** Return to main Overland Campaign report page **

1864 Overland Campaign Battle Report: McGowan's Report

No. 295. --Report of Briq. Gen. Samuel McGowan, C.S. Army, commanding brigade, Wilcox's division, of operations May 8-13.
We remained at the trenches in the Wilderness until Sunday after noon, May 8, when we marched by the right flank toward Spotsylvania. Bivouacked that night near Shady Grove, and reached the Court-House on Monday morning, the 9th. We were put into position by Major-General Wilcox on the right of our line in the suburbs of the village, and immediately threw up a breast-work. Here we remained, witch more or less skirmishing, until the 12th.

Thursday morning, the 12th, was dark and rainy, and at a very early hour a tremendous fire of artillery and musketry was heard on the line to our left. We were moved along the breast-work toward the left until we reached a sharp angle in the works near a brick-kiln, opposite to which the enemy had established a battery. I threw the sharpshooters into a wood to our front and right to pick off the gunners and horses. Here we remained until about 9 a.m., when I was directed to march with my brigade and report to General Ewell, who directed Major-General Rodes to put me in on the right of his line to support General Harris, and assist in filling up the gap which had been made by the capture of Major-General Johnson and a part of his command. At this place our line of works made a sharp angle, pointing toward the enemy, which angle the enemy held in great force, besides having the woods and ravine in front occupied by multitudes, who seemed to be as thick as they could stand. The right of my brigade extended some distance up the left side of the angle and rested on nothing but the enemy, who held the point, and some portion (I never knew how much) Of the right side of the angle. Besides having no support on my right, this part of my line was enfiladed from the point of the angle and the gap held by the enemy. In getting into this trench we had to pass through a terrific fire. I was wounded, and knew nothing of what occurred afterward from personal observation. I am informed that the brigade found in the trenches General Harris and what remained of his gallant brigade, and they (Mississippians and Carolinians), mingled together, made one of the most gallant and stubborn defenses recorded in history. These two brigades remained there, holding our line without re-enforcements, without food, water, or rest, under a storm of balls which did not intermit one instant of time for eighteen hours. The trenches on the right in the Bloody Angle ran with blood and had to be cleared of the dead bodies more than once.

To give some idea of the intensity of the fire, an oak tree 22 inches in diameter, which stood just in rear of the right of the brigade, was cut down by the constant scaling of musket-balls, and fell about 12 o'clock Thursday night, injuring by its fall several soldiers in the First South Carolina Regiment.

The brigades mentioned held their position from 10 o'clock Thursday morning until 4 o'clock Friday morning, when they were withdrawn, by order, to the new line established in rear.

The loss in my brigade was very heavy, especially in killed, being in the aggregate 451--86 killed on the field; 248 wounded, many of whom have since died: 117 missing, doubtless captured.

Our men lay on one side of the breast-work and the enemy on the other, and in many instances men were pulled over. It is believed that we captured as many prisoners as we lost.

Among the casualties are Lieut. Col. W. P. Shooter and Lieut. E. C. Shooter, of the First [Infantry, Provisional Army ;] Lieuts. J. B. Blackmon, jr., and J. R. Faulkenburg, of the Twelfth; Col. B. T. Brockman and Capt. J. K. Brockman, of the Thirteenth; Lieuts. A. M. Scarborough and H. N. Hunter, of the Fourteenth, and Capt. G. W. Fullerton, of the [First] Rifles, killed. Col. C. W. McCreary, Lieuts. A. F. Miller, James Armstrong, Capt. W. A. Kelly, and Lieut. M. R. Tharin, of the First [Infantry. Provisional Army;] Lieut. W. B. White and Captain Stover, of the Twelfth; Capt. J. Y. McFall and Lieut. W. J. Rook, of the Thirteenth; Capt. G. W. Culbertson, Lieuts. J. M. Miller and D. E. Brown, Capts. E. Cowan and J. M. McCarley, of the Fourteenth; Capts. L. Rogers and R. S. Cheshire, Lieuts. L. T. Reeder and A. C. Sinclair, and Lieut. Col. G. McD. Miller, of the Rifles, wounded.

In all these operations I take pleasure in acknowledging the great assistance of my staff. Maj. A. B. Wardlaw, brigade commissary; Maj. Harry Hammond, brigade quartermaster, and Lieut. C. G. Thompson, ordnance officer, were active and efficient in their appropriate departments.

Capt L. C. Haskell, assistant adjutant-general, and Lieut. G. Allen Wardlaw, aide-de-camp, were everywhere on the field of battle where honor and duty called (both of these officers had their horses killed under them in the Wilderness), and were always conspicuous for coolness and gallantry, &c.

S. McGOWAN.