APRIL 27-MAY 6, 1863.--The Chancellorsville Campaign. No. 93.--Report of Maj. Gen. William H. French, U.S. Army, commanding Third Division. HDQRS. THIRD DIVISION, SECOND ARMY CORPS, Camp near Falmouth, Va., May 16, 1863.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that my division marched from this encampment on April 28, at sunrise, in obedience to orders received from your headquarters. The First Brigade, under Colonel Carroll, with Ames' battery of light 12-pounders, took the advance, and occupied the position covering the United States Ford. The Second and Third Brigades encamped near Banks' Ford.
Having, in conjunction with the First Division, opened the road connecting these two fords, on the 29th the command moved toward the upper one, encamping near it.
On the 30th, the bridges having been laid across the Rappahannock, my division leading, crossed, and, continuing its march without opposition, arrived at the Chandler house, three fourths of a mile this side of Chancellorsville, where it bivouacked.
At 8 a.m., May 1, I received orders from corps headquarters to move with my division and Pettit's battery, of light rifled guns, to Todd's Tavern, 8 miles from Chancellorsville. I put Hays' brigade in the advance, together with the battery, and marched a mile in the direction of the point proposed, when the Twelfth Corps, coming up the Plank road, intersected my column, causing delay until it had passed, at which time I received orders to return to my original position. My division was held massed until about retreat, when I directed the First and Second Brigades to deploy on the skirts of a woods in a line parallel with the Plank road, then held by the Twelfth and Third Corps.
On the morning of the 3d, my First Brigade was placed in a direction opposite to this position, to form the line of defense, connecting with the First Division, Second Corps, on the right, and Sykes' division, Fifth Corps, on the left, making rifle-pits and strengthening the front by felling trees. The enemy, who had been feeling our lines during the morning, made his principal attack on the right of our position, and, driving back the troops which held it, uncovered the masses in the rear and center, of which my division formed a part. Taking a portion of my staff, I made a rapid reconnaissance of the roads leading through the woods to the Plank road, preparatory to making an attack upon the enemy's flank in his pursuit. On my return to the division, I found that my Second Brigade (Hays') had been taken off by a staff officer from corps headquarters. I followed it to Chancellorsville, and afterward saw it taking up a position to support the division of Major-General Berry. The general commanding the Second Corps sending me word that the Second Brigade was not under his orders, I confined my attention to the First and Third. Early on the morning of May 3d, the enemy renewed his attack upon the lines still held by the Third Corps, and, judging that an attempt would be made to force the right of our center, taking the discretionary power given me by the corps commander, I withdrew four regiments of Carroll's brigade from the rifle pits, on the left, and formed them in line of battle on the plain, and facing the direction of the Plank road. The Third Brigade was formed on the right, to support the left of the batteries of the Fifth Corps. The enemy were now pressing heavily upon the Third Corps, and masses of troops were arriving from Chancellorsville and forming in the plain to my rear.
At about 8 a.m., the general commanding the army, who had arrived on the left of my line a short time previous and noticed my dispositions, directed me, through a staff officer, to move forward with my division, attack the enemy, and drive him through the woods. In a moment the order was given. The men divested themselves of all but their fighting equipment, and the battalions marched in line of battle across the plain with a steady pace, receiving at the verge of the woods the enemy's fire. It was returned with great effect, followed up by an impetuous charge. The rebels fell back in great confusion, receiving volley after volley, well put in by Carroll's western regiments, the Fourteenth Indiana, Fourth Ohio, and Seventh [West] Virginia. These regiments did not halt until they had driven the enemy across the rifle-pits and beyond the Plank road. The One hundred and thirty-second Pennsylvania and the First Delaware Regiments, of the Third Brigade, under Colonel Albright, I put on the right of Carroll, to cover that flank, and finding that the enemy continued to fill the woods beyond my right, I sent to the rifle-pits, where the Twenty-fourth and Twenty-eighth New Jersey had been left, supplying their places by the troops falling back from other commands. These two regiments were placed enechelon, keeping a connection with the regiments on their left.
The enemy, at first panic-stricken by the sudden attack on his flank, broke to the right in masses, leaving in our hands several hundred prisoners and abandoning a regiment of one of our corps in the same situation. The fire of my line was deliberate and effective, and delivered only at the exposed masses of the enemy. Having been thus hotly engaged for more than an hour, I discovered a body of troops taking a position which flanked and turned my own. I therefore sent to the general commanding the army (General Couch, commanding the Second Corps, being at a distant point on the field), informing him of the fact. Very soon a brigade, commanded by Brigadier-General Tyler, led in very handsomely by Lieutenant-Colonel Webb, of General Meade's staff, formed line of battle, connecting with my right, and immediately engaged the enemy.
My left was now free to act, and continued to break and drive the enemy until all our positions between it and Chancellorsville had been abandoned and occupied by the rebels, who, discovering that my attack was not being followed up by fresh troops, moved a heavy column to turn that flank, when my line retired slowly to the edge of the woods, the rebels declining to follow. General Tyler, having reported his ammunition exhausted, on consulting General Meade, commanding the Fifth Corps, he was authorized to withdraw his brigade, which was done in an orderly manner. After this brigade had uncovered the right of Albright's, the enemy made a lively attack upon it, but the First Delaware, Colonel Smyth, changing front to rear, faced rapidly, and repulsed him handsomely.
In the meantime Hays' detached brigade shared the fortunes of the troops it was ordered to support. General Hays and his staff, with the exception of one aide, were taken prisoners. Colonel Powers, One hundred and eighth New York Volunteers, who succeeded in command, reports its operations. A new line of defense having been marked out, my division, which had reassembled at 12 m., took up the position designated for it, in which it remained until the night of the 5th, when the division recrossed the Rappahannock, and returned in good order to its former encampment at this place.
I take great pleasure in calling the attention of the general commanding to the dashing and gallant manner in which Colonel Carroll carried his men into the fight. Colonel Carroll makes particular mention of the judgment and indomitable courage of Colonel Coons, Lieutenant-Colonel Cavins, Major Houghton, Fourteenth Indiana; Lieutenant-Colonel Carpenter, Acting Major Jones, Fourth Ohio; Colonel Snider and Lieutenant-Colonel Lockwood, Seventh [West] Virginia.
The Eighth Ohio, Colonel Sawyer, was held in reserve during the 3d, but performed gallant and valuable services during the rest of the operations. Colonel Albright, One hundred and thirty-second Pennsylvania Volunteers, and Colonel Smyth, First Delaware, were distinguished for their coolness and courage during the attack. Reference is respectfully made to the reports of brigade and regimental commanders for detailed recitals of the various acts of valor performed by the officers and men of their respective commands during the entire period of the operations around Chancellorsville.
Maj. J. M. Norvell, assistant adjutant general and chief of staff, was untiring, day and night, in the performance of his arduous duties. His coolness under fire was constantly conspicuous. Maj. J. A. Fithian, acting assistant inspector-general, rendered me valuable assistance at all periods of the battle. Lieut. W. E. Potter, ordnance officer, was indefatigable, brave, and zealous. His department was never better served. Capt. M I. Ludington, assistant quartermaster, and C. J. Queen, commissary of subsistence, kept the division fully supplied with every requirement, and so conducted their trains that no losses whatever occurred to the Government.
In my personal staff--First Lieut. W. H. French, jr., First Lieut. W. F. A. Torbert, and First Lieut. H. Y. Russell--I had again to recognize the same efficiency, intelligence, and gallantry which characterized them in previous battles. Chief Surg. Isaac Scott was most assiduous in organizing his field hospitals, and the wounded of the division are greatly indebted to his care, skill, and attention, aided by the surgeons of the command. A list of casualties accompanies this report, of which the summary is:
Killed 63
Wounded 534
Missing 89
Total(*) 686
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. H. FRENCH,
Major-General, Commanding Division.
Capt. J. N. POTTER,
A. A. A. G., Second Army Corps.