O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXV/1 [S# 39]

APRIL 27-MAY 6, 1863.--The Chancellorsville Campaign.

No. 267.--Report of Col. Samuel Ross, Twentieth Connecticut Infantry, commanding Second Brigade.

IN PRIVATE HOSPITAL, Washington, D.C., May 8, 1863.

SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my (Second) brigade, General Williams' (First) division, General Slocum's (Twelfth) cops, at Chancellorsville up to the time I was wounded by the fragment of a shell on Sunday, May 3, about 8 a.m., and carried from the field:

My brigade--composed of the Third Maryland Volunteers, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, and the One hundred and twenty-third and One hundred and forty-fifth New York Volunteers--was posted in line of battle on the evening of April 30 in the following order: My left commencing on the right of General Geary's division, with my right extending to General Ruger's brigade. The One hundred and twenty-third New York Volunteers on the right, next the One hundred and forty-fifth New York Volunteers, and the Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers on the left. The Third Maryland Volunteers was held in reserve. The two left regiments occupied wooded ground, and extended to the open ground, which, being commanded by our artillery, was without infantry, the first-named regiment occupying the wooded ground from this open space to General Ruger's brigade.

The regiments in line immediately built temporary breastworks by felling trees, &c., which were subsequently improved so as to afford very good protection.

In the movement of Friday morning, May 1, on the enemy, my brigade was the reserve of the division and was not engaged, although under the fire of the enemy's artillery. The brigade performed the exact duty assigned to it by the orders of General Williams.

On returning to my former position, in pursuance of orders from General Williams, the One hundred and twenty-third Regiment New York Volunteers was advanced in front of our lines to feel the enemy, to send out scouts and pickets, and to hold the position on the high ground near a small house until compelled to fall back.

In the meantime the Third Maryland Volunteers was detached to support an artillery battery.

Very soon the One hundred and twenty-third New York Volunteers became hotly engaged with the enemy, who appeared in force, driving in the scouts and pickets. Overwhelmed by superior numbers, and nearly surrounded, this regiment gallantly maintained its ground until ordered to fall back, when it retired at about sundown in good order.

Lieutenant-Colonel Norton fell, severely wounded, while bravely discharging his duty. The loss of the day, as verbally reported, was 2 killed and 8 wounded. The line of battle of Friday night was as follows:

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The Third Maryland Volunteers, having been relieved from duty with the artillery battery, returned and occupied the breastworks on the right, formerly manned by the One hundred and twenty-third New York Volunteers. The One hundred and twenty-third New York Volunteers occupied the open ground between the woods, and erected during the night temporary breastworks thereon by bringing trees from the woods. The other regiments were posted the same as on the night before.

In the movement of the division with other troops on Saturday afternoon, in our front, to drive the enemy from the woods and to the Plank road, my brigade took position between General Ruger's brigade on my left and General Knipe's brigade on my right, advancing on the enemy, as ordered by General Williams in person, "by the right of companies to the front," in double lines, the One hundred and twenty-third and One hundred and forty-fifth New York Volunteers forming one line and the Twentieth Connecticut and the Third Maryland Volunteers making another line. When well into the woods, under a heavy fire of round shot and shell from the enemy's artillery, advancing under the immediate direction of General Williams in person, Maj. Julius Hayden, U.S. Army (serving on the staff of General Whipple, I believe), came to me with information of the exact position of the enemy, which was to our right and front (which information I sent by an aide-de-camp to General Williams, who was near at hand); whereupon I immediately faced the brigade to the right, and moved to opposite where the enemy was, and commenced the formation of line of battle, intending to briskly charge the enemy, as General Williams had directed me to do, in double-quick, "if the least opportunity offered," it being late in the day, and the importance of driving the enemy to the Plank road before dark being particularly impressed upon me by General Williams in person.

Just as my line of battle for a charge was being completed, the sad disaster to the Eleventh Corps became known. I immediately received orders from General Williams to return in good order to my former position, which order I executed without the loss of an officer or man.

About 1 a.m. on Sunday, May 3, my line of battle was changed, by the order of General Williams, so as to establish two regiments on the right of General Ruger's new line of battle--whose brigade had changed front at right angles with its former position, his left resting near where the left of the Third Maryland had been, and his right extending toward the Plank road--my two regiments being intended to relieve General Knipe (whose brigade was held in reserve) and to occupy the ground between Generals Ruger's and Birney's troops, with my right resting at the Plank road· The Third Maryland Volunteers and One hundred and twenty-third New York Volunteers were the two regiments so posted on the right. The One hundred and forty-fifth New York Volunteers and Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers remained on the left Of General Ruger's brigade, forming a line nearly at right angles with the new front, and were moved from their former position, so as to connect with the left of General Ruger's brigade, General Geary's troops taking possession of the defenses made vacant by these changes. The One hundred and twenty-third New York Volunteers and Third Maryland Volunteers worked unceasingly through the night in erecting breastworks of logs, and were so engaged when the enemy opened fire.

Thus, on Sunday morning, May 3, my line of battle was formed:[bitmap]

By the personal order of General Williams, who visited the line just as the battle was beginning, I took post with the two regiments on the right.

Immediately after daylight our scouts reported the enemy advancing. About 5:30 a.m. our pickets were driven in, and the enemy, with artillery and infantry, vigorously attacked our lines. In a few minutes the battle raged with great fury.

In the early part of the day (I think it was about 8 a.m.) I was wounded by a fragment of shell just above the ankle joint, totally disabling me from standing alone, and carried from the field. I reported to Lieut. Col. H. C. Rodgers, assistant adjutant-general Twelfth Corps, and then expected to return to the field as soon as my wound could be dressed, but my foot, ankle, and leg began to swell so that I was obliged to have my boot cut off, and from that moment to the present my right leg has been totally disabled. I shall, therefore, be obliged to refer you to regimental reports and my successor in command for what transpired after I was wounded, and for a list of killed, wounded, and missing.

The coolness, bravery, fortitude, and cheerful promptness in the performance of every duty, of the officers and men under my command, merit especial mention.

The following regimental commanders I desire to mention for coolness and bravery throughout these incidents: Lieutenant-Colonel Wooster, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers; Lieutenant-Colonel Robinson, Third Maryland Volunteers, and Colonel McDougall, One hundred and twenty-thirdNew York Volunteers.

The staff officers of the brigade, one and all, rendered me every assistance and promptly performed their duties without regard to dangers. I desire to mention them, viz: Captain Shannon, assistant adjutant-gen-eral; Lieutenant Beardsley, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, acting assistant inspector general; Lieutenant Burbank, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, aide-de-camp, and Lieutenant Robinson, One hundred and twenty-third New York Volunteers, aide-de-camp.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

SAML. ROSS,

Colonel 20th Conn. Vols., Comdg. 2d Brig., 1st Div., 12th A. C.

Capt. S. E. PITTMAN,

A. A. A. G., Gen. Williams' Div., Gen. Slocum's Corps.