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Fredericksburg Battle Report: Reports for Archer's Brigade

This page includes reports of General Archer and the 14th Tennessee Regiment.

No. 314.--Report of Brig. Gen. James J. Archer, C. S. Army, commanding Fifth (Archer's) Brigade.

HDQRS. ARCHER'S BRIGADE, A. P. HILL'S LIGHT DIVISION, December 20, 1862.
MAJOR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my brigade in the battle of Fredericksburg:

On arriving from sick leave Saturday morning, I found my brigade posted in the edge of a wood before Bernard's house, overlooking the plain through which the railroad and Bowing Green turnpike pass, the former at a distance from my front of about 250 yards, the latter of about three-quarters of a mile, my left resting where the wood extends forward to the front to a point beyond the railroad. General Lane's brigade was on my left, with an interval of about 600 yards between us, while (as 1 was informed) General Gregg's brigade was immediately behind the interval close enough to prevent my being flanked. On my right I found Lieutenant-Colonel [R. L.] Walker with fifteen pieces of light artillery, supported by Colonel [J. M.] Brockenbrough's brigade.

As the fog cleared away the enemy was seen advancing from the Bowling Green road, and a little after 9 a.m. several batteries were brought forward and placed in position about 1,000 yards from us, which were fired on by some of our batteries far off to the right, and with which they; carried on a brisk exchange of shots for about an hour, occasionally throwing shell into the wood where I was posted. About 10.30 a.m. they turned all their guns on our position, and after thirty or forty minutes' severe shelling their lines of infantry formed and advanced rapidly to the attack. When they had arrived near enough, I perceived them massing in front of and entering the point of wood which I have before mentioned as projecting on my left beyond the railroad, and immediately sent my ordnance officer, Lieutenant [George] Lemmon, to warn General [M.] Gregg that it was time for him to move forward into the interval between Lane's and my brigade to prevent my being flanked. Shortly after, fearing that General Gregg might be too late, I drew out the right battalion (Fifth Alabama) and ordered it to the left. When the enemy in my front arrived near the railroad, my brigade opened a rapid and destructive fire upon them, which soon checked their career and forced them to retire and take shelter in the railroad track, from which they kept up a desultory fire upon our line.

In the mean time the columns which had entered the point of wood on my left succeeded in passing round my flank, and attacked the Nineteenth Georgia and Fourteenth Tennessee in rear and flank. These regiments were compelled to retire, leaving about 160 prisoners in the enemy's hands. The greater part of the Seventh Tennessee, also seeing the regiments on their left give way and hearing the cry that the enemy was in their rear, left the trenches in disorder. The First Tennessee, together with Lieutenants [F. A.] Timberlake, [O. H.] Foster, [B.] Wilmouth, and [William T.] Baird, of the Seventh Tennessee, and a portion of the latter regiment, held its ground gallantly, and, after its ammunition was exhausted, charged under Lieutenant-Colonel [N. J.] George, (Colonel [Peter] Turney having been severely wounded early in the action), across the railroad track with Colonel [R. F.] Hoke's brigade, of Early's division, and returned to its original position when the charge was over. The Fifth Alabama Battalion, which I had sent from the right to aid in opposing the enemy on the left, discharged their duty faithfully, first under Major [S.] Van de Graaff, and, after he was wounded, under Captain [S. D.] Stewart. After sending Lieutenant [George] Lemmon, I also sent my aide-de-camp, Lieutenant [O. H.] Thomas, to explain the urgency of the case to General Gregg, and to bring down another brigade in support of my front, which, although not then pressed in front, had nearly exhausted its ammunition. Generals Gregg's and Lawton's brigades and the Fifth Alabama Battalion drove back the enemy, who had passed my flank, and Colonel Hoke, in command of Trimble's brigade, came down to the edge of the wood (my original position), which I still maintained with the right of my brigade, but with empty rifles and cartridge-boxes. The whole line then charged over the field beyond the railroad. When it returned to the edge of the wood, I drew back my troops about 30 yards, reformed my brigade, and remained in support of the front line--Hoke's brigade--which had relieved me in the trenches.

I take pleasure in reporting that the attack along my whole front was gallantly and successfully repelled by my brigade. No enemy ever arrived within 50 yards of my front; and even after my left was broken by the attack in rear and flank, the enemy in front had been so sharply repulsed that he did not venture to come again.

Officers and men generally acted with gallantry. Lieut. Z. G. Gunn, Fourteenth Tennessee, fell in the most gallant discharge of his duty.

Lieutenant-Colonel [Andrew J.] Hutchins, of the Nineteenth Georgia, mentions particularly the good conduct of Captain Mabry, Lieuts. W. H. Johnson and M. Edwards, Sergeant Shell, and Corporal Rogan.

Lieuts. O. H. Thomas and George Lemmon, of my staff, rendered me gallant and efficient service throughout the action.

My loss in the action was 40 killed, 211 wounded, and 166 missing,(*) supposed to have been captured. Among the wounded were Colonel Turney, Lieutenant-Colonel George, and Major [F. G.] Buchanan of the First Tennessee; Captain [M.]Turney, the senior Captain of the First Tennessee; Major [James H.] Neal, of the Nineteenth Georgia; Major Van de Graaff, of the Fifth Alabama Battalion, and Mr. Frank Wotten, volunteer aide on my staff--the latter supposed to be mortally wounded.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. J. ARCHER,

Brigadier-General, Commanding Brigade.

Maj. R. C. MORGAN,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Light Division.

No. 319.--Report of Lieut. Col. James W. Lockert, Fourteenth Tennessee Infantry

DECEMBER 19, 1862.

SIR: This regiment was engaged in the fight of the 13th instant, near Fredericksburg, Va. About noon the enemy's batteries in front of our position opened a terrific fire of shot and shell upon us, which was kept up at intervals until about 2 p.m., when three dense columns of infantry commenced to advance upon our position through a large open field in front. We, having taken shelter in a ditch, remained quiet until the enemy's front line was within 200 yards of our own. The Nineteenth Georgia Regiment, on our left, and the Seventh Tennessee, on our right, commenced firing upon them. I then ordered firing to commence in my own. The firing along the line of your brigade now became general, and had great effect upon the Federal lines, killing and wounding a large number of men and officers and confusing others. The fighting with small-arms had only lasted about ten minutes, when the enemy directly in front of our position took shelter in the railroad cut. We then directed our fire to the left-oblique on a column that was advancing under shelter of the timber there and in front whenever a good shot could be had. In about ten minutes more I noticed that the Nineteenth Georgia Regiment was giving way, but supposed that their supply of ammunition, like ours, had been exhausted. In a few moments, however, Lieutenant George B Hutcheson, of Company C, came up from the left and informed me that the enemy had gained our rear. I determined still to hold our position, and did so until I saw the Yankee line advancing through the small pines on our left. I then ordered my regiment to retreat. We fell back in disorder to the open field in our rear, reformed the few men left, got a supply of ammunition, and returned to our original position, the enemy having been driven back by other troops.

The officers and men during the entire engagement showed great courage and coolness. In fact, I did not see an act of cowardice, and never saw shots better aimed or more effective.

We mourn the loss of a large number of killed and wounded of the best men of our regiment.(*)

All of which is respectfully submitted.

I am, sir, most respectfully, your obedient servant,

J. W. LOCKERT,

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.

Brig. Gen. J. J. ARCHER,

Commanding Fifth Brigade, A. P. Hill's Division.