REPORTS OF LIEUTENANT-GENERAL JACKSON. HEADQUARTERS SECOND CORPS, A. N. V., April 27, 1863. BRIGADIER-GENERAL R. H. CHILTON, A. A. A. General, Headquarters Department, A. N. V. : GENERAL-I have the honor herewith to submit to you a report of the operations of my command from the 15th of August to the 5th day of September, 1862, embracing the several engagements of Manassas Junction, Bristoe Station, Ox Hill, and so much of the battle of Groveton, on the 28th, 29th, and 30th of August, as was fought by the troops under my command: A. On the 15th of August, in obedience to instructions from the commanding general, I left my encampment near Gordonsville, and, passing Orange Courthouse, encamped in the evening near Mount Pisgah church, where I remained until the 20th, when, in accordance with my instructions, whilst General Longstreet was crossing at Raccoon Ford, I crossed the same river at Somerville Ford. The command encamped for the night near Stevensburg. My command at this time comprised Ewell's, A. P. Hill's, and Jackson's divisions. Ewell's was composed of the brigades of Generals Lawton, Early, Hays (Colonel Farno commanding), and Trimble, with the batteries of Brown, Dement, Latimer, Balthis, and D'Aquin. P. Hill's division was composed of the brigades of Generals Branch, Gregg, Field, Pender, Archer, and Colonel Thomas, with the batteries of Braxton, Latham, Crenshaw, McIntosh, Davidson, and Pegram. Jackson's division, commanded by Brigadier-General William B. Taliaferro, was composed of Winder's brigade (Colonel Baylor commanding), Colonel Campbell's brigade (Major John Seddon commanding), Brigadier-General William B. Taliaferro's brigade (Colonel A. G. Taliaferro commanding), and Starke's brigade, with the batteries of Brockenbrough, Wooding, Poague, Carpenter, Caskie, and Raines. Major-General Stuart, with his cavalry, cooperated during the expedition; and I shall more than once have to acknowledge my obligations for the valuable and efficient aid which he rendered. Early on the morning of the 21st, the command left its encampment and moved in the direction of Beverly's Ford, on the Rappahannock, General Taliaferro's command in the lead. On approaching the ford, the enemy was seen on the opposite bank. Batteries of that division, under the direction of Major Shumaker, chief of artillery, were placed in position, which, after a short resistance (as reported by General Taliaferro), silenced the enemy's guns, and dispersed his infantry. MajorGeneral Stuart had crossed with a portion of his cavalry, supported by some pieces of artillery, and, after skirmishing with the enemy a few hours, taking some prisoners and arms, returned with the information that the Federal forces were moving in strength upon his position, and were close at hand. The enemy soon appeared on the opposite bank, and an animated firing was opened, and, to a considerable extent, kept up across the river for the rest of the day, between the Federal artillery and the batteries of Taliaferro's command. On the following morning (22d), the three divisions continued their march up the bank of the Rappahannock, General Ewell in the advance, and crossed Hazel River, one of its tributaries, at Wellford's Mill, near which General Trimble was left with his brigade to protect the flank of our wagontrain from the enemy, who was moving up the north side of the Rappahannock, simultaneously with the advance of our troops on the south side. About twelve M., a small party surprised part of the train, and captured some ambulances and mules, which were, however, soon recovered, and some prisoners taken, who gave information that a more considerable Federal force had crossed the river. About four P. M., General Trimble, supported by General Hood (who was the advance of Longstreet's command), had a sharp engagement with this force, in which, after gallantly charging and taking a number of prisoners, they drove the residue, with severe loss, across the river, under the protection of the guns of the main body of the Federal army, on the opposite side. In the mean time the command passed Freeman's Ford, which it found strongly guarded, and moved on |