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359 Series I Volume XII-I Serial 15 - Second Manassas Part I

Page 359 Chapter XXIV. BATTLE OF KERNSTOWN, VA.


Numbers 11. Report of Lieutenant Colonel Philip Daum, Chief of Artillery.


HEADQUARTERS ARTILLERY BRIGADE,
Shields' Division, Strasburg, Va., March 26, 1862.

On Saturday, March 22, about 4 p. m., the enemy made an attack upon our forces near Winchester and on the turnpike leading to Strasburg. Battery H First Regiment Ohio Volunteer Artillery, Captain J. F. Huntington, was promptly placed in position, and opened fire upon the enemy, when they immediately retreated.

Sunday morning, 23rd, about 9 o'clock, the enemy opened fire upon our advance guard. I ordered Captain Jenks to advance four rifled guns of his battery, and placed them in position on a hill commanding the enemy's batteries and the village of Kernstown. He opened an effective fire upon them. I immediately ordered Captain Clark's battery to take position on the left of Jenks' battery and upon the same hill. Both batteries kept up an effecting fire until the enemy was compelled to change the position of his batteries.

The enemy then attempted to flank our right wing, which they endeavored to do with a column of about 3,000 men, but a very effective salvo from Daum's battery (Captain Jenks) scatted their force, and made them seek cover in the adjoining woods. By this the enemy had succeeded in placing a battery upon a hill to the right of the one occupied by our batteries,and opened a hot and well-directed fire upon us, which was promptly responded to by Clark's and Jenks' batteries. By this time I had placed Captain Robinson's Ohio battery in a position about 500 yards to the right of Captain Jenks, to cover our right wing from any charge might be made upon it from the opposite woods, 1,500 yards distant, which was occupied by the enemy. I placed one section of Battery B, First Artillery upon our left wing to support Colonel Sullivan. This section did good service. Toward evening, when our forces charged upon the left wing of the enemy, I placed Captain Robinson's battery such a position as to support the brigade which was to make the charge or cover its retreat if necessary. Our forces having engaged the enemy upon their left wing, I ordered the batteries of Captains Clark, Jenks, and Robinson to cease firing.

The enemy's battery having been taken, I placed Captain Robinson's battery in the position which the enemy had occupied. The batteries commanded by Captains Jenks and Clark having Parrott guns, and being placed in a very commanding position, did excellent execution. The Ohio batteries, commanded by Major Israel, on account of the inferiority of their guns, could not be used to good advantage. Captain Huntington's battery was kept in the rear as a reserve.

The loss sustained by the different batteries is as follows: Captain Clark's battery, E, Fourth Regiment, U. S. Army, Private Bartley Kelley killed and 3 house disabled; Captain Jenks battery, A, First Virginia Artillery, Private Charles Schneider killed and 10 horses disabled; Captain Robinson's battery, L, First Ohio Volunteers Artillery, Private Brown killed, Private-wounded and missing; on the 22nd, Captain Huntington's battery, H, First Ohio Artillery, Private Jacob Yeager killed and 2 horses disabled.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

P. DAUM,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Chief of Artillery, Shield's Division.

Colonel NATHAN KIMBALL, M Acting Brigadier-General.


Page 359 Chapter XXIV. BATTLE OF KERNSTOWN, VA.