1863/05/21 Report of Adjt. W.A.Daniels

April 27.--The regiment, in common with the others comprising the Twelfth Corps, took up its line of march in the direction of the upper fords of the Rappahannock, having in the line 28 commissioned officers, with 330 enlisted men bearing arms. The first day passed without incident unusual to ordinary marches, without the least straggling, although the weather was of that close, peculiar kind which is remarkably exhausting to the physical powers. At sunset, having reached Hart wood Church, 12 miles from our starting-point, the regiment bivouacked for the night, surrounded by the balance of our own corps, together with portions of the Eleventh and Fifth.

April 29.--Again took up the line of march, the Twelfth Corps being in advance, led by the Third Brigade, First Division, after which came the First Brigade, of which the Fifth Connecticut Volunteers formed a part, closely followed by the remainder of the corps. Upon arriving within about a mile of the Rapidan River, a skirmish took place between a portion of our cavalry advance and the enemy's pickets, resulting in the capture of several prisoners by our forces. At the ford of the Rapidan there were discovered a number of artisans engaged in rebuilding the destroyed bridge, and protected by two companies of a Louisiana regiment, the whole of whom were captured by the Third Brigade, with trifling loss upon either side. At the ford it was discovered that, owing to the depth of water and the absence of the bridge, it would be impossible to get the pack-mules conveying the ammunition across while burdened with their packs ; upon which, Companies A and H, of this regiment, with alacrity commenced and completed the labor of unpacking and transporting the ammunition across by hand, which task they accomplished in about two hours. The command then crossed the river, and bivouacked in line of battle behind their stacked arms.

April 30.--The Twelfth Corps continued in advance, the Second Division holding the right. The day passed without noticeable incident, the corps arriving at night near Chancellorsville, Va., where we joined the Fifth Corps, which had advanced by a different route and captured in the neighborhood of 300 prisoners. Line of battle was here formed, the Fifth acting as reserve to the rest of the brigade, the right of the line resting upon the Plank road upon which we had advanced, and facing to our late rear. In this position, a part of the regiment being on picket, we passed the night.

May 1.--Continued in position of previous night until 10 o'clock, when the division was ordered to the left in the direction of Fredericksburg, for the purpose of making a demonstration in order, it is supposed, to draw attention from the United States Ford, our brigade being thrown out in advance for the purpose of drawing the fire of the enemy. At this time, the left wing being engaged supporting a battery, the remainder of the Fifth held the right of the brigade. This object, drawing their fire, was accomplished, and the regiment lay under the fire of the enemy's batteries for two hours, but happily sheltered in a great degree from their fire by a fortunate peculiarity in the formation of the ground, which partially protected us. At the end of these two hours we retired to our original positions the commanding generals having accomplished the object in view. Here we passed the night.

May 2.--The forenoon was devoted to an artillery duel between our batteries upon the left and those of the enemy upon the right. At 4 o'clock in the afternoon, our corps was ordered out from the barricades, which had been constructed the previous night, to engage the enemy upon the left of our corps line. Before meeting the enemy, we moved about l ½ miles to the left, there forming line of battle, the Fifth Connecticut taking the right of our division and forming part of the first line of battle, Company H, under Captain Daboll, being thrown forward as skirmishers. These having drawn the fire of the enemy, a rapid exchange of shots ensued until within about 50 yards of the enemy's line, when, the skirmishers being ordered to lie down, the regiment received orders to commence firing, which it did, alternating front and rear rank with good effect. After about a quarter of an hour's engagement, the entire line received orders to fall back, firing as they moved, which was done in good order, the men conducting themselves with the most perfect coolness and regard for discipline, our regiment in the meantime performing the difficult feat or maneuver of doubling on center. After moving to the rear about 200 yards, the entire brigade was ordered to move at double-quick in the direction of the intrenchments formerly occupied. Upon arriving within 200 yards of our barricades, we received a tremendous volley of musketry from the enemy, who had succeeded in obtaining possession of them in our absence through the retreat of the Eleventh Corps, which had occupied a position upon the right of our intrenchments. It was at this juncture, while endeavoring to restore order and rally his command--which had unavoidably been thrown into some confusion by the mass of fugitives from the Eleventh Corps--that Colonel Packer was taken prisoner. At this time it was quite dark and difficult to distinguish objects at a distance. General Knipe finally succeeded in rallying a portion of the brigade, advanced upon and took the intrenchments, but was forced to withdraw, owing to the overwhelming force of the enemy. During this confusion it is supposed that the following-named officers were made prisoners, having been missing since, viz: Captain Doyle, Lieutenants Reily, Purrington, Hyatt, and Burns. The brigade was again formed, and our regiment, again upon the right, took up position some 600 yards in rear of the intrenchments, holding it under heavy fire at intervals during the night.

May 3.--The enemy having ceased firing, we fell back some 200 yards, and there halted for a short rest, having been relieved by the Twentieth Connecticut. At about daylight, the regiment was advanced to the last position, where the enemy was again engaged, and the fight continued until 10 o'clock in the forenoon, the engagement being general along the entire line. The brigade was then ordered to the rear of our batteries, and, at about 2 o'clock, the regiment was ordered to the Rappahannock, arriving at the United States Ford at 4 p.m. We crossed the river and were placed on provost duty by General Patrick, provost-marshal general, and were thus employed until the morning of May 6, when we were ordered to our old camp at Stafford Court-House, where we arrived at nightfall the same day, in the midst of a drenching rain.