Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 6.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[580] the woods, and had thrown the First and Second divisions, who retired toward Chancellorsville, in great confusion. Col. A. Buschbeck succeeded to check the progress of the enemy, and I directed him to hold his position as long as possible. The men fought with great determination and courage.

Soon, however, the enemy gained both wings of the brigade, and the enfilading fire which was now opened upon this small force, and which killed and wounded nearly one third of its whole strength, soon forced them to retire. Colonel A. Buschbeck then withdrew his small brigade in perfect order toward the woods, the enemy closely pressing on. Twice he halted, fired a round, and at last reached the rear of General Sickles's corps, which had been drawn up in position near Chancellorsville. Here he formed his regiment in close column, and you will recollect, offered to advance again to a bayonet-charge. The Second brigade, Gen. F. Barlow commanding, had, during this time, advanced in a southerly direction. Gen. F. Barlow soon also heard the heavy firing. He received from Gen. Birney a communication advising him to close up to the Third corps, which he joined about nine o'clock P. M. near Chancellorsville. On the morning of May third General F. Barlow reviewed the corps.

Both brigades were placed, on the third of May, behind the rifle-pits toward the left of the army, which position they occupied until the army was withdrawn, on May sixth. From this short relation, you will see that my Second brigade was not engaged, owing to its being detached, and that the First brigade displayed the greatest bravery under very trying circumstances. It numbered about one thousand five hundred muskets, and held a position which was originally designed to be held by my whole division. It stood undismayed by the furious attack of an enemy flushed with victory over the two other divisions, and was ready again to advance as soon as it was re-formed. Our loss is heavy. The First brigade lost in killed and wounded four hundred and ninety-four men and two officers; among the latter, three regimental commanders, Col. Jones, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth regiment New-York volunteers; Lieut.-Col. Hartmann, Twenty-ninth regiment New-York volunteers; and Lieut.-Col. Moore, of Third Pennsylvania volunteers.

Col. Buschbeck lost two aids, Capt. Bode, seriously wounded, and Lieut. Grimm, both probably in the hands of the enemy. I must speak in high terms of Col. Adolph Buschbeck for his gallantry and determination, and for the complete control he retained over his command during the whole time of the engagement; also, of his Acting Assistant Adjutant-General, Capt. Alexander, who was constantly in the lines, and cheered the men by his courageous bearing. The conduct of the officers of my own staff also merits praise. They were much exposed. Major McAloon, Assistant Inspector--General, particularly distinguished himself. I annex a sketch of the ground, showing the first position of this division. I have the honor to be your obedient servant,

sir: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by my brigade in the late expedition across the Rappahannock, and in the action at Chancellorsville.

I moved from my present camp at six A. M. of the twenty-ninth ultimo, arrived in the vicinity of the United States Ford about eleven A. M., picketed the river from about a mile below the Ford, up to and including Richardson's Ferry. On the thirtieth ultimo, at half-past 3 P. M., the pontoon-bridges having been laid, this brigade was the first to cross, forming a line of battle on the hills opposite and skirmishing through the woods, finding no enemy. A short time before dusk were put en route and marched to the White House, near Chancellorsville, where we bivouacked for the night.

On May first, at one o'clock P. M., was ordered to move the brigade on the road to Chancellorsville. The column had not cleared camp before the action was commenced by the forces in our front. We remained in this position for an hour, and then was ordered to mass my brigade in the woods on the right of the road, which was done. After retaining this position for some two hours, was ordered to occupy the same ground I did the night before. About dusk was ordered to form in line of battle on the edge of the wood to the right of the road, which position we occupied during the night.

Between seven and eight o'clock A. M., on the second, was ordered by the Major-General commanding division to occupy the edge of the wood on the left of the wood, the line of battle being nearly perpendicular to the line occupied the night before, joining with Major-Gen. Hancock's division my right, and Major-Gen Sykes's division on my left, and to throw out skirmishers on the same line with theirs. Between ten and eleven A. M. was ordered by the Major-General commanding the corps to dig rifle-pits and fell an abattis in my front, which were completed by sunset. I retained my position during the night.

At seven A. M., on the third, received orders from the Major-General commanding division to take four regiments and form line of battle facing the woods, parallel to the plank-road, which I did, taking the Eighth Ohio, Fourteenth Indiana, Fourth Ohio, and Seventh Virginia, leaving the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-eighth New-Jersey to occupy the rifle-pits we had dug; then received orders from the same source to have the right wing of the right regiment from behind the houses and out-buildings occupied by the division commander as his headquarters. In about half an