from the run about 2 miles. Firing being heard in our rear, we about-faced and marched back about a quarter of a mile and formed a line of battle parallel with the Locust Grove road and constructed temporary intrenchments of logs and rails. We remained in this position for about half an hour, when we were ordered to move forward, which we did through a dense woods.

After moving forward in line about a quarter of a mile we engaged the enemy, who were posted in the edge of the woods. Hav ing driven them back a short distance, we held the ground until after night, when we received orders from the brigade commander to fall back to the breast works along the road. We here stacked arms and remained for a couple of hours, when we again moved down the Locust Grove road to the stone road, again crossing Mine Run. Near the point of crossing we bivouacked for the night.

Next morning we moved to the right of the road and constructed breastworks, and remained in them until the next morning, when, the enemy opening fire upon us, we were compelled to change posi tion, and again threw up intrenchments at right angles to the ones we had left. We remained here two days, when we were ordered back to camp near Morton's Ford.

The regiment behaved with gallantry, and during the action both officers and men did their entire duty. Below I submit a report of casualties:

Report of Lieut. Col. Abraham Spengler, Thirty-third Virgini

Infantry.

JANUARY 23, 1864.

SIR: The night of November 26, 1863, was passed behind the forti fications running at right angles from the Rapidan, and about 9 a m. of the next day the line of march was taken up on the road lead ing by Bartlett's Mill. We had not proceeded more than 2 mile beyond the mill when firing was heard in our front and rear, which was the first indication we had of the near proximity of the enemy The column was halted in the road, and the momentary confusio caused by the attack upon it was soon displaced by order, quiet, an a feeling of confidence. A line of battle was promptly formed o

the road and skirmishers deployed and marched to the front. While lying in line of battle the men, of their own accord and without orders, busied themselves in some preparations to repel an attack. After the lapse of an hour, perhaps, the line of battle thus formed was ordered to advance, which it did, at first in quick time, and then in double-quick time, and with a shout, it appearing that the enemy with a heavy line of battle was driving our skirmishers back. The advancing line of the enemy was met, hurled back, and pressed for some distance, with considerable loss in killed and wounded.

Our advance was checked and enthusiasm chilled by a report (coming from, it was supposed, a creditable source) that we had fired upon a part of General Steuart's command farther in the advance than ourselves, which was soon ascertained to be false, and our fire re-opened and continued till nightfall on a line of battle of the enemy running nearly perpendicular to ours. This fire, it is believed, was effective, as it was enfilading. The report incidentally mentioned of our firing upon a part of General Steuart's command, it is believed, originated in the fact that his command formed a continuation of the original line of battle, connecting with our left, and its not being closed upon our left, it was supposed to be in advance of us, which was not the case. I informed the brigadier-general commanding that my left was exposed to an enfilading fire, but he ordering me to hold my position, if possible, I protected my left as well as I could, and held the position until ordered away after night.

The casualties of this regiment were 1 killed and 6 wounded. The small number of casualties is attributable in part to the vigorous attack made and in part to the advantageous position occupied by my regiment.

The men and officers of my command generally acquitted themselves well and deserve praise.

I have thus, with such brevity as was consistent with the facts and circumstances, given you an account of the part taken by this command in the action of November 27, 1863.

I am, very respectfully,

A. SPENGLER,

Lieut. Col., Comdg. Thirty-third Regt. Va. Infantry.

Capt. R. J. BARTON,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

No. 114.

Report of Col. William A. Witcher, Twenty-first Virginia Infantry, commanding Jones' brigade.

HEADQUARTERS J. M. JONES' BRIGADE,

December 7, 1863.

MAJOR: In obedience to orders of 4th instant, I submit the following report of Jones' brigade in the action of the 27th ultimo:

At sunrise the brigade moved from its fortifications near Morton's Ford in the direction of Locust Grove. When a short distance beyond Bartlett's Mill, the Twenty-fifth Virginia Regiment was deployed as skirmishers to cover the front and left flank of the column. The skirmishers soon encountered a few of the enemy's vedettes and

drove them away. About 1 mile from Bartlett's Mill firing was heard to the rear and the column was halted, about-faced, and moved a short distance down the road. The brigade was then (about 3 p. m.) fronted and ordered to advance in battle order. This brigade occupied the extreme right of the division, and was ordered, as I learned from Brig. Gen. J. M. Jones, to close and dress to the left. Heavy firing soon commenced on the left of the division, and as the other brigades moved obliquely to the left, it became necessary for our brigade to wheel rapidly in the same direction. Under the difficulties of so long and rapid a wheel, the troops kept in rank remarkably well.

About the time the wheel was completed, and we had formed upon the line of the division, General Jones, while gallantly exposing himself, was struck down by a shot in the head, and the command thereby devolved upon me as senior colonel.

I immediately urged the line forward, but discovering that the brigade was in advance of the troops on our left, I ordered it back to the line of the division, which was along a fence on a ridge some 200 yards from the enemy. Here we continued the fight until dark, when I was informed that the division was moving by the left flank to the former position on the road, which movement I ordered the brigade to follow.

In the course of the action, the command captured 7 prisoners and 2 horses and equipments. Our loss, as will be seen by accompanying reports, was 11 killed, 68 wounded, and 15 missing.

With the exception of some little skulking on the part of individuals, officers and men behaved with the greatest gallantry.

In conclusion, I must express my thanks to Captain Early for efficient aid after I assumed command, other officers of staff being on duty which removed them from my immediate presence.

Respectfully, your obedient servant,

W. A. WITCHER. Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

Report of Lieut. Col. William P. Moseley, Twenty-first Virginia

Infantry.

DECEMBER 4, 1863.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to state that the Twenty-first Regiment Virginia Infantry, under the command of Major Kelly, left its camp near Morton's Ford on the evening of November 26, and occupied the breastworks near its camp that night.

The next morning, Friday, the 27th, Col. William A. Witcher resumed command, and the regiment was moved in the direction of Chancellorsville. Soon after it had passed Willis' Ford firing was heard in front, and, in the course of half an hour, in rear, when the regiment was halted and moved upon the enemy in rear by changing direction to the left. We engaged the enemy from 3 p. m. until

sunset.

During the early part of the action Brig. Gen. J. M. Jones was wounded. Colonel Witcher then assumed command of the brigade and the command of the regiment fell upon me. About this time the left of the brigade fell back a short distance, and the regiment was ordered to the line of the brigade by the colonel commanding brigade. Here the regiment remained until dark, when it moved by the left flank to its former position on the road, where it encamped for the night.

Loss: Killed, 1; wounded, 9; missing, 7.

I am, captain, very respectfully, your obedient servant, WM. P. MOSELEY, Lieut. Col., Comdg. Twenty-first Virginia Infantry. Capt. SAMUEL J. C. MOORE,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Jones' Brigade.

No. 116.

Report of Col. John C. Higginbotham, Twenty-fifth Virginia

Infantry.

DECEMBER 4, 1863.

CAPTAIN: In obedience to an order from General Johnson, through General Jones, on the morning of the 27th ultimo I went forward to protect on the march the artillery of the division, and 1 mile east of Bartlett's Mill, on the Locust Grove road, encountered six vedettes of the enemy, which, after a little skirmish of a few minutes, were driven off without injury to us. I then deployed five companies (the right wing of my command) to scour both sides of the road until we reached the pickets of Rodes' division, when they were withdrawn. The regiment resumed its march, and afterward countermarched until near the scene of action.

Near evening, agreeably to your order, I deployed three companies of my regiment, under command of Captain Johnson, to fill in part the interval between Major Anderson's skirmishers and the left of Rodes' division, which skirmishers moved forward well when the brigade advanced in line. I lost sight of the skirmishers of the brigade at the first ravine in the woods, upon the crest of which hill the enemy were posted, and coming so suddenly in their front, I found it necessary to deploy 12 men, with Lieutenant Hendrix, Company A, upon my right to fill the vacancy between Captain Johnson and it, to protect my flank. It was essential for the line of Major Anderson to retire.

We drove the enemy out of their position, and if we had not gotten far beyond the left of the brigade and exhibited the weakness of our flank-the open space nearly a half mile between us and Rodes' left-we could have pushed them much farther. We retired to the skirts of the woods, or rather back to the crest of the hill, and, upon an order from Captain Early, to the fence we had last crossed in advancing, and afterward marched by the left flank with the brigade to the main road.

Company A captured 1 prisoner; Company E, 4; Captain Mathews, of Company I, an adjutant.

My officers exhibited that energy, coolness, skill, and gallantry,

and the men that determined bravery, which has ever made them conspicuous upon every battle-field.

Captain Boyd was severely wounded, and my sergeant-major (D. M. Layton), who has more than once been recommended for promotion, was again hurt. There was no skulking.

My thanks are due Lieutenant-Colonel Lilley and Acting Major Harper for the assistance so nobly extended me, and to Lieutenant Massie, my acting adjutant, I am especially grateful.

I herewith append a list of casualties, and additionally remark that the enemy left some of their dead, knapsacks, canteens, axes, &c., in our possession.

Respectfully submitted.

JNO. C. HIGGINBOTHAM,

Colonel.

Capt. SAMUEL J. C. MOORE,

Assistant Adjutant-General, Jones' Brigade.

List of Casualties in the Twenty-fifth Virginia Regiment.

[Inclosure.]

Report of Lieut. Col. Robert W. Withers, Forty-second Virginia

Infantry.

CAMP NEAR MORTON'S FORD,
December 5, 1863.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the late engagement near Mine Run, of the 27th ultimo, in which my regiment participated:

On the morning of the 27th, my regiment received orders to march in direction of Locust Grove by way of Bartlett's Mill. I, being field officer of the day on the 26th, rejoined my regiment on the morning of the 27th at Bartlett's Mill. When we had proceeded about a mile we heard skirmishing in our front, when we came to a halt, during which time we heard rapid firing in our rear and received orders to about-face and march in direction of Bartlett's Mill. After marching about half a mile, we came to a halt and faced to the front and threw up temporary fortifications of rails. In a short time heavy firing