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

[268] plank road, and three regiments of Gordon's, which had been sent for as soon as I heard of the disaster, a line was formed across the telegraph road at Cox's house, about two miles back of Lee's hill. Having received information, late in the day, that McLaws was moving down, and that the enemy, who had passed heavy columns up the plank road, through Fredericksburg, was to be attacked by his forces and mine in connection, I concentrated all my force at Cox's house, which was not accomplished until after night, having previously informed General McLaws of my intention to attack Marye's hill next morning, on the right and advance, extending my left so as to close in on him. Early next morning I threw Hoke's and Hays's brigade across Hazle Run, to move down towards the right, and advance Gordon's brigade towards Marye's and Lee's hills, followed by Smith's and Barksdale's brigades. Gordon succeeded in capturing Marye's hill with ease, aided by Colonel Andrews's artillery, and Barksdale's brigade was thrown into the trenches in front of the hill, and Smith's brigade moved across Hazle Run, and a line formed facing up the plank road, on the plain between Marye's hill and the heights on the plank road, and at Taylor's house. I then waited to hear from McLaws, but hearing no sound of an engagement in that direction, I felt the enemy with Smith's brigade, and finding that he had artillery on the heights in front of my right, I ordered the brigade to retire, and sent to General McLaws requesting him to turn. In return, I received information that Anderson's division was moving down, and that an attack was to be made at a signal. Subsequently I was sent for by General Lee, and having received his instructions, at the signal agreed on, Hays's, Hoke's, and Gordon's brigades, which had been placed in position, were advanced against the enemy. Hays advancing in the centre, from the foot of the hill opposite the mill and Hazle Run; Hoke on the left, advancing across the hill on which Downman's house is situated, and below it, and Gordon on the right up the hills on the north of the plank road, driving the enemy before them. This movement was commenced very late, and Hays's and Hoke's brigades were thrown into some confusion by coming in contact after they crossed the plank road, below Guest's house; and it becoming difficult to distinguish our troops from those of the enemy on account of the growing darkness, they had, therefore, to fall back to re-form, which was done on the plain below Guest's house. Gordon's brigade got in the rear of the enemy's right flank near Taylor's house, and took its position there. Barksdale's brigade had been left at Marye's hill, and Smith's in position on the left of it, to strengthen Barksdale, or reenforce the others as occasion might require, and two regiments were ordered up while Hays's and Hoke's were being re-formed. After seeing General Lee at night, Hoke's brigade was placed in line on the left of Gordon, and Hays was ordered to take position in the intrenchments on the right of Marye's hill, and Smith's regiments sent back to join the residue of the brigade on the left of that hill.

The loss in my division during all the time from the crossing was one hundred and thirty-six killed, eight hundred and thirty-eight wounded, and some five hundred are reported missing, the greater part of whom are, in all probability, stragglers. This does not include the loss in Barksdale's brigade and the artillery.

Very respectfully,

General: In anticipation of the detailed reports, I have the honor to submit the following sketch of the operation of the cavalry immediately preceding and during the battles of the Wilderness and Chancellorsville. The enemy had more than a week previously concentrated a large body of cavalry (two or three divisions) along the line of the upper Rappahannock, whose attempt to hold a footing on the south bank of the river had been repulsed with loss by the two brigades with me, commanded respectively by Brigadier-Generals Fitzhugh and W. H. F. Lee. Finally, infantry appeared at Kelley's Ford and Rappahannock Bridge, but were so inactive that thus far there was nothing inconsistent with the supposition that their appearance was a feint. About dark, however, on Tuesday night, April twenty-eighth, the enemy crossed below the bend of the river at Kelley's, in boats, opposite our videttes, and, before the force posted to defend the ford could be sent to that point, had crossed in such numbers as to make any attempt at resistance futile. The party crossing at once threw over a pontoon bridge, and moved directly up the river, compelling our forces to abandon the ford at Kelley's, and severing our communication with the lower pickets. General W. H. F. Lee, near Brandy, on receiving this intelligence, sent a regiment (Thirteenth Virginia cavalry) at once to meet the advance of infantry, which was checked a mile above Kelley's. I received information of this move about nine o'clock P. M., at Culpeper, and made arrangements to have the entire cavalry and artillery force in Culpeper on the ground at daylight the next morning, directing, in the mean time, that the enemy be so enveloped with pickets as to see what route he took from Kelley's and keep him in check.¹ General W. H. F. Lee selected a fine position between Brandy and Kelley's, and awaited the advance, General Fitz Lee being held in reserve at Brandy, with a regiment at Stevensburg. The enemy did not make a serious advance towards our position, though Chambliss, with the Thirteenth Virginia, was skirmishing all the forenoon with the enemy's infantry.

About one o'clock P. M., I received a report from the pickets towards Madden's that the enemy