[Indorsement.] HDQRS. FIRST BRIG., SECOND DIV., EIGHTH ARMY CORPS, June 27, 1863. Respectfully forwarded with the following remarks: Note 2.-Major-General Milroy came on the field and gave the order in person. Note 3.-The order to advance was given by me. Note 4.-Major-General Milroy rode at the head of my brigade to Harper's Ferry. I was with the brigade also. W. L. ELLIOTT, Brigadier-General, U. S. Volunteers, Comdg. No. 390. Report of Maj. Darius Titus, Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry, of operations June 13-15. BLOODY RUN, BEDFORD COUNTY, PA., June 29, 1863. SIR: Most respectfully I submit the following report of the doings and part taken by the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry in the late engagement at Winchester, Va.: Friday, June 12, the regiment was ordered out on the Front Royal road, to proceed to the river. According to order, they proceeded to within about 3 miles of the river, where they found a large rebel force, consisting of cavalry, infantry, and artillery. After skirmishing with them awhile, and ascertaining their strength, the regiment fell back to Winchester. Two men wounded. On arriving at Winchester, we were again ordered to go out on the Strasburg road, to re-enforce the Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Did not proceed far before the regiment met them returning with some prisoners. Both regiments returned to camp. At about 7 p. m. the regiment, by order from General Milroy, left camp on scout for Strasburg, or to go as far as Middletown. We proceeded to Middletown and beyond. Saw no rebels, and returned to camp about 2 a. m. Saturday morning, about 7 o'clock, by general order, we took the advance on the Strasburg road to Union Mills (I think is the name), about 4 or 5 miles from town. We found some infantry there. We proceeded on the Strasburg road about 3 miles farther. Remained an hour or so; then fell back to the force which had collected and was in line of battle near the mill. We were placed on the extreme right of the line. Our About noon, action commenced on the Front Royal road. regiment took the advance on the Strasburg road near the mill; sent out skirmishers. Found the rebels in large force in woods to the left of the Strasburg road. After some skirmishing, and the woods shelled by our artillery, the rebels fell back, and changed their position to the right of the road. During the skirmishing, we lost 1 man killed and 2 wounded. The fight soon became quite general on the right of the road, but our infantry and artillery sustained their ground, and drove them back until dark, when the regiment was ordered back near to Winchester; there remained in line with the Thirteenth during a heavy thunder-storm until about 12 o'clock, when we were ordered to camp, which was located on the Martins burg road about 1 mile from town, and to remove everything out of camp, excepting tents, to the west side of the fortification, and for the regiment to locate on the Pughtown road, about 1 mile west of the main fortification. On the morning of Sunday, we placed pickets on the rise of ground on the extreme north and west of the fortification, and sent out scout of two companies on the Pughtown road, and also to cross over to the Strasburg road. They returned about 1 or 2 o'clock; reported no rebels in that direction. During the day the woods were shelled from our fortification in every direction, a small force of rebels appearing on the Front Royal road until about 5 o'clock, when the rebels came up in the rear in large force; took possession of the hill west and north of our fortification. Commenced throwing the shells in every direction. We moved along the Pughtown road to the front or south of our fortification. Remained there until ordered to leave. About 3 a. m. of Monday [15th], we were placed as the advance guard. After proceeding about 4 miles out of town on the Martinsburg road, our advance guard was stopped by rebel pickets. We sent re-enforcements. Drove the pickets into the woods, when firing commenced on our advance guard from both sides of the road, which was returned with great spirit and determination, not only by our advance guard, but the right of the regiment, which had advanced to their relief or to sustain them. In this position we remained about fifteen or twenty minutes before the infantry came up. When they came, they flanked the rebels right and left; opened the most deadly and terrific fire I ever witnessed. Our regiment retired in good order a few rods until the rebels opened up their cannon, throwing their shell among us, so that we were compelled to leave. Our regiment (the Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry) left in good order, losing 3 killed and a number wounded and missing. We proceeded to Bath and to Hancock; then to Bedford, and here. Respectfully, your obedient servant, Maj. JOHN O. CRAVENS, DARIUS TITUS, Major Twelfth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Assistant Adjutant-General. No. 391. Report of Maj. Michael Kerwin, Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry, of operations June 13-15. NEAR MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MD., June 18, 1863. CAPTAIN: On Saturday, June 13, about 3 a. m., the regiment was ordered under arms, and at 8.30 a. m. moved out on the Strasburg road. After marching about 1 miles in the direction of Strasburg, the regiment was ordered on the left flank, about half a mile from the road. The regiment began to skirmish with the enemy about 10 a. m., which resulted in the wounding of 1 horse in the breast. We held our position until the enemy began to shell us, when the regiment changed position to the right of the Strasburg road, west and in front of the mill on the Strasburg road. As the rebels advanced in force, we gradually retreated to the mill, with 1 man and 2 horses wounded by pieces of shell. At or near 5 p. m. we changed position, and formed near the burial ground west of the town. At or near 11 p. m. we changed our position, and, in compliance with orders, formed on the right of the Pughtown road, west of the fortification. We remained in that position until daylight of June 14. At or near 4 a. m. we formed under cover of a hill at a distance of some 400 yards north of our latter position, in order to feed and graze our horses. Remained in that position until 4 p. m., when Company I was thrown out as flankers on the left, and Company F relieved Company H as supporters of the regular battery. We then changed position toward the Pughtown road. At or near 5 p. m., being very much exposed to artillery fire of the enemy, we retired, in compliance with orders, toward the Martinsburg road, east of the fortification. At or near retreat, we crossed the Martinsburg road, and formed to charge upon a body of rebel cavalry which was coming toward us in the direction of Martinsburg. The enemy fell back and on the left of the Martinsburg road. At dark, we retired on the right and near earthworks or fort close to Martinsburg road, forming in line, and awaiting orders, and remained in that position until 2.30 a. m., June 15. At the hour last mentioned, we moved on the Martinsburg road toward Martinsburg, covering the infantry, while the First New York Cavalry was still in our rear. At or near 4 a. m. the enemy opened fire among us with shell, when we changed position on the right, in front of the guns of the enemy, passing them to form on their left, in order to charge them in their rear, the enemy shelling us all the time. At one fire, Company A, composed of 62 men, lost every man excepting 9, including 2 commissioned officers. Seeing no other cavalry on the field, we withdrew toward Charlestown, arriving at Harper's Ferry at or near 12 m., with 301 men and 20 officers, being a loss of 322 men and 12 officers. I am, very respectfully, yours, &c., M. KERWIN, Major, Comdg. Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry. Capt. J. E. JAcobs, A. A. G., First Brig., Second Div., Eighth Army Corps. [Indorsement.] BALTIMORE, MD., July 16, 1863. Respectfully submitted with the following remark: The Thirteenth Pennsylvania Cavalry was not ordered by me to proceed within reach of the enemy's batteries, the fire of which is said to have proved so fatal to them. R. H. MILROY, Major-General. No. 392. Report of Lieut. Jonathan B. Hanson, First Massachusetts Heavy Artillery, of operations June 10-15. MARYLAND HEIGHTS, MD., June 23, 1863. SIR: Company I, Fourteenth [First] Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Heavy Artillery, Capt. William F. Martins commanding, left the 30-pounder battery on Maryland Heights for Winchester, via Martinsburg, Wednesday, June 10, pursuant to orders from department headquarters. The journey was by rail as far as Martinsburg, where the company encamped the same night. Thursday, the 11th, it marched from Martinsburg to Winchester, a distance of 22 miles, the road passing through Darkesville and Bunker Hill. Arriving at Winchester Thursday evening, and reporting to MajorGeneral Milroy, the company was assigned to garrison the principal fortification there, known as the flag fort, Captain Martins being under the orders of Capt. W. Angelo Powell, engineer-in-chief. The armament consisted of four 20-pounder Parrott rifled cannon and two 24-pounder brass howitzers, of which Company I at once took charge. Friday, June 12, Captain Martins was ordered to report to Brigadier-General Elliott. Saturday, June 13, early in the morning, the enemy appeared between the Front Royal road and the Strasburg road, and an engagement took place between them and our forces, lasting the greater part of the day. A part of the time the enemy was in sight of the fort, distant about 5,000 yards, and some 70 shell were fired at them from the fort, with the effect, according to Captain Powell's statement, of dismounting two of the enemy's pieces and throwing his infantry into disorder. During Saturday night, the 13th instant, General Milroy disposed his main force around and in the fortifications, and at daybreak of Sunday, June 14, took up his headquarters in the flag fort. During Sunday, the enemy gradually encircled the town and fortifications, skirmishing going on all the time. Company I took a more active part in the engagement than before, shelling the enemy in his rifle-pits and other places of concealment all day. In the afternoon, Lieutenant Hanson, with two detachments, in charge of a 24-pounder howitzer, took part in a skirmish and reconnaissance in the open plain below the fort, the party, which also included a regiment of infantry and a squadron of cavalry, being under the command of Colonel Ely, of the Eighteenth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers. The result of this reconnaissance was the killing of 1 rebel captain, wounding several, and capturing 11 prisoners. About 5 p. m. on the 14th, the enemy, having gained the rear of General Milroy, opened his batteries upon the fortifications, and a heavy cannonading, which lasted two hours and a half, followed. The enemy made an assault upon the flag fort, which was repelled. At 1 a. m. Monday, June 15, General Milroy ordered a retreat. By his order, Company I remained last in the fort, to spike the guns after the others had left. This was successfully done. All the company property and all the knapsacks and baggage were necessarily abandoned, and are supposed to have fallen into the hands of the enemy. Company I marched in the rear of the column, directly behind the Sixth Maryland Regiment. About 4 miles from Winchester we were attacked by a strong force of the enemy. General Milroy, with the head of the column, pushed his way through. Company I, with the Sixth Maryland Regiment, found themselves cut off from the rest, but under the able direction of the field officers of the Sixth Maryland made their way to Harper's Ferry by a very severe march, avoiding the towns of Berryville, Smithfield, and Charlestown, and taking country roads and striking through the woods until they came to the Shenandoah, 10 miles above the Ferry. In this march Capt. William F. Martins and 44 enlisted men fell behind, and have not since been heard from. In Sunday's fight, Private James F. Hodgdon was very seriously wounded by the premature discharge of a cannon, and left in the hospital at Winchester. In the fight at daybreak, Monday, June 15, Private Timothy Sheehan was wounded by a piece of shell in the forehead. Private James Drysdale is reported to have been wounded by a musket-ball at the same time. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, J. B. HANSON, First Lieut., Comdg. Company I, 14th Mass. Heavy Artillery. Adjutant-General THOMAS. No. 393. Report of Lieut. Edmund D. Spooner, Battery L, Fifth U. S. Artillery, of operations June 13-15. MARYLAND HEIGHTS, June 26, 1863. CAPTAIN: In compliance with an order from Brigadier-General Elliott, I have the honor to report the following operations of my battery on June 13, 14, and 15, as the commanding officer of the battery was taken prisoner and I being the only officer present: On the morning of the 13th, Lieutenant Randolph received orders to proceed out the Strasburg road with one section of the battery, leaving the remaining two sections of the battery under my command at camp near Winchester, Va. About 10 o'clock the same morning, I received orders from General Elliott to join Lieutenant Randolph with the remainder of the battery on the Strasburg road. After arriving at Union Mills, on the Strasburg road, General Elliott ordered me to take command of one section, and report to Colonel Ely, Eighteenth Connecticut Volunteers, on the Front Royal road. After having reported to Colonel Ely, and observing that our pickets had been driven in on the Front Royal road about 2 miles from town, Colonel Ely ordered me to take position on the right of the Front Royal road and about 1 mile from town, and shell the woods where the enemy was supposed to be, and, after engaging the enemy's cavalry and sharpshooters for about half an hour, a battery of 12-pounder Napoleon guns opened upon me from the right, under cover of woods and at a distance of not more than 400 yards. I then directed my attention to the enemy's guns, but the terrible fire I received from the enemy compelled me to retire, but not until I had succeeded in exploding one of the enemy's caissons. During said engagement, my men acted with great_coolness and bravery. After having retired about half way on the Front Royal road leading to the town, a random shell from the enemy's guns struck one of my limbers, exploding it, and killing 3 cannoneers. I then took position just at the outskirts of the town, under cover of an old orchard, and engaged the enemy at long range. I was then joined by Lieutenant Randolph with the two remaining sections, where we remained during the remainder of the day. |