Today in History:

263 Series I Volume XXV-I Serial 39 - Chancellorsville Part I

Page 263 Chapter XXXVII. THE CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN.

time a sudden volley from the enemy threw the teams into disorder. The stacks of arms of the Twenty-second were run over by them and 2 men of the regiment severely injured. The Fourteenth New York State Militia was then moved forward and deployed as skirmishers along the river bank. At the same time the Twenty-second was moved to a point near the bank designated by Lieutenant-Colonel Kress, of General Wadsworth's staff.

Both regiments did good service at these points. After the crossing of the two regiments of the Fourth Brigade, the Twenty-fourth was employed in building the bridges on this side and the Twenty-second ordered across the river to do the same. About 10 a. m. the Second Brigade, of this division, crossed on the bridge, and the Fourteenth, Twenty-second, and Twenty-fourth Regiments, having completed the duty assigned them, joined the command, and the First Brigade also crossed, forming line of battle on the brown of the hill, the Second being on my right, the Fourth on my left, and the Third being in my rear, under the hill. We remained in this position during the day and night of Wednesday, April 29.

Thursday, April 30, about 12 m., Stewart's battery, having been posted in front of my line, I was ordered to move to the left, joining the Fourth Brigade. This position I retained until the division recrossed the river on the Saturday following. The next day the enemy's batteries opened on our lines, but there was but 1 man wounded by their fire in my brigade. During the night of Thursday, by order of General Wadsworth, substantial rifle-pits were thrown up along my entire front, in which the men took position at daybreak on the morning of Friday, May 1. Nothing unusual occurred during the day. There was no picket firing and the enemy's batteries did not open. I picketed my own brigade front during the time we were in position across the river.

Saturday morning, May 2, the enemy's batteries opened upon our lines, but were handsomely replied to by our batteries and effectually silenced. At 9 a. m. I received orders to move my brigade across the river, after which the picket line was to fall slowly back to the rifle-pits and then cross also. This movement was safely executed, and my brigade picket left in command of Captain [Walter P.] Tillman, acting assistant adjutant-general, who withdrew the line safely, and joined the command on this side about 10 a. m. At 10.30 a. m. the division moved toward the United States Ford, this brigade being third in column. At 9 p. m. bivouacked about 2 miles from the ford, making a march of about 20 miles during the day.

At 1.30 a. m., Sunday, May 3, received orders to move toward the river and cross at the United States Ford. The column crossed about 3 a. m. At 4.30 a. m. General Wadsworth, in person, designated the position for this brigade to occupy, and at 6 o'clock this brigade, with others of the division, occupied a position on the right of the general line, near the one occupied by the Eleventh Corps the night before. Here the troops threw up rifle-pits, and prepared such defenses as the character of the ground and the material to be obtained admitted.

During Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, and Tuesday night, we held this position, nothing occurring except an occasional order to form line of battle.

Wednesday, May 6, at 3 a. m., I received orders to recross the river, which was accomplished with the other brigades of the division at 6 a. m., when the line of march was resumed. At 6 p. m. we bivouacked near the point occupied by the division when the advance was made in January last, under Major-General Burnside.


Page 263 Chapter XXXVII. THE CHANCELLORSVILLE CAMPAIGN.