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

[112] gained, until reinforcements arrived, and that, with what of his brigade was left, he accompanied Colonel Hoke in his charge across the railroad. But for the gallant stand made by General Archer, the enemy would have gained an advantage which it would have required a greater sacrifice of life to wrest from him than was made. The reports of brigade commanders, and also of Captain Latimer, acting chief of artillery, are herewith submitted. A list of killed, wounded, and missing has been heretofore forwarded, from which it will be seen that the total killed was one hundred and two; total wounded, seven hundred and twenty-six; total missing, one hundred and five. Most of the wounded are but slightly injured, and about fifty of the missing, being entirely from Lawton's brigade, fell into the hands of the enemy, the greater part being, in all probability, wounded.

I am, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

General: Constant pressure of duty since the battle of Fredericksburg has prevented an earlier report of the part which then devolved upon the reserve artillery, and upon the undersigned as its commander and as supervisor of the artillery service in this army. Such report the undersigned has now the honor to submit, as proper in itself, and as part of the history of important transactions. While the army remained in the valley of the Shenandoah, after returning from Maryland, the undersigned was diligently engaged in reorganizing the artillery and in directing adequate forage arrangements. On November first, with the reserve artillery and ordnance trains, he took up the line of march for Culpeper Court-house, and on the evening of the fourth encamped near that place. On the fourteenth, at the request of the commanding General, he sent Lane's battery to cooperate with General Stuart in an attack upon a body of the enemy near Warrenton Springs. And on the seventeenth, the same battery of superior guns was despatched, as requested, towards Fredericksburg, to cooperate under direction of General McLaws. On the nineteenth, orders to that effect having been received, the undersigned marched, with the reserve artillery and ordnance train, towards Fredericksburg, taking a circuitous route, (south-easterly,) for the sake of forage. On Sunday, the twenty-third, he arrived with the trains, reported at general headquarters, and located camps as directed. The next morning, as requested by the commanding General, he proceeded to the front for the purpose of observing the dispositions of the enemy and examining the ground, with a view to the best positions for works and batteries. The enemy was conspicuously in force, and often within easy range from above Falmouth to a point a mile or more below Fredericksburg. They had batteries in position, and were, in a few places, beginning earthworks. On our own line a few hurried works were in progress. Lane's battery was already well posted on the heights overhanging the river-bend above Falmouth, and forming our extreme left. Epaulements had been thrown up, but they needed much additional work. Lewis's and Grandy's batteries, recently called from Richmond to aid in repelling the enemy, were also in position on the lower plateau, about half a mile to the right of Lane, and nearer the town. Those needed for their protection much additional labor. These observations, and a cursory survey of the general line between the river above Falmouth and the Telegraph road — in company with Lieutenant-Colonel Brown, then on duty with the undersigned; with Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander, whose encampment was visited, and with Captain Johnston, engineer, met with on the field — occupied the entire day, the distance being considerable, and the points of importance numerous. The next day, November twenty-fifth, after detailing Captain Ross to proceed with his battery to a point on the river three or four miles below, to be indicated by a member of the commanding General's staff, where gunboats might be effectually repelled, the undersigned again visited the front, to study the ground with reference alike to its own features and to the apparent designs of the enemy. In the evening, he also visited the admirable position on the river bank selected for Ross's battery. Major Nelson and the captains of the reserve batteries were next requested to accompany the undersigned along the line, that they also might become familiar with routes and positions. On the twenty-eighth, the commanding General having requested that another rifle battery should be placed eight or ten miles lower down the river, towards repelling gunboats, the undersigned took Captain Milledge's battery of light rifles to a commanding bluff just below Skinker's mill. Here the battery was left, with one of General Stuart's, under charge of Major Pelham, with whom, moving from point to point as gunboats threatened, it remained more than ten days. On the twenty-ninth, Lieutenant Anderson, of Ells's battery, near Richmond, reported the arrival of men and horses with two thirty-pounder Parrott guns, which, on recommendation of the undersigned, the commanding General had ordered up to the lines. Measures were promptly taken to have them tested, and to fit them in all respects for service. December first, the undersigned was diligently engaged in examining again the whole line with reference to the best positions for these two large guns, facility of ingress and egress being important for them, as well as extensive command of the field. The points selected were reported to the commanding General, with reasons for the choice, and, on his approval, the sites were next day pointed out, working parties engaged, clearings commenced, &c. The work on the right and back of Mr. Howison's house