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

[300] unjust discrimination in mentioning individuals. Generals Pender, Archer, and Thomas deserve, for their successful attacks, to be specially mentioned, and under the murderous fire of artillery to which they were particularly exposed, no officers or men could have done better than Generals Lane and McGowan and Colonel Brockenbrough. The light division, (A. P. Hill's,) although unfortunately deprived of the presence of their gallant commander, showed on this day that the spirit with which he had inspired them by success, on so many battle-fields, was still present; and each and all did their duty. A list of killed and wounded has been furnished.

I cannot close this report without adding, that my personal staff, Captains Finney and Harrison, Lieutenants Selden and Heth, and acting engineer officer, W. O. Slade, deserve my thanks for their gallantry and coolness on all occasions during the battle.

For acts of individual gallantry, I respectfully refer you to the reports of brigade and regimental commanders.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Major: I have the honor to make the subjoined report of the part taken in the engagement at Chancellorsville, and the movements that preceded it, by the division of Major-General D. H. Hill, then under my command, composed of the brigades of Doles, Colquitt, Iverson, Ramseur, and Rodes.

Early on the morning of Wednesday, April twenty-ninth, it being announced that the Federal army had crossed the Rappahannock River, I marched from Grace Church to Hamilton's Crossing, and was placed in position on the extreme right of the army, extending — perpendicular to the railroad — to Massaponax Creek. A portion of Ramseur's brigade being at the time on picket on the river, he was ordered, with the whole of his brigade, to occupy the south side of the creek, guarding the ford near its mouth. My line was strongly and rapidly fortified by the troops, and held, until the morning of the first May, without molestation, except from the artillery fire of the enemy.

Much credit is due to Colonel J. Thompson Brown and Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas H. Carter, of the artillery, for their energy and judgment in assisting to render this line impregnable to assault. Ramseur's line was partially exposed to an enfilading fire from the heights across the river, but such was the accuracy of the fire of the Whitworth battery, Lieutenant Hurt commanding, stationed with General Ramseur, that their batteries were scattered, and their attempts in this direction rendered unavailing.

At dawn, on May first, my troops were again in motion, advancing from Hamilton's Crossing, by the military road, to its junction with the Fredericksburg and Orange Court-House plank road, and thence up the plank road, for about two miles. At this point I became aware of a serious engagement on my right, between a portion of the troops of Major-General Anderson, then advancing by the old turnpike, and Sikes's division of regulars, Federal army. Being in advance of the corps, I continued to move forward for about half a mile, keeping out skirmishers towards the enemy to prevent annoyance. The firing becoming very heavy and close, the column was halted by General Jackson, and General Ramseur's brigade detached, by his order, to support that portion of Anderson's division, which was in front of my division. This brigade became sharply engaged under Anderson, behaving with great coolness and gallantry, as I have been informed by Generals Hill and Anderson. Brigadier-General Ramseur handled his own skirmishers, and with great skill and gallantry. The rest of the division moved by the right flank to the top of the ridge near the road, and after being established in line of battle, was directed by Lieutenant-General Jackson to shelter itself and await orders. Subsequently it was moved forward into the woods, but, though the skirmishers became engaged, capturing several prisoners, the main body of the enemy had retired before I was permitted to advance. Remaining in line of battle until about sunset, the division then resumed its march up the plank road, and bivouacked that night near Aldrich's tavern, about one mile and a quarter from Chancellorsville.

At an early hour on the morning of the second, Iverson's brigade was ordered to relieve Ramseur's, still on duty with Anderson, in front. Iverson subsequently overtook the division on the march. About eight o'clock the route was resumed, this division still in advance. Turning short to the left, about one half mile beyond Aldrich's, we followed the mine road, for the purpose of getting on the right and in rear of Hooker's army. On arriving at the old furnace on this road, the Twenty-third Georgia regiment, Colonel Best, was detached by General Jackson's order, to guard a road from the direction of Chancellorsville, by which the enemy might threaten the main column. This regiment, with the exception of the Colonel and a few men, was subsequently captured by the enemy, who made a vigorous assault upon the ordnance train and artillery then passing, but were gallantly repulsed by Colonel J. Thompson Brown, commanding battalion artillery. Colonel Best's report of the manner in which his regiment discharged its important duty, and its fate, is enclosed. A court of inquiry on the subject was prevented by the removal of Colquitt's brigade, to which it was attached, from this department to that of North Carolina.

On reaching the plank road again, about two miles north-west of Chancellorsville, our cavalry was found skirmishing with that of the enemy, and a delay was caused by an endeavor on our part to entrap them. At this point, it having been determined to make a still further detour towards