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

[150] Foster, an efficient, zealous and conscientious officer, and Lieutenants Hollingsworth and Hill, both young lieutenants of promise, were killed. The three field officers, Captain Todd, senior captain, and Captain Hance, third senior captain present, were wounded, and Captain Summer, second senior captain present, was killed; thus putting the six ranking officers of the regiment hors de combat. Ours is a bloody record; but we trust it is a highly honorable one.

Very respectfully,

General: In accordance with your order, I marched my regiment, at about five o'clock on the morning of the eleventh instant, to the market-house in Fredericksburg, when I was ordered by you to take “position on Caroline Street, await Lieutenant-Colonel Fizer's orders, send him reenforcements whenever he called on me to do so, and should he be enabled to hold his position, then in that event to withdraw my regiment to the market house.” I accordingly took position on Caroline Street, immediately in rear of the position occupied by Lieutenant-Colonel Fizer, and opened communication with him, where I remained until about four o'clock P. M., under a very heavy and destructive fire from the batteries of the enemy on the opposite side of the river.

About two o'clock P. M., Lieutenant-Colonel Fizer asked me for ten men to act as sharp-shooters, which I promptly sent him. About four o'clock P. M., Lieutenant-Colonel Fizer sent to me for two companies, which I was proceeding with, when I met him retiring with his command to the market-house, being unable to hold his position longer.

I immediately formed my regiment and withdrew it to the market-house, when I was ordered by you to form in the next street (towards the river) and engage the enemy; but, before I could do so, I ascertained that the enemy occupied the street on which I was ordered to form, and was advancing. I immediately disposed of my regiment on the street which I then occupied, (Princess Anne,) so as to command as many streets running at right angles with the river as I possibly could, and engaged the enemy at once, driving him towards the river, after a spirited engagement of two hours.

Having fired the last gun at the retreating enemy, I was then ordered to withdraw my regiment from the town, which order I promptly obeyed.

The enemy's loss, after crossing the river, in the engagement with my regiment, is estimated to be over two hundred killed and wounded. I refer you to the report already furnished you of the loss which we sustained.

Captain J. L. Clark was killed, by a solid shot, early in the morning. He was a promising young officer. Captain T. W. Thurman was dangerously wounded later in the day, fell in the hands of the enemy, and, in all probability, is dead. Lieutenant J. M. Stovall is missing, and is supposed to be killed.

I wish to call your attention to the gallant and meritorious conduct of Captain G. L. Donald, who had immediate command of several companies, which did fine execution, without sustaining any serious loss.

I wish, also, to make mention of the coolness, bravery, and soldierly-like conduct of both officers and enlisted men of my command.

Captain: In obedience to orders, I beg leave to submit the following report of the operations of my command in the late engagement before Fredericksburg:

About ten o'clock, Saturday morning, my batteries were ordered to a position in rear of Hamilton's house, ready to be called on as occasion might require. About twelve o'clock, by order of Colonel Crutchfield, I sent two Parrott rifles from Captain Poague's battery, under command of Lieutenant Graham, and two similar pieces from the Third Howitzers, under Lieutenant Utz, to report to Major Pelham, on the right of the railroad. Shortly afterwards, I was ordered to send to the same point four other rifle guns, viz.: two ten-pounder Parrotts and one brass rifle from Second Howitzers, and one three-inch rifle from Captain Dance's battery, all under the command of Captain Watson, (Second Howitzers.) These eight guns were actively engaged, and suffered severely from the enemy's artillery and sharpshooters. I have to lament the loss on this part of the field of a gallant and most excellent officer, Lieutenant Utz, commanding Third Howitzers. The ammunition of most of the pieces was exhausted before dark, and the pieces themselves withdrawn. Having obtained ammunition for the two rifles of the Third Howitzers, I sent them back to the field, where they remained, in company with the three pieces of Captain Watson's battery, until about nine o'clock. About two o'clock, by order of Colonel Crutch-field, I placed in position, on the hill to the extreme right of our infantry line, the two twenty-pounder Parrotts of Captain Poague's battery. These two pieces, unaided, engaged the enemy's artillery, and afterwards opened upon the infantry. The exact range of the hill having been obtained by much previous firing, our loss at this point was heavy. Among the killed was Lieutenant McCorkle, a brave soldier and estimable gentleman. Later in the evening, Lieutenant-Colonel Coleman brought up two howitzers from Captain Dance's battery, and placed them on the left of Captain Poague's pieces. Lieutenant-Colonel Coleman was severely wounded at this point, but