Headquarters 6th Army Corps,
Culpeper, October 1, 1863.
To George Woodruff, Esq.
Dear sir:
I have the honour to acknowledge the receipt of your
communication of the 25th instant in regard to the services of your son, the
late Lieutenant G. A. Woodruff, 1st Artillery, U. S. A. I will to-day forward
your letter to Lieutenant-Colonel James H. Taylor, who was Chief of Staff of
the late Major-General Sumner, under whose command the artillery of the
division was directed. I assumed command of the division to which your son
belonged in January, 1862, and had occasion to notice him expressly for the zeal
and fidelity which he manifested in the discharge of his duties. Upon our
arrival on the Peninsula we formed part of Sumner's corps. At the battle of
Fair Oaks my division was the first of the corps to reach the field, and I
placed the battery in position. I herewith enclose an extract from my report. I
consider that the battery contributed essentially in the repulse of the rebels.
At the battle of Glendale the battery was again in a prominent position.
General Sumner and myself were both wounded inside the battery. I enclose an
extract of my report. I presume General Sumner noticed more particularly its
service, as was his promise. At the battle of Antietam I again had occasion to
notice your son's gallantry, then in command of his battery. Whilst leaving the
field, my horse having been killed, and badly wounded myself, I was left for
some time within the battery, which was then engaged in repulsing and did
repulse the column of the enemy that had broken my division. No veteran could
have selected a better position, and no one could have shown more gallantry in
defending it. I made no report of this battle, or I should have mentioned
especially the services of your son and his battery. This was the last of my
service with him; but I presume Lieutenant-Colonel Taylor will give you a more
detailed and connected history of your son's service.
I would here remark that no General officer has authority to
confer brevets; the President only has that right, with the sanction of the
Senate. I have no means of knowing, but have no doubt your son's name went in
to the Senate for two, perhaps three, brevets.
I am, very
respectfully,
John Sedgwick,
Major-General.
SOURCE: George William Curtis, Correspondence of
John Sedgwick, Major-General, Volume 2, p. 158-9
