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

[317] Lewis and Lieutenant G. W. Beale, in command of sharpshooters dismounted, alone saved this little band. By boldly charging the advance, the dismounted men were successfully extricated from a position of great danger. The whole command in the evening supported Colonel Chambliss in a charge upon the retreating foe. We captured one First Lieutenant of Third Indiana cavalry, and ten privates, ten horses, ten carbines, and seven pistols. Our casualties were, one private, company A, killed, one private, company H, missing, supposed to be captured, two horses killed and one wounded, twelve horses captured. The conduct of officers and men merits the highest commendation.

General: In obedience to orders, I have the honor to report that during the operations of the brigade on the fourteenth instant, my command, consisting of one hundred and sixteen mounted men, was held as a protection to the Whitworth gun, stationed on the road about a mile beyond Brandy Station, where we remained without any active duty until relieved by your order, about nine P. M., and returned to camp. On the morning of the fifteenth instant, twenty men, under command of Lieutenant James Baker, company D, were detached, and sent to the block-house at Rappahannock bridge, to protect it, and I, with the rest of my command, were held as a protection to two guns of Captain Moorman's battery, stationed near the bridge. These dispositions remained unchanged until about two P. M., when I received orders to proceed, in company with Captain Moorman's guns, to Beverly Ford, and there protect them in their operations against the enemy. We saw no active duty during the skirmish, and after the enemy were repulsed returned with the brigade to our present camp. During these two days the dismounted men, (143) rank and file, that had been distributed at the different fords as sharpshooters, had several encounters with the enemy; those stationed at Wellford's Ford, under command of Lieutenant Lucky, company B, were driven off, and privates Robert H. Sumrou, company B, A. D. Clark, company D, J. H. Ray; company A, John Kelley, company A, were captured. These were the only casualties that occurred in my regiment.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Pursuant to order, I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by my battery during the engagement of the fourteenth and fifteenth:

Upon the fourteenth, my battery moved from camp, near brigade headquarters, following the Ninth cavalry. Upon reaching a high hill, some mile and a half below Brandy Station, I was ordered, by Major Beckham, to send one piece (rifled) forward to Kelley's Ford, where, under command of Lieutenant Shoemaker, it fired repeatedly upon the enemy, (across the river,) with what effect not ascertained. The remainder of my battery (two guns) I moved, by order of General Stuart, to Rappahannock bridge, and there opened upon, dispersing different squads of the enemy. During the afternoon a section of the enemy's guns were put in position behind earthworks, and engaged my guns for probably forty minutes, and then retired. I am happy to report no casualties during the day.

On the fifteenth, my battery was again called out and held in position near the old church, upon the road (I believe) to Beverly Ford. From there it returned to camp, not being called upon.

Respectfully submitted,

Captain: I was ordered, on the morning of the fourteenth, to move a section of my battery near Rappahannock bridge,--Lieutenant Brown's section,--consisting of a Napoleon and a Blakely rifled gun. We took position with the Blakely about three quarters of a mile from the river, and shelled the enemy's sharpshooters who had occupied the hills opposite. After dispersing them, I moved the section on the hill immediately overlooking the river, and there exchanged shots, for about half an an hour, with a section of the enemy's artillery, which was well protected by a redoubt. We sustained no injury. I am not certain whether we punished our opponent or not. The redoubt was struck repeatedly.

About twelve o'clock the next day, (fifteenth,) I was ordered hurriedly to Wellford's Ford, in the midst of a drenching rain; arrived there; sharpshooters were again dispersed.

We returned to camp this morning, having expended about one hundred rounds of ammunition, and having no casualty to report. Lieutenant Burrows was with us also.

Officers and men behaved well; and, notwithstanding the rain was calculated to produce discontent, nothing of the kind was manifested.

I remain, your obedient servant,