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REBELLION RECORD, 1864.

pear to attach any blame to Colonel Lee. This was
especially the case after he had so frankly, in your
presence, apologized to me for the failure of the
plan of operations we had agreed on.
wish to detract from any commendation you have
Nor do I
bestowed on Lee's brigade. My only object is to
vindicate my own. Hoping that you will excuse
the minuteness of my statement,
I am, General, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

WADE HAMPTON,
Brigadier-General.

REPORT OF COLONEL B. T. JOHNSON, OF
SECOND VIRGINIA BRIGADE.

Captain Taliaferro, A. A. G. Taliaferro's Divis-
ion, Army of the Valley:

Virginia, to take position on the road from Grovoton toward Manassas, to guard against any flank movement on me from thence. The Forty-second mishers, and held the Twenty-first, Captain Virginia, Captain Penn, I threw forward as skir Witcher, to support the only two pieces of rifled artillery I had, which had been placed under my command by Colonel Brien, First Virginia cavalry. My own being smooth bore, I held it in reserve and in rear. Riding forward, I got on a high hill, to the right of the road, and discovered the enemy in force, their skirmishers pushing rapidly on me. I instantly brought up the rifled pieces and Forty-eighth, and, after a race, beat the entheir cavalry and skirmishers; but finding them emy to the hill, and opened on them, driving in CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that on with rapidity and accuracy, and pressing their inplace several guns in position, which they served Wednesday, August twenty-seventh, 1862, my fantry on me, I called in Major Seddon, and, with command, the Second brigade of this division, his reënforcement, determined to hold the hill, consisting of the Twenty-first, Forty-second, and which was the key of the surrounding country. Forty-eighth Virginia, and First Virginia bat- This I did, and drove off the advance down the talion, with two batteries, marched from Manas-Warrenton road, but, after some time, discovered sas Junction about dark. The Forty-eighth and them cn my extreme left, toward Manassas Forty-second Virginia had been, during the day, Thus obliged to retire, I did so, toward Groveon picket on the Blackburn's Ford and Union ton, where I received an order from Brigadier Mill road. Marching by the Sudley road, and General Taliaferro to report to him. Before I passing the Chinn house, I reached the Warren- could do so, Major-General Stuart ordered me to ton road after midnight. I was then ordered by take position in a skirt of woods near by, and to Brigadier-General Taliaferro, commanding divis- the west. In the afternoon, I discovered the enion, to proceed with my command down the War- emy's train passing to the left, toward Manassas, renton road, toward Gainesville, and picket and and opened upon it with two pieces very briskly. hold it and a road cutting it at Groveton at right Farther progress was stopped for them over that angles, and which led from the Junction also to road. Being ordered, then, by Major-General Sudley Ford. I did so, holding Groveton as my Jackson, to report to my command, I started in reserve, throwing out pickets toward Manassas that direction; but being pushed by the enemy's and down the turnpike, and pushing Captain cavalry and skirmishers, I ordered the FortyGeorge R. Gaither's troop, First Virginia cavalry, eighth Virginia, Lieutenant V. Dabney, to drive which I found on picket before I reached the them back, which was done quickly and gallantly. position, some half a mile in front of me, with videttes still farther before him. Shortly after day-the crossing of the Sudley road over the old railThat night, by General Jackson's order, I held light, he reported to me a cavalry force advan-road, and at daylight, being so ordered, rejoined cing from Gainesville, and soon after himself the division, then commanded by Brigadier-Genbrought in a courier captured by him, bearing a eral Starke, Brigadier-General Taliaferro having despatch from Major-General McDowell to MajorGeneral Sigel. I immediately sent the, courier and despatch to Brigadier-General Taliaferro and Major-General Jackson, and a short time after, ordered Captain Gaither to report to Major-General Jackson in person the contents of the despatch. Executing this order in the direction of Manassas, he was taken prisoner, and I lost his services, which were valuable. The intercepted despatch was an order from Major-General McDowell to Major-General Sigel and BrigadierGeneral Reynolds, conveying the order of attack on Manassas Junction.

been wounded the previous evening. By him I was ordered to clear the woods we had just left, but into which the enemy's skirmishers had lodged. I directed Lieutenant Dabney, with the Fortyeighth, to do so, and then sent Captain Witcher, with the Twenty-first, to support him. They did their work at once, and well. Our line of battle was then formed, facing the east, parallel to the Warrenton road, fronting it, and to the left of it; Ewell's division being on my left, and Starke's brigade on my right. This place was not attacked until the afternoon. Our line was on the crest of march on that point from Gainesville, with his wood, in the open ground, was the embankment Sigel was ordered to a ridge covered with timber, and in front of the right resting on the Manassas Gap Railroad; Rey-in one place and the cut in another, according as nolds, moving also from Gainesville, to keep his the ground lay, of an unfinished railroad. In the left on the Warrenton road; and another division afternoon, the enemy carried the embankment to was ordered to move in support of the two, in rear, en echelon to each. Finding, then, I should have a superior force on me in a short time, I ordered Major John Seddon, First Virginia battalion, with his command and the Forty-eighth

my left, and while I was trying to rally some men, not of my command, came close on me, and between my command and the railroad cut. The men were lying down at the time in ranks, concealed; and, unexpected, I ordered a charge, and, with a

yell the Second brigade went through them, shattering, breaking, and routing them. The struggle was brief, but not a man faltered, and with closed ranks their rush was irresistible. They drove the enemy into the railroad cut and out of it. Just then Brigadier-General Starke came gallantly heading the Fourth brigade, and together we went after the flying foe. In a skirt of woods in front, a battery was attempting to cover their rally; but Major Seddon and the Irish battalion wrested a three-inch rifle gun from them, and bore it off. The Fourth brigade secured another. The Forty-except the Third brigade, which, under Colonel second is entitled to the credit of capturing the colors of the attacking brigade, which was "Sickels's Excelsior," having run over them after the enemy. The flag was taken up by the Fourth brigade, and I do not claim it for the Forty-second. Returning to the first position, we held it that night.

Captain Goldsborough, whom I had ordered to take command, had fallen by my side in the charge, leaving the Forty-eighth without a superior officer with them; and they were, consequently, soon driven out by the tremendous odds against them. But for a short time the three regiments above named, viz., the Forty-second, Twenty-first, and Irish battalion by themselves, breasted the storm, driving back certainly twenty (20) times their number. As soon as their position was known, the rest of the division came to their support, Taliaferro, was employed in whipping a division by itself. Before the railroad cut the fight was most obstinate. I saw a Federal flag hold its position for half an hour, within ten yards of a flag of one of the regiments in the cut, and go down six or eight times; and after the fight a hundred dead were lying twenty yards from the cut, some of them within twenty feet of it. The men fought until their ammunition was exhausted, and then threw stones. Lieutenant Lewis Randolph, of the battalion, killed one with a stone, and I saw him afterward with his skull fractured. Dr. Rich

The next day, Saturday, the thirtieth, the division was formed on the same ground, but in order Third, First, Second, Fourth, placing my brigade on precisely the same ground it held on Friday. During the morning, the enemy sullenly felt along our line, at long range, with his artil-ard P. Johnson, on my volunteer staff, having no lery, occasionally making feints with infantry, arms of any kind, was obliged to have recourse which did not seem to be pressed with vigor, and to this means of offence from the beginning. As it was difficult to understand whether he was line after line surged up the hill, time after time, whipped or not. He, however, took possession of led up by their officers, they were dashed back on Groveton, from which Hood had driven him, and one another, until the whole field was covered with the skirt of woods which we had carried, where a confused mass of straggling, running, routed Major Seddon captured the gun the preceding even- Yankees. They failed to take the cut. The bating. I could see that some movements were being tle of the left wing of the army was over, and the made in that skirt of woods as early as eight o'clock whole of Jackson's corps advanced about a mile, A. M., and during the day had frequent reports made its right on the Warrenton road, toward the Stone to me to that effect. I therefore placed the Forty-Bridge, facing Bull Run. I was not further ensecond, Captain Penn, in the railroad cut; and gaged that day. having assigned Captain Goldsborough, of the On Sunday, we crossed Sudley Ford, and that late First Maryland, my old command, who was night bivouacked on the Aldie road, and on serving with me as a volunteer, to the Forty- Monday, September first, was ordered by Brigaeighth, as Adjutant, put it in a copse which ran at dier-General Starke to hold the road leading from right angles from the railroad, and the right of Chantilly to Centreville. Taking a position about the Forty-second, and fronted the woods in which two miles and a half from Centreville, I threw out the enemy were obviously making some move- the Twenty-first Virginia, Captain Witcher, holdment. These positions overlook the enemy every-ing half of it in reserve, and advancing the resiwhere, and, being very strong, were the ones I had determined to take and hold, if attacked. The Twenty-first and Irish battalion I held in reserve, concealed in the woods on the hill, carefully instructing the officers, at the order, to charge without firing a shot.

About four P. M., the movements of the enemy were suddenly developed in a decided manner. They stormed my position, deploying in the woods in brigade front, and then charging in a run, line after line, brigade after brigade, up the hill, on the thicket held by the Forty-eighth, and the railroad cut occupied by the Forty-second. But as they uncovered from the wood in which they had been massing during the whole day, I ordered the Twenty-first and Irish battalion to charge, which they did with empty guns. I halted them under the shelter of the cut, where, with the Forty-second, they held back the enormous force pressing up the hill on them. Lieutenant Dabney had, unfortunately, been wounded early in the day, and

due as skirmishers. They exchanged shots all day with the enemy's cavalry, who dismounted and engaged them. Having only orders to observe the large force which was apparent at Centreville, and hold it from attacking our flank, which was moving up toward Germantown, Captain Witcher was contented to drive_back_the dismounted cavalry. After sundown, BrigadierGeneral Drayton relieved me, and I rejoined the division.

Tuesday morning, September second, the column marched beyond Dranesville, and bivouacked. Wednesday and Thursday, it passed through Leesburg. Friday it crossed the Potomac at White's Ford, Montgomery County, Maryland, and thence forded the Monocacy at the old glass works, and camped by the Three Springs, near Buckeye's town. On Saturday, it entered Frederick, and encamped on Norman's, to the north. Being ordered by General Starke to take command of the city with the brigade, I put it in camp in the

barrack's enclosure, and ordered Lieutenant Lewis enemy (Sigel's division) had thrown a force across Randolph, of the battalion, on duty, as provost the river to our side, and soon after learned that marshal. Directly after I was relieved from the they had surprised our wagon train, and capbrigade, Brigadier-General J. R. Jones, its com- tured some ambulances and mules. I immedimander, having reported for duty. My brief con- ately sent the Twenty-first Georgia regiment, nection with the brigade prevents me doing jus- Captain Glover, to recover the property and drive tice, individually, to the officers and men, a few off the enemy. In this he was successful, and of whom I was acquainted with personally. Major besides captured some prisoners, from whom I Seddon, First Virginia battalion, distinguished received some important information, viz.: that himself by his gallantry. On Saturday, having the enemy had thrown one, if not two, brigades been quite ill, I advised him to go to the rear, and across the river, to annoy us on the march. As he declining, I ordered him to do so. On his way General Ewell's division was five or six miles in back, he fell in with General Pender's brigade, advance, and General Longstreet's division the and headed it with General Pender during the same distance in the rear, I deemed it prudent to fight. Captain Henderson, who succeeded him hold my brigade on the defensive, and endeavor in command of the battalion; Captain Witcher, to protect the trains. I accordingly disposed the of the Twenty-first; Captain Penn, of the Forty-three regiments (my only force) so as best to ef second; Lieutenant V. Dabney, of the Forty- fect this object. The enemy made no further ateighth, all behaved as became good soldiers and tempts to molest us. During the afternoon, by gallant gentlemen. Lieutenant Dunn, A. A. Gen- reconnoissance and verbal information, I ascereral, was conspicuous in the performance of duty on tained the position of the forces thrown across the march and in battle. Captain Goldsborough the river, and decided to attack them as soon as and Lieutenant Booth, my volunteer Aids, were the advance of General Longstreet (Hood's briboth wounded, and Dr. R. J. Johnson, also volun- gade) should reach my position to support me, if teer Aid, had his horse twice shot on two different necessary. At four P. M., General Hood arrived, days. As I cannot name all who merit notice, when I directed him, as the troops came up, to not knowing their names, I can only say, that occupy my position, and hold them in readiness every officer and man in the brigade may well be to support me should I send for aid. I at once proud of the manner in which each and every one advanced toward the enemy's position, skirmishconducted himself in the second battle of Ma-ers well in front, who soon met those of the ene nassas. I cannot forbear giving but scant justice my, and drove them back on their main force, to a gallant soldier, now no more. It was my which I noticed was placed in such a position as fortune during the two days of the battle, during permitted them to be flanked on the right and which he commanded the division, to be thrown left by a surprise. The Fifteenth Alabama, Maconstantly in contact with Brigadier-General jor Louther, and Twenty-first Georgia, Captain Starke. The buoyant dash with which he led his brigade into a most withering fire on Friday, though then in command of the division, the force he showed in the handling of this command, the coolness and judgment which distinguished him in action, made him, to me, a marked man, and I regretted his early death as a great loss to the army and the cause.

Your obedient servant,

BRADLEY T. JOHNSON,
Colonel, commanding Second Virginia Brigade.

REPORT OF BRIGADIER TRIMBLE OF BATTLE

OF HAZEL RIVER.

MORSE'S NECK, ARMY OF NORTHERN
VIRGINIA, January 30, 1863.

{ Lieutenant-General T. J. Jackson, commanding Second Army Corps on Rappahannock: GENERAL: In compliance with your order of this date, I furnish a report of the operations of my (Seventh) brigade on the twenty-second August, 1862, in the battle of Hazel River. About ten o'clock A. M. that day, I was left with orders from General R. S. Ewell to station my brigade about a mile distant from the ford on Hazel River, near Wellford's Mill, where the army crossed. The object of my force was to protect the flank of our wagon train from the enemy, who had moved up the north side of the Rappahannock almost simultaneously with our forces. About twelve M., I received information that the

Glover, were ordered on the enemy's flank, by a slight detour, unobserved, while the Twenty-first North Carolina, Lieutenant-Colonel Fulton, advanced under my immediate command in the centre. After a sharp conflict with the Twentyfirst North Carolina, the enemy were driven back to the hills on the river, where they made another stand. At this point, supported by their artillery on the north side of the river, they made an ef fort, by blowing of trumpets, beating of drums, and cheers, to encourage their men to charge. The command was given, "Drive them at the point of the bayonet." Our men boldly ad vanced, with enthusiastic cheers, and drove the opposing forces into the river and across it, in great disorder, to seek protection in General Sigel's camp and under his guns, which opened a furious discharge against us without serious inju ry. Our men pursued them closely, and slaugh tered great numbers as they waded the river or climbed up the opposite bank. The water was literally covered with the dead and wounded. Over one hundred prisoners were captured, and among the dead was found one Colonel. Deeming it useless, in the absence of my artillery, to continue the contest longer, after half an hour's occupation of the battle-ground, I retired, unmolested, and encamped a mile and a half distant, leaving General Hood, who had taken no part in the contest, to look after the enemy. The battle lasted two hours, during which time we drove the

enemy one mile. I can speak with pride and ad- of the North Carolina, which latter advanced miration of the admirable spirit displayed by the under my immediate orders. These dispositions brigade, which went into action with that deter- being made, I gave orders to advance rapidly, mination and valor which had often before aided skirmishers being well in front, until we had apto secure victory. It is specially due to Lieuten- proached within one hundred yards of the batant-Colonel Fulton, of the Twenty-first North|teries, which continued their fire, one on the north Carolina, that I should mention the conspicuous and the other on the south of the railroad. Here gallantry with which he took the colors and led I halted and issued watchwords and responses, his regiment to the charge; and to the important that our men might recognize each other in case services rendered by Captain W. C. Hall, A. A. of a mingled encounter with the enemy. The G., and Lieutenant W. D. McKim, Aid, in as- position of the batteries on either side of the şisting me to dispose the regiments for the attack. railroad having been ascertained pretty accurately, I think proper, also, to name Frank Champion, the word was given, "Charge!" when both regimy monnted Orderly, for the display of intelli- ments advanced rapidly and firmly, and in five gence and activity in the field, in carrying orders minutes both batteries were carried at the point and obtaining information. In this sharp encoun- of the bayonet. Sending an officer to the north ter the enemy certainly outnumbered our forces side of the railroad to ascertain the success of two or three to one, and certainly lost ten to one the Georgia regiment, he could not immediately in their killed and wounded, and prisoners. Our find them, and cried out, 'Halloa, Georgia, loss in killed and wounded was forty-seven, where are you?" The reply was, "Here! all among them no field officers or Captains. right! we have taken a battery." "So have we," I have the honor to be, was the response, whereupon cheers rent the air.

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As soon as an examination could be made, it was ascertained that each of the two batteries contained four field pieces, horses, equipments, and ammunition complete. Over three hundred prisoners were taken, an immense quantity of commissary and quartermaster's stores, and a large train loaded with promiscuous army supplies, just arrived from Alexandria, and about two hundred horses, independent of those belonging to the artillery Over two hundred negroes were also recaptured. In this successful issue of the night's work I had no assistance from artillery, or from any part of General Stuart's cavalry, a regiment of which arrived some time after the attack was made, and commenced an indiscriminate plunder of horses. General Stuart himself did not arrive until seven or eight o'clock in the morning.

Your order was received about nine o'clock that night, after a long and fatiguing march of the army from Salem to Bristoe Station. I immediately put two regiments in motion, the Twenty-first North Carolina, commanded by As I had ascertained that a large force of the Lieutenant-Colonel Fulton, and the Twenty-first enemy was at Centreville, and another force Georgia, commanded by Major Glover, in all hourly expected by railroad from Alexandria, and about five hundred men, (my Third regiment was as at any moment an attempt might be made to left at Bristoe,) and proceeded with them to retake the place, I kept the two regiments under within one mile and a half of Manassas, where we arms all night. Reporting our success at Genhalted in consequence of the brisk discharge of eral Jackson's headquarters, at Bristo e, I asked fire-arms in our front, caused by an encounter of that reënforcements should be sent to me without a part of General Stuart's cavalry with a party delay; these arrived soon after daybreak, and of the enemy's pickets. I informed General Stu- were disposed so as to repel any attack of the art of my intention to attack Manassas Junction, enemy. Guards were placed over the buildings and requested his aid with the cavalry which he and cars containing public stores, and no deprehad then with him. Throwing forward skirmish- dations whatever were committed by the men of ers in advance of the regiments, I proceeded my regiments, who were continued under arms cautiously in order of battle, the night being very the whole of the night, and all the next day, dark. We met with no opposition until within without relief. It was with extreme mortification half a mile of the cluster of houses at the Junc- that, in reporting to General A. P. Hill for ortion, when discharges of artillery, rapidly re- ders, about ten o'clock, I witnessed an indiscrimipeated, were delivered from the enemy's bat-nate plunder of the public stores, cars, and sutteries, in the direction of our force. From a want ler's houses, by the army which had just arrived, of knowledge of our position, this fire did us but in which General Hill's division was conspicuous, little injury. I then disposed of one regiment on setting at defiance the guards I had placed over the north side of the railroad, and the other on the stores. the south side; my Aid, Lieutenant McKim, being posted on the track with directions to regulate the advance of the Georgia regiment by that

Before concluding this report, I must, in justice to the officers and men of the two regiments, express the high admiration I entertain for the good

REBELLION RECORD, 1864.

conduct and gallantry which they displayed throughout the whole affair. When, under the exhaustion of a long march, they were told that Manassas was to be captured that night, every man set out with cheerful alacrity to perform the service, and when ordered to charge the batteries, that act was done with a coolness and intrepidity seldom surpassed; especially as they could not know what numbers were opposed to them, and, in the night, from what direction the danger would come. The force of my two regiments was less than five hundred men; the number of the enemy captured was about three hundred; but their whole force could not be ascertained. Our loss was, killed, none; wounded, fifteen The loss of the enemy unknown. As I have had frequent occasion before to speak in high commendation of the gallantry of Lieutenant W. D. McKim, my Aid-de-camp, so, on this occasion, as the only member of my staff present, I take pleasure in acknowledging the value of his services, and his judgment and coolness in so trying an emergency. I have the honor to be, Very respectfully,

men.

Your obedient servant,

J. R. TRIMBLE,
Brigadier-General.

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REPORT OF COLONEL FORNO, OF HAYS'S
BRIGADE.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH LOUISIANA VOLUNTEERS,
CAMP NEAR PORT ROYAL, VA.,
January 2, 1863.

tempt of the enemy to flank us. As soon as our artillery got into position, the brigade was or dered to fall back to Manassas.

of the enemy heavy. Fifth, Sixth, and Eighth Our loss in killed and wounded was small, that Louisiana, and Lawton's brigade, nineteen killed and thirty-one wounded. Enemy's loss, eighty killed and two hundred wounded, many of whom were officers of rank-Colonels and other offcers. The information. as to the loss on both sides I obtained from Assistant Surgeon Strickler, of the Fifth Louisiana regiment, he being left in charge of our wounded. The Surgeon also instruction of the Long Bridge, the enemy were comformed me that, in consequence of the total decars, &c., &c. After twelve o'clock at night of pelled to burn a large amount of stores, railroad the twenty-seventh, the brigade was put in motion, with orders to follow General Early; but, owing to the darkness, I was unable to find him. At daylight, on the morning of the twenty-eighth, I crossed Bull Run Bridge, and joined the divis ion. Afterward was ordered to report to General Early, and, with his brigade, support General Taliaferro, but did not engage. On the morning of the twenty-ninth, still under command of Genthe arrival of General Longstreet, when we reeral Early, occupied the right of our line until joined our division in the centre. At half past three P. M., twenty-ninth, was ordered to advance my brigade by General Jackson, and soon after engaged the enemy, and, after driving them with great slaughter, retained the ground previously occupied by them. At about six o'clock P. M. I was wounded and taken from the field, and turned isiana. over the command to Colonel Strong, Sixth Lou

Our loss was twenty-four killed and forty-one wounded.

GENERAL: Hays's brigade, under my command, arrived at Bristoe Station, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, at six o'clock P. M., August twenty-six, 1862, and was ordered to attack and destroy the railroad trains then approaching the station, they being supposed to contain troops. The duty was promptly performed, and the brigade laid on their arms until daylight on the twenty-seventh, at which time I made a reconnoissance to the front in force, when, finding the enemy embarking their troops, attacked them REPORT OF BRIGADIER-GENERAL ROBERT

;

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,
H. FORNO,
Colonel Fifth Louisiana Regiment.

SON OF SECOND BATTLE OF MANASSAS. IN CAMP, NEAR Garysburg, N. C., October 12, 1862. Assistant Adjutant-General, Headquarters Catalry Division, A. N. V.:

with artillery. After doing some damage, the enemy succeeded in getting their train off. I then returned, leaving the Sixth Louisiana regiment, Colonel Strong, on picket two miles in advance the Eighth Louisiana regiment, Major Lewis, one mile nearer the main line, with orders to Colonel Strong, should the enemy advance, to skirmish quarters, early on the morning of the twentieth SIR: In obedience to orders from your headto the rear with the Eighth, who were directed of August, 1862, I crossed the Rapidan River, at to destroy the railroad bridge and as much of the Tobacco Creek Ford, with a portion of track as possible, and to retire, in good order, gade, consisting of the Sixth, Seventh, and under cover of our artillery. This duty was per- Twelfth regiments of Virginia cavalry. Encoun my briformed to my entire satisfaction, these two regi-tering the enemy's pickets between Stevensburg, ments successfully repulsing two brigades of the in the County of Culpeper, and Brandy Station, enemy, until their ammunition was expended, on the Orange and Alexandria Railroad, in force, when I ordered up the Fifth regiment, Major B. a spirited attack by Colonel W. E. Jones, comMenger commanding, to support them; when, manding First Virginia cavalry, was immediately after a few discharges from the latter regiment, made, driving in their outpost to their reserve. the whole retired in good order, as if on parade. One regiment, from General Lawton's brigade, which lasted several hours, during which some of Heavy skirmishing on both sides then ensued, with one piece of artillery, supported the left of our men were wounded, and a few of the enemy's my line, and did good service in repelling an at-horses killed. The enemy finally retired, and was

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