Jno. M. Patton, Jr to Jesse 8S. Burks, March 27, 1862

Camp near Woodstock, Va., March 27, 1862.

Sim: In obedience to an order from Maj. Gen. T. J. J ackson, I beg leave to submit the following report of the part taken by the Third Brigade in the action of March 23, near Winchester, Va.: My brigade was marching in rear of Major-General Jackson’s forces,

Cuar. XXIV.) BATTLE OF KERNSTOWN, VA. 401

and on arriving near the field of battle was halted by his order, and I was ordered to take position in a field on our right wing, and was ordered to hold my brigade as a reserve, supporting the batteries stationed there, together with my own battery, which came up with my brigade. I was also ordered to check any advance of the enemy on our right wing. The enemy threatened our right flank, but did not advance.

Soon after the attack was made on the enemy’s right wing I was ordered to send forward Captain McLaughlin’s battery, supported by a regiment. I obeyed the order, sending the Twenty-first Virginia Regiment, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Patton. Near the same time I received an order to send Captain Carpenter’s battery forward, which I did, supported by the First Virginia Battalion, under command of Captain Bridgford.

Still later in the afternoon I was ordered to bring up the balance of my brigade. I immediately ordered forward my battery, under command of Lieutenant Pleasants, supported by the Forty-second Virginia Regiment, under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Langhorne. At the same time I sent an order to Colonel Campbell, commanding Fortyeighth Virginia Regiment, to bring forward his regiment, which had been left several miles in our rear to protect our baggage (that duty being performed by the different regiments in turn). This regiment (although obeying the order promptly) did not arrive until after the – battle was over. The battery and the Forty-second Regiment moved rapidly to the scene of action, and on arriving the regiment was ordered to form on the right of the Fifth Virginia, which they did promptly. The battery was then ordered to retire, by a special order of MajorGeneral Jackson, which they did in good order. The Forty-second Virginia, in conjunction with the Fifth Virginia, opened a terrific fire upon the enemy, causing them to recoil. The Forty-second Regiment’s officers and men acted bravely, not one retiring until finding we were flanked. It boing nearly dark, I gave the order to retire. They retired some 400 yards, when they were halted and formed by their commandant, Lieutenant-Colonel Langhorne.

It would be invidious to make distinction, as every officer and private, from the lieutenant-colonel down, did his whole duty. _

I deem it but justice to state that the Forty-second Regiment was the last to leave the field of battle. The Twenty-first Virginia, under Lieutenant-Colonel Patton, and the First Virginia Battalion, under Captain Bridgford, being detached from the brigade and not coming under my notice, I refer to the reports made by their commandants, and I have been informed that all (officers and men) discharged their duty faithfully.

Below you will find a statement of the casualties of the different regiments engaged.* ; 2

Lieut. Robert C. Noonan, of Frederick County, Maryland, was killed while acting as a volunteer lieutenant in Company B, Twenty-first Virginia Regiment. 4 ‘ Capt. R. N. Wilson, my assistant adjutant-general, acted as my aide

during the fight, and discharged his duty faithfully. For particulars of names of the parties killed, wounded, and missing refer to the accompanying reports of the commandants of regiments and the battalion. re Very respectiully 3 Malbl JESSE S. BURKS, Colonel, Commanding Third Brigade.

Capt. A. S. PENDLETON, : Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Valley District.

P. S.—For the information of the major-general commanding I will state that very few of the wounded men are mortally wounded, and the most of them will be fit for duty in a short time.

No. 37. Reports of Lieut. Ool. John M. Patton, jr., Twenty-first Virginia Infantry.

Camp NEAR Mount JACKSON, VA., March 26, 1862.

Ste: In obedience to orders from headquarters I beg leave to submit the following report of the part borne by the Twenty-first Regiment Virginia Volunteers in the battle near Winchester, on the 23d instant :

On reaching the field of battle we were ordered by you to support the Rockbridge Artillery, commanded by Captain McLaughlin, and, in company with that battery, were shortly afterward ordered into position. In marching to this position the foree was exposed for a considerable time in an open field to a severe fire from the enemy’s artillery, as also afterward when under cover of a hill in rear of the battery. The enemy’s guns were admirably served, their shell bursting in many instances at close quarters, but fortunately with no loss to the regiment, except one man slightly wounded and another stunned for a moment.

McLaughlin’s battery was admirably posted on a height equally commanding with that of the enemy’s, and my regiment remained immediately in their rear and in supporting distance during the space of two hours or more. While the artillery fight was progressing Colonel Echols’ regiment was on the left of our position, and was about this time suddenly attacked by an overwhelming force of the enemy’s infantry. As soon as the musketry was heard the major-general commanding, who was near us at the time, ordered me to form line of battle in the direction of tbe fire and support Colonel Echols in case he was driven back; this occurred very soon.* I threw the regiment forward into line on first company. The movement was well and promptly performed ; yct so quick were the movements of the enemy that the regiment received a volley from them before it was quite finished. 1] immediately ordered the fire to be returned, and from this time forth the rattle of musketry was incessant. Meantime a large portion of Colonel Echols’ regiment rallied on our left flank, and this small force for a considerable time held back an overwhelming force of the enemy. The enemy were twice driven back and were substituted by fresh troops.

By this time the ammunition of the regiment was nearly exhausted

Cnar. XXIV.) BATTLE OF KERNSTOWN, VA 403

and the front was becoming thin by the retirement of those whose cartridges were out and by the loss of killed and wounded. Those who fell back were ordered to rally behind a re-entorcing regiment. which by this time had gotten up and was formed in line about 50 yards in our rear. It was advanced and took the place of our regiment.

At or about this time a regiment of the enemy appeared on our right flank and advanced within about 50 to 70 yards. With the’assistance of various officers, among whom Capt. F. D. Irving, Company D, and Sergeant-Major Page were conspicuous, we rallied all of the regiment whom we could find with ammunition and posted them along a fence, by which we flanked in part the flanking enemy. From this point, in co-operation with the skirmishers from the main body, a galling fire was kept up on the enemy. ‘They in their turn were broken and retired. They did not again appear, but were immediately substituted by a fresh regiment, which, in co-operation with those on our front, made a galling cross-fire on our troops. The day was pretty well spent, when an aide of the general commanding ordered me to retire with the regiment.

The regiment went into this battle with 22 commissioned officers, 43 non-commissioned officers, and 205 privates. Out of this number their loss was 60 in killed, wounded, and missing, of whom 9 are missing, and may or may not be wounded.

Paper A,* herewith presented, contains a detailed statement of these – losses.

The regiment made a most gallant stand at the close of two days’ forced marching. Though foot-sore and weary, their hearts were firm, and they did great execution on the enemy.

The want of commissioned officers was seriously felt. Many lieutenants and eight captains were absent. Almost all the latter and some of the former had been sent home, in obedience to general orders, on recruiting service.

It would be invidious, perhaps, to make mention of individual instances of gallantry which came under my observation. There were many such, both among the commissioned, non-commissioned officers, and privates, and doubtless many occurred which I did not see. I therefore report merely that the officers and men generally behaved well and did their duty.

I cannot close this report, however, without mentioning Lieut. Robert C. Noonan, of Frederick City, Md., lately appointed, as I understand, a lieutenant of artillery in the Confederate Army. While awaiting his appointment he attached himself as a volunteer lieutenant to Company B, of this regiment, and fell while gallantly doing his duty.

Geen credit is due to Dr. R. T. Coleman, surgeon of the regiment, for the energy and foresight by which he was enabled to bring from the field almost all of our wounded. We are also indebted both to field officers, cavalrymen, and artillerymen for bringing some of them away on their horses.

Respectfully submitted.

Tieutenant-Oolonel, Commanding.
Col. JESSE 8S. BURKS,
Commanding Third Brigade.
*Tabulated on p. 384.
404 OPERATIONS IN N. VA., W. VA., AND MD _—[Cuar. XXIV.
Hpgrs. TWENTY-FIRST REGIMENT VIRGINIA VOLS.,
April 7, 1862.