AUGUST 3, 1863.
SIR: In obedience to
orders, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my
battalion in the recent campaign:
Leaving Milford Depot on June 3, we marched to Culpeper
CourtHouse, and encamped in its vicinity on the 5th. Leaving-this place on the
15th, we proceeded to Millwood, where we encamped on the 18th, and remained
until the 24th, when we again marched with the First Corps, and accompanied it,
via Winchester, Greencastle, and Chambersburg, to Gettysburg, Pa., where we
arrived at 9 a.m. on July 2, having halted for three days at Chambersburg and
one day between that and Gettysburg.
Shortly after our arrival, I was directed by General
Longstreet to accompany with my battalion the divisions of Major-Generals McLaws
and Hood in the attack upon the left. The march into position was performed
with these divisions, and about 4 p.m. I placed four batteries (those of
Captains [George V.] Moody, [W. W.] Parker, [O. B.] Taylor, and [A. B.] Rhett,
the latter commanded by Lieutenant [S. C.] Gilbert, and the whole commanded by
Maj. Frank Huger, I having been ordered to control also the other battalions of
artillery on the field) in action against a heavy artillery and infantry force
of the enemy, about 500 yards distant, in a peach orchard on the Emmitsburg
pike.
After a spirited engagement of a half hour, assisted by
Cabell's battalion from a short distance on our right, the enemy's guns were
silenced, and the position was immediately carried by the infantry, and the
enemy fell back to his position on the mountain, where our infantry gallantly
pursued him.
Just before the enemy ceased his fire, annoyed by his
obstinacy, I had ordered up my two remaining batteries, [T. C.] Jordan's and
[P.] Woolfolk, Jr.'s. These, arriving on the ground just as the infantry charge
was made, joined in it, under the immediate command of Maj. James Dearing, who
had volunteered his services to me. Major Huger also followed with the four
batteries under his control as soon as the teams could be disencumbered of
killed and wounded animals (for his loss had been serious), and occupied the
enemy's original position, in time to seriously annoy their retreat to the
mountain, and to assist the infantry in causing them to abandon several guns at
its foot. From this new position a spirited duel now ensued with their new
line, which our infantry attacked in vain, and was kept up till dark, shortly
before which our infantry fell back, and the enemy, who attempted to pursue,
were checked and driven back by our fire.
Sleeping on the field that night, and replacing ammunition,
at dawn I again placed the whole battalion in position for the attack upon the
enemy's new line. In this attack, my battalion bore its full share, and
suffered heavy loss, fighting again under Major Huger, excepting Woolfolk's
battery, which was detached under Lieut. James Woolfolk, Captain Woolfolk
having been wounded severely in his gallant charge the evening before. During
the afternoon, the batteries all maintained their respective positions, part of
the time without infantry support, and driving off the enemy's sharpshooters
with canister. They were withdrawn from the field only when it was entirely
abandoned by our infantry – Captain Taylor and Lieutenant Woolfolk only
withdrawing at midnight.
During the next day, the battalion remained near and in rear
of its original position on the 2d until 4 p.m., when it marched to Black Horse
Tavern, ready to take its place in the column.
It marched from the latter place on the 5th, and proceeding
via Fairfield and Monterey Springs, encamped at Hagerstown on the evening of
the 6th.
On the 10th, we were ordered into position at Downsville, to
resist a threatened attack of the enemy, advancing in force.
On the 11th, we constructed pits for all the guns on the line
of battle at this place, and remained in them until the night of the 13th,
when, with the rest of the army, we crossed the river, and encamped the next
day on the Martinsburg pike, near Hainesville, and, on the 15th, marched to
Bunker Hill.
Marching from the latter place on the 20th, via Front Royal,
Gaines' Cross-Roads, and Sperryville, we encamped again near Culpeper
Court-House on the 24th.
The sum total of the losses in my battalion during the
period covered by this report are as follows: In the battle of Gettysburg, July
2 and 3, killed, 19; wounded, 114; missing, 6; total, 139 men. There were also
2 killed and 3 wounded of a detachment of 8 gallant Mississippians at Captain
Moody's guns, who volunteered to help maneuver them on very difficult ground.
Horses killed and disabled in action, 116. Many of my wounded sent to Cashtown
fell into the hands of the enemy there. On the night march across the Potomac,
8 men missing. Deserted near Martinsburg, 3 men. Upset near the pontoon bridge
and thrown into the river, by order to clear the passage to the bridge, one
limber of 24-pounder howitzer caisson. Destroyed in action, one 12-pounder
howitzer, two 12-pounder howitzer carriages, and six wheels. The howitzer,
however, was brought off In a wagon.
I cannot speak too highly of the ability and soldierly
qualities, both on the field of battle and no less creditably on forced marches
by day and night, over terrible roads and with scarcely half teams, by the
officers of my battalion; nor of the splendid courage and tenacity of both
officers and men under as deadly a fire as has often been faced; nor of the
cheerfulness with which the men endured the fatigue, exposure, and short
rations which often fell to their lot, the latter, I fear, being necessarily incidental
to the make-shift arrangements by which rations are supplied to them.
I very respectfully recommend for special merit and
gallantry, Majors Huger and Dearing; Capts. T. C. Jordan, G. V. Moody, P.
Wool-folk, Jr., W. W. Parker, O. B. Taylor, and W. W. Fickling; Lieutenant
Gilbert, commanding Brooks' artillery until severely wounded; Lieut. J. Donnell
Smith and Lieutenant [James] Sillers, temporarily commanding their respective
batteries or detached sections, and Lieutenant [F. M.] Colston, ordnance
officer. Under Assistant Surgeons [H. V.] Gray and [Aristides] Monteiro,
Captain [P. A.] Franklin, quartermaster, and Lieutenant [George D.] Vaughan,
commissary, the arduous duties of their respective departments were creditably
performed.
Captains Jordan, Moody, and Fickling, and Lieutenant
Woolfolk, commanding Woolfolk's battery, decline specifying any of their brave
commands for praise, on the grounds that where all so well deserve it, it would
be invidious to particularize. Captain Parker speaks highly of the behavior of
Lieutenant [George E.] Saville, in particular, and First Sergeant [E. S.]
Wooldridge. Captain Taylor also praises the behavior of Corpls. W. P. Ray and
Joseph T. V. Lantz, both of whom were killed on the field while behaving most
gallantly.
I am, sir, very
respectfully, your obedient servant,
E. P. ALEXANDER,
Colonel, Artillery.
Lieut. Col. G. MOXLEY SORREL,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
SOURCE: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
27, Part 2 (Serial No. 44), p. 429-31
