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Monday, May 4th.--Started forward and came upon him drawn up in the road.
One squadron of the Ninth was ahead a few hundred yards; charged; the enemy charged at the same time; fought hand to hand for four or five minutes; routed the party; killed six, wounded a number, and took thirty three prisoners, among them Captain Owens and Lieutenant Buford. Captain Owens reported that his regiment was not all present, but that he was on picket; that General Buford was only three miles distant. My horses and men being jaded, and having only about eight hundred men, I determined not to pursue.
Continued back to Gordonsville, having travelled some seventy or eighty miles.
Tuesday, May 5th.--Rested, having sent out scouting parties.
Heard by telegram from Richmond that the enemy were everywhere.
Wednesday, May 6th.--Having received information that the enemy were recrossing the railroad, moved down upon his left flank; came upon his rear at North Anna River; took some seventeen or eighteen prisoners. Their rear guard had crossed the river and torn up the bridge.
It had been raining all day and the river was past fording.
Hearing that this was only one party, and that another column was moving lower down, went in that direction; found they had all crossed the North Anna, and destroyed the bridges behind them.
Moved that night in the direction of Louisa Court-House.
Bivouacked in three miles of Court-House.
Thursday, May 7th.--Went to Trevillians and fed. Moved on at three P. M. for Orange Court-House; arrived at eight A. M. Scouts reported that the enemy had crossed the Rapidan.
W. H. F. Lee, Brigadier-General.
Report of Brigadier-General Pender.
General: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by my brigade in the battle of Chancellorsville.
Having arrived upon the right of the enemy's position, May second, I was ordered to form line of battle upon the left of the road leading to Chancellorsville, in rear and in support of a line formed by part of Colston's division.
In this order we advanced some distance, when orders were received to enter the road again, and push on by the flank, in which order I moved until reaching the advance position of our troops.
Here, after my men were subjected to a most galling and destructive shelling from the batteries near Chancellorsville, I moved my regiments in to the left, and formed line of battle, my right resting upon the road.
Before I had completed my formation I found that my troops occupied the most advanced position of our forces.
Skirmishers were thrown out to the front, and in this position we remained until the general advance was ordered, early next morning, May third.
My line had not advanced more than one hundred and fifty yards before the firing became very heavy; but my men continued to advance, and soon it became apparent that the enemy were posted behind a breastwork of logs and brush.
This we carried without once hesitating.
Beyond the breastworks the resistance again became very obstinate, as if we had come in contact with a fresh line;--but let me here say that the thickness of the undergrowth very much obstructed the view of operations the whole of this day;--and this, in its turn, was driven back after a short contest; but farther on the resistance became so great from their infantry force, and the tremendous fire from artillery on my right regiments, that they were forced to fall back, but rallied at the breastworks, about one hundred and fifty yards in our rear.
My left regiment, (Thirteenth North Carolina,) not being subjected to the artillery fire, did not fall back, but continued to advance for a long distance, with the brigade on my left; and in this advance Lieutenant Ireland, Company E, Thirteenth North Carolina, rushed gallantly forward and captured Brigadier-General Hays and staff, who were endeavoring to escape.
Corporal Monroe Robinson, Company A, Thirteenth North Carolina, also, about this time, chased a color-bearer so closely that he tore off the colors and threw down the staff, which was secured.
After the other four regiments fell back to the breastworks and were re-formed, I advanced again, the men going forward with alacrity; but, after penetrating the woods about the same distance as before, had to fall back again.
This, to some extent, was unavoidable, as our line on the right of the road had been driven back about this time, and the men thus found that the enemy were at least one hundred yards in rear of them on the opposite side of the road.
The Thirteenth North Carolina, (on the left,) after advancing a long way to the front, was finally compelled to fall back for want of support and ammunition, which it did in good order.
When my line was forced back the second time, supports came up, and took the advance.
My men were about out of ammunition, broken down and badly cut up, having lost about seven hundred officers and men in the short time we had been engaged.
What field officers were left collected the men, after they had fallen behind the front line, and were engaged at different times during the fight.
Knowing the ground pretty well by this time, I remained in the fight with whatever troops came up, until about the close of the action, when I very readily got my men into shape again, near the spot from where I commenced the advance.
I can truly say that my brigade fought (May third) with unsurpassed courage and determination.
I never knew them act universally so well.
I noticed no skulking; and they never showed any hesitation in following their colors.
My list of killed and wounded will show how manfully they fought on that glorious day. After having witnessed the fighting of nearly all the troops that fought on the left of the road, I am satisfied with my own, but by no means claiming any superiority.
All that I saw behaved as heroes.
Colonel Scales, Thirteenth North Carolina, was
