No. 6.
Report of Brig. Gen. Joseph
Hooker, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division.
HEADQUARTERS HOOKER'S
DIVISION,
Third Army Corps,
Williamsburg, Va., May 10, 1862.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that under the
instructions received through the headquarters Third Army Corps, dated May 4,
to support Stoneman and aid him in cutting off the retreat of the enemy, my
division marched from its camp before Yorktown about noon that day. We marched
toward Williamsburg. After advancing 5 or 6 miles on this road I learned that
Brigadier-General Stoneman had fallen upon the rear of the enemy's retreating
column, and was then awaiting the arrival of an infantry force to attack him.
This was 5 or 6 miles in advance of me, and immediately I left my command and
galloped to the front in order to see what disposition it would be necessary to
make of my force on its arrival. While here I was informed that
Brigadier-General Smith's division had filed into the road in advance of my
command, and that in consequence my division would be compelled to halt until
after Smith's had passed. I immediately returned to the head of my column,
where I found my division halted, and as Smith's was extended, it was between
three and four hours in passing. As soon as this was ascertained, and feeling
that Stoneman would require no additional support, I applied to
Brigadier-General Heintzelman, the senior officer charged with the advance on
the Yorktown road, for authority to throw my command on to the Hampton road,
which intersected that on which Brigadier-General Stoneman had halted at the
identical point his enemy occupied. The angle formed by the two roads is a
little less than a right angle. Obtaining this permission the head of my
division left the Brick Church about dark, and it pressed forward, in order, if
practicable, to come up with the enemy before morning. This, however, I soon
found would be impossible, for the roads were frightful, the night intensely
dark and rainy, and many of my men exhausted from loss of sleep and from labor
the night before in the trenches. The troops were halted in the middle of the
road between 10 and 11 o'clock p.m., resolved to stop until daylight, when we
started again, and came in sight of the enemy's works before Williamsburg about
5.30 o'clock in the morning.
Before emerging from the forest the column was halted, while
I rode to the front to find what could be learned of the position of the enemy.
The first work that presented itself was Fort Magruder, and this was standing
at the junction of the Yorktown and Hampton roads, and on each side of it was a
cordon of redoubts, extending as far as could be seen. Subsequently I found
their number to be thirteen, and extending entirely across the Peninsula, the
right and left of them resting on the waters of the York and James Rivers.
Approaching them from the south they are concealed by heavy forest until the
observer is within less than a mile of their locality. Where the forest trees
had been standing nearer than this distance the trees had been felled, in order
that the occupants of the redoubts might have timely notice of the approach of
an enemy and early strike him with artillery. The trees had been felled in this
manner on both sides of the road on which we had advanced for a breadth of
almost half a mile, and the same was the case on the Yorktown road. Between the
edge of the felled timber and the fort was a belt of clear arable land 600 or
700 yards in width. This was dotted all over with rifle pits. In connection
with the redoubts themselves I may be permitted to state that I found them
standing near the eastern and southern verge of a slightly-elevated plain, the
slopes of which were furrowed with winding ravines, with an almost boundless,
gently-undulating plain reaching across the Peninsula, and extending to the
north and west as far as the eye could reach. The landscape is picturesque, and
not a little heightened by the large trees and venerable spires of
Williamsburg, 2 miles distant. Fort Magruder appears to be the largest of the
redoubts, its crest measuring nearly half a mile, with substantial parapets,
ditches, magazines, &c. This was located to command the Yorktown and
Hampton roads, and the redoubts in its vicinity to command the ravines which
the guns of Fort Magruder could not sweep.
Being in pursuit of a retreating army, I deemed it my duty
to lose no time in making the disposition of my forces to attack, regardless of
their number and position, except to accomplish the result with the least
possible sacrifice of life. By so doing my division, if it did not capture the
army before me, would at least hold them, in order that some others might.
Besides, I knew of the presence of more than 30,000 troops not 2 miles distant
from me, and that within 12 miles – four hours' march – was the bulk of the
Army of the Potomac. My own position was tenable for double that length of time
against three times my number.
At 7.30 o'clock Brigadier-General Grover was directed to
commence the attack by sending the First Massachusetts Regiment as skirmishers
into the felled timber to the left of the road on which they were standing, the
Second New Hampshire to the right, both with directions to skirmish up to the
edge of the felled timber, and there, under cover, to turn their attention to
the occupants of the rifle pits and the enemy's sharpshooters and gunners in
Fort Magruder. The Eleventh Massachusetts and the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania
Regiments were then directed to form on the right of the Second New Hampshire,
and to advance as skirmishers until they had reached the Yorktown road, and
when that was gained to have word sent me.
Under my chief of artillery, Web’s battery was thrown
forward in advance of the felled timber and brought into action in a cleared
field on the right of the road and distant from Fort Magruder about 700 yards.
No sooner had it emerged from the forest on its way to its position than four
guns from Fort, Magruder opened on it, and after it was still farther up the
road they received the fire from two additional guns from a redoubt on the
left. However, it was pushed on, and before it was brought into action two
officers and two privates had been shot down, and before a single piece of the
battery had been discharged its cannoneers had been driven from it despite the
skill and activity of my sharpshooters in picking off the rebel gunners.
Volunteers were now called for by my gallant chief of artillery, Major
Wainwright, to man the battery now in position, when the officers and men of
Osborn's battery sprang forward, and in the time I am writing had those pieces
well at work. Captain Bramhall's battery was now brought into action under that
excellent officer on the right of Webber's, and before 9 o'clock every gun in
Fort Magruder was silenced and all the troops in sight on the plain dispersed.
Between my sharpshooters and the two batteries the enemy's
guns in this fort were not heard from again until late in the afternoon. One of
the regiments of Brigadier-General Patterson's brigade, the Fifth New Jersey,
was charged with the especial care of these batteries, and was posted a little
to the rear of them. The remaining regiments of Patterson's brigade, under
their intrepid commander, were sent to the left of the road from where they
were standing, in anticipation of an attack from that quarter. Heavy forest
trees cover this ground and conceal from view the enemy's earthworks about a
mile distant. The forest itself has a depth of about three-fourths of that
distance. It was through this that Patterson led the Sixth, Seventh, and Eighth
New Jersey Regiments. Bodies of the enemy's infantry were seen drifting in that
direction, and the increased musketry fire proved that many others were
flocking thither whom we could not see. Prior to this moment Brigadier-General
Emory had reached my position with a light battery and a body of cavalry, which
were promptly placed at my disposal by that experienced and gifted soldier; but
as I had no duty on which I could employ those arms of service, and as I was
confined for room in the exercise of my own command, I requested that he would
dispatch a party to reconnoiter and observe the movements of the rebels to the
rear of my left. This was executed to my satisfaction.
It was now reported to me that the skirmishers to the right
had reached the Yorktown road, when word was sent to Colonel Blaisdell to
proceed with the Eleventh Massachusetts and Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Regiments
cautiously down that road to destroy any rebel force he might find, and break
down any barrier the enemy might have thrown up to check the advance of our
forces in that direction, and when this was executed to report the fact to the
senior officer with the troops there, and on his return to send me word of the
result of his mission. This was done, and word sent me through Adjutant
Currier, of the Eleventh Regiment.
Up to this moment there had been a brisk musketry fire kept
up on every part of the field, but its swelling volumes in the direction of
Patterson satisfied me from the beginning of the engagement that the enemy had
accumulated a heavy force in his front. Grover had already anticipated it, and
had moved the main portion of the First Massachusetts Regiment to receive it,
while, first, the Seventy-second New York Regiment of Taylor's brigade, and
soon after the Seventieth New York Regiment of the same brigade, were ordered
to strengthen Paterson.
Colonel Averred, of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry, had with
great kindness and gallantry tendered me his services and executed for me with
great promptness several important services; while Lieutenant McAlester, of the
Engineers, volunteered to make a reconnaissance of such of the enemy's works as
were hidden from view, preparatory to carrying them by assault should a
suitable opportunity present itself for that object. For this service I am
under many obligations to that accomplished officer.
From the earliest moment of the attack it was an object of
deep solicitude to establish a connection with the troops in my immediate
neighborhood on the Yorktown road, and as that had been accomplished, and as I
saw no signs of their advance, at 11.20 a.m. I addressed the subjoined note to
the assistant adjutant-general Third Corps, under the impression that his chief
was still there. It is as follows:
I have had a hard contest all the morning, but do not
despair of success. My men are hard at work, but a good deal exhausted. It is
reported to me that my communication with you by the Yorktown road is clear of
the enemy. Batteries, cavalry, and infantry can take post by the side of mine
to whip the enemy.
This found General Heintzelman absent; but it was returned
opened, and on the envelope indorsed, "Opened and read," by the senior
officer on that field. A cavalryman took over the note, and returned with it by
the Yorktown road after an absence of twenty minutes.
To return. It was now after 1 o'clock, and the battle had
swollen into one of gigantic proportions. The left had been re-enforced with
the Seventy-third and Seventy-fourth New York Regiments – the only remaining
ones of my reserve – under Colonel Taylor, and all were engaged; yet its
fortunes would ebb and flow, despite the most determined courage and valor of
my devoted officers and men. Three times the enemy approached within 80 yards
of the road, which was the center of my operations, and as often were they
thrown back with violence and slaughter. Every time his advance was made with
fresh troops, and each succeeding one seemed to be in greater force and
determination.
The Eleventh Massachusetts Regiment and the Twenty-sixth
Pennsylvania were ordered to the left. The support of the batteries and the
Second New Hampshire Regiment were withdrawn from their advanced position in
front to take post where they could look after the front and left at the same
time. The orders to the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania Regiment did not reach it,
and it remained on the right.
At this juncture word was received from Colonel Taylor that
the regiments of his command longest engaged were falling short of ammunition,
and when he was informed that the supply train was not yet up a portion of his
command presented an obstinate front to the advance of the enemy with no other
cartridges than were gathered from the boxes of the fallen.
Again the enemy were re-enforced by the arrival of
Longstreet's division. His troops had passed through Williamsburg on their
retreat from Yorktown and were recalled to strengthen the rebel forces before
Williamsburg. No sooner had they joined than it was known that they were again
moving to drive in our left. After a violent and protracted struggle they were
again repulsed with great loss. Simultaneous with this movement an attempt was made to
drive in our front and seize the batteries by the troops from Fort Magruder,
aided by re-enforcements from the redoubts on the left. The withdrawal of the
supports invited this attack, and it was at this time that four of our guns
were captured. They could have been saved, but only at the risk of losing the
day. Whatever of dishonor, if any, is attached to their loss belongs to the
brigadier-general commanding the division, and not to his chief of artillery or
to the officers or men serving with the batteries, for truer men never stepped
upon the field of battle.
While this was going on in front Captain Smith, by a
skillful disposition of his battery, held complete command of the road, which
subsequently, by a few well-directed shots, was turned to good account.
The foregoing furnishes a faithful narrative of the
disposition of my command throughout this eventful day. Between 4 and 5 o'clock
Brigadier-general Kearny, with all his characteristic gallantry, arrived on the
ground at the head of his division, and after having secured their positions my
division was withdrawn from the contest and held as a reserve until dark, when
the battle ended, after a prolonged and severe conflict against three times my
number, directed by the most accomplished general of the rebel army, Maj. Gen.
J. E. Johnston, assisted by Generals Longstreet, Pryor, Gholson, and Pickett,
with commands selected from the best troops in their army.
The lists of the killed and wounded attest the character of
the contest. The killed of the enemy must have been double my own. Of the
wounded we cannot estimate. Eight hundred were left in hospitals at
Williamsburg, and others were distributed among the private houses of this
city, while all the available tenements in the vicinity of the field of battle are
filled with them. Three hundred prisoners were taken.
I have omitted to mention the arrival early in the afternoon
of Brigadier-General Heintzelman, commanding the Third Army Corps, with his
staff, and to express my very grateful acknowledgments for the encouragement
inspired by his presence and for the aid and support he gave me by his counsel
and conduct.
As soon as darkness concealed their movements the rebels
retreated in a state of utter demoralization, leaving behind artillery, wagons,
&c.
History will not be believed when it is told that the noble
officers and men of my division were permitted to carry on this unequal
struggle from morning until night unaided in the presence of more than 30,000
of their comrades with arms in their hands; nevertheless it is true. If we
failed to capture the rebel army on the plains of Williamsburg it surely will
not be ascribed to the want of conduct and courage in my command.
The field was marked by an unusual number of instances of
conspicuous courage and daring, which I shall seek an early opportunity to
bring to the notice of the commander of the Third Corps.
At this time I can speak but in general terms of the
regiments and batteries engaged in the battle of Williamsburg. Their list of
the killed and wounded from among their number will forever determine the
extent of their participation in this hard-fought and dearly-contested field.*
Their constancy and courage are deserving all praise. My profound and grateful
acknowledgments are rendered to them.
I am under great obligations to the officers of my staff for
eminent serves, and especially to Capt. Joseph Dickinson, my assistant
adjutant-general, and my aides-de-camp, Lieuts. William H. Lawrence and Joseph
Abbott, who were with me throughout the day.
JOSEPH HOOKER,
Brigadier-General,
Commanding Division.
__________
* Casualties embodied in return on p. 450.
SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
11, Part 1 (Serial No. 12), p. 464-9
