Joseph B. Carr to O. H. Hart, December 17, 1862

CAPTAIN:

I have the honor to submit the following report of the recent movements of my command:

In compliance with orders, received from division headquarters December 10, my brigade struck tents at 6 o’clock on the morning of the

th instant, and at 7 o’clock marched nearly 2 miles in the direction of

almouth. There I formed in column of regiments, and remained during the entire day and night. ;

On the 12th, at 7.30 o’clock, I marched about 1 mile in the direction of Fredericksburg and halted. At 3.30 o’clock I was directed to march to the rear, and, while executing the order, I was directed to face about and march to Franklin’s pontoon bridge, where I arrived at 7 p. m., and bivouacked in the wood for the night. At 10 p. m., in compliance with orders from division headquarters, I sent four regiments, viz, Second New Hampshire, Colonel Marston; Eleventh Massachusetts, Colonel Blaisdell; Eleventh New Jersey, Colonel McAllister, and Sixteenth Massachusetts, Colonel Tannatt, to guard the bridges, with instructions to permit no one to cross without a pass from a general officer.

At 2 o’clock on the afternoon of the 13th, I was ordered across the bridge with the two remaining regiments (Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, Lieutenant-Colonel Tilghman, and First Massachusetts, LieutenantColonel Baldwin). Arriving at the opposite side of the Rappahannock, I was directed by an aide-de-camp of General Stoneman to proceed to the front, which order I complied with, my right resting on General Howe’s left, and my left on the right of Seeley’s battery. I then threw out my skirmishers, who engaged those of the enemy until after dusk. At 12 midnight two regiments of my brigade (Second New Hampshire and KJeventh Massachusetts Volunteers) were relieved from duty at the pontoon bridges by Colonel Park, Second New York Volunteers, Third Brigade, and marched to the front, forming my second line.

At 8 30 a. m. on the 14th, the two remaining regiments at the bridges (Sixteenth Massachusetts and Eleventh New Jersey Volunteers) were relieved, and rejoined the brigade at the front. Skirmishers from all my regiments were now out, and engaged the skirmishers of the enemy unti)] 4 p. m., when, a truce having been agreed upon, all firing on my front ceased, and the dead and wounded were removed. During the night the Eleventh Massachusetts Volunteers (Colonel Blaisdeli) was engaged in throwing up rifle-pits at the front to protect our skirmishers.

At 10 a. m.on the 15th, my command was relieved by the Third Brigade, and marched to the left and rear. At p. m. I relieved Colonel Hall, commanding the Second Brigade. At 9.30 p. m., in accord: ance with instructions from General Sickles, I moved my brigade back into the road, and two hours later crossed the bridge and bivouacked for the night about 1 mile from the Rappahannock. ‘ :

On the morning of the 16th, at 11 o’clock, my brigade left its bivouac and marched to its former camp.

The following are the casualties: Killed, 9; wounded, 68; missing, 45 total, 81.* f

The reports of regimental commanders are herewith forwarded.t

very respectfully, your obedient servant,