Major-General REYNOLDs to George B. McClellan, December 22, 1862

December 22, 1862.

GENERAL : I have the honor to submit the following detailed report of the part taken by the batteries of this corps in the late action beyond the Rappahannock:

By orders from Headquarters Army of the Potomac, Battery D, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, of four 12-pounders, was detached on the 8th instant, and ordered to report to the commanding officer of the Ninth Corps. By a similar order the batteries of Captains Reynolds, Hall, and Thompson, and Lieutenants Amsden and Ricketts, comprising twenty-two 3-inch guns, were ordered to report to Captain De Russy, on the heights above Pollock’s Mill, on the night of the 10th. All these batteries, excepting that of Lieutenant Ricketts, rejoined the corps during Friday and Saturday. ;

Before daylight on Thursday, the 11th, Captain Ransom and Lieutenant Simpson, with eight light 12-pounders, were placed_in position on the first bank of the river, to aid in protecting the construction oi the pontoon bridges. Here they did_excellent serv-ce in repellin g the charge which the enemy made on the head of the first bridge when just completed, Lieutenant Simpson’s battery being within long canister range. They were also effective in driving out a body of the enemy, who had collected in a small wood and ravine, some 250 yards above the bridges, at a later hour the same afternoon, killing or wounding quite a number. About 1 p. m. of that day, Lieutenant Amsden brought his battery of four-3-inch guns down from the hills, and was posted on the bank below the other batteries. Bris

On Friday, the 12th, the following batteries crossed with their divisions: Ransom’s, Stewart’s, Leppien’s, and Simpson’s twenty light 12pounders; also Cooper’s and Gerrish’s eight 3-inch guns. That night they remained in rear of our lines. ‘

About 9 o’clock on Saturday morning, General Gibbon, commanding the Second Division, threw his left wing around and crossed the Bowling Green road, in prolongation of General Smith’s line. At the same time, by your direction, I posted Captain Hall’s Second Maine Battery, of six 3-inch guns, which had just joined us from the heights, on his left, behind the crest of a small rise. The battery had come up at so rapid a pace that the cannoneers were unable to keep alongside of their guns, but they soon had them in battery, and opened upon some guns of the enemy, stationed about 1,600 yards off, on the hills to their right and front. They were exposed at the time to a severe cross-fire from the guns against which the battery was directed, and from others to the left and front of the crest.

Meanwhile the Third Division, under General Meade, had also changed front, and formed one brigade in line, with the Second Division on the left of the fence; Ransom’s battery was posted to the right of a small hut, and Cooper’s about 100 yards to the left of it, while Simpson took up a position at right angles, with his left resting on the public road. The first two of these batteries replied to the enemy’s guns on the crest, and to a battery in the open field to their left, while Lieutenant Simpsen engaged a section posted in the corner of the hedges, at the junction of the Bowling Green road and that to Captain Hamilton’s. This section was so well sheltered by the cedar trees and hedge that it was difficult to meet its fire effectuaily, until the advance of General Doubleday’s division, which now covered our left flank, enabled Captain Wolcott, of the First Maryland Battery, to take it in rear from a position near the brick house, afterward used as a hospital, when it was soon silenced and withdrawn. Captain Wolcott reports that one of his shot overthrew the enemy’s right piece. About this time Lieutenant Amsden, with his four 3-inch guns, joined from this side of the river, and was placed in position on the left of Captain Ransom, his right piece close to the small hut.

By 12 m. all the guns of the enemy were silent, and firing was pretty much suspended on our side. It now being determined to attack the crest of wood in front of Gibbon’s and Meade’s divisions, and having received your ordexs to shell the wood preparatory to the attack, I portioned them off to the batteries of Hall, Ransom, Amsden, and Cooper, and thus opened on them with eighteen guns. In abont fifteen minutes this elicited a reply from all the enemy’s guns on the crest, some ten or twelve in number, which, enfilading Simpson’s battery, obliged him to change front to the right, and throw his battery forward some 200 yards, an operation of considerable difficulty in the heavy g-ound, and accomplished with a severe loss of men and horses. Soon after they also opened from six to eight guns behind the fence, beyond our left, which took our batteries and troops in the flank. I therefore hastened to that wing, where I found that General Doubleday had advanced his lines, so that his left wing had possession of the wood and ravine near some small houses. He had also been joined by Captain Gerrish’s New Hampshire battery, under Lieutenant Edgell, of four 3-inch guns, which had previously been on the right with General Smith’s corps. This I posted behind the crest to the right of the straw-stacks, and directed against the batteries above mentioned. I then, by your order, placed Lieutenant Stewart’s six light 12-pounders in the corner of the field, at the junction of roads above mentioned, directed against the same batteries, and posted Captain Wolcott behind the fence, on this side of the Bowling Green road, just to the left of the road leading from the brick house. Soon after, Captain Reynolds, with four 3-inch guns, was ordered up on the right of Gerrish’s battery, so that we had twenty-one guns bearing on the enemy’s batteries on the crest, one of Captain Wolcott’s having been dismounted a few moments after he took position along the road, and fourteen guns bearing on their batteries behind the fence. The fire at this time was fearful for the space of about half an hour, when the enemy’s batteries were silenced, and our columns advanced to the attack.

What damage we had done them I cannot say; two of their ammunition chests were certainly blown up on the crest, and one, if not two, on the other line. We had also suffered considerably ourselves. Lieutenant Edgell, on the left, had 2 men killed and a number wounded. Lieutenant Stewart had suffered in the same way, and the shot which dismounted Captain Wolcott’s gun killed 2 of his cannoneers and wounded by General Gibbon, over the crest of the hill. As his supports were retiring, and he was suffering much from the fire of the enemy’s skirniishers, I directed him to fall back, with the infantry, to the position in which Thad first placed him. Just as he had limbered to the rear, 5 horses were killed at his left piece, and he was obliged to leave it until he had removed the others, when he returned with teams and men belonging to his battery and brought it safely off, under a heavy musketry fire from the enemy, who had now advanced behind the hill to within 25v yards of Livingston’s and Randolph’s batteries, then stationed on his left, where they laid hid, only their colors showing above the crest. They had also advanced out of the wood in front of the batteries ot Meade’s division, but were prevented from forming, and were soon driven back by a well-directed fire from Ransom’s, Cooper’s, and Amsden’s batteries—first of canister, and afterward, as they retired, of shorttime case. Soon after this the enemy’s guns ceased firing and our own did the same.

About sundown the enemy’s batteries on the crest and on our left again opened and ours replied. The firing was quite brisk on both sides until it had become dark, when we both ceased. Ata later hour Reynolds’ and Gerrish’s batteries were withdrawn from their position on the left, and posted along the Bowling Green road, on Stewart’s right. I also relieved Captains Ransom and Cooper and Lieutenant Simpson, replacing their batteries with Leppien’s and Thompson’s, which had been but partially engaged during the day, along the road behind our right wing. Captain Hall’s battery was also withdrawn and parked near Bernard’s house, our Second Division having been relieved by that

of General Sickles.

During Sunday and Monday, the 14th and 15th, the batteries remained in the following positions, commencing along the Bowling Green road, on the right: Captains Leppien and Thompson were to the west of the avenue leading to the brick house; then Captain Cooper’s, with one section of Amsden’s battery (two of his axles having been broken by the recoil of the pieces), Reynolds’ and Gerrish’s, Captain Cooper relieving Captain Wolcott on Sunday afternoon, who was directed to report to his own, the Sixth Corps. Lieutenant Stewart continued to hold his former important position, and during the day Captain Hall had three guns behind the rise formerly held by Gerrish’s battery. He had suffered so severely in men and horses that he could only make half his battery effective. Ransom and Simpson were held in reserve. There was no general engagement on either of these days, and the batteries only opened on our left when the enemy attempted to get some of their guns in position to our left and front, or gathered in considerable numbers at any of the advanced picket posts.

About noon on Sunday they planted a Whitworth gun in the bend of the Massaponax, which annoyed us considerably, throwing its bolts over the whole of the plain. It was so well posted as to be entirely screened from our batteries across the river, and at such a distance, and so hid by trees, as to be hardly discernible by the naked eye. After considerable difficulty, we succeeded in getting the range, which was found to be 2,700 yards, with Hall’s three guns, and soon silenced it. It did not reopen from that point.

Soon after 8 o’clock on Monday night, in accordance with your orders, I commenced withdrawing the batteries along our line, beginning with Lieutenant Stewart’s, which was the most exposed, being within 200 yards of the enemy’s pickets. This and all the others were got off without any disturbance, and before 11 o’clock they were safely on this side of the river, without, so far as I can learn, leaving even a serviceable harness-strap behind. With hardly an exception, the officers and men executed this delicate movement to perfection.

Stewart’s battery, being most exposed, deserves especial praise for the noiselessness with which they brought off their guns and caissons. I take great pleasure in stating that all the batteries of this corps behaved exceedingly well under fire, and regret exceedingly that I am obliged to say that Lieutenants Edgell and Amsden withdrew their batteries without permission, being out of ammunition, and the latter having two axles broken. Having done such good service, and suffered severely (especially the former), this cannot be attributed to cowardice, but shows a great waui of forethought and proper management in not providing a fresh supply before their chests were exhausted, besides being directly contrary to orders.

To Captain Wolcott and his battery I am indebted for much very valuable service during the time he was temporarily serving with this corps. Hall’s Second Maine Battery suffered the most severely, having one limber chest blown up and a gun carriage smashed. The captain, with his officers and men, merit especial praise for their excellent service in a most exposed position, and for bringing off their left piece, after all but one of the horses were killed, under a heavy fire of the enemy’s infantry. All the harness from the dead horses was also removed.

The behavior of Captains Ransom’s and Cooper’s batteries, and the accuracy of their fire, under the very able direction of these officers, elicited much praise. Lieutenant Stewart showed himself, as at all times, the thorough soldier.

To Captain Reynolds, acting chief of artillery of the First Division

Car, XXXL) BATTLE OF FREDERICKSBURG, VA.

after Captain Gerrish was wounded, I am indebted for much valuable aid. All the reports of the battery commanders speak in praise of the behavior of those under their command.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,