Report of Col. Samuel M. Quincy
Report Of BG Thomas B. Ruger
The regiment left camp at Stafford Court-House at sunrise on the morning of April [27], and marched on that day to near Hartwood Church. The next day the regiment, forming rear guard to the corps train, marched to near Kelly's Ford.
At daylight the next morning, the corps crossed the river and took advance in the march toward Fredericksburg. The Third Brigade had the honor of leading that advance, the Third Wisconsin and Twenty-seventh Indiana Regiments as skirmishers, followed by the Second Massachusetts, by the flank, in the road. At Germanna Mills, on the Rapidan, the cavalry at the head of the column was fired upon by about 100 of the enemy, who had taken position in and about houses on the opposite bank, to command the road as it approached the river.
The Second Massachusetts was here ordered forward, and deployed as skirmishers on the right of the road, advancing through a dense thicket to the river bank, when two companies at once opened fire on a cut in the road, where the enemy were posted, and upon the houses. A fire being also obtained by the Third Wisconsin, on the left, the enemy surrendered and came across the river. The skirmishers of the Second Massachusetts, in approaching the river, surrounded a small house on the north bank, and took 30 of the enemy without a shot. The brigade then crossed the river and encamped. The next day, the column marched to Chancellorsville, the Second Massachusetts, Third Wisconsin, and a section of Cothran's battery forming the rear guard.
In a demonstration of the following day upon the enemy's flank, the brigade left its position and advanced under a sharp fire of shell to the enemy's line, but returned without an engagement.
On Saturday morning, the regiment was occupied in throwing up breastworks and abatis in front of its position. In the aftternoon the division was ordered out (as was said) for the purpose of capturing wagons and prisoners from a train which had been cut by our artillery. The regiment advanced for a short distance into the woods in support of the Third Wisconsin, as skirmishers. A sharp musketry fire being heard in our rear, the division was ordered to return to its position, but it was soon found that, by the giving way of the Eleventh Corps, our lines had been broken, and that the enemy either flanked or occupied our line of intrenchments. Some confusion and panic at this point was promptly checked by the brigade being thrown into line in the edge of the woods and by the active service of our artillery.
The corps of General Sickles made an attack during the night, and sharp fighting ensued, but our lines were not under fire, save by stray shots, until morning.
Soon after daylight the enemy advanced in force, and the regiment at once became hotly engaged. The regiment delivered its fire with the greatest steadiness and effect. Three times our lines advance over the dead and wounded of the enemy, driving him back each time. The last time the colors of the regiment opposite ours (ascertained from prisoners to be the First South Carolina) were seen to fall; but as our ammunition was then exhausted, we could advance no farther. We had now been engaged more than two hours; our last round of ammunition was gone. I sent messengers to the rear to ask for a supply, and we then fixed baynets and waited. After some time, fresh troops arrived, and we ordered to retire, which was done steadily and in order. In the field beyond the brick house the regiment was under a very hot fire of shell, grape, and round shot, one of the latter taking off th elegs of two men while lying down. After marching a short distance on the road toward the ford, we were placed in position as support to the second line, where we remained until nightfall, when we were moved to the extreme left of the line, upon the river, and protecting the ford. Here we were in support of the Fifth [Third] Massachusetts Battery, Captain Martin, and here we remained until Tuesday night, strengthening our position, and in the utmost confidence of being able to repel any attack whatever.
On Tuesday night, orders came for a silent withdrawal. The artillery went, and then, after standing in ranks all night, we were ordered back to the trenches, but had been there scarcely an hour when orders to cross were again received, which the enemy was pleased to allow us to do, without molestation, in broad day. After a very severe march, we arrived in our old camp at night.
I have the honor to inclose a duplicate list of killed and wounded.
I have the honor to be, respectfully, your obedient servant,
S.M. QUINCY,
Colonel, Comdg., Second Massachusetts Volunteers.
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The brigade left camp at sunrise on the morning of April 27, and marched to Hartwood Church, a distance of 12 miles, encamping at that point for the night.
The march was resumed early next morning toward Kelly's Ford. The brigade encamped about 1 1/2 miles from Kelly's Ford.
The division moved at 4.30 o'clock on the morning of the 29th. My brigade, in advance, crossed the Rappahannock at Kelly's Ford, and took the road to Germanna Ford, on the Rapidan.
The enemy's cavalry, consisting of one regiment, was encountered by th ecavalry in our advance about 2 1/2 miles from Kelly's Ford. Skirmishing occured between this body of the enemy's cavalry and our own to within about 3 miles of Germanna Ford. When within about 2 miles of Germanna Ford, it was ascertained that there was a detachment of about 150 men of the enemy at Germanna Ford, engaged in building a bridge at that point. On the approach of our cavalry, it was checked by this force. It was reported that they occupied rifle-pits on the right of the road, on the same side of the river on which we then were. Receiving orders to deploy skirmishers on both sides of the road and advance rapidly, when within about three fourths of a mile from the ford I caused the Second Massachusetts, Colonel Quincy, to be deployed on the right, and the Third Wisconsin, Colonel Hawley, on the left of the road, with orders to advance rapidly and push for the river bank, at the same time directing Colonel Quincy to turn the rifle-pits reported on the left. The Twenty-seventh Indiana moved forward by the road, followed by a section of artillery and the balance of the brigade. The skirmishers advanced rapidly, taking the double-quick on approaching the river. About 30 of the enemy took refuge in a house on our side of the river and were made prisoners. The balance of the enemy took refuge in a house on our side of the river, being brought completely under fire of our skirmishers by their rapid movement, surrendered after a loss of 1 killed and several wounded. About 100 prisoners were taken at this point.
The brigade immediately began crossing the river by fording. The ford was very difficult. It was necessary to remove the cartridge-boxes, owing to the depth of the water. The river was forded without loss. The pioneer corps of the division was immediately set to work constructing a temporary bridge. The brigade encamped for the night about 1 mile from the ford.
The brigade marched with the division on the next day, the 30th, to Chancellorsville, two regiments forming rear guard to the coprs. On arriving at Chancellorsville, the brigade was placed in the position designated by yourself, on the left of the Plank Road, west from Chancellorville, and in the center of the division. An abatis was at once constructed in front of the line occupied by the brigade.
On May 1, the brigade moved out on the Plank road east of Chancellorsville, and formed line of battle on the left of the First Brigade of the division, whose right rested near said road, said line being about perpendicular with the Plank Road. The division moved forward toward the enemy, in the direction of Fredericksburg. The line was ordered back just as the skirmishers of the First Brigade had become engaged. The skirmishers of the One Hundred and Seventh New York were fired on while retiring, and returned the fire. The Third Wisconsin, Colonel Hawley, was ordered to move at once to the picket line of the brigade and occupy it. While in this position it was attacked, and some skirmishing occured between it and the enemy, resulting in the loss of Lieutenant-Colonel Scott, Third Wisconsin Volunteers, a brave and faithfil officer. He was still suffering from wounds received at Cedar Mountain.
After reaching our former position, a substantial breastwork was constructed of logs and earth in rear of the abatis; also two regiments of the brigade--the Twenty-seventh Indiana and Third Wisconsin Volunteers, which had fallen back under orders--moved to a position in front of the line of breastworks, and were ordered to and did construct breastworks in the edge of the woods, completely covering by their fire--a cross fire--the open ground in front of the position of the brigade, and also of a portion of that then occupied by General Birney's division.
On the afternoon of Saturday, the brigade, with the exception of one regiment, the Thirteenth New Jersery Volunteers, was ordered, with the rest of the division, to move on a line obliquely to the left and front of our position, for the purpose of attacking the enemy's rear and picking up prisoners, in conjunction with Generals Birney's and Whipple's divisions. My brigade was assinged a position by your order on the left of the division. After proceeding about a mile, and coming under fire of the enemy's artillery, an order was received from yourself to return immediately, which was done.
In the meantime the enemy had attacked and driven the Eleventh Corps, and were in possession of a part of the intrenchments of our division. I received orders from you, through an officer of your staff, to take position with my left resting on the intrenchments, my line extending to the right along the crest of a ridge near the edge of the woods in front of Fairview.
The line of my brigade in this new position was nearly perpendicular to the Plank road. My brigade was in two lines, the Third Wisconsin, Second Massachusetts, and Twenty-seventh Indiana forming the first line, the Third Wisconsin being on the right, and the Thirteenth New Jersey and One Hundred and Seventh New York the second line. In this position the brigade remained, with skirmishers in front, during the night. A night attack was made, or attempted to be made, of which I had no official notice, by a portion of General Sickles' corps, part of which was immediately on my left. I had heard unofficially that a night attack was talked of, and when it occured I gave orders to the commanders of the regiments of the brigade to keep their men steady and not to fire unless fired into, as I believed the attck was by our own troops.
Early on the morning of the 3d, the enemy moved forward to the attack, the lines of your division, in its then position, and that of General Geary's forming by its prolongation an angle, the point of intersection being near the crest of the hill on the left or open ground.
This position on the left was occupied by a portion of General Sickles' command, and was attacked first, and soon after the attack extended to my brigade and the rest of the division. Whether unable to hold their position, or ordered to retire, I have no information; but the troops on the hill to my left yielded to the enemy, a portion of them coming through our lines. The possession of that point by the enemy was most unfortunate, as it enabled them to enfilade our line and that of General Geary. The attack on the left of your division and right of General Geary's was most persistent; but their infantry was repulsed, their artillery still maintaining its position. The first line of the enemy which attacked my brigade was easily driven back by the superiority of our fire, notwithstanding their assistance from the flank fire from the left, which was sufficiently severe to be annoying. The brigade advanced, Colonel Colgrove, Twenty-seventh Indiana, protecting the left flank by occupying the breastworks, according to orders previously given by me. On the repulse of their first line, the enemy brought up fresh troops.
In the meantime, the One hundred and seventh New York and Thirteenth New Jersey were moved forward to fill up intervals which existed between my brigade nad General Knipe's brigade, on the right, and in my own line. The brigade forced back the secons line of the enemy, who now threw in fresh troops. The brigade had now been engaged about two hours under a heavy fire, had suffered severely, and was nearly out of ammunition.
This new assault of the enemy was checked, and in part by the bayonet. Report was sent to you that our ammunition was exhausted. I received orders to prepare to withdraw. Troops from General Sickles' command had moved forward to relieve us. I then ordered the withdrawal of the brigade, and moved to the rear in good order. On passing over the open ground to the left of our batteries at Fairview, the brigade was under a galling fire from the enemy's battery, on the hill to the left. I formed line, under your orders, near the rifle pits at the brick house; afterward moved, under your orders, down the road toward the United States Ford, halting a short distance from the brick house, called "the mansion," at Chancellorsville, at which place of halting the ammunition was replenished. The brigade moved soon after, with the rest of the division, under your order, to its position in the second line, on the left of the road from the United States Ford to Chancellorsville. Remaining in this position until evening, the brigade moved with its division to the left of the line of entrenchments, relieving a portion of General Schurz's command on the extreme left of the line, in which position it remained until the army recrossed the Rappahannock on the morning of May 6, the brigade bringing up the rear of the corps, the Third Wisconsin, Colonel Hawley, forming the rear guard. After crossing the river, the brigade marched to its present camp, arriving about 7 o'clock in the evening of the same day.
The regiments of my brigade, particularly the Second Massachusetts, Third Wisconsin, and Twenty-seventh Indiana Volunteersm fought with great steadiness and bravery. The One hundred and seventh New York, and Thirteenth New Jersey fought well, emulating the conduct of the older and more experienced regiments...
...Of my own staff, Captain [Henry B.] Scott, assistant adjutant-general...displayed great bravery, activity, and much ability for so young a man. He was severely wounded, and only left the field under my orders when I saw he could not remain longer, and needed assistance to be heled to the rear.
My brigade came out of the action without demoralization, and with a conviction that, if a victory was not gained by the army, it was superior to the troops immediately opposed to it....
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
THOS B. RUGER, Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding
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