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

[310] and, such was the impetuosity of the charge, that the enemy's resistance, though fierce and bloody, was of short duration. We soon triumphantly mounted their intrenchments, completely routing them from a position from which it is almost impossible to conceive how an army could be driven. On gaining the works, we discovered the field literally crowded with men flying in every direction, and poured into them a deadly fire. Occupying this position about two minutes, we discovered troops advancing through the woods upon our left, and supposed they were friends till a volley fired into our left and rear removed the delusion. Their numbers and position being vastly superior to ours, and unsupported on our left, we were again forced to retire. As soon as our artillery shelled this piece of woods, we advanced a third line and held the position. Artillery now coming to our support, soon silenced the enemy's batteries, (which had harassed us during the entire day,) and forced them to abandon, in great confusion, their strong and well-selected position, to take shelter in the wilderness and retreat towards the river.

The loss sustained by the brigade in killed and wounded amounted to thirty-three officers and two hundred and seventy enlisted men. Could aught repay us for the noble spirits who have fallen, we would find consolation in the glorious victory achieved; but our little brigade, and the entire corps, will long miss and mourn the loss of the experienced and gallant dead. With few exceptions, the bearing and conduct of officers and men were unexceptionable.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

Sir: I have the honor to report the following as the principal captures in the recent engagements near Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville:

Artillery.--Five twelve-pounder Napoleons; seven three-inch rifles; one ten-pounder Parrott; nine caissons; four rear parts of caissons; three battery wagons; two forges; fifteen hundred rounds artillery ammunition; a large lot of artillery harness, a large lot of wheels, axles, ammunition, chests, &c.

Infantry.--Twenty-nine thousand five hundred collected, ten thousand admitted dropped by our men, nineteen thousand five hundred captured; nineteen thousand five hundred muskets and rifles eight thousand cartridge boxes; four thousand cap pouches; eleven thousand five hundred knapsacks; three hundred thousand rounds infantry ammunition.

I have carefully confined myself to what has been reported as collected and counted. This, of course, is considerably less than the amount actually captured, as a number of unarmed men supplied themselves with arms, accoutrements, &c., and the army, generally, helped themselves from the cartridge-boxes of the enemy. Also every day small lots of muskets and rifles are brought in; and, without doubt, quite a number of arms, &c., are retained in regimental ordnance wagons, for further contingencies, and not reported. A large quantity of lead has been and is now being collected from the battle-fields.

Respectfully submitted,