Edmd. Pendleton to W. T. Taliaferro, December 19, 1862

Captain: In obedience to the circular order of the brigadier-general commanding, of this date, requiring reports from commanders of brigades of the participation of their respective commands in the late operations around Fredericksburg, I beg leave to submit the following report of the part taken therein by the brigade under my command:

Having previously cooked three days’ rations, on the morning of the 12th instant at early dawn we marched from our camp, near Guiney’s Depot, for the scene of the late engagement. The brigade under my command, soon after its arrival on the ground (about 2 p.m), took its position in line of battle on the extreme left of the right wing, in rear of and supporting Thomas’ brigade, in General A. P. Hill’s division.

In this position we remained until Saturday morning (the 13th), when we were ordered to take a different position to our lett and rear. Here

* Bat see Report No. 265, p. 562.

we remained inactive, awaiting the progress of events, until 1.30 p. m., when a rapid and continued fire of musketry in our front indicated that the enemy had advanced to attack our front line, and we moved forward in close supporting distance of General Thomas, to whose relief I was ordered to go in case he desired my assistance. It was not until about 4p. m. that I received a message from General Thomas informing me that he had driven the enemy back, but had only three rounds of ammunition, and wished me to move up close enough to charge the enemy in conjunction with him so soon as he should be again engaged. In accordance with this request, I again moved my command forward to within the enemy having failed to renew the attack, as was anticipated, I was not called on. Just when it began to grow dark, I received the order of Lieutenant-General Jackson for a general advance between sunset and dark, and commenced the execution of it by moving forward; but finding that the troops in front of me were not in motion, I ordered a halt. Shortly afterward the order was countermanded, and I bivouacked for the night.

At 3.30 on the morning of the 14th, I was ordered to relieve General Pender, on our advance line, and immediately did so. The battery of Captain [James McD.] Carrington, stationed in front of my left, reported to me for orders, and was directed not to open unless the enemy threatened us with an attack, as he would thereby attract upon us the crossfire of three of the enemy’s batteries, from which the ground afforded us no protection whatever. Such, I was informed by General Pender, had been the case the day previous. From misapprehension, or some other cause unknown to me, so soon as the forces of the enemy were seen to be in motion at the distance of apparently a mile, Captain Carrington opened upon his column with rifled pieces, and the consequence, which I had foreseen, immediately ensued, resulting in the loss of 10 or 12 men wounded, with little advantage to our side.

About 10 a. m. I was ordered to throw my command forward in the field about 300 yards and occupy the line of the railroad, beyond which I had already posted my line of skirmishers before daylight. Moving in a circuitous route by the right flank, so as to screen the movement as much as possible from the observation and fire of the enemy’s sharpshooters, I at once proceeded to occupy the new position assigned to me, though I found it impossible of accomplishment without the loss of several men wounded, one or more fatally. In removing four of the regiments of my brigade from the railroad, under an order subsequently received, to throw them back in a line nearly at right angles with the railroad, I again sustained a slight loss from the same cause. The skirmishers thrown out along my front kept up a brisk and well-directed fire during the whole day (twice exhausting their ammunition), and, as was ascertained by actual observation during the presence of the flag of truce in the afternoon, with fatal effect on the enemy. The enemy, contrary to all expectation, having failed to advance or renew his attack during the day, we quietly bivouacked in our position for the night, and, being relieved at 4 a. m. on the 15th by the division of Maj. Gen. D. H. Hill, retired to the line of the reserve, which we occupied until it was ascertained that the enemy had entirely abandoned the field and recrossed the Rappahannock. :

Although my command was not at any time closely engaged, it was three times subjected to a sharp fire, and was throughout the days of the 13th and 14th in constant expectation of being brought into action. Under these circumstances every man remained firm at his post; nota straggler was to be seen leaving the ranks, and all evinced a commendable eagerness to engage the enemy, which needed only opportunity to ripen into the gallantry heretofore so conspicuous in the troops from Louisiana. :

Lieutenant-Colonel be Nolan, commanding the First Louisiana Regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel [McG.] Goodwyn, commanding the Fifteenth ; Major [M. A.] Grogan, commanding the Second; Major [John M.] Legett, commanding the Tenth, and Captain [H. et Verlander, commanding the Fourteenth, are deserving of my especial commendation for the coolness and skill with which they commanded their respective regiments, and the promptness and energy with which they executed every order.

I should entirely fail in my duty if I did not advert also to the valuable assistance rendered to me by First Lieut. Thomas L. Mills, of the Tenth Louisiana, who tendered me his services as aide-de-camp for the occasion. His promptvess and untiring activity in conveying my orders, although frequently exposed, are deserving of the highest praise, and I beg leave to mention him as eminently deserving of promotion.

The casualties of my brigade have been heretofore reported at 2 killéd and 35 wounded.*

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