P. H. Allabaoch to Andrew A. Humphreys, December 19, 1862

GENERAL:

Agreeably to your instructions, received in the forenoon of the 13th instant, near the Phillips house, I put my brigade in motion and. kept close to the First Brigade, commanded by General Tyler. Crossing the pontoon bridge, and passing up the street leading through the city to the battle-ground, I moved my column to the left of the Telegraph road, formed two lines of battle, and, by your directions, moved them off at a charge. The line moved with great steadiness some 200 yards, when they came to a line of infantry lying down just in rear of @ small elevation, which partially covered them from the incessant musket firing. My troops, not having before been under fire, seemed to think that they were not to go beyond. I rode off to the right and there found an officer; asked him to withdraw his men, which I could not get him to do. At that time your aide, Lieutenant Humphreys, came up and gave me orders to cease firing. While endeavoring to comply with this order, my adjutant-general fell, shot through the right lung.

Being yourself present during the whole action, it is unnecessary for me to say anything further in regard to the coolness and bravery of Captain Porter, acting assistant adjutant-general. My adjutant being wounded, one of my orderlies having received a dangerous wound, and my aide, Lieutenant Whittlesey, being unhorsed by the explosion of a shell, I should have found some difficulty in forming line for a second charge, had it not been for your presence in person, cheering the men on, and with the officers taking the front of the line, you having ordered them all in front of their regiments. At this tinie I received valuable aid from Lieutenaut Humphreys, whose coolness cannot be surpassed.

* Embodied in revised statement, p. 137.

The charge was made, and the line pressed forward to within 12 paces of the stone wall, under a galling fire of musketry and of grape and canister from a battery on the right. The column held for a moment and fell back to the line of the second formation, when General Tyler’s brigade came up to my relief and charged. A short time previous to this I had my horse shot under me, and made a short search for another. Not finding one, I returned and brought off my right wing as you at che same time brought off my left, the men in the mean time cheering.

Too much praise cannot be given to Col. E. J. Allen for the fine style in which he conducted himself and maneuvered his regiment. Oolonel Clark behaved with great coolness and bravery. I would mention particularly Captain Tyler, of the One hundred and twenty-third, and Adjutant Noon, of the One hundred and thirty-third, who was killed while urging the men on to the charge.

After falling back to the original line of ‘formation, I took up a new line, by your direction, on the right of the road.

At 12 o’clock at night I received orders from you to take my troops into the city and replenish the ammunition. After drawing 22,000 rounds, I was ordered to take up a position on the same ground on which I had first formed line. My men lay there all day ov Sunday, the 14th instant, and at 8 o’clock at night were withdrawn by your orders into town.

The colonels commanding not having sent in their reports, I am unable to give the names of those that have distinguished themselves, but will forward the reports as soon as received.

Allow me to say that if the line of troops that were in front had been withdrawn, my column would have gained the stone wall and heldit. I attribute to their presence there, lying down, my failure to accomplish your orders.

In conclusion, I would say that I take great pleasure in making particular mention of Brigade Surgeon Martin, Surgeon Huber, Assistant Surgeon Kirk, and Surgeon Hoffman, who all behaved as only those can who, regardless of personal danger or inconvenience, determine to devote themselves solely to the alleviation of the sufferings of our wounded.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,