Geo. H. Whitcamp to Third Brigade, March 26, 1862

HEADQUARTERS SECOND BRIGADE, SHIELDS’ DIVISION,

March 26, 1862.

Near Tom’s Brook, March 26, 1862.

I have the honor to make the following report of the part my brigade took in the battle of the 23d, near Winchester:

The Second Brigade, which I commanded, consisted of the Thirteenth Indiana, Fifth Ohio, Thirty-ninth Illinois, and Sixty-second Ohio. My position was on the left wing in a large open field, facing the woods, which were occupied by the rebels. I had no sooner formed my line of battle than the enemy opened on me a heavy and well-directed fire from his artillery, which was sustained for over five hours. The right wing being hard pressed, General Kimball sent to me for re-entorcements. I sent to him one regiment. Again and again were re-enforcements asked for until I was left on the left wing with but one regiment—the Thirtyninth Llinois—and two pieces of artillery. I, however, advanced and opened fire on the enemy concealed in the woods, and drove back the artillery that was playing on me. The firing on my right had now nearly ceased, but no evidence could be obtained to warrant a belief that the enemy had retired. We rested that night on our arms, expecting every moment an attack. The next morning at daylight I started to attack them, but found that all had retired save a rear guard, which I drove some 3 miles before any re-enforcements reached me.

The loss of the regiments in my brigade is heavy, but owing to our being in advance and yet pursuing the enemy have no means of ascertaining correctly. Officers and men behaved nobly, and once even gave evidence that their hearts were in this cause. With such soldiers our flag will soon be carried in triumph over the rebellious States.

Inclosed I send copies of the reports of the different commanders on the field. Being in advance and in bivouac, my facilities for obtaining correct information of our loss are small. I am now 25 miles from the field of battle, and surgeons have made no reports.

I remain, respectfully, JER. OC. SULLIVAN, Colonel, Commanding Second Brigade. H. G. ARMSTRONG, Major and Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

Hpgrs. THIRTEENTH INDIANA REGIMENT, U.S. ARMY, Camp Shields, four miles south of Strasburg, Va.

Sir: In obedience to your order I herewith submit the following report of the part taken by the Thirteenth Indiana Regiment in the action of the 22d and 23d of March, near Winchester, Va. :

I was ordered by you to withdraw my command (which had been stationed on picket the night of the 21st on the Front Royal and Cedar Creek roads) and to report to you at the toll-gate on the Strasburg pike. Collecting my command I proceeded immediately to join you, and reached the toll-gate at 10a. m., and moved forward on the right of your brigade and took position in front of and on the enemy’s right, which position we held until 5 p. m. under a heavy fire of shell and round shot from his batteries, which were stationed in the edge of a woods. At 5 p.m. you ordered me to move to the enemy’s left, to support a part of the First and Third Brigades. We marched over the hills on our right after being exposed to a heavy fire of grape and shell. We took position on the left of the Fourteenth Indiana, whose left had been pressed back by the overwhelming number that had been brought into action by the enemy immediately in front and on the left of the Fourteenth Indiana. Here it was that the Thirteenth Indiana suffered most, being exposed to the galling fire of a whole brigade posted behind a stone fence and in the open woods. Inch by inch the brave and gallant men of my command (Thirteenth Indiana) pressed them back. The Fourteenth Indiana’s left rallied to our support, and I gave the command to “Forward! Charge bayonets!” Here it was that the two remnants of the Thirteenth and Fourteenth Indiana went in with a yell and drove from the field a whole brigade, which proved to be Loring’s celebrated Irish brigade, of the Provisional Army, and completely routed them, and would have captured their colors had it not been for night coming on, and for fear of firing into our own men I ordered a halt. It was so dark as to prevent us from pursuing the retreating enemy until morning. After gathering up the wounded of our own and the enemy’s we slept on our arms until daylight, when I proceeded to join you in the advance toward Strasburg in pursuit of the flying enemy, and have arrived at this camp, after sharing the honors of being in the advance with your brigade and driving the enemy beyond this place.

Before closing this report I must refer to the officers and men of the Thirteenth Indiana. All alike acted nobly and fought bravely, adding new laurels to those already won in Western Virginia. Lest I should be thought preferring one above another I forbear making any personal mention, as they all, both officers and men, fought with a coolness and desperation that proved them not inferior to the brave sons of Indiana who are battling in other localities for our holy cause. Of the medical profession, and more particularly of our own assistant surgeon, requires of me a special mention. Dr. Gall, our principal surgeon, having been detailed during the early part of the engagement to take charge of the wounded who were being sent to Winchester, left Dr. William ©. Foster alone on the field, who was in the thickest and hottest of the fight with the band carrying off the killed and woundrd as they fell, and but for him our list of dead would be greater than it is.

We captured a number of prisoners, part of them commissioned officers, some of whom are wounded. Among them are a major and an

Cua, XXIV.) BATTLE OF KERNSTOWN, VA.

aide to the rebel General Jackson, a number of lieutenants, and some arms, all of which I will report as soon as I can ascertain the exact number of each. Our loss is about 40 killed and wounded, among them Major Dobbs and Captain Sayles, of Company G. It is impossible tor me at this time to give you the exact casualties in the Thirteenth, but inclosed you will find a list as correct as it is possible for me to render at this time.* I am, respectfully, ROBT. S. FOSTER, Theutenant-Colonel, Comdg. Thirteenth Indiana Volunteers.

Col. J. C. SULLIVAN, Acting Brigadier-General, Commanding Second Brigade.

Report of Ineut. George H. Whitcamp, Acting Adjutant Fifth Ohio Infantry.

The Fifth Ohio was ordered by Acting Brigadier-General Sullivan to turn out under arms on Saturday evening, March 22, at 5 o’clock. There had been some cannonading within hearing of our camp during the day. We marched out the Strasburg road about 3 miles, there halted, and were ordered back to picket the Romney and Cedar Creek roads. On the following morning we had orders to proceed to camp, but were halted on the road to wait for instructions, which we received in about one-half hour, and marched to the right of Kernstown. About 9 o’clock a. m. we were ordered to support Daum’s battery. The fire from the enemy was heavy and constant, principally shell and round shot, which continued for about one hour. There was none of our regiment hurt up to that time, although the firing was in line with our battery, but most of the volleys went too far, which was very fortunate for our forces. The battery changed position and moved over to the left of Kernstown, on a level with woods to our left and front. As soon as the artillery was in position and our regiment at their support there came a perfect hurricane of shell from the woods. There must have been a masked buttery there, for the fire was tremendous.

We remained under fire about three-quarters of an hour. The battery was forced to retire under a very heavy and destructive fire. We were not aware that the artillery had given way until the piece on the right had gone. They had 1 man killed and we had 2 wounded in our regiment. The lieutenant commanding the battery met our lieu. tenant-colonel commanding, and said that he could not hold ‘his position any longer than he did; that his battery was not strong enough for theirs, and was forced to abandon his position. We then took up a position in support of the same pieces, with part of Clark’s battery, to the right of Kernstown on a hill, where we remained about two hours. The firing continued with the same unabated fury, mostly shell and afew round shot. At this time the enemy marched on a fresh re-enforcement of infantry to flank us on the right.

Our regiment was then ordered by Acting Brigadier-General Kimball to leave the battery and proceed to the right flank. The battery

by this time was almost if not entirely out of ammunition. After we had got half way to where the infantry were engaged an order came from Acting General Kimball to detach five companies to go back and guard the batteries, which weakened our regiment very materially, and Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick did not know until he was in front of the enemy that he had only a half regiment to fight with. As soon as we got through a little grove of brush and young trees we came in contact with the enemy’s fire, which was very rapid and constant as we advanced. The Kighty-fourth Pennsylvania was on our left. We passed them and pressed forward. Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick cautioned our men to “keep cool,” “hold their ground,” “stand solid,” and “every man to do his duty;” “to remember Cincinnati, their homes, and their country,” ” not to waste their powder.” He was still in front of his men when Lieutenant Marshall called out to him to fall behind; that he was unnecessarily exposing himself. Our men advanced steadily, some of them to their last advance. When they reached the brow of the hill the enemy were below and in a front in the trees and small brush. At the first fire from the enemy our two color-bearers fell—B. Isdell, to rise no more, and E. Swaine, wounded in the cheek. He will recover. Five times were our colors shot down, and as quickly did they rise again. The national flag received forty-eight bullet-holes and the regimental flag ten; even the flagstaffs were broken in several places.

It was here that our gallant Captain Whitcom fell. He rushed to the colors after they were shot down for the second time, waved them and drew his pistol, when he received that fatal bullet in his cheek, passing through hishead. He fell to the ground and never moved afterward. At that moment it was an almost hand-to-hand fight. The enemy was pressing forward and some of them were within 10 yards of our regiment. The fire was galling, and a perfect whirlwind of balls were flying, as if the air had been suddenly filled with hissing snakes. It appeared to rage with increasing fury. We had no support on our left for some time after we had commenced firing. At last the Eighty-fourth Pennsylvania advanced to support our left flank, but twice they fell back. The third time their brave colonel urged them to follow him and stand fast. It was under that advance that the gallant Colonel Murray lost his life. When the colonel fell his regiment retreated and could not be rallied again. Lieutenant-Colonel Patrick beseeched them not to leave the field, but they had taken the panic, and it became infectious. The regiment on our right flank gave way and fell back. It was a trying moment for the Fifth Ohio. They then received the. enemy’s whole fire. For a few minutes the tide of success was between the ebb and flow. They stood their ground nobly. Officers and men did their duty.

Our lieutenant-colonel (Patrick) at that moment encouraged the men, telling them not to give way, but stand fast, and there was not a man flinched. The regiment on our right, seeing us remain firm, rallied again. The Fourteenth Indiana, under the command of the adjutant, came on our left and commenced firing behind us, and the first volley they fired Colonel Patrick ran forward to them and ordered them to cease firing; that they were firing on our men. The officer then asked him where the secesh or rebel lines were. He told him that there were no lines here, but to turn his men more to the left and advance and he would see the rebels. The enemy by this time were giving way, and after a few minutes we turned their flank, and they ran and our forces after them, and killing them as they ran.

It was then getting dark and our men were very much fatigued, yet

Cuar, XXIV.) BATTLE OF KERNSTOWN, VA.

the excitement kept them on their feet. There were a few of them remained behind to take care of the wounded and dying. We kept advancing until we reached their battery and took one piece. In the mean time there was a heavy re-enforcement coming across from the woods to assist the rebels. The Thirteenth Indiana had joined us, and the other five companies of the Fifth, in command of Acting Major Hays, were advancing to our aid. The rebel re-enforcements were seized with the same panic the others had, and they made a very short stand. We kept advancing on them until darkness closed upon us all Had it continued light for one hour longer the whole rebel force would have been captured.

We had hardly completed the task of gathering up our dead and wounded when an order came for our regiment to go out on picket duty. I told Colonel Patrick of the order. He went to see the general about it, and informed him that our regiment had been up two nights and had had very little to eat ; that there were other regiments that had not endured so much fatigue. He wanted toknowthem. The lieutenant-colonel mentioned one. The acting brigadier-general said he did not know where to find it, and we would have to serve, and so we did. The next day we followed the enemy beyond Strasburg.

All of which is

respectfully submitted.

Tneutenant, Acting Adjutant.

No. 20.

Reports of Col. Hrastus B. Tyler, Seventh Ohio Infantry, commanding

Third Brigade.

HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, SHIELDS’ DIVIsIon,

Camp Kimball, March 26, 1862.

Sir: I have the honor to submit to you the following report of the