S. S. Carroll to Louis H. Pelouze, June 11, 1862

HEADQUARTERS FOURTH BRIGADE, SHIELDS’ DIVISION,

Luray, Va., June 11, 1862.

Sir: I have the honor to make the following report:

In accordance with orders from the general commanding the division I reached the vicinity of Port Republic about 6 a. m. on Sunday, the 8th instant, with about 150 of the First Virginia Cavalry and four pieces of Battery L, First Ohio Artillery. I found the enemy’s train parked on the other side of the North Branch of the Shenandoah, with a large quantity of beef cattle herded near by, and the town held by a small force of cavalry only. I chose the most commanding position I could find, about half a mile from the bridge, and planted there two pieces of artillery to command the ends of the same. I then ordered Major Chamberlain, commanding the cavalry, to rush down and take possession of the bridge.

Finding that he had been injured by a fall from his horse, that his command in consequence were in confusion, and hesitated as they came to the South River, and that a body of the enemy’s cavalry were assembling at this end of the bridge, giving me fears that they would fire it, I ordered the artillery to open fire upon them, and sent Captain Goodrich to urge the cavalry forward immediately, which he did, and took possession of the bridge, driving part of the enemy’s eavae across it and part of them out of town by the road leading to the

I then went into town myself, and took with me two pieces of artillery, one of which I planted at the end of the bridge and the other at the corner of the street commanding the road by which part of the enemy’s cavalry had fled. While occupying a position between these, and devising some method by which I could hold the town until my infantry should come up, I suddenly perceived the enemy’s infantry emerging from the woods a short distance from the bridge and dashing down upon it at a run in considerable force. As soon as my cavalry, which was now under charge of its own officers, perceived them, they broke and ran in every direction by which they could secure a retreat.

jar. XXIV.) OPERATIONS IN SHENANDOAH VALLEY,

Seeing that I could not hold that position, I ordered the two pieces of artillery to be withdrawn. The enemy’s infantry fired so heavily into the limber-horses of the piece at the bridge that they ran away with the limber, and that piece had to be abandoned. The other piece was brought away from its position by Captain Robinson, but instead of taking the road he followed by mistake some of the flying cavalry into the woods, and not being able to extricate it, concealed and abandoned it. In the mean time my infantry had almost reached the position where I had left the two pieces of artillery planted, and they were opened upon by eighteen pieces of the enemy’s artillery from the hills upon the opposite side of the river, and partially catching the contagion from the panic-stricken cavalry were retreating amid a heavy shower of shot and shell. The two pieces which I had left upon the hill, superintended by Captain Keily, had been withdrawn from their position, and one of them abandoned in the mud by its cannoneers. The other was also abandoned, with the pole of the limber broken. By the indomitable energy and courage of Colonel Daum and Captain Keily those pieces were saved, and I managed to fall back with my force to a better position without range of the enemy’s artillery. At this juncture General Tyler, with his brigade, joined me. After that the enemy made no further attack upon us.

Our loss this day in killed, wounded, and missing was as follows: Seventh Regiment Indiana Volunteers, 8 killed; 2 captains, 1 lieutenvant, and 27 men wounded; Battery L, First Ohio Artillery, 1 killed; 1 lieutenant missing. Total loss, 40. Battery L lost two pieces and limbers and fourteen horses.

Too great credit cannot be given to Captain Robinson and Lieutenant Robinson for the noble manner in which they stuck to their pieces after they were deserted by their cavalry support. The latter gallant young officer was either killed or taken prisoner while endeavoring to save his

x Early on the morning of the 9th Colonel Daum urged upon General Tyler, under cover of the fog, to move down and destroy the bridge. I rode forward with General Tyler and showed him the impracticability of such a proceeding, and told him that if we could effect a retreat from our present position without disaster we would be doing as well as I could expect. Immediately upon our return the enemy’s infantry and cavalry in considerable force were observed passing into the woods opposite our batteries upon the left, and at the same time they opened upon us with a battery near that point.

I then again urged upon General Tyler the necessity of immediately organizing for an orderly retreat, and upon his non-compliance with the same, at my suggestion two regiments from my brigade and two companies from the Third Brigade were sent into the woods upon the left to meet the advancing force above mentioned. At this time Colonel Daum ordered Lieutenant Baker, of Captain Clark’s battery, with two pieces, into a wheat field upon our right, whereupon several regiments of the enemy’s infantry were observed advancing toward them along the bank of the river. Colonel Gavin, Seventh Indiana Volunteers, was sent to oppose them. At General Tyler’s request I took command of the right. Before leaving to do so, however, I impressed upon him the necessity of sustaining the batteries upon our left. ;

The enemy advanced upon the right in force, and Colonel Gavin was compelled to fall back. I ordered Lieutenant Baker to pour grape and canister into them, which he did with great effect. I sent to General Tyler, requesting assistance upon the right if he could spare it, and he

sent me the First Virginia Volunteers, commanded by Colonel Thoburn. 1 then, with these two regiments and three regiments from the Third Brigade, drove the enemy before me. At this time the enemy’s infantry advanced upon our left and took possession of the batteries planted there. I then told General Tyler that we must organize for a retreat, and at his request I gave orders for the same. The artillery was ordered to be brought to the rear, with the exception of two pieces, which, with the Fifth Regiment Ohio Volunteers, were to cover the retreat. The infantry upon the right was withdrawn, the batteries upon the left retaken, and the retreat was effected as well as could be expected. I myself brought up the rear, General Tyler having gone forward to select a position to make a new stand.

As soon as we commenced the retreat the enemy turned and opened upon us portions of Clark’s, Huntington’s, and Robinson’s batteries, that they had taken from us on the left, which threw the rear of our column in great disorder, causing them to take to the woods, and making it for the earlier part of the retreat apparently a rout. Their cavalry also charged upon our rear, increasing the confusion. I did all I could to organize the rear, but the front was led with such speed that it was impossible to do so under 2 or 24 miles, when I succeeded in halting the three rear regiments of my brigade and organizing them.

Total loss, 234; loss of day before, 40; aggregate loss, 274. Battery L lost this day one piece and limber, two caissons, and 24 horses. The loss of the enemy was greater than ours, for grape and canister were poured into them with terrible effect, and the ground was strewn with their dead. A Louisiana regiment before our right was almost annihilated. The action lasted about four hours without cessation.

In conclusion I would say that all my command, both officers and men, acted most gallantly, and that, although it may seem invidious to particularize where all did so nobly, I cannot forbear mentioning Captain Keily, of General Shields’ staff, who was severely wounded; Captain Goodrich, temporarily assigned to duty with me, and Lieutenants Reid and Lostutter, of my own staff; Colonel Thoburn, First Virginia Volunteers; Colonel Gavin, Seventh Indiana Volunteers; Colonel Lewis, One hundred and tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers; Major Barrett, commanding Highty-fourth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and Lieutenant Baker, of Captain Clark’s battery, who was in my wing during the action.

The enemy contested every inch of ground, but we drove his superior force for nearly half a mile, and continued to drive him until his re-enforcements alone largely exceeded our whole command.

Colonel Gavin, Major Patterson, Seventh Indiana Volunteers, and myself had our horses killed under us in the heat of the action.

Sir,

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Commanding Fourth Brigade.

Acting Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 59.

Reports of Lieut. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, CO. 8. Army, commanding the

ees District, of operations May 14—June 17, with congratulatory