Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 10.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[138] the bloodiest. At dawn on the fourteenth my only remaining guns in reserve, Moody's two twenty-four-pounder howitzers and one rifle of Captain Jordan's, relieved the remainder of Captain Maurin's battery in the pits left of the plank road; and two twelve-pounder guns of Moody's and two six-pounder guns of Captain Woolfolk's were relieved by brigade batteries, being out of ammunition. On the fourteenth we fired but few shot, and only at bodies of the enemy's infantry, being compelled to economize ammunition. On the night of the fourteenth Captain Parker discovered a positron enfilading the canal valley, in front of the town, and two pits were constructed at it, which I occupied before day with Moody's twelve-pounder guns. When the fog lifted, the reserves of the enemy's pickets could be seen lying flat on their faces in the valley; in the language of General Burnside, “holding the first ridge.” A few well-directed shots by Captain Moody soon, however, broke this hold, and all who could not find fresh shelter fled in confusion to the city, under the fire of our sharpshooters and several guns immediately in their rear. This, with a single shot in the brick tannery, broke up entirely the annoying fire of sharpshooters, under which we suffered considerably the day before; and for the rest of the day we worked openly in our pits, and fired at all bodies of infantry appearing in town, unannoyed. That night the town was evacuated. My especial thanks are due to Major J. R. C. Lewis, for his cool and efficient cooperation in the execution of all orders. The left of our line of batteries was under his special supervision for the last two days. I desire also to express here my high appreciation of the gallantry and efficiency of Captains Jordan, Rhett, Moody, Woolfolk, and Parker, before attested on many a hard-fought field, and fully corroborated on this. Captain Eubank, with the remaining battery of my battalion, is absent on detached service. Dr. Gray, surgeon, Captain Franklin, quartermaster, and Lieutenant Vaughan, commissary, managed their respective departments to my entire satisfaction. My adjutant, Lieutenant T. Henderson Smith, carried and executed my orders, under all circumstances, with coolness and judgment. My especial thanks are also due to .C. S. Cadet Joseph C. Haskell, of South Carolina, who volunteered me his services, and rendered me indispensable assistance in the supervision of so extensive a command. I beg leave to recommend him to the War Department for promotion. Lieutenants Gillen, Wilson, Burroughs, Terrill, and Woolfolk, are mentioned in high terms by their captains, as are also Sergeant Cisco, of Moody's, and Private England, of Woolfolk's battery. The latter, unfortunately, was killed. I was personally impressed with the bearing of Lieutenant J. Donnell Smith, of Jordan's battery, commanding a section in the attack on the evening of the thirteenth. Corporal Lockwood, of his company, a most gallant soldier, whom I also noticed particularly, was wounded, I fear mortally, in the night attack. Our entire loss was one killed, ten wounded, and fifteen horses. One thousand and eighty rounds of ammunition were expended.

I am, Major, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

General: As soon as the signal guns, on the morning of the eleventh instant, announced the advance of the enemy, I moved the Twenty-first regiment from camp, and arrived at the market-house in Fredericksburg at day-dawn, when, in obedience to your orders, I detached the right wing, under Major Moody, to go to the support of Captain Govan, of the Seventeenth regiment, who was guarding the wharf on the Rappahannock, and then engaged with the enemy. I saw no more of that portion of the regiment during the day, and respectfully refer you to Major Moody's report of his operations. The left wing I held in reserve at the market-house, with instructions to support Lieutenant-Colonel Fizer, of the Seventeenth regiment, at the upper pontoon, constructed by the enemy, or Captain Govan, if needed.

About one o'clock, I was ordered to go to the relief of Colonel Fizer, but, owing to a mistake of my guide as to the position of Colonel Fizer, I was conducted several hundred yards above, to a very exposed position, from which the enemy forced me to retire, by a heavy fire from their artillery. I returned to the market-house, and received orders to advance to the river and resist any advance of the enemy, who had then succeeded in forcing a passage of the river, and were engaged with Lieutenant-Colonel Fizer and Colonel Carter, of the Nineteenth regiment. I detached Captain Renfue, with his company, to the foot of William Street, and Captain Green, with his company, to the foot of the street leading from the Episcopal Church, and placed Captains Stamps, Sims, and Gibson, with their companies, on Main Street. By this time it was dark. Captain Green discovered the enemy advancing slowly down the river bank, and immediately opened fire upon him, and stubbornly resisted until, stricken down by a minie ball, his company fell back, bearing his body with them. The enemy, pursuing, charged up the street. Captains Stamps, Sims, and Gibson opened a galling fire upon him, and drove him off the streets, up towards the pontoon bridge, and held him in check until about seven o'clock, when I was ordered to withdraw my troops from the city, and form a line of battle at the foot of the hill, on the Telegraph road, where I remained until I was relieved by the gallant and lamented General Cobb, when I moved back to camp.

During the whole day we were exposed to a