O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXV/1 [S# 39]
APRIL 27-MAY 6, 1863.--The Chancellorsville Campaign.
No. 279.--Reports of Capt. Robert H. Fitzhugh, First New York Artillery, commanding battery, and Chief of Artillery.
STAFFORD COURT-HOUSE, VA.,
May 13, 1863.
LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by the artillery of the division in the late operations on the Rappahannock:
A list of casualties and losses in material have already been forwarded.
Battery M, First New York Artillery, First Lieut. C. E. Winegar commanding, having crossed the Rappahannock with the division at Kelly's Ford, reached Fairview Thursday p.m., April 30, where, on Friday, May 1, at 6 a.m., it was joined by Batteries F, Fourth U.S. Artillery, Lieut. F. B. Crosby commanding, and K, First New York Artillery, First Lieut. E. L. Bailey temporarily commanding.
During the reconnaissance of Friday a.m., none of the batteries were engaged.
About noon of that day, First Lieut. E. D. Muhlenberg, with a section of Battery F, Fourth U.S. Artillery, was ordered to General Geary's line by Capt. C. L. Best, chief of artillery, Twelfth Corps, and remained there during the actions of the next two days.
About 4 p.m. of Friday, May 1, a rebel battery, opening from a point about 300 yards southwest of Colonel Ross' position, was silenced in about half an hour by the converging fire of Battery M, posted near the log house First Division headquarters, with one section of Battery F, Fourth U.S. Artillery, and from another section of Battery F, under Lieutenant Crosby, posted, by order of Brigadier-General Williams, commanding division, at the point of woods on the west side of the ravine.
During Friday night, the division artillery remained in battery near General Williams' headquarters.
On Saturday, May 2, Lieutenant Muhlenberg, on General Geary's left, was engaged at intervals during the whole day repelling three cavalry charges and one of infantry, using canister with great effect. The rest of the division artillery remained unengaged until between 5 and 6 p.m. The Eleventh Corps giving way, by order of Captain Best I posted the batteries in front of General Williams' headquarters, forming, with the rest of the Twelfth Corps artillery and two batteries of the Third Corps, a line of thirty-four pieces, stretching from the Plank road south to a short distance beyond the log house, the line being completed just as Generals Williams' (Twelfth Corps) and Berry's (Third Corps) divisions had fallen back to the edge of the woods in our front. From this position a sharp fire was kept up by the artillery at intervals until nearly midnight, directed principally against a body of the enemy who seemed to be near the farm house occupied during the day by Brigadier-General Knipe, commanding First Brigade, and creating among them great disorder and confusion.
During the night, by direction of Captain Best, a breastwork was thrown up along the artillery line.
Sunday, May 3, at daybreak, by order of Captain Best, I sent one section of Battery K, First New York, under Second Lieut. H. W. Davis, to report to General Geary, and the other section, under First Lieut. E. L. Bailey, to General Meade's line.
Soon after daybreak, the enemy (whose advance on the previous evening had been effectually checked) renewed the attack, which was replied to by the artillery with about the same effect as on the night before until between 7 and 8 a.m. Gaining ground on our right flank, they poured in from that quarter a hot fire of musketry, at the same time that a battery firing from the field on General Ruger's left enfiladed our line. At this time the division artillery suffered its heaviest loss in men and horses.
At about 9 a.m. Lieutenant Winegar, commanding Battery M, First New York Artillery, reported to me that he was nearly out of ammunition. I brought up Lieutenant Davis' section, of Battery K, First New York Artillery, from General Geary's line, where he had been engaged up to that time, to relieve him; but before the section, although coming up at a trot, could reach the graveyard in rear of First Division headquarters, our artillery had fallen back from its intrenched position, and the last battery of the line, Lieutenant Winegar's, and a battery of the Third Corps, retired under cover of the fire from Lieutenant Davis' section, posted a short distance northeast of the graveyard. That section maintained an effective fire against, first, the enfilading battery before spoken of, and then against the enemy's infantry, checking it as it advanced on our intrenchments, near division headquarters, until the enemy, gaining on our right, and our infantry supports on our right and rear falling back, it was withdrawn to General Meade's line, retiring between 10 and 10.30 a.m., under cover of fire from Lieutenant Muhlenberg, who, posted near the brick house (Major-General Hooker's headquarters) with seven pieces, besides his own section, gallantly kept his ground until about 11 a.m., when he was ordered to the United States Ford, there joining the other four pieces of his battery and Lieutenant Winegar's battery (M, First New York Artillery). Battery K, First New York Artillery, after joining General Meade's line, taking position near the white house between 10.30 and 11 a.m., was sharply engaged at intervals until Tuesday night, May 5, repelling the attacks of the enemy's infantry; also engaged at this point with two rebel batteries posted on the Chancellorsville and United States Ford road.
At about 8 p.m. of Tuesday, May 5, all the batteries of the division were ordered to recross the Rappahannock and return to their old camps, which they did, reaching Stafford Court-House Wednesday evening, May 6.
I regret to have to report the loss of two battery commanders. At about 9 a.m., Sunday, May 3, First Lieut. F. B. Crosby, commanding Battery F, Fourth U. S. Artillery, while directing the fire of his battery, which he had handled most skillfully during the whole engagement, was shot through the heart. Lieut. C. E. Winegar, who had worked his battery with great effect during the hottest of the enemy's fire, retiring the last of the line of artillery, after bringing all of his pieces safely off the field, returned in search of two disabled caissons, and has not been heard of since.
The conduct of the whole command was all that could be desired. First Lieut. T. B. Kirby, Twentieth Connecticut Volunteers, adjutant, First Division artillery, deserves great credit for his coolness under fire, and for remaining on the field in the discharge of his duties after receiving a wound in the arm which made it necessary to lift him on his horse.
First Lieutenant Muhlenberg, of Battery F, Fourth U.S. Artillery, for his conduct while on General Geary's left; Second Lieutenant Floyd, left in command of four pieces of Battery F, Fourth U.S. Artillery, after Lieutenant Crosby's death; First Lieut. E. L. Bailey and Second Lieut. H. W. Davis, of Battery K, First New York Artillery, for their conduct while in Captain Best's line and in other positions; First Lieut. J. D. Woodbury and Second Lieutenant Smith, of Battery M, FirstNew York Artillery, for their conduct on the 1st, 2d, and 3d instant, deserve favorable mention.
The following-named enlisted men have been reported for bravery and soldierlike conduct:
Battery F, Fourth U.S. Artillery--Sergts. David Joel and [Michael] Fitzgerald, and Corpls. John Phillips and Tazewell B. Amiss.
Battery K, First New York Artillery--First Sergt. Charles Keller, Sergts. John Duane and Marion Mosher, and Corpls. John Pitts, Clark Fairbanks, Thomas Evans, and Datus Miller.
Battery M, First New York Artillery--First Sergt. John W. Weld, Sergts. Royal A. Ide and Samuel Hood, Corpl. Charles H. Rems, and Privates Henry M. Johnson and John Walker.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant
ROBERT H. FITZHUGH,
Capt. 1st N. Y. Art., Chief of Art., 1st Div., 12th A. C.
Lieut. S. E. PITTMAN,
A. A. A. G., First Div., Twelfth Army Corps.