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

[584] day, when most of it rejoined the regiment after the latter had fallen back. No orders or warning having been given to these pickets to withdraw when the rest of the troops were falling back, and their connection with the right of the picket-line being suddenly lost, they did not move until they found that the enemy was in their rear, and had occupied the breastworks behind which the regiment had previously been lying. In making their way out of the woods nine enlisted men and one commissioned officer--Second Lieut. Buckley--were lost, and probably taken prisoners. From all accounts I have received, First Lieut. Gordon has merited much credit as being the principal one in saving this force, together with six companies of the One Hundred and Eighty-eighth regiment Pennsylvania volunteers, who had also been out on picket, by adroitly conducting them out from off the enemy, who were in their rear, until the whole safely reached their respective regiments. Of these pickets two got wounded by the enemy's artillery. On the morning of the third our Colonel, N. A. Miles, was severely wounded by a sharp-shooter of the enemy while in command of the division picket-line in front. At about eight o'clock A. M. I received orders from General Caldwell to follow the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania volunteers, and marched off in double-quick until the brigade halted on the left of the main road that leads from Chancellorsville to the White House, toward United States Ford. The brigade formed in line of battle facing the woods to the left. A few minutes later the One Hundred and Forty-eighth Pennsylvania volunteers formed on our right, and the Fifty-second New-York volunteers on our left, and the line advanced into the woods until we came to the opening beyond, where we saw a heavy column of the enemy marching by the right flank and toward our left at quick-step. One of their batteries was planted right before our centre. There was also moving a squadron of their cavalry, and another heavy column marching by the left flank toward our right. Seeing the enemy was trying to outflank us on the left, Gen. Caldwell ordered the line to fall back about twelve yards, moving it at the same time a little further to the right. Soon the enemy poured a severe and sudden fire upon our line, which was vigorously responded to. The enemy was soon repulsed. My command behaved well. After about two hours fighting we were ordered to march off by the right flank until we reached the opening where our batteries were planted. Here we formed into line, faced to the rear, and halted facing the woods, one of which we had entered. Shortly afterward we were marched with the rest of the brigade across the opening to the woods on the left of the White House, where we were ordered to halt and throw up breastworks. We lay under these breastworks, occasionally shelled by the enemy, though without any damage to us, till the night, between the fifth and sixth, when we received orders to fall back. Crossed the Rappahannock, with the rest of the Second corps, at United States Ford. and arrived at the old camp of the brigade in the afternoon of the sixth of May. During the engagement on the third our loss was two killed and thirteen wounded, all enlisted men.

I would especially recommend, for their excellent brave conduct and good soldierly qualities, Capt. Willard Keech, and Capt. T. G. Morrison.

Lieut F. W. Grannis, Adjutant, deserves much praise for the energy, bravery, and usefulness he everywhere and on all occasions manifested.

The rank and file of my command have maintained faithfully their well-earned and well-known reputation, always doing, and always ready to do, their duty to the last.

We all — officers and men — feel the loss and deplore deeply the sad fate of our beloved and highly esteemed Colonel, N. A. Mile, who was severely wounded on the morning of the third. But our hope and our prayer is, that he soon may be returned to us again, and to usefulness in the service of his country. Very respectfully, your obedient servant.

Captain: I have the honor to report in compliance with Special Orders, No. 77, issued from Brigade Headquarters of May seventh, 1863, that my command, the One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Pennsylvania volunteers, with the other regiments of the brigade, was ordered to the support of the Third corps about five o'clock A. M., Sunday, May third. At nine A. M., the brigade at a “double-quick” entered the works in front of our batteries and rifle-pits in the centre, at Chancellorsville, Virginia, left in front, which threw my regiment in the advance. Line of battle was formed, under a severe and damaging fire, about fifty yards in advance of the Twenty-eighth New-Jersey, attached to the division of General French, and in an undergrowth that from its density made the movement peculiarly difficult. In the engagement, that lasted until eleven A. M., officers and men behaved with the same coolness and gallantry that characterized their conduct in other fields since they have been in the service of their country. The fire was delivered with steadiness and precision. Not hearing the order to retire, the regiment remained in line after the regiments upon its right had given way. Seeing that there was imminent danger of being cut off by a large force of the enemy moving upon our right flank, the regiment under my orders faced by the rear rank, retiring in good order under a heavy fire and re-formed in the rear of the batteries. While retiring a severe struggle took place for the regimental colors. The bearers, Sergeants Boner, company E, and Miller of company F, clung to them as manfully, however, as they had borne them during the fight. One of the rebels who had seized them was killed, another captured, and the rest driven back. The rebels advanced in force to the edge of the woods, and so closely upon the flank of the regiment that the retreat of