as a reserve in rear of the line, and shortly after Martindale’s and Griffin’s brigades of Morrell’s division were more forward and deployed on the right of McCall’s division, toward Shady Grove Church to cover that flank. Neither of these three brigades, however, were warmly engaged, though two of Griffin’s regiments relieved a portion of Reynolds’ line just at the close of the action.”
P. 55: Withdrawal from Beaver Dam Creek by Mead and Griffin’s brigades.” Position on Gaines’ Mill stream, with Griffin on V Corps far right, joining left of General Sykes division.
p. 221, 258 No. 12 Albert J. Myer, Signal Officer Major USA CSO Army Potomac to the Adjutant General “The Battle of Savage Station” (beg. p. 254), p. 258: “During this action other stations were established communicating the position of General Porter, after he came upon the field, to where our advanced batteries (under General Griffin, stationed a mile distant, on the Quaker Road) were firing on the enemy. Some messages in reference to this firing were thence communicated to General Porter. These field stations were withdrawn at dark.”
p. 279 Siege of Yorktown April 5 to May, order of battle
p. 281 III Corps: Brig Gen SP Heintzelman; Porter’s Div. Brig Gen Fitz John Porter, Artillery Capt. Charles Griffin (C MA; E MA; C1RI; D5US
p. 285 No. 3 Report of Brig Gen Fitz John Porter, US Army, commanding division, of operations April 4-6, 1862. “Morell’s brigade and Griffin’s battery and a squadron of cavalry were sent forward to Cockletown to occupy the junction….” P. 286, on the 5th, the division united at Cockletown and moved toward Yorktown. At junction of the Yorktown and Warwick Court Roads, engaged enemy behind extensive defenses. “Weeden’s battery was posted by Captain Griffin to shell the enemy, who as the mist rose were seen crowding the ramparts. Griffin’s battery was joined to Weeden’s. Shots from both were directed with judgment and skill, and the enemy’s infantry were driven rapidly from their huts, tents, and ramparts to seek shelter in the timber in rear of their works. Our fire was warmly returned by the artillery of the enemy. This, though of far superior caliber, produced no effect on our well served field pieces, which soon drove the artillerists to cover.” With appearance of large force, Porter send portions of Griffin and Martin’s batteries to Martindale, leaving a portion of each with Weeden. “These Captain Griffin posted so advantageously that their fire soon drove the enemy’s infantry from their works and checked the fire of their artillery.” “Like credit is due to Weeden’s battery and the sections of Griffin’s under Lieutenants Kingsbury and Hazlett. All were property posted by Captain Griffin, admirably served, and with the infantry gave assurance that any duty hereafter required of them will be performed with satisfaction, and all which may be expected of them will be realized.”
p.287 No. 4 Reports of Brig Gen John H. Martindale, US Army, commanding First Brigade, of operations April 4-7 , April 15, 1862 “Although not attached to my brigade, Martin’s battery (Third Mass) co-operated with it. After being posted by Captain Griffin, the steady courage of that battery and the quiet but determined and unflinching intrepidity of Captain Martin attracted general attention and admiration from my command.”
pp.302-3 No. 12, Report of Lieut. Henry W. Kingsbury, commanding Battery D, Fifth US Art, of operations April 5, April 6, 1862 to Capt. Charles Griffin. “In obedience to your orders”
pp. 303-4 No. 13, Report of Lieut. Charles E Hazlett, Battery D, Fifth US Art. of operations April 5, April 5, 1862 to Capt. Charles Griffin
pp. 304-5 No. 14: Report of Capt. Augustus P. Martin, Battery C, Mass Light Art. of operations April 5, 4/6/62 to Capt. Charles Griffin
p. 305. No. 15 Report of Capt. William B Weeden, Battery C, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, of operations, April 5 to Capt Charles Griffin Chief of Artillery, Porter’s Division
Griffin’s battery took position on our right, and the batterie were supported by Fourth Michigan Volunteers.
p. 311 No 19, Report of Brig. Geen. Fitz John Porter, US Army, as Director of the Siege of Yorktown, from April 7 – May 5 dated 5/8/62
p. 315:
p. 680 No.2. Report of Brig Gen Fitz John Porter, commanding Fifth Army Corps July 9, 1862
p. 684 “I have further to express the highest satisfaction at the manner in which the troops were handled in action by their…commanders… ; also Capt. Charles Griffin, of Fifth Artillery, commanding Morell’s artillery, each in his operations earned the favorable notice of his superiors.”
pp. 696-7.
No. 12.
Report of Capt. Charles Griffin, Fifth U. S. Artillery, of engagement May 27.
Camp near Hanover Court-House, Va., May 28, 1862.
Sir: In compliance with the orders of the 27th instant from the general commanding the division the batteries were assigned as follows : Battery C, Massachusetts Artillery, to General Martindale’s brigade, Battery E to Colonel McQuade’s, and Battery D, Fifth U. S. Artillery, to General Butterfield’s brigade, and for a detailed account of the Massachusetts batteries attention is respectfully called to the reports of their commanders.
Battery D, Fifth Artillery, left camp near Dr. Gaines’ at 5.30 a. m., and arrived on the field of action about 1 o’clock, and by direction of General Porter was sent under the command of First Lieutenant Kingsbury to relieve two pieces of Battery M, Second U. S. Artillery, which were firing on the road to our left. Lieutenant Kingsbury directed one section, under command of First Lieut. Charles E. Hazlett, to move about 200 yards to the front of the position occupied by the guns of the Second Artillery. One piece was placed on a little rise in the road and the other in a plowed field to the left, and opened on two pieces of the enemy, one 6-pounder and one rifled gun, distant about 1,500 yards. The fire was kept up with spirit on both sides for about an hour, when the enemy’s guns were silenced. Our guns told handsomely, killing 3 horses and striking one caisson twice, one shot exploding the ammunition-chest of the limber, and according to the information of the prisoners killing 1 man and wounding 4 more and 3 horses. The same source states that our guns dismounted one piece, which was carried [p. 697]
away, and completely disabled the section, killing and wounding quite a number of cannoneers.
It is but just to specially call the attention to the commander of the section, First Lieutenant Hazlett, First Sergt. Samuel Peeples, and Corporal Timothy Gready, gunners to the pieces.
About 3 o’clock p. m. the battery, by order of General Porter, moved in the direction of Hanover Court-House, and had proceeded about 2 miles when, heavy firing being heard in our rear, it was turned back, and aliout 5 o’clock commenced firing at the enemy, about 1,800 yards distant. The enemy occupied the position held by our guns at 1 o’clock and was heavily pressed by our musketry. Our infantry soon after routed them, when the battery was moved to the front by Lieutenant Kingsbury through an open plowed field, firing advancing, our infantry protecting the flanks, and driving the enemy before them until the halt was sounded.
The battery fired 169 rounds (10-pounder Parrott gun) of percussion shell and shrapnel, the performance being highly satisfactory, nearly every projectile bursting. Three privates were slightly bruised, 2 horses killed, 1 (Lieutenant Kingsbury’s) wounded. The officers of the battery were First Lieuts. H. W. Kingsbury and C. E. Hazlett, Second Lieuts. L. M. Harrison, H. B. Keed, and C. H. Carroll, all of the Fifth Artillery; and where officers and men, after a march of 20 miles through rain and mud, behaved with such courage, willingness, and alacrity it would be difficult to mention any others specially by name.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
CHAS. GRIFFIN, Captain, Fifth Artillery.
Capt. Fred. T. Locke,
Assistant Adjutant’General.
p. 697. No. 13 Report of Capt. Augustus P. Martin, Battery C, Mass Light Art, of engagement May 27 5/29/62 to Capt. Charles Griffin
p. 698. No. 14 Report of Capt. George D. Allen, Battery EE, Mass Light Art, of engagement May 27-28 5/30/62 to Capt. Charles Griffin
p. 701 No. 17 Report of Brig Gen John H. Martindale, US Army, commanding First Brigade May 30, 1862
p. 703 “The battery which I had in command was withdrawn and Griffin’s battery substituted. A section of this battery was sent forward on the Richmond road near to the line occupied by the Twenty-second Mass and opened fire. The enemy responded with artillery, which was near the junction of the highway and railroad, but was hid from view, as was supposed, by the excavation made for the railroad. The enemy’s battery was soon silenced by Griffin’s battery, and I subsequently learned had been withdrawn.”
p. 706 “At this moment I saw still farther in rear Griffin’s battery firing directly across the line of the Forty-fourth New York at a long range, exceeding 1,200 yards and not knowing on what information he was acting and fearing a mistake, I rode up in front of it to have the battery thrown forward… Capt Griffin directed me to the commanding general of the corps on that field….
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