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with little more than six thousand men, is a larger percentage than that of any other division in the late battle.
Although placed in second line at the commencement of the action, it is an indubitable fact that, before it had made progress many minutes, both on Saturday and on Sunday, the troops of this division had passed into and repeatedly through and beyond the first line.
And, without any desire to detract from the just fame of other commands, I feel confident that much of the credit due to the prowess of Trimble's division has been attributed to others.
The unusal proportion of officers who fell,--the fact that the four brigades lost eight brigade commanders, three of them killed and the rest disabled, and that out of the division staff one was killed and two were wounded,--all this shows that all, of every rank, bore their part well in this great battle.
I cannot, however, close this report without mentioning, more particularly, first the names of some of the most prominent of the gallant dead.
Paxton, Garnett, and Walker died heroically at the head of their brigades.
The chivalrous Duncan McKim, of General Trimble's staff, fell while conducting reenforcements to repel the enemy.
Major Stover, of the Tenth Virginia, Lieutenant-Colonel Leggett, Tenth Louisiana, and many others, fell to rise no more.
Colonel Warren, Tenth Virginia; Colonel T. V. Williams, Thirty-seventh Virginia; and Lieutenant-Colonel Thurston, Third North Carolina, wounded while commanding the Third brigade, deserve special mention for their gallantry.
Also Colonel Funk, Fifth Virginia; Colonel Vandeventer, Fiftieth Virginia; Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, First North Carolina, and Colonel J. M. Williams Tenth Louisiana, on whom the command of the First, Second, Third, and Fourth brigades devolved respectively.
Lieutenant-Colonel Withers, of Forty-second Virginia; Major White, Forty-eighth Virginia; Captain Buckner, Forty-fourth Virginia; Captain Mosely, Twenty-first Virginia; Major Perkins and Captain Kelly, commanding Fiftieth Virginia, and Captain Samuel J. C. Moore, acting adjutant-general to Jones's brigade, are mentioned for gallant conduct by their brigade commanders.
Also, Lieutenant C. J. Arnell, acting assistant adjutant-general of Paxton's brigade, and Captain Henry Kyd Douglass, inspector of this brigade, to whose gallantry and good conduct I am also an eye-witness.
Colonel H. K. Edmundson, of the Twenty-seventh Virginia, severely wounded at the head of his regiment, also deserves special mention.
Of the conduct of the division staff I cannot speak too highly.
Major Hoffman and Mr. Charles Grogan were both severely wounded while nobly discharging their duties.
Captain W. Carvel Hall, assistant adjutant-general, was not only conspicuous for his gallantry, but discharged the arduous duties of his position, both during and after the battle, with a zeal and ability worthy of all praise; as did also Lieutenant Hinrichs, of the engineers, who acted, during the battle, as Aid-de-camp.
Lieutenant James T. Tosh, my own Aid-de-camp, behaved with a daring and bravery which cannot be surpassed, and aided me materially more than once in rallying and pushing forward some portions of the line, momentarily wavering under the superior numbers and withering fire of the enemy.
I also wish to express my high appreciation of the skilful, zealous, and able manner in which Dr. R. F. Coleman, division surgeon, discharged the duties of his office.
I am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Report of Brig.-General W. H. F. Lee.
Thursday, April 30th.--Marched from Culpeper to Rapidan station with Ninth and Thirteenth Virginia cavalry, and one piece of artillery; left one squadron in Culpeper, which fell back on the appearance of the enemy, and joined me at Rapidan.
Enemy appeared that evening.
Friday, May 1st.--Engaged all day with one or two brigades of cavalry.
One charge made by Colonel Beale with one squadron, to draw them out, took thirty prisoners, but could not bring them off; was pressed very hard.
Received orders from General Lee to burn the bridge and fall back to Gordonsville; burnt the bridge, but held my position all day. Enemy commenced moving towards night in force on my left.
Withdrew at night and marched towards Gordonsville.
Saturday, May 2d.--Reached Gordonsville at eleven o'clock A. M.; heard on my arrival that a large body of the enemy were at Trevillian's Depot and Louisa Court-House; sent the Ninth Virginia cavalry in that direction; their videttes were driven in by the enemy.
The Ninth regiment charged and drove them three miles, killed and wounded a number, and took thirty-two prisoners. One Lieutenant and four prisoners taken represented three different regiments.
My loss was three or four wounded. Went to the assistance of the Ninth with the Thirteenth regiment and two pieces of artillery; met Colonel Beale falling back; took a position and waited their approach.
They did not advance.
Learned that General Stoneman with his whole corps was at Louisa Court-House, moving towards James River; supposed that his object was to tear up the railroad; night coming on, my men and horses being wearied out by four days fighting and marching, I left my pickets out and withdrew to Gordonsville.
Sunday, May 3d.--Received information from my scouts that the enemy were leaving Louisa, and moving in the direction of Columbia.
Knowing their object was to destroy the aqueduct, I started after them.
Arrived there at night ; heard that they had left in a great hurry; pursued all night.
At daybreak, having travelled sixty or seventy miles, the enemy being three hours ahead of me, halted.
My videttes reported the enemy about one mile in advance; had exchanged words; they said they belonged to the Fifth regulars; knew the party I was pursuing was Wyndham's.
