HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE,
LATE CAMP 31ST N. C. REGT., NOW CAMP BURNSIDE,
February 10, 1862.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that in compliance with orders from General Burnside I embarked the Twenty-first Massachusetts Regiment and eight companies of the Fifty-first Regiment New York Volunteers upon light-draught steamboats and proceeded toward Ashby's Harbor. General Burnside coming up, ordered me to wait until the boat howitzers, then being rowed towards my vessels, should arrive. While waiting, General Foster, with a portion of his command, passed ahead. As soon as the howitzers arrived they were taken in tow, preceded by the gunboats Picket and Delaware, and under cover of their fire we effected a landing, no resistance being offered. General Foster first reached the shore, then my command, followed immediately by General Parke's, and within twenty minutes over 4,000 men were landed. I immediately dispatched Captain Neill, assistant adjutant-general, to land the Ninth New Jersey and Fifty-first Pennsylvania, all of whom were landed before 9 o'clock p.m. The general commanding passed me as I was landing, and having given direction to secure and hold the position, returned to the fleet, leaving me in command, General Foster having returned to bring up the rest of his brigade. I sent the Twenty-first Massachusetts Volunteers to occupy the road and woods in front, General Parke having previously sent out skirmishers to hold the woods on the right and left.

General Foster having returned, he, General Parke, and myself proceeded to the front of our lines and made as careful a reconnaissance as circumstances would allow. In accordance with the plan, previously adopted in council and ordered by the general commanding, General Foster proceeded at daylight with his brigade, and about 8 o'clock met and engaged the enemy. I followed with my brigade in the following order: The Twenty-first Massachusetts, Fifty-first New York, Ninth New Jersey, and Fifty-first Pennsylvania. As the road was very narrow and the woods and swamp on each side almost impenetrable, we proceeded but slowly, General Foster's brigade occupying the road. Finding it impossible to proceed directly to the front, I sent Lieutenant Morris, my aide, to inform General Foster that I would endeavor to penetrate the woods and swamp, and thus turn their right. General Foster having approved the plan, I proceeded at the head of the Twenty-first Massachusetts Volunteers toward the enemy's right. We were soon hotly engaged, but without stopping I kept moving my flank toward the left, but owing to the depth of water and dense underbrush we could make only slow progress.

Finally, after the lapse of about two hours, we succeeded in turning their right. I then ordered a charge, which was most gallantly executed by the Twenty-first Massachusetts, Fifty-first New York, and Ninth New Jersey. The Fifty-first Pennsylvania, owing to their position in the rear, could not get up in time to participate, but they would have been in position in a very short time. Fortunately our charge was successful and the enemy fled precipitately. The honor of first entering the fort is divided between the Fifty-first New York and the Twenty-first Massachusetts, but all charged gallantly, and it was owing only to their position being nearer the fort that enabled them to reach it first. During the engagement, which lasted about four hours, General Foster's brigade most gallantly attacked them in the front, and General Parke was in the act of turning their left when my brigade charged and carried the battery.

During the engagement I proceeded to General Foster's position in front of his brigade, and meeting General Parke, the final plan of the assault was made. From the beginning of the attack until the battery was taken not a regiment or company retired or faltered, but advanced as rapidly as water waist deep and the thick and almost impenetrable underbrush would permit. Within fifteen minutes after the assault I formed my brigade and started in pursuit, the Twenty-first Massachusetts being in advance, followed by the Fifty-first New York, Ninth New Jersey, and Fifty-first Pennsylvania. Colonel Hawkins' regiment (Ninth New York) for some distance accompanied the head of my column, occupying the right. On coming to a road that led to the right I sent my aide, Lieutenant Reno, to direct the Ninth New York to follow it and endeavor to capture those of the enemy that were attempting to escape in small boats. Some 24 wounded prisoners were thus captured, and among others Capt. O. Jennings Wise, who had been mortally wounded. By advancing rapidly we captured a large number of stragglers.

Upon arriving within about a mile of their advanced position I learned from the prisoners that there were some 2,500 of the enemy in advance, and as the Twenty-first Massachusetts was some distance in advance I halted them and sent back one of my aides to hasten up the rest of my brigade. While awaiting their arrival General Foster came up and passed on with the Twenty-fourth Massachusetts, my brigade following immediately. Captain Bradford, commanding Company E, Twenty-first Massachusetts, being in advance, came upon a large body of troops, whom he immediately ordered to lay down their arms, but they opened fire upon him, which he returned, killing 4 of them. The rest then fled precipitately. Immediately after a flag of truce was sent up, and General Foster being in advance, Lieutenant Hovey accompanied it, and an unconditional surrender was made to him. In the mean time I came up, and proceeded immediately to the barracks of the Thirty-first North Carolina Regiment, commanded by Colonel Jordan, who surrendered his entire command. Their arms having been secured, I assigned the prisoners to a portion of the barracks and occupied the remainder with my brigade.

As the command behaved with distinguished gallantry I cannot in justice to the others particularize individuals, but I beg leave to refer you to the accompanying reports of the regimental commanders for the particulars, all of which I most heartily indorse. Lieutenant-Colonel Maggi commanded and led the Twenty-first Massachusetts, Colonel Ferrero the Fifty-first New York, Lieutenant-Colonel Heckman the Ninth New Jersey, and Colonel Hartranft the Fifty-first Pennsylvania. Lieutenant-Colonel Maggi's regiment [Twenty-first Massachusetts] captured the flag of the fort and raised the first colors (the regimental flag). The Fifty-first New York raised the national flag on the parapet.

 Lieutenant-Colonel Potter, of the Fifty-first New York, led the three companies of his regiment that first entered the fort and was one of the first in. Captain Neill, assistant adjutant-general, Lieutenant Reno and Lieutenant Morris, my aides, and Lieutenant Marsh, of the Signal Corps, rendered me valuable assistance in carrying orders through the thickest of the fight and in directing the various regiments to their positions. In my brigade the total number killed was 16 and 64 wounded. The regimental reports give the full particulars concerning the killed and wounded. Captain Henry, Company H, Ninth New Jersey, was killed whilst gallantly leading his company. Captain Foster, Company D, Twenty-first Massachusetts, was severely but not dangerously wounded, and Lieutenant Stearns, adjutant of the Twenty-first Massachusetts, was hit twice in the head and neck, but fortunately the wounds were slight, and he remained, his face covered with blood, with his colonel at the head of the regiment during the whole day. Captain Ritchie, assistant commissary of the brigade was detailed by me on the 7th instant to go on board the Pioneer and join the naval attack. He gallantly directed the vessel to the thickest of the fight. I beg leave to refer to his report for the particulars. Captain Nichols, of the Naval Brigade, took direction of the Lancer, the other gunboat belonging to the brigade, and participated in the naval attack. Two companies of the Fifty-first New York were on board the gunboats. I have had no report from them, but I have heard that no casualties occurred.

Inclosed I send a list of the prisoners now in my camp. The list is not complete, but it is all that I have had time to obtain. The names of 30 officers and 493 men are given.

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

J. L. RENO, 
Brigadier-General, Second Brigade, Burnside's Division.