Head Quarters 3^rd Brigade

Camp Near Williamsport Md.

May 28^th 1862

To Genl A. S. Williams

Com^dg 1^st Division 5^th Army Corps.

                                                           

Sir

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At dawn of the 25^th Sunday, I was informed that a very large force was driving my pickets. I gave immediate information of these facts to yourself and proceeded at once to the field. I immediately drew up my command in line of battle, posted my Artillery upon the crowning point of the ridge upon which the right of my line rested, and awaited events to be developed by my skirmishers thrown to the front. I carried into action as closely as can be estimated

                       

2^d Mass Regt, Lt Col Andrews

Non Comm'd Officers and Privates                580

Comm'd Officers    27            Total     607

29^th Penn Regt Non Commd Officers & Privates453

Commd Officers   17                    470

27^th Ind Regt Non Commd Officers & Privates 431

Commd Officers    20                    451

3^d Wisconsin Non Commd Officers & Privates 550

Commd Officers   24                    574

Officers and Enlisted Men    Total    2102 /

Six pieces of rifled Artillery 6 pound

Parrots from Cothrane and Hamptons batteries.

 

A smaller brigade of the same division, with ten pieces of Artillery, six of them being brass smooth bored and the Tenth Maine Regt not brigaded composed the force of Infantry & Artillery. In all our force was less than four thousand Inf'y. Opposed to us was as counted by the Signal Officer who distinctly made out their Regimental flags 28 full regiments of Inf'y numbering probably 22000 men three Regts of Cavalry and at least six six gun batteries. This force we resisted for two and one half hours replying to their Artillery with Artillery most admirably served, opposing their advancing lines with musketry until it seemed madness longer to resist the endless columns which defiled upon my right flank. Slowly and in good order my brigade fell back preserving a line as unbroken as at parade, others in column receiving without dismay the withering fire played upon us from the enemies line, pouring over the crest of the hill we had abandoned. Slowly we fell back in column and began our retreat towards Martinsburg and Williamsport. Our rear was annoyed by a fire of grape and canister, pressed by the enemies Cavalry, fired into by the enemies skirmishers but yet the column moved on without disorder, preserving all its baggage, all its ordnance teams / all its subsistence supplies. Protected by the admirable display and ever threatening attitude of our column we pushed on and encamped at dark on the banks of the Potomac having accomplished 36 miles since eight in the morning.

 

            This brings us to to-day the 26^th of May. Since the morning of the 24^th of May this diminutive force retreated with a powerful Army of about 22000 infantry with due proportion of Cavalry and Artillery in its flank, for eighteen miles with loss of only portion of its train. On Sunday at 5 A.M. it encountered and fought the same force two and one half hours and then fell back in good order thirty six miles preserving all its train. On the 26^th it transferred its troops and stores over an unfordable stream, this with naught but an ordinary barge for service.

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When all the Regts of my Brigade behaved so well, it is not intended to reflect in the least upon others in mentioning the steadiness and perfect discipline which marked the action of the 2^d Mass Lt Col Andrews and 3^rd Wisconsin, Col Ruger. The enemy will long remember the destructive fire of the 3^rd Wisconsin poured into them from behind a stone wall as this sturdy Regiment moved slowly in line of battle from the field.

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George H. Gordon

Col 2^d Mass Regt

Commdg 3^d Brigade

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