Gouverneur K. Warren to George Ryan, December 17, 1862

December 17, 1862.

Siz: I have the honor to report, for the information of the corps commander, that, in obedience to the order assigning to me the duty of arranging a line of earthwork defenses on the south side of the city of Fredericksburg, on the night of Monday, December 15, battery epaulements and rifle-pits, connecting with brick houses and walls, intended to be loop-holed, and barricading all the streets, were built, extending from the plateau to the right of the Gordon house to the street to the left (east) of Hanover street. Those to the right of Amelia street were built by General Humphreys’ division, and the batteries assigned to that portion. Those extending from Amelia street to the Plank road, the barricade for artillery across that road, connecting with the graveyard wall, and the barricade on the left of the same wall across Commerce or William street, were built by the details from the First and Second Brigades of your division. The barricade of Hanover street and the rifle-pits to the left of it were built by Colonel Garrard, with a detail from his regiment, the One hundred and forty-sixth New York Volunteers.

The while presented to the view of the enemy the next morning a complete l.ne, and could have been connected and strengthened during the day without interference from him. I designed to assign this duty to Colonel O’Rorke, with his regiment, the One hundred and fortieth

“See revised statement, p. 136.

New York Volunteers, and they were kept in reserve for this purpose during the night. ; . :

I cannot omit to praise the energy exhibited by the working details, as shown by the work accomplished with a great deficiency of tools, and must mention particularly Colonel Garrard and Captain Locke.

The Fifth New York Volunteers, under Colonel Winslow, performed the guard duty in front of our lines during the whole night in a most efficient manner, and during the withdrawal at daylight effectually disputed the advance of the enemy’s pickets, so that no attempt was made to pursue us. It also constructed rifle-pits in advance of the main line.

Our casualties since crossing the river on the 13th instant are 6 wounded and 27 missing.*

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,