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| Official newsletter of the 14th Tennessee Co. B Volunteers | ||||
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| Official newsletter of the 14th Tennessee Co. B Volunteers | ||||
May 10, 1863
Chimborazo Hospital
Richmond, Virginia
Lt. Col. P. Wm. Burke
Chief of Staff
Lenhardt's Brigade
Army of Northern Virginia
Dear Sir,
Please excuse the late date of this report, but due to circumstances described below, I have only recently regained the use of my right hand for the purposes of writing.
Having received orders from Col. Lenhardt during the week of April 23, 1863 to assemble my command at Gibson's Farm, near Sacramento, on the morning of April 27, I issued orders to the members of Company B to begin assembling at the point of rendezvous the evening of the 26th.
Upon my arrival at the rendezvous point, I found my command assembling, placed the men present under the supervision of a non-commissioned officer, and then reported to Brigade Headquarters, which was settled upon a high ridge overlooking a plain. This ridge was very strongly posted with artillery, which held a commanding view of the plain before it.
The Company was as yet diminished, with many members still straggling back into camp. As Rider's Battalion was not yet officially forming, the members of Company B were sent to a nearby Camp of Instruction for the day to assist in the introduction of several thousand young recruits to the realities of service to one's country. Possessing the obvious bearing of hardened veterans, the members of Company B received rapt attention from these youths, who were obviously the better for the information.
In the afternoon, we were recalled to Brigade Headquarters, and dispatched to a Commissary wagon, where we were fed while awaiting further orders.
These orders were soon forthcoming. Scouts had reported enemy activity behind a ridge to the west of the one occupied by the Brigade, and Company B of the 14th was detailed along with Captain Sylvester's Company of the 5th Texas Infantry to picket a run which ran along the foot of the next ridge. Proceeding across the plain before us, we spread out along the ridge to the west, with the 14th guarding our left, which included a bridge across the run. Our left was anchored along a swamp at the bottom left of the ridge, while the Texans held our right. We encamped in a grove along the crest of the ridge, where the reserve could quickly form in support of the guards if needed.
The night was passed in an uneventful manner, and after a breakfast the Division, under command of Captain Sylvester, returned to Brigade Headquarters where Rider's Battalion was forming. The remainder of the morning hours were spent in drilling on the open plain. Major Rider's demand for exactitude upon the drill field unfortunately left the ridge to the west uncovered, and enemy made use of our absence to move forward.
Around noon scouts had apparently notified Headquarters of the enemy's movements, and the long roll was heard throughout the camp. The proximity of General's Lee and Jackson raised the men's spirits considerably as we marched off to meet the enemy. The Battalion proceeded across the plain, and I noticed that a bronze field piece was posted on the battalion's left, along the swamp previously described, and another field piece was posted slightly to our right rear with a company of sharpshooters in support. Company B held the post of honor as Color Company, with the Texans on our right and two companies of Virginians on our left.
As we advanced, the Texans were sent forward as skirmishers, leaving Company B to hold the left of the battalion line. Captain Sylvester sent back word to Major Rider that enemy cavalry were expected to test our right. While waiting in the shelter of the east face of the ridge, I was instructed to hold the first platoon ready to detach and act as skirmishers to refuse the right should this prove to be the case. Sporadic firing could now be heard to our left front, and the bronze gun was soon in action against an as-yet-unseen enemy.
We were ordered to advance to the crest of the ridge, and executing the maneuver, the enemy's cavalry made its appearance on our right, having passed around the ridge and the right flank of the battalion. I immediately dispatched the first platoon under the command of Cpl. Thompson to refuse the flank as ordered. This placed the Federal cavalry in a serious position, for as our fist platoon advanced to their front, the field piece to our right rear opened fire, and then advanced in line by prolong with its infantry support, threatening the enemy's left flank. The cavalry soon retreated post-haste, and the gun and company on our right commenced a general advance towards the crest of the ridge.
The remainder of the battalion was by now advancing across the bridge picketed by Company B the previous evening, and formed to the left of the bridge. The bronze gun was still supporting the left from across the swamp, and the sharpshooters, the field gun and the detached platoon of Company B were throwing in supporting fire from our right rear at the crest of the ridge on the other side of the run.
The enemy's infantry had made their appearance to our front, and opened an intense fire, bringing on a general engagement. Given the numbers before us, I deemed it urgent to reinforce the line with our detached platoon, and sent a runner back across the bridge to retrieve them. Enemy cavalry were by now threatening our right to the west of the run.
Before the 1st platoon could cross the bridge, a company of Federal cavalry made a charge on foot towards the bridge, capturing it and cutting off the entire battalion's line of retreat. This placed us in great jeopardy, as superior numbers pressed us to our front, threatened by mounted cavalry on our right flank, and now received sporadic fire from our right rear. A full battery of enemy artillery was also unlimbering all across our front along the crest of another small ridge.
Although the enemy cavalry carried out this dismounted charge in a grand and gallant style, they had also placed themselves in even greater jeopardy. The battalion began to shift to the right across the bridge head, cutting the enemy's dismounted cavalry off from its main body, and leaving it caught firmly between our battalion line and our nearest supporting artillery and infantry. As we shifted right I faced as many men as possible by the rear rank and sent them charging across the bridge to press the enemy from it. While attempting to ford the run to flank the enemy bridge-head, I was wounded in the right arm by a ball from an enemy pistol, but I am pleased to report that the men, being veterans all, continued on, capturing the company of dismounted cavalry in toto.
Being wounded, but still able to walk, I took a small guard detachment and began to hasten the prisoners to our rear, as the enemy was now commencing a general advance across our entire front. I reached the provost line, turned the prisoners over to them and looked to my wound. Realizing it was but a flesh wound, I returned with the guard to the main line, now in retreat through the bivouac of the previous evening. The line was halted along a rail fence, and while keeping under cover, we also put out a deadly fire, which prevented the enemy from occupying the crest of the ridge before us. However, we were soon outflanked on our left by an enemy battle line with a heavy field piece in support, making our position untenable.
The Company withdrew in good order, and once the last man had started for the rear, I withdrew. As I turned to leave, I felt a sudden shock or spasm in my lower back. Unable to run, I walked to the main line, all the while expecting to be struck down. I somehow reached the main infantry line, which had inexplicably been halted in the middle of the broad plain, and exposed to a galling fire from the enemy's rifles and artillery, instead of withdrawing an additional twenty rods to the ample cover of another run to our rear. The artillery posted on the ridge occupied by Headquarters now belched forth a hot fire in support, but having to depress the elevation of their pieces to target the enemy on the field below them, they also released numerous projectiles and fragments thereof in a rather indiscriminant manner amongst us.
Here things began to unravel. Under a sharp and hot fire to our front, and receiving the fire of our own artillery from our rear, and with no cover whatsoever, the veterans among the ranks saw the impossibility of our situation and began a defacto withdraw. I was unable to halt this tide, especially as I now realized that the spasm in my back was a Federal ball. Weakened by the loss of blood from both my wounds, I moved to the rear in search of a surgeon, but collapsed in the shelter of the run to my rear. Here I found such men of the 14th as were still present in the field.
Major Rider presented himself in a most excited manner, asking if the men wished to serve the artillery pieces, as we seemed to have reached their line. I told him the situation appeared hopeless, and that I thought myself grievously wounded. He ordered me to the ambulance train, and I instructed Cpl. Thompson to instruct 1st Sgt. Lund to assume command of the company.
The effects of the ball pressing against my spine soon brought about a general paralysis on my right side, and I found myself in an ambulance under a heavy dose of laudanum, with the sounds of battle still echoing in the distance.
Surgeons were able to remove what appears to be the last remaining fragment of the ball from my back last week, and since then I am pleased to report that my recovery has progressed at a much more rapid pace since then. I have recovered from the effects of the temporary paralysis (allowing me to file this report) and the senior surgeon pronounces great satisfaction with the results. He says that he expects a quick recovery from this point forward, and a return to active service on my part in the near future. All of which, is Sir,
Most Respectfully Submitted,
Captain K.S. Claytor
Commanding, Co. B., 14th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry
