Chancellorsville Battle Reports

Last updated June 19th, 2007 by Jenny

No. 339.--Reports of Brig. Gen. Henry Heth, C. S. Army, commanding brigade and Ambrose P. Hill's division, respectively.

HEADQUARTERS A. P. HILL'S LIGHT DIVISION, May 25, 1863.
GENERAL: I have the honor to make the following report of operations of the several commands under my orders at different times in the interval between leaving the vicinity of Hamilton's Crossing, on the morning of May 1, until the termination of the operations at Chancel-lorsville, May 3, 1863:

My brigade moved from Hamilton's Crossing on the morning of May 1, on the Plank road leading to Chancellorsville. When within 3 miles of Chancellorsville, I received an order from Major General Hill to report in person to him. On doing so, I was ordered to take the brigades of McGowan, Lane, and my own, and advance by a cross-road leading from the Plank road to the old Pike, a distance of 1¼ miles; on reaching the old Pike, to feel my way, and advance in the direction of Chancellorsville. When I reached the old Pike, I found General McLaws, with a portion of his command, some half mile to rear of where I struck the pike. On advancing, my skirmishers became hotly engaged, and, as it had become quite dark, a farther advance was not made that night.

Early in the morning I was ordered to open with a battery, under the immediate charge of Major [W. J.] Pegram, upon the enemy's position, and continue the firing for about half an hour. Our fire was returned by the enemy. Being informed by Major Pegram that his shot were doing the enemy no damage, I directed him to cease firing. Soon after, I received orders to move with my command, crossing the Plank road and following the rest of the division. General Hill, soon after passing the old furnace, directed me to resume command of my brigade.

On reaching a position in rear of Chancellorsville, I was ordered to form line of battle on General Colston's left. General Colston advanced his line before the formation was completed, and rendered a compliance with the order impossible. I then received orders to form on General Pender's left. This was done. I also received orders to go to the support of any general officer requesting aid. After advancing in line of battle about 1½ miles on the left of and parallel to the Plank road, I received a message from Brig. Gen. J. R. Jones requesting support. I put my brigade in motion and advanced, passing Melzi Chancellor's house, and entered the thick oak woods on the left of the Plank road. On entering these woods, the enemy opened upon my command a heavy fire of artillery, doing us some damage. It was now becoming quite dark. The undergrowth was so thick and entangled that it was impossible to advance in any order. I ordered the brigade to reform on the Plank road, which had scarcely been done when orders were received from General Hill to move down the road by the flank. On reaching the position in the road occupied by General Hill, he directed me to deploy two regiments, one on the right, the other on the left of the road, to check the enemy, who were then advancing. These movements had not been completed before the enemy opened heavily upon the Fifty-fifth Virginia Regiment. It was here that gallant and promising officer, Col. F. Mallory, was killed. Soon after, General Hill informed me that he was wounded, and directed me to take command of the division. General Lane's brigade at this time was in line of battle on the right of the road, occupying the breastworks from which the enemy had been driven. I directed General Pender to form his brigade in line of battle on the left of the road, occupying the deserted breastworks of the enemy. Before the remaining brigade could be placed in line of battle, the enemy, under Sickle, advanced and attacked General Lane's right. He was handsomely repulsed by the Eighteenth, Twenty-eighth, and a portion of the Thirty-third North Carolina Regiments. This attack was made by the enemy under cover of heavy shelling. These regiments behaved with commendable courage and zeal in repelling at least five times their number.

McGowan's brigade was now ordered on Lane's right, and soon after Archer's brigade on McGowan's right; Thomas' brigade was posted on the left of the road and on Pender's left; Heth's brigade was held as a reserve. In this position the division remained until just after daybreak, when Heth's brigade was ordered up. Two regiments (the Fortieth and Forty-seventh Virginia) were placed on the right of the road, supporting Lane's left, the Fifty-fifth Virginia and Twenty-second Virginia Battalion on the left, to support Pender's right.

Major-General Stuart now ordered me to prepare to advance. I ordered Generals McGowan and Archer to move forward, as the line formed by their brigades was not perpendicular to the Plank road, but inclined to the right and rear. Archer's brigade only advanced a short distance before it became hotly engaged, the enemy being strongly posted behind breastworks making an angle with the Plank road. I now gave the order for a general advance. The Light Division (A. P. Hill's), forming the front line, opened the battle of Chancellorsville. Generals Pender and Thomas, on the left, found the enemy posted behind a breastwork of logs and brush, immediately in their front, at a distance of about 150 yards. The breastworks were charged and carried, the men never hesitating for a moment, driving the enemy before them and pursuing him until a second line was reached, which was in like manner broken. A third line of the enemy was now encountered. After a desperate and prolonged fight, without supports or a piece of artillery to aid them, but on their part subjected to heavy artillery fire of from ten to twelve pieces, these gallant brigades fell back in order to the breastworks from which the enemy had been driven, and which they held until re-enforcements were brought up, when again the attack was renewed and the enemy driven from this part of the field of battle.

Lane's brigade, supported by the Fortieth and Forty-seventh Virginia Regiments (Heth's brigade), and McGowan's brigade advanced and charged the enemy behind his breastworks, who was supported by twenty-nine pieces of artillery. I cannot conceive of any body of men ever being subjected to a more galling fire than this force. The brigades of Lane, McGowan, and a portion of Heth's (Colonel [J. M.] Brockenbrough commanding), notwithstanding, drove the enemy from his works and held them for some time, but were finally compelled to fall back, which was unavoidable from the course that affairs had assumed on the right of the line.

As soon as Archer's brigade commenced to move, it became hotly engaged. General Archer was compelled to conform his line of battle to that of the enemy, which, as I before remarked, in his front was not perpendicular, but formed a considerable angle with the Plank road. McGowan's right thus became separated from Archer's left, and the interval increased as the enemy were driven before them until McGowan and Lane found that their right flanks were seriously threatened. It was not until this occurred that these two brigades fell back to the line of works from which they first commenced to advance. Many valuable officers and men were lost in the charge, and especially when falling back. It was here that General McGowan was wounded the command of his brigade devolving on Colonel [O. E.] Edwards, who was, immediately after assuming command, seriously wounded. The command of McGowan's brigade next devolved on Colonel [D. H.] Hamilton, First South Carolina Regiment [Provisional Army], who commanded the brigade (luring the remainder of the action.

General Archer advanced with his brigade. Conforming his line of battle to that of the enemy, he charged the works in his front, and, without the least halt or hesitation, carried them, driving the enemy before him, who outnumbered him five to one. General Archer succeeded in capturing a battery of four guns. By his gallant attack he secured the key to the enemy's position, clearing a hill and open space in his front, and thus gaining for our artillery a position from which they were enabled to silence the 29-gun battery of the enemy, which had inflicted so much loss upon our lines. From this position our artillery had also a raking fire on the enemy's works on our right. General Archer, after carrying the hill referred to, advanced beyond the open space and attacked the enemy on his right. He was joined by Major-General Anderson.

About this time the enemy threatened to turn Thomas' and Pender's left. Re-enforcements were ordered to them, among which McGowan's brigade (Colonel Hamilton commanding) formed a part. As soon as re-enforcements reached Pender and Thomas, a general advance took place, and, aided by our artillery, which had not been able to assist us in any previous attack, the works of the enemy were cleared; and, retreating rapidly, he fell back in the direction of United States Ford. Thus ended the battle of Chancellorsville.

Where all behaved so well it would appear like unjust discrimination in mentioning individuals. Generals Pender, Archer, and Thomas deserve, for their successful attacks, to be specially mentioned; and, under the murderous fire of artillery to which they were particularly exposed, no officers or men could have done better than Generals Lane and McGowan and Colonel [J. M.] Brockenbrough. The Light Division (A. P. Hill's), although unfortunately deprived of the presence of their gallant commander, showed on this day that the spirit with which he had inspired them by success on so many battle-fields was still present, and each and all did their duty.

A list of killed and wounded has been furnished.(*)

I cannot close this report without adding that my personal staff--Captains [R. H.] Finney and [H. H.] Harrison, Lieutenants [Miles C.] Selden and [Stockton] Heth, and Acting Engineer Officer W. O. Slade--deserve my thanks for their gallantry and coolness on all occasions during the battle. For acts of individual gallantry, I respectfully refer you to the reports of brigade and regimental commanders.

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

H. HETH,

Brigadier-General.

Maj. Gen. J. E. B. STUART,

Commanding Second Army Corps.

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HEADQUARTERS LIGHT DIVISION,

May 21, 1863.

MAJOR: In obedience to circular of May 12, from corps headquarters, I have the honor to make the following report of standards lost and captured in this command during the late engagements near Chancellorsville, of the 2d and 3d instant:

The Twenty-second Virginia Battalion.--Lieut. Col. E. P. Tayloe reports the loss of the flag of his battalion, with the following circumstances attending it:

After standing the fire of the batteries intrenched in the front of Chancellorsville, and before which three brigades had to fall back, together with the fire of the enemy's infantry, until very nearly one-half of my command was either killed or wounded, I gave orders for the battalion to fall back across the road, under the hill. Since the time the order was given to fall back, I have heard nothing from the color-bearer, who had the colors with him. I heard that a wounded man reported him as having stopped to assist him, and, while doing so, he was taken prisoner, together with one of the color-guard, who is also missing.

The Eighteenth, North Carolina Regiment.--In regard to the loss of the flag of this regiment, Col. John D. Barry (then Major Barry) makes the following report:

On Saturday night (the 2d instant), while marching by the flank upon the Plank road under the severe shelling of the enemy, Color Sergeant [J. E.] Richardson was severely wounded and sent to the rear. Corporal [A. J.] Prophet, of the color-guard, then seized the flag, and at the beginning of the action of the 3d he bore it. During the action he was killed, and Corporal [Owen J.] Eakins, Company E, also of the color-guard, was intrusted with it. He bore it through the first charge upon the enemy's intrenched position until orders were received to fall back. This order, it appears, he did not immediately hear, and Lieutenant [Alfred] Rowland, Company D, seeing that he still remained, went to him and ordered him back. He obeyed, following In the rear of Lieutenant Rowland, and was probably the last man in the regiment to leave the field. He had gone but a few feet when he, too, was killed; but this was not observed by any of the regiment until we were reforming in the rear of the first line of the enemy's works, and they (the enemy) entering the line we had fallen back from; and the position in which the colors had fallen made it impossible to recover them; at least, very unwise to attempt it.

I beg leave to report that one standard and the flag-staff and portion of another were captured, with the following circumstances attending their capture:

Capt. N. Clark, Company E, Twenty-eighth North Carolina Regiment, reports the following in regard to the capture of the standard of the Third Maine Regiment:

I have the honor to report that our company, on the 3d instant, before day, after the repulse of the famous charge of the enemy on our lines, captured 1 officer (who told the man detailed to carry off the prisoners that he belonged to General Hays' staff), 1 lieutenant, 4 or 5 privates, the color sergeant, and standard of the Third Regiment Maine Volunteers.

Lieut. Col. J. H. Hyman, Thirteenth North Carolina Regiment, reports the following concerning the capture of a flag-staff and portion of the flag by Private Monroe Robinson, of Company A, Thirteenth North Carolina Regiment:

The regiment had routed two lines of the enemy (the first in breastworks), and were engaged with the third line, which was soon broken. The cartridges of most of the men were completely exhausted, and as Private Robinson discovered the color sergeant of the enemy tearing his flag from the staff, he rushed upon him, attempting to capture him, and, having no load in his gun to shoot him, he escaped.

I would state that the flag of the Third Maine Volunteers is now in possession of Brig. Gen. J. H. Lane, having been badly torn after its capture.

It is also believed that another standard was captured, which was carried home by Col. E.G. Haywood, of the Seventh North Carolina State troops, who has been written to for report as to the facts of the case.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

H. HETH,

Brigadier-General, Commanding.

Maj. A. S. PENDLETON,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Second Army Corps.

No. 340.--Report of Col. J. M. Brockenbrough, Fortieth Virginia Infantry, commanding Heth's brigade.

HEADQUARTERS HETH'S BRIGADE,
May 18, 1863.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this brigade during the late battles of May 2 and 3, in the vicinity of Chancellorsville:

Leaving Hamilton's Crossing at early dawn on the 1st, the brigade halted at 7 p.m. on the Plank road, about 1 mile east of Chancellorsville. The advanced troops of our corps had encountered the enemy near Salem Church, and, with slight resistance, they fled to their works.

At 10 o'clock on the following morning, leaving the turnpike to our right and moving upon the old Furnace road, we turned the right flank of the enemy, and at 5.30 p.m. reached the Plank road again, about 4 miles west of Chancellorsville, and in their rear. Here we formed line of battle, and commenced a rapid advance, this brigade occupying the second line. Our approach in that direction seemed to take by surprise and create a considerable panic among the enemy, who, notwithstanding they occupied superior natural positions, strengthened by works of magnitude, fled at our appearance, night alone giving them quarter. We pursued them within three-fourths of a mile of Chancellorsville. The rapid flight of the enemy, the eagerness of our pursuit, the tangled wilderness through which we had marched, and the darkness of the night, created much confusion in our ranks, which, at this point, was increased by a deadly fire poured into our ranks by friends and foes from our right, left, and front. Artillery with their caissons occupied the road abreast of us, and, without drivers, dashed headlong through our ranks. Under these circumstances our troops halted, and the chase ended for the night.

During the night the enemy was not idle, but worked like beavers in erecting the most formidable barricades and breastworks, thus partially relieving themselves of the panic of the previous evening and determining them to give battle.

Early on the morning of the 3d, the brigade, by General Heth's order, was again deployed in line of battle extending on either side of the road, the Fortieth and Forty-seventh Virginia Regiments on the right, following General Lane's brigade; the Fifty-fifth and Twenty-second Virginia on the left, supporting General Pender. The advance of our leading line became irregular, and the turnpike, which separated the brigade, being much more elevated than the ground upon either side, the interval between the two portions became so considerable as not to be seen the one by the other. Being in close proximity to the enemy, our advance line in a few minutes became hotly engaged, and we were exposed to the most deadly fire I have ever experienced. Very soon the troops in advance were forced back through our lines, leaving us without support on either flank. The two regiments on the left of the load had by this time moved within 100 yards of the enemy's intrenchments, and, while fiercely engaging them, had their left turned, and were compelled to retire. The two regiments on the right remained in their position, awaiting support to charge the enemy's works.

Finding no one disposed to move, though many thousands had taken shelter behind the barricade, our line was formed, and, being joined by about 1,200 troops of different brigades, we led the second charge. Upon reaching the edge of the field, these troops, with a yell, increased their speed to a doublequick, and such was the impetuosity of the charge that the enemy's resistance, though fierce and bloody, was of short duration. We soon triumphantly mounted their intrenchments, completely routing them from a position from which it is almost impossible to conceive how an army could be driven. On gaining the works, we discovered the field literally crowded with men fleeing in every direction, and poured into them a deadly fire. Occupying this position about two minutes, we discovered troops advancing through the woods upon our left, and supposed they were friends until a volley fired into our left and rear removed the delusion. Their numbers and position being vastly superior to ours, and being unsupported on our left, we were again forced to retire. As soon as our artillery shelled this piece of woods, we advanced a third time, and held the position. Artillery' now coming to our support, soon silenced the enemy's batteries (which had harassed us during the entire day), and forced them to abandon in great confusion their strong and well-selected position, to take shelter in the Wilderness and retreat toward the river.

The loss sustained by the brigade in killed and wounded amounted to 33 officers and 270 enlisted men.

Could aught repay us for the noble spirits who have fallen, we would find consolation in the glorious victory achieved; but our little brigade and the entire corps will long miss and mourn the loss of the experienced and gallant dead.

With few exceptions, the bearing and conduct of officers and men were unexceptionable.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. M. BROCKENBROUGH,

Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

Capt. R. H. FINNEY,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Light Division.

Regimental Reports

No. 341.--Report of Capt. T. Edwin Betts, Fortieth Virginia Infantry.

NEAR MOSS NECK, CAROLINE COUNTY, VA.,

May 14, 1863.

SIR: The undersigned, now in command of the regiment, in pursuance of general orders, would make the following report of the part taken by the regiment in the battle of Chancellorsville, commencing on the evening of May 2, and continuing up to 10 a.m. the following day (3d), to wit:

On Saturday evening, May 2, the regiment, composing a part of General Heth's brigade, was deployed in line of battle on the left of the Plank road, or turnpike, leading to Fredericksburg, and some 2 miles above Chancellorsville, and proceeded to advance on the same side of the road until we met with the enemy, intrenched about half a mile in advance. At this point the enemy made little or no resistance, but abandoned their intrenchments. The regiment continued to advance until within 400 or 500 yards of the second series of intrenchments of the enemy. It was now about night. Here the enemy opened a very destructive artillery fire upon us, resulting in wounding 1 officer--Captain [A. J.] Sydnor--and killing and wounding some 10 or 12 enlisted men. The regiment continued to advance some 100 or 150 yards farther, when it was ordered to halt. Here the enemy's artillery again opened fire upon us, which resulted in killing Capt. Samuel S. Cralle and wounding several enlisted men. The regiment after this retired to a small open space of ground in the rear, and bivouacked for the right.

About early dawn the next morning the regiment was formed in line of battle on the right of the Plank road, and considerably in advance of our position the night previous, and immediately in front of the enemy's intrenched line, which was supported by many pieces of artillery. About sunrise an advance was ordered, which was made as a support to some other troops in advance of us. The regiment advanced some 100 yards, when it was halted. It here remained until nearly all the troops in front fell back; then it was ordered to fall back to the position it previously occupied, to wit, the line of intrenchments from which the enemy had been driven the night before.

About this time Lieut. Col. F. W. Cox, who was in command of the regiment, was wounded; Maj. E. T. Stakes, next in rank, it was ascertained had also been wounded. The command at this juncture devolved upon the undersigned as senior officer present. This was about 7.30 or 8 o'clock in the morning.

About 8.30 a.m. a charge was ordered, which was made successfully, passing over two lines of barricades and reaching the crest of the hill in front, where the enemy's batteries were or had been posted. This position was held for some ten or fifteen minutes, but in consequence of not receiving support in time, the enemy moved on our left flank and compelled us to fall back to our former position in rear. Here we remained for some length of time, when another charge was made, and which resulted in our regaining the position we formerly were compelled to abandon. Here the regiment remained, in conjunction with other portions of the brigade, as a support to our artillery until the enemy were repulsed from the field.

At the time the undersigned took command the following-named officers were present with their commands, viz:

Company A: Capt. John E. Stakes and Second Lieut. C. F. Snow.

Company B: None.

Company C: Capt. T. E. Betts and First Lieut. T. C. Redman.

Company D: Second [Lieut.] John T. Payton.

Company E: First Lieut. L. M. Purcell and Second Lieut. W. E. George.

Company F: Capt. H. E. Coles, First Lieut. N. H. Timbs, and Second Lieut. T. E. Blackwell.

Company G: Second Lieut. T. T. Crowther.

Company H: First Lieut. E. Edmonds and Second Lieut. W. H. Lee.

Company I: Captain [W. F.] Dunaway and First Lieut. Robert H. Chilton.

Company K: Capt. R. B. Davis, First Lieut. B. F. Stewart, Second Lieut. W. Newton, and Second Lieut John H. Chandler.

The number of enlisted men present, as well as I could ascertain, was about 175 or 200.

The subjoined statement will show the number of casualties in the regiment during the battle, i.e. Saturday and Sunday.

The above-mentioned officers, and men under their command, behaved so well that discrimination would seem unjust and somewhat invidious. None flinched from any duty or peril, though there were two whose zeal and impetuosity in both charges attracted my attention, viz, First Lieut. T. C, Redman and Second Lieut. John H. Chandler. >ar39_897>

There is but one vacancy in the regiment, viz, in Company D, occasioned by the death of Capt. Samuel S. Cralle. Being only temporarily in command of the regiment, I would much prefer that the colonel of the regiment, now in command of the brigade, should make the recommendation to fill said vacancy, as he is much better acquainted with the capacities of the subordinate officers of the regiment than the undersigned.

Respectfully submitted.

T. EDWIN BETTS,

Captain, Commanding Regiment.

[Lieutenant] B. F. STEWART,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 342.--Report of Col. Robert M. Mayo, Forty-seventh Virginia Infantry.

MAY 14, 1863.

COLONEL: In pursuance to orders, I have the honor to submit the following report of the action of my regiment in the recent engagements in the vicinity of Chancellorsville:

On the morning of the 2d, we marched with the rest of the brigade around the position of the enemy, and at 5.30 p.m. we formed line of battle and advanced upon his rear. We lost several in killed and wounded that evening by artillery, including one lieutenant killed.

On the morning of the 3d, we were formed on the left of the Fortieth Virginia, with our left resting upon the Plank road, the balance of the brigade being on the other side of the road. Our first advance was made in support of Lane's brigade, which was immediately in our front. We advanced as far as the frame of a house near the road, and as Lane had halted a short distance in advance of us, and was engaging the enemy, we had to lie under the hottest shelling and fire of grape and canister that I have ever experienced. When Lane fell back, our two regiments, being unsupported on the right and left, very promptly fell back to our first position behind the log breastwork. There we remained until General Rodes came up to the left of the line (on the road), and was having an altercation with an officer (I think of General Lane's brigade) with regard to advancing his men. As soon as I could get to General Rodes, I told him that you had two small regiments there, and if they would be of any service to him, I knew you would order their advance. He said that he wanted anybody he could get. You immediately ordered the advance, and we went to the support of a battery which was placed at the same frame of a house to which we had advanced when supporting Lane. We remained here only a few minutes, when we were again ordered forward, and, drawing off the enemy, we advanced to the works that had been occupied by his artillery.

The field between this place and Chancellorsville was literally covered with fleeing Yankees, and we were pouring a deadly fire into them, when the cry was raised, "We are flanked on the left!" and immediately a hot fire of musketry was opened upon our flank and rear. As the artillery fire on our front had never ceased, and the flanking party largely outnumbered us, we were again obliged to fall back. Shortly afterward, when our artillery was ordered forward, we again advanced to the enemy's works and supported our guns till their last gun was drawn from its position at Chancellorsville, when we took our position along the Plank road and advanced our skirmishers into the woods.

There was no more fighting done by the regiment or brigade.

Respectfully, &c.,

RO. M. MAYO,

Colonel, Commanding Forty-seventh Virginia Regiment.

Col. J. M. BROCKENROUGH,

Commanding Heth's Brigade

No. 343.--Report of Lieut. Col. William S. Christian, Fifty-fifth Virginia Infantry.

MAY 17, 1863.

LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Fifty-fifth Virginia Regiment in the recent battles near Chancellorsville:

On April 29, 1863, the regiment left its camp, and marched in the direction of Hamilton's Crossing, where it remained during the afternoon and night.

On the morning of the 30th, it was moved down nearer the front, and a part of it was engaged during the day in throwing up breastworks.

On May 1, we started about daylight with other troops in the direction of the Plank road, and moved up that road toward Chancellorsville. We camped that night in the woods on the right of the Plank road, a few miles below Chancellorsville, formed a line of battle, and, after throwing out a company to the front as pickets, we rested upon our arms all night.

On May 2, we were moved to the left, around the right flank of the enemy: with other troops of the Second Army Corps. A short time before sunset, we reached a point on the turnpike at which we were deployed in a line of battle to the left of that road, the Fifty-fifth Regiment being on the left of the brigade. We then advanced in line of battle through the woods and fields, following another line which was then engaged with the enemy. There was in many places a great deal of tangled undergrowth, which impeded our progress, and, as darkness came on, some of the different regiments became very much intermingled. At this point we were subjected to a severe fire of artillery, and lost some valuable officers and men in killed and wounded, but all were animated by great enthusiasm, and were pressing forward through the tangled undergrowth, with the hope of being able to capture the battery. The battery, however, ceased its fire as we got in the more open woods near the Plank road, and, I believe, drove off out of our reach. When we reached the road, the regiments were reformed, and in a short time the brigade was moved down the Plank road by the left flank, my regiment being in the advance. We had not moved far before there was picket firing to the right of the road, and immediately afterward a regiment of friends, in the woods to the left of the road, fired into us. Artillery with their caissons were in the road abreast of us, and some, without drivers, ran headlong into my regiment, creating temporary confusion. Quiet was soon restored, and we again moved down the road by the left flank.

In a short time Colonel [Francis] Mallory, commanding the regiment, was ordered to deploy it to the right of the road as skirmishers. The left wing of the regiment had filed but a short distance into the woods when they came upon the enemy's skirmishers, with line of battle immediately in their rear. They replied to inquiries made by Major [A. D.] Saunders that they were friends, and while he was endeavoring to ascertain who they were, they opened a destructive fire upon us. The fire was returned with spirit. Several of the enemy were captured and others were killed and wounded. Before more than half of the regiment had filed out of the road, and during this infantry fire, we were opened upon by an enfilading fire of artillery in the road. Colonel Mallory and myself endeavored to throw forward the right wing, so as to get rid of this destructive flank fire, but found it impossible to do so then, from the nature of the ground and the peculiar situation of the troops. Colonel Mallory then endeavored to protect the men by forming them in the slight excavation by the side of the Plank road. He was killed at this point, and I was slightly, though for a time painfully, wounded. Major Saunders then assumed command.

On Sunday morning the regiment was again engaged, in which section Major Saunders and Captain [George W.] Street were killed, and all the captains then with the regiment were wounded. Adjutant [R. L.] Williams then assumed command, being the senior officer then present. Major [Evan] Rice joined the regiment the next day, and was in command during its subsequent operations.

Our loss during these battles was 120 killed and wounded.(*) Among the killed we have to mourn the loss of some of our most gallant officers and bravest men. Colonel Mallory, Major Saunders, Captain [George W.] Street, and Lieutenant [R. L.] Fleet were killed. Captains [R. B.] Fauntleroy, [John H.] Fleet, [Albert] Rennolds, [A.] Brockenbrough, and [C. T.] Goolrick were wounded; Captain [Wiliam J.] Davis, captured. Lieutenants [L. D.] Roane, [W. J.] Duff, [William A.] Street, [J. T.] Boughan, [J. H.] Tupman, [P. C.] Waring, [J. R.] Lumpkin, [W. A.] Elliott, [Samuel] Downing, and [J. E.] Bullock were wounded. These officers all behaved gallantly, as did others also who were not wounded. The loss of our gallant colonel, who has been with us since the organization of our regiment, is deeply felt and mourned by us all.

Respectfully submitted.

WM. S. CHRISTIAN,

Lieut. Col. Fifty-fifth Virginia Regiment, Commanding.

Lieut. B. F. STEWART,

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Heth's Brigade.

No. 344.--Report of Lieut. Col. E. P. Tayloe, Twenty-second Virginia Battalion.

MAY 13, 1863.

SIR: I have the honor to make the subjoined report of the part taken by the Twenty-second Virginia Battalion in the battle of Chancellorsville:

Marching from Hamilton's Crossing on Friday, May 1, 1863, we arrived about 7 p.m. of the same day in front of Chancellorsville. The enemy had been attacked, perhaps as early as noon, by the advance guard of our army near Salem Church, but finding it neither politic nor prudent to give battle in the position then held by them, faced about and retired rapidly to their strongholds, where, for the remainder of that day, there was only light skirmishing. When we reached our position that evening, the operations of the day seemed almost or quite ended, and we were merely drawn up in line of battle, prepared to support the front line should a night attack be made by the enemy.

The next morning (May 2), we were moved from the Plank road, and formed line of battle some three-fourths of a mile to the right of it. In this position we remained but a short time, for in view of the tangled brushwood, and the deep, miry, marshy creek intervening between us and the enemy's works, the commanding general probably deemed that an unnecessary slaughter of his troops would accrue from an attempt to carry those works by an attack from that direction alone, and accordingly determined to turn their right flank. To the accomplishment of this end, Jackson's corps (to which the Twenty-second Virginia Battalion was attached) was put in motion about 10 a.m. of that day (May 2), and, leaving the Plank road to the right, marched around the road leading by the old furnace; after passing which a few miles, we bore more to the right, and, after having completed nearly a semicircle, again struck the Plank road about 3½ to 4 miles west of Chancellorsville. Marching on toward the last-mentioned place, our advance guard soon fell upon the Yankees, who were evidently not expecting us from that direction, and who were routed with comparatively little difficulty. The enemy retreated precipitately to Chancellorsville, and from that point shelled our advancing lines with some effect. The Twenty-second Battalion during this advance sustained some inconsiderable loss.

When we came out upon the Plank road again, about a mile from Chancellorsville, some confusion occurred, owing to the uncertainty as to the exact position of the enemy, and several times, from 8 to 12 o'clock that night, we were exposed to a terrific fire of shell, grape, and solid shot, and also a cross-fire of musketry. About 12 o'clock on the night of the 2d, our brigade was led a short distance to the rear, to rest the remainder of the night.

About dawn on the 3d, we were again carried to the front. The Fortieth and Forty-seventh Virginia Regiments, of our brigade, were drawn up in line of battle to the right of the Plank road, and the Fifty-fifth [Virginia] and Twenty-second Battalion to the left of the same road. The road at this point being more elevated than the ground on either side, and being fully exposed to the enemy's artillery, rendered it necessary that the two parts of the brigade thus designated be separated by a considerable interval and be out of view of each other. It was decided that orders be passed from right to left. The Fifty-fifth Virginia Regiment occupied the position next to the road, the Twenty-second Battalion the extreme left.

About 9 a.m., perhaps, orders were received to advance upon the enemy's works. We advanced under a most deadly fire of every kind of missile ever employed by the most skillful and experienced artillerists, crossing the road diagonally, and, when about 500 yards from the enemy's batteries, we discovered at the distance of 100 or 125 yards in front of us a strong line of Yankee infantry; and 75 or 100 yards in rear of this line a second strong line of Yankee infantry, intrenched. We became engaged with this infantry force, which, with the artillery, was rapidly mowing down our small party, besides a flanking party was rapidly moving up on our left. We were ordered to fall back, which order was obeyed; and when we computed the damage, we ascertained that of 102 men carried in by the battalion, we lost in killed, wounded, and missing about 45.

E. P. TAYLOE,

Lieutenant-Colonel Twenty-second Virginia Battalion.

Col. J. M. BROCKENBROUGH,

Commanding Heth's Brigade.