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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 | ||||
Report of Operations April 26th-28th
Lt. Col. M. Gilmore, Chief of Staff
Gasperson's Brigade
Army of Northern Virginia
Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this regiment in the recent short campaign:
On the Evening of the 20th day of April, I received orders to assemble my company and to report on the morning of the 26th day of April at a ranch near Yorktown called the Gibson Ranch. As most of my company being in Winter Quarters in Huntsville, and some on sick call and the remaining on furlough, I instructed 1st Sgt. Jim Thompson to have the men strike camp and prepare 3 days rations for the march. 2nd Sgt. Tony Fuzie was left behind to organize the stragglers and sick.
On the morning of the 23rd day of April the 14th Tennessee set out for the Gibson Ranch. We arrived around 1:45 in the afternoon amongst great confusion as there was a long wagon train of Civilians headed out of the area. Most of which were children, and some of which were Negro children being rode out of the area within the same wagons as the whites. Being as how most of us in Co. B are from farms in Palmyra, some of the men had never seen a colored person. Needless to say, I was surprised at the whites and colored in the same wagon getting the same attention.
Having reported in to Divisional Commander Capt. Brian "Goose" Pennock, I was informed of where to station my Company. Our Division were to be set up in a grove of trees in front of the main camp as a picket post. The men set up camp and started cooking rations and rested after the 3-day march. Capt. Pennock informed me that the mass civilian exit was due to reports of Gen. McClellan and the whole Yankee army was on the way to Richmond.
Around 1:30 in the morning Battalion Commander Major Bobby Lloyd Frazier arrived in camp and informed me of reports that had the Yankee Army just a stones throw away. He added the men need to be extra aware of the Yankee?s.
Next morning, at Officer?s call, we were informed that we were to be held in reserve on the very left of General Joseph E. Johnston's flank. We were also informed to spend most of the day drilling the men and having them cook up their rations in case we had to move in a hurry.
After Officer?s call I informed 1st Sgt. Thompson to have himself and Cpl?s Ryan Downs and Dennis "Frenchy" Henderson to drill the men in manual of arms and that there would be a Battalion Drill to handle maneuvers. The 14th and 5th Texas drilled together as a Division with the Texans 1st Sgt. "Orlee" Orson leading the way.
After a quick dinner break, Major Frazier and his Adjutant Capt. John "Stretch" Sylvestor, formed Battalion and off to drill we went. For whatever reason the Major had us drill on "by the right of companies to the rear".
Major had his gander up and had us do it over and again. The major was so caught up in drill that he ignored the sounds of cannon fire and the sound of muskets in the distance.
As we were still drilling whilst under fire, we were caught off guard by Yankee Calvary which started to hit us on the right. As the Yankee?s were coming at our rear Major Frazier, finally seeing the threat had us about face, load and fire. The volley sufficiently scared the blue bellies away.
At about that time the Major received a dispatch informing him to move his infantry forward. Yankee Infantry appeared up over a rise in the field, and we were quickly led into a dry stream to take cover. The main Yankee force was off to the right of the field and being met by another battalion of Confederate Infantry. In my immediate front were Yankee Skirmishers dressed in green. I knew that it had been a long winter as after volley after volley from my boys none of the Yankee green jackets were being hit.
As our volley were not effecting the enemy Major Frazier gave me the order to forward my men. As we moved forward the green jackets reluctantly fell back. I gave the order to charge and they took off running. As the Yankee right was now crushed the advance that they were making on the left was halted and just as the Confederate right was pushing and my men were moving to cut the Yankee?s off, those Yankee yellow bellies took to running away. The advance on the field was halted by Col. Gasperson and the Yankee?s attempted to reform in the rear. At that time there was a white flag raised and the firing stopped.
We were given permission to care for the injured and pile up the dead. The Yankee?s withdrew from the field and the day was won. Myself and Major Frazier, having found some fine Yankee boots on some dying dismounted Cavalry, put in for those boots with the surgeon.
The battle over for the day, we were told to set up camp for the night.
During the night the camp was visited by some local women who feed the boys and definitely brought up their spirits. One local Lady, a Miss Mary, informed the boys that it was her birthday. The boys took turns singing and dancing with her.
Sunday morning saw not much action and at officers call we were told to hold our position until further notice. 2nd Sgt. Fuzie reported in saying that he had not rounded up any of the men from furlough, and seeing that his dress was not respectful of the Army of Northern Virginia, I wrote him up. At around 10:30 in the morning we were formed and took a defense position in the works that had been built over night.
About an hour later we saw the Yankee?s, which we had pushed the day before, marching twords our position. They fired upon our position and we fired back. After about 30 minutes they stayed put. Wanting to push them again the order was given to forward march. As we pressed the Yankee?s they started falling back. We kept pressing and they kept falling back, but not running like the day before. As we pushed them down a valley, suddenly we noticed 2 batteries of Yankee Artillery. These gun?s poured down on our lines and effected heavy casualties. Major Frazier was hit by a stray bullet, and 1st Sgt. Thompson went down by grapeshot. As Capt. Sylvestor was trying to figure out what to do I saw an opportunity to charge the guns and gave the command to charge. At this time Yankee Infantry appeared on both my flanks and we were driven back.
Having taken 75 percent causalities, Capt. Sylvestor had the Battalion fall back. Capt. Sylvestor then went down along with Capt. Pennock and 1st. Sgt. Orson of the 5th Texas. As I was now in command of the Division I had the boys fall back in good order. The 1st Virginia, having lost their commanders where running from the battlefield. I was able to rally them to fall back in good order with us, but the 7th Virginia, led by their commander and 1st Sgt. Kept running.
As we were falling back to a wooden fence, an artillery blast knocked me unconscious and the next thing I new I was in a field hospital near Gibson Ranch in Yankee hands. I was exchanged for officers that we had captured from the first day.
All of Which is Respectfully Submitted,
Capt. D.C. Lund Commanding,
Co. B, 14th Tennessee Inf'y.
