T. F. Brodhead to Alpheus S. Williams, May 28, 1862

Sir: Your order of the evening of the 24th instant was received by me while prostrate with lung fever and hemorrhage, which for ten days had confined me to my quarters. The five companies of the regiment present were promptly notified of the intended movement and promptly placed in readiness.

In compliance with your order for detail, Major Paldi, with detach- ‘ ment of three companies of the command, proceeded to Middletown, reported to Colonel Murphy, of the Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers, and accompanied him 5 miles on the Front Royal road, where he found the enemy’s pickets of infantry and cavalry in large force. They retired to Middletown, where they found the train in disorder from an attack of a party of the enemy’s cavalry who had possession of Newtown.

Major Paldi immediately proceeded to the front, without orders, to protect the train and ascertain the enemy’s force. On approaching Newtown the enemy retreated to a wood on the right of the road, where they were held in check until the arrival of the artillery and infantry. At this point, with the rest of the command, I moved to the front, leading with my companies the advance of the column.

Under orders from General Banks I now proceeded at once to Winchester, where, on the arrival of our forces, I was ordered to furnish two companies for grand-guard duty on the Front Royal road, which detachment was placed under command of Major Town. The balance of the command bivouacked on the outside of the town. Major Town proceeded on the Front Royal road 24 miles, where he was joined by two companies of the Tenth Maine Volunteers, and established his grand guard. Several attempts were made during the night by a superior force of the enemy to drive them in, but their position was maintained until 7 o’clock on the morning of Sunday, when they were compelled to retire on the line of the First Brigade. Thereupon the detachment joined the balance of the command.

‘ Finding I had very much overtasked my strength, utterly exhausted by the day’s march from Strasburg, I assigned the command to Major Paldi; Lieutenant-Colonel Copeland just recovering from a long illness, and too feeble for duty in the saddle.

About 5 o’clock Sunday morning, when our pickets were being driven in in every direction, a regiment of the cucmy’s infantry appeared on a bill on the right of the turnpike, driving a small party of

our own infantry before them, with the apparent intention of closing immediately on the town. Major Paldi assumed the responsibility of ordering a battery into position to resist their approach, and formed his own command as its support. He remained in this position, under a severe fire of musketry and artillery, until the retreat of both artillery and infantry from the hill. As the last of the infantry were leaving the hill General Williams ordered Major Town, then temporarily in command, to form line of battle on top of the hill, and, if possible, charge the advancing column and hold them in check. Major Town immediately formed his command in the position designated and prepared for action. Directly in his front and within 15 rods of him, advancing at a double-quick, came six full regiments of the enemy’s infantry. His appearance before them caused a halt, and they made preparations to receive his charge. This movement delayed the enemy full ten minutes, giving our retreating infantry time to gain the cover of the town. Major Town judged it impracticable to charge on this column with his command of 200 men, and ordered a retrograde movement, which was executed in good order under a heavy fire of musketry. He then proceeded to the opposite side of the town, and was assigned a position on the left by General Hatch, Lieutenant-Colonel Copeland joining and assuming command. When within 5 miles of Martinsburg General Hatch ordered him to join Colonel Donnelly’s brigade, on a back road. He proceeded through the woods to this road, and after sending 24 miles back in search of the brigade, and halting until the enemy’s advance was ahead of him, being unable to ascertain anything of Colonel Donnelly’s whereabouts, he slowly proceeded to Martinsburg, where he arrived about 4p. m. The lieutenant-colonel being unable to proceed farther the command devolved upon Major Paldi, who was ordered to proceed on the road to Williamsport in rear of the infantry. The command reached the vicinity of Williamsport during the night, and remained standing in the road until 3 o’clock the next morning, when it was ordered on grand-guard duty on the Martinsburg road, where it remained until 10 o’clock a. m. the 27th instant, observing nothing of moment in the interim. At this time he was relieved and proceeded to Williamsport into camp.

The company commanders not having been able to ascertain the loss in their respective companies precludes the possibility of making an accurate report of the loss in my command. It is known that Second Lieut. Wiliam M. Brevoort, of Company G, was wounded on the field, fell from his horse, and was probably captured by the enemy. His conduct was everything that his commanding officer could desire, and his loss will be severely felt in the regiment. A more gallant young officer never trod a battle-field.

It was not until infantry and artillery had begun the retreat, and

until ordered to do so, that the regiment—the only cavalry in the field in the action—left it, and then in good order, taking position immediately, and acting throughout the retreat urder the eye of the general commanding the division. It was the last regiment that left the field, and reformed immediately in the streets. Lieutenant-Colonel Copeland, feeble to the extreme from protracted illness, against the remonstrance of the surgeon, for several hours of the march insisted upon taking command of the column, and only left it when utterly unable to keep his saddle.

To the coolness, judgment, and gallant conduct of Major Town, very much of the time in command, every credit is due. His prompt action at crit-cal periods contributed materially to the success of that trying march. His duties were pressing and critical, and always well performed. Second Lieut. and Adjt. William M. Heazlit, and Lieut. D. G. Maynard, adjutant of the Third Battalion, were conspicuous for gallantry and good conduct. First Lieutenants Sprague, Alexander, and Duggan, and Second Lieutenant Snyder, commanding companies—ofiicers all highly distinguished heretofore for good conduct—behaved admirably, and deserve bigh commendation for gallantry and soldierlike bearing. The notice of the general of division is especially called to the noble conduct of Dr. George K. Johnson, the accomplished surgeon of the regiment. When our train was attacked near Middletown on the march from Strasburg he made a most gallant effort to save it, and commanded in person, assisted by Sergt. A. D. Burdino, a portion of the guard, and a company of the Fifth Connecticut Infantry. The enemy were in force too strong, but it was only after a most determined struggle, in which the hospital steward was killed and several assistants wounded, that the hospital train was abandoned.

Our loss is, 1 officer wounded and prisoner; enlisted men killed, 10; wounded, 9; missing, 34. Total, 54; nearly one-fourth of the force of the command.

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