T. M. Bryan, Jr, April 19, 1862

Warrenton Junction, April 19, 1862.

Siz: In compliance with Special Orders, No. 37, issued from brigade headquarters, I have made a reconnaissance to the North Fork of the Rappahannock River, and have the honor to submit the following as

My command consisted of seven companies Twelfth Massachusetts Volunteers, Major Burbank commanding; five companies Ninth New York State Militia [Eighty-third Infantry], Lieutenant-Colonel Atterbury commanding; five companies Twelfth Indiana Volunteers, Lieutenant-Colonel Humphrey commanding; four companies Rhode Island Cavalry, Captain Gould commanding ; two sections Matthews’ battery, Lieutenant Godbold commanding; one section Thompson’s battery, Lieutenant Brockway commanding; one section Sturmfel’s battery, Lieutenant Molitor commanding, making a total of about 1,500 infantry, 160 cavalry, three sections of artillery with the new ordnance gun, and one section artillery with Parrott 10-pounder guns.t

I had issued orders for the command to form in the rear of the camp of the Twelfth Massachusetts Regiment at 10 o’clock, but by some misunderstanding in the change of detail for the cavalry they were not reported present till 12.30 a. m. Another half hour was occupied in detailing the advance and rear guard and flankers and getting the command under way, so that it was 1 o’clock before the rear left. Not having any map of the country or guide, I requested Lieutenant Tucker, of the Maine Cavalry, to accompany me, he having traveled the road once before. I put him at the head of the advance guard, and to his services we are indebted for our early arrival at our destination.

The roads are terrible for artillery, the caissons frequently cutting in hub-deep, so that our march was necessarily impeded much more than we could have wished.

We arrived at a cross-road near our scene of action about 7 a. m., and Lieutenant Tucker thinking they led to fords on our flanks, I dispatched a company of cavalry, about 40 men, down each to reconnoiter and warn me of any attempt to intercept our rear. The road on the left Lieutenant Wyman reports as leading directly to the ford below the bridge, as laid down on the map, about one-eighth of a mile below. Lieutenant Wyman received information from an officer and 2 men

*Not found. + Records show that Lieutenant Brockway commanded a section of Matthews’ battery. and that Lieutenant Barry commanded the section of Thompson’s battery.

across the river as to the direction of the ford in the river, who also told him it was fordable horseback. When they found the Lieutenant was not inclined to cross they called him to halt and fired upon him, but without effect. The lieutenant on the road to the right, having gone down some 2 miles and not seeing the river ahead, returned nearer the main column to guard the right flank. I then went forward with Lieutenants Godbold and Tucker to select a position for our guns. I found at once that the enemy were strongly fortified. The banks on the opposite shore overlook those on this side some 20 feet at least. Earthworks could be seen in front and on both our flanks on all the prominent hills, and troops could be seen employed building others. These works were laid out with consummate skill, each one in rear commanded and strongly defended by its faces or flanks those in front, and they were so arranged that an enfilading fire could be brought on an enemy opposite in every available position he could occupy. The master-hand of General G. W. Smith was plainly seen in their construction. I soon discovered that there was little choice of position, there being only two hills that were at all tenable should the enemy have many guns. These I occupied, as the inclosed sketch* will show, viz:

The hill on the left by two sections, under Lieutenant Godbold, and one section Parrotts, Lieutenant Barry, their support being the Twelfth Massachusetts Volunteers, Major Burbank.

The hill on the right, distant about three-fourths of a mile, directly north-northeast, was occupied by a section under Lieutenant Brockway, the support being the Twelfth Indiana, Lieutenant-Colonel Humphrey. The section under Lieutenant Molitor and the Ninth New York Militia, Lieutenant-Colonel Atterbury commanding, I left as a reserve. The cavalry I placed on the flanks and in the woods in the rear.

Having thus disposed of my force, I had the pieces run by hand to the crests of the hills, and as the last echo of the rebel band at guard mounting died away I gave them as a chorus the right piece of Lieutenant Godbold. This was a splendid shot. The shell struck nearly the center of the large fort opposite, and bursting, scattered the men on all sides, doubtless killing some. This work was being completed, and the parapet was covered with men at work. The next shot went a little to the right, and the next also. This giving them some encouragement, they returned, and opened fire with two brass 6-pounder smooth-bores, their shot and shell falling short about 30 yards. The fifth shot from Lieutenant Barry’s battery blew up the magazine in that work and silenced their guns. When the magazine exploded dark objects were thrown upward, probably men, but I could not say whether they were troops or the logs of which the magazine doubtless was built. This silenced that work.

Lieutenant Barry had thrown a shell through some tents and many in the parapet, tearing it terribly, so that this work was pretty well used up, when suddenly two masked batteries enfiladed us. I made a slight change in our position and replied. These I found were also smooth-bore 6-pounders. We returned their fire briskly for some moments, when I saw two sections of a battery galloping rapidly to our right. I sent word to Lieutenant Brockway, who fired two shells at them, one killing 3 men anda horse. These were seen to fall, the distance being not over 1,500 yards on a level plain. They, however, moved on, getting in the woods, and went I could not ascertain whither though I sent three good scouts to follow them. :

ee ee ee * Not found.

Cuar. XXIV.) RECONNAISSANCE, ETC. 443

Lieutenant Brockway then threw a few shot and shell at a house, said to be headquarters, and near which were some Sibley tents. By the side of one of these tents a trooper dismounted and came forward to reconnoiter. The first shell struck him down and sent his horse flying across the field. The soldier (or officer) struck did not move during the engagement, and laid there when we left, so I presume he was killed. Several shells struck around the earthwork in front and numerous horses ran from the woods in the rear. One round shot went eptirely through the house, but not a gun was fired by the enemy from this point.

Two masked batteries, however, opened on Lieutenant Brockway, one a 24 or 32 pounder, which enfiladed the line of skirmishers of the Twelfth Indiana and also the battery. The first ricochetted from the crest of the hill, and making two bounds, passed immediately over Lieutenant-Colonel Humphrey, who, being on foot, fell flat, and I thought him killed. This shot passed down the rear of the whole line of the Twelfth Indiana, between them and their reserves, and several others of the same sort did the same thing, but they never moved an inch till I ordered the battery to take another position and try the earthworks on their extreme left. Hardly had they taken position and opened fire when a masked battery in front, and not over 1,000 yards distant, replied. The brush in front of this being knocked down by their fire, Lieutenant Brockway directed one of his pieces upon it with such effect

’ that at the second fire one of the enemy’s guns was knocked over and

the horses of the battery seen galloping away over the fields. They fired but one more shot, and were silenced. The heavy gun still kept up its fire on the extreme left of us, and I, having shot and shell brought me from all the batteries, concluded to bring in Lieutenant Brockway and Colonel Humphrey, not knowing where the sections that had passed to our right had gone. I called them in nearer the main body to cover its flank, and started with 3 dragoons to the river’s bank to ascertain, if possible, their effective force. I had not proceeded far when a battery within short range opened upon me. I therefore dismounted and crawled to the top of a hill near some low cedars. There I distinctly saw three different regiments under arms in front of their tents back of the woods, two of which had batteries, or sections of batteries, on their right. One of these regiments had tents.

In the woods were tents sufficient for three more regiments, though many of these were wedge-tents, and I might have been deceived. The river was very precipitous on both sides, the less so on that of the enemy, our banks being about 70 feet high. A regiment of cavalry in line was also visible. The river was, I should think, 75 or 80 yards wide. The force of the enemy I estimated at between 5,000 and 7,000 infantry, at least one regiment of cavalry, three full batteries of 6-pounder smooth-bores, and two siege guns, 24-pounders. They used no rifled guns whatever. ;

Finding no place for my infantry to open an effective fire, even with their rifles, without great exposure from grape and canister, and knowing it was not your wish to risk a general engagement with a force greatly superior to our own and well intrenched, or even a skirmish which might be disastrous to us, I rode back and ordered the entire force back out of range, as I saw them taking a gun, drawn by eight horses, in the masked battery between the woods and their large works which we had silenced.

I had hardly moved my command when they opened there with a 24-pounder shell, but badly out of range andin ourrear. They fired four

or five times and ceased. I then rode to the right to examine the bridge, and had but just arrived where I proposed to reconnoiter when a masked battery with grape and canister opened so near me I could distinctly see the men working their pieces, the shot flying entirely too close to be pleasant. I changed my position, but only to find a section of light battery drive up, and unlimbering sent a round shot within 10 feet of me, splashing mud over both myself and horse. I therefore saw but little.

The bridge I could not see, as it was hidden by the bluff. Lieutenant Wyman informed me there is but one pier standing, and that somewhat damaged ; that the abutments are not entire, and that the place where the second pier should be is vacant, which is between the opposite bank and the first pier. He thinks the building of the bridge would be difficult, and I agree with him, as the river is wide, and just above is a dam, which gives the stream quite a current at present. A large amount of timber was collected near the ford, though in what state of entirety I cannot say. The railroad is entire from the bridge on our side back 4 miles. From this point the rails have either been carried off by the Confederates for their own use or buried in some neighboring fields. The sleepers for about a mile are cut in two, and from there toward Warrenton Junction are removed and burned.

The houses on our road with two exceptions were entirely deserted, one of these, belonging to an officer, Lieutenant Gordon, rebel army, containing a white family, who were taking care of it for him. Hearing they were giving information to the enemy as to our scouts before, I arrested the father and son, a lad of seventeen years, and put a guard over the woman till I returned.

The other is a house of Mrs. Broom. On our approach an Irishman and young Mr. Broom mounted and galloped down toward the river. I sent two cavalry after them across the fields, who soon returned with both. These I kept till I received your orders to release them. The town of Rappahannock, a village of twelve or fifteen houses, is deserted.

The land hereabout is not cultivated, with the exception of two or three fields of thinly-growing wheat. Forage for man or beast is not to be had. I saw but four cows and one two-year-old colt during the trip; nota fowl of any kind at any house. Small streams of very muddy water are numerous, and some of the fields appear to have had clover in them in years goneby. The soil is clayey, and becomes a stiff paste in wet weather. The country is well wooded, generally oak, with some clumps of pines, gently undulating to the river, where it rises abruptly 60 or 70 feet on the bank.

We met no pickets or scouts of the enemy during the entire march, and returned to camp without suffering any loss whatever of men or horses. The position occupied by the enemy I should think difficult to drive them from in front. By making a march so as to throw the men in rifle pits before daylight, and thus cover them from grape and canister on this bank from the other, would force them to cross and attack or drive them back while we did so, as their works are within good rifle range.

This was your expressed wish to me, but unfortunately the cavalry reported too late for me to reach the point designated till 7 a.m. fF should have then remained quiet until next day, throwing up works during the night, but I did not know the surrounding country. Besides, I was anxious to engage them, lest they might send re-enforcements toward Fredericksburg, which you desired us to prevent, if possible, and which IU think was accomplished.

To attack on the flanks with a considerable force, particularly above on their left flank, having a good guide who knows the fords well, I should think would be successful, as they evidently feared an attack in that quarter, and therefore sent the two sections of a battery referred to in that direction. Their work seemed all open in the rear.

In conclusion, allow me to express to you my heartfelt thanks for your kindness in placing me in command of the picked men of your command, and I believe the Second Brigade (General J. J. Abercrombie commanding) is universally admitted to be the finest body of men in the service, and notwithstanding their fatiguing march, without any sleep at night, they, both officers and men, were ready to undergo any future amount of hardship, and all seemed anxious to acquit themselves as heroes. I would especially mention the fine gunnery of Lieutenants Godbold, Brockway, and Barry. I never saw finer practice by older officers in the U. S. Army. Captain Gould and Lieutenant Wyman, Rhode Island cavalry, rendered much valuable assistance on the march, the former by the precision with which he conducted the advance and rear guards and flankers, and the latter as scout, bringing in much useful information from dangerous points. To Lieutenant Tucker, Maine cavalry, is due our safe-conduct to our point of destination. :

The officers and men, without exception, displayed exceeding coolness while under a sharp fire of shot and shell for nearly two hours

‘without firing a gun, which is considered the most trying position in which infantry can be placed. I am, sir,

very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Theut, Ool., Twelfth Mass. Vols., Oomdg. Reconnaissance.
Brigadier-General ABERCROMBIE,
Commanding Second Brigade.
APRIL 19-24, 1862.—Operations in the vicinity of Sparta, New Market,
South Fork of the Shenandoah River (near Luray), and Harrisonburg, in
the Shenandoah Valley, Va.
Reports of Maj. Gen. Nathaniel P. Banks, U. 8. Army.