4Th Battalion
Provisional Army of Confederate States
Colonel Skip Wilson, Commanding
29 May 1864
After Action Report: Burton Campaign 24-26 May ,1864
Colonel Skip Wilson Commanding Officer 4th Battalion PACS
Major Jeff Steiner, Executive Officer 4th Battalion PACS
Captain John Rys , Adj. Jeff Davis Rifles
Captain Phil Reynolds 27th Va “G”
Captain Bernie Hocke, 5th Ky “B”
Captain Jake Weideman 28th Alabama
Lt . Barry Bamula, 5th Texas “A”
Captain Ray Slattery 6th Georgia
Captain Harry Titus, Reilley’s Battery/Battery D 1st Regt. North Carolina Artillery
To: General Dale Foxworth, Commanding 1st Legion PACS
1st Legion Provisional Army of the Confederate States
The 4th Battalion mustered available troops to reconnoiter deep into the Ohio territory at a cross roads in
Geauga County. The goal was to seek out supplies stored in the town and to make the Union sympathizers
uneasy enough to seek out the politicians to press for peace. By Friday dusk, camp was set at the southwest
corner of the hamlet of Burton,Ohio. Courtesy was given the locals. In return we received “uneasy” hospitality
afforded to fellow man.
Geauga County. The goal was to seek out supplies stored in the town and to make the Union sympathizers
uneasy enough to seek out the politicians to press for peace. By Friday dusk, camp was set at the southwest
corner of the hamlet of Burton,Ohio. Courtesy was given the locals. In return we received “uneasy” hospitality
afforded to fellow man.
Troops available were: 27th Va. “G” under Captain Phil Reynolds, 5th Ky “B” Captain Bernie Hocke,
Captain Jake Weideman 28th Alabama,Lt . Barry Bamula, 5th Texas “A”,Captain Ray Slattery 6th Georgia with support 0f
Captain Jake Weideman 28th Alabama,Lt . Barry Bamula, 5th Texas “A”,Captain Ray Slattery 6th Georgia with support 0f
Captain Harry Titus, Reilley’s Battery/Battery D 1st Regt. North Carolina Artillery
The dawn broke cool and crisp. The 4th marched to a group of roads leading to and through the center of
town to a storehouse of much needed shoes, clothes and munitions. Adjacent was a smoke house .Both were
under guard by troops found to be 2nd Battalion of Birney’s Division. Our approach was from multiple directs
in attempt to draw the guard detail away from their stations. Instead, our rapid approach only served to confuse
the guards resulting in their movement closer to our goal and into a tighter perimeter. During the continuing
fight, Capt Slattery re-deployed his troop and force marched around the Union left and approached almost
completely undetected to the rear of the enemy troops. Some were captured with hardly a shot fired. The rest
abandoned the fight and sought safety elsewhere, The 4th had reached its goal and at limited cost of lives.
town to a storehouse of much needed shoes, clothes and munitions. Adjacent was a smoke house .Both were
under guard by troops found to be 2nd Battalion of Birney’s Division. Our approach was from multiple directs
in attempt to draw the guard detail away from their stations. Instead, our rapid approach only served to confuse
the guards resulting in their movement closer to our goal and into a tighter perimeter. During the continuing
fight, Capt Slattery re-deployed his troop and force marched around the Union left and approached almost
completely undetected to the rear of the enemy troops. Some were captured with hardly a shot fired. The rest
abandoned the fight and sought safety elsewhere, The 4th had reached its goal and at limited cost of lives.
Despite the decisive loss, the enemy ceased their retreat and reformed with attempt to drive us out and thus
recover the resources lost. The deployment of our troops on a company level had all approaches covered. The
strategy of our enemy in stout formations with their numbers concentrated fell to our swiftness and mobility.
The exchange took even less time than the taking of the town, The result was 2 companies of enemy troops
captured and our bounty still intact. Upon returning to camp, rations were prepared and the troops received
well earned rest and rations.
recover the resources lost. The deployment of our troops on a company level had all approaches covered. The
strategy of our enemy in stout formations with their numbers concentrated fell to our swiftness and mobility.
The exchange took even less time than the taking of the town, The result was 2 companies of enemy troops
captured and our bounty still intact. Upon returning to camp, rations were prepared and the troops received
well earned rest and rations.
Upon receiving information from Mrs. “Belle Montgomery” a smuggler and spy whose services have
been used by the 4th in the past, the 4th would proceed to a location near the rear of the route to be taken by
the enemy earlier in the day. As their advance troops returned to the town, they were met by skirmishers from
the 5th Texas. The 5th Ky and 27th Va were sent forward in support and to cover the other crossroads of interest
to the advancing enemy. More Union troops were thrown into the fight and pushed forward. We gave ground
stubbornly. The combined forces of the Georgian and Alabama troops were ordered to leave the hasty
breastworks that were raised in front of Reilly’s battery of 2 guns. As they came forward, the remaining 3
units were ordered to execute a fighting withdrawal en echelon, Each company commander would fire their
company and retire allowing the next company to do the same. This tactic drew the enemy to the mouth of a
veritable meat grinder between 2 series of parallel buildings. The remaining 2 units joined the rotation. The
volleys were stout and very sharp. Our foe would have to pay for every inch with fallen flesh and with blood.
Our withdrawal became all the more expeditious as our troops sought the sanctuary of returning to the
breastworks. By now, Captain Titus’ guns were raining fire on the advancing enemy. They converged
first on the center of our fortifications. Our volleys crashed into them. The enemy commander withdrew
his troops from the center. Enemy artillery found its mark on our right most company. The Union troops
tested our flanks assuming the round had been far more deadly. Further volleys showed the heart of the
men who even though battered halted the advance of the enemy. The enemy would advance no more. To
aid their retirement, twice the rifles of the 4th roared mightily as one voice!!.The engagement was over. Our
victory came with less casualties than expected. Many were non-mortal wounds.
been used by the 4th in the past, the 4th would proceed to a location near the rear of the route to be taken by
the enemy earlier in the day. As their advance troops returned to the town, they were met by skirmishers from
the 5th Texas. The 5th Ky and 27th Va were sent forward in support and to cover the other crossroads of interest
to the advancing enemy. More Union troops were thrown into the fight and pushed forward. We gave ground
stubbornly. The combined forces of the Georgian and Alabama troops were ordered to leave the hasty
breastworks that were raised in front of Reilly’s battery of 2 guns. As they came forward, the remaining 3
units were ordered to execute a fighting withdrawal en echelon, Each company commander would fire their
company and retire allowing the next company to do the same. This tactic drew the enemy to the mouth of a
veritable meat grinder between 2 series of parallel buildings. The remaining 2 units joined the rotation. The
volleys were stout and very sharp. Our foe would have to pay for every inch with fallen flesh and with blood.
Our withdrawal became all the more expeditious as our troops sought the sanctuary of returning to the
breastworks. By now, Captain Titus’ guns were raining fire on the advancing enemy. They converged
first on the center of our fortifications. Our volleys crashed into them. The enemy commander withdrew
his troops from the center. Enemy artillery found its mark on our right most company. The Union troops
tested our flanks assuming the round had been far more deadly. Further volleys showed the heart of the
men who even though battered halted the advance of the enemy. The enemy would advance no more. To
aid their retirement, twice the rifles of the 4th roared mightily as one voice!!.The engagement was over. Our
victory came with less casualties than expected. Many were non-mortal wounds.
Camps were struck quiet and the men in good spirits as night fell. Morning broke grey and misty.
Sometime in the night, the enemy found some courage and took possession of the town. Troops were given
orders after breakfast that they were to retake the ground of the prior battles. The men from Ky, Texas and
Va would be the vanguard. They advanced from various angles and put our foe on his heels and to the retreat.
The hammer of Georgia and Alabama drove the enemy from the town. The 4th had them on the verge of
breaking as they raced to their own fortifications. They were strong in their center so both flanks were attacked.
Texas and Georgia on our left. Alabama on the right. Virginia and Kentucky occupied the enemy’s attention
with steady fire in the center. Despite the supporting fire of Reilly’s Battery and the hearts of warriors our
advances were thwarted. Further loss of troop strength would be the only result of any further attempts to
assault their position. A final roar of the 4th’s guns announced our retirement from the field. No further
bloodshed would happen that day.
Sometime in the night, the enemy found some courage and took possession of the town. Troops were given
orders after breakfast that they were to retake the ground of the prior battles. The men from Ky, Texas and
Va would be the vanguard. They advanced from various angles and put our foe on his heels and to the retreat.
The hammer of Georgia and Alabama drove the enemy from the town. The 4th had them on the verge of
breaking as they raced to their own fortifications. They were strong in their center so both flanks were attacked.
Texas and Georgia on our left. Alabama on the right. Virginia and Kentucky occupied the enemy’s attention
with steady fire in the center. Despite the supporting fire of Reilly’s Battery and the hearts of warriors our
advances were thwarted. Further loss of troop strength would be the only result of any further attempts to
assault their position. A final roar of the 4th’s guns announced our retirement from the field. No further
bloodshed would happen that day.
Camps were struck around 5pm and troops were moved to the rear and away from further threat. Despite
about 30% loss of troops on Sunday, the campaign was a rousing success in the supplies found and the
punishment dealt our foe will linger in their minds should they face us again.
about 30% loss of troops on Sunday, the campaign was a rousing success in the supplies found and the
punishment dealt our foe will linger in their minds should they face us again.
Invictus per Gratium Dei
Colonel Skip Wilson, Commanding
4th Battalion Provisional Army of the Confederate States
