Geo. L. Beal to S. W. Crawford, June 3, 1862

Martinsburg, June 3, 1862.

GENERAL:

In accordance with Special Orders, No. —, Headquarters First Brigade, First Division, Department of Shenandoah, Williamsport, Md., May 31, 1862, I have the honor to submit the following

In order to give a connected account of the events of Sunday and Monday, May 25 and 26, I must refer to the movements of my command on the 24th of May. LEarly in the morning of Saturday I posted Companies C and I as pickets on the Front Royal road, together with a detachment of Maryland Cavalry. The enemy made their appearance on the road about 10 o’clock p. m. 24th of May. Frequent skirmishes occurred during the night.

About 6 o’clock a. m. of Sunday the enemy advanced in force on our pickets and drove them in. The companies then repaired to their quarters. Soon after I gave orders for the regiment to be formed in line near the headquarters, and at 7.30 took up a line of march toward Martinsburg. Soon after leaving Winchester the enemy made their appearance in our rear and commenced throwing shell into our column. The first shell was fired at precisely 8 o’clock. This one exploded far above us and to our right. They soon obtained correct range, and the remainder fired fell into our line. Had they continued their firing they must have injured us severely. Here most of our casualties occurred. One man was mortally wounded and 3 others slightly.

We continued our march without further interruption from the enemy’s fire. About 2 o’clock p.m. we reached Martinsburg.

, in the morning we crossed over and occupied the quarters assigned us ‘in Williamsport.

Our casualties are as follows: Six wounded and 77 missing. This number is being reduced daily.

I would here make especial mention of the valuable service rendered by Company I, under command of Captain Furbish, ind Company C, commanded by Captain Jordan. The determined manner in which

* Embodied in revised statement, p. 563, 39 R R—VOL XII

they held the position assigned them no doubt kept the enemy at bay until morning, and prevented them from advancing on our troops until we had an opportunity to retreat. Had they pushed on in force during the night the consequence to our left wing must have been very serious. ‘

A detachment of Maine cavalry, under command of Lieutenan Colonel Douty, covered our retreat in a handsome manner, and n¢ doubt contributed in a great measure to our safety.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Colonel, Commanding Tenth Maine Volunteers.
Brig. Gen. S. W. CRAWFORD.
No. 31.
Reports of Lieut. Ool. Hdwin F. Brown, Twenty-eighth New York Infantry,
of operations May 24-25.
Hpqgrs. TWENTY-EIGHTH REGIMENT NEW YORK VOLS.,
Oamp near Williamsport, Md., May 28, 1862.