HeadQuarters 3^d Wis Vols

Camp Near Williamsport Md

June 2^d 1862

 

Col Thos H Ruger

Comm^dg 3^d Wis. Vols.

                                               

Sir

           I have the honor to report that on the 23^d May 1862 my Company in conjunction with a Company of the 27^th Indiana had an engagement with the enemy at Buckton bridge on the Manassas Gap railroad. We were attacked by 5 Company^s of the enemies Cavalry at or about 3 and one half O'Clock P.M. The first intimation of the presence of the enemy was the firing into my camp. I immediately formed my Company upon the railroad at the bridge when discovering the Ind. Co. sorely pressed by an overwhelming force of the enemy I rushed over the bridge to their assistance and succeeded in holding the enemy in check till the Ind. Co. could form when discovering movements indicating a design to surround us, while the enemy force pouring a hot fire into us from the woods, I thought it politic to retire across the bridge to the north side of the railroad where behind the grade we would await the further developments of the enemy. Presently a large body of Cavalry apparently over two hundred dashed across the railroad to the north side where they had a raking fire upon us. The boys lying inclined along the embankment met them with a steady fire when the enemy being repulsed retreat- / ed back to the the road behind the woods. After an interval of a few minutes the enemy made another dash upon us, but were again greeted by the steady unending fire of the boys and again were they repulsed with a heavy loss. At our front in a meadow I discovered a large body of Cavalry approaching cautiously but as we fired shots into them they retired to the woods at the right, with a design as I apprehended of flanking our right. I posted a sentry of observation in that direction when presently they were seen dashing over a small ravine and then to retire behind the bluff, where, though firing a few shots upon us, were evidently kept as a reserve to cut us off, in case we were driven from our position. Our hope was forlorn at best as our effective force was only about 80 men, but a small portion of the Ind Co having full equipments while my pickets as well as those of the Ind. Co stationed on the railroad were entirely cut off from us. I despatched a messenger in the early part of the engagement to Strasburg for reinforcements but I feared he had been intercepted. My only alternative I felt was to maintain my position. There was a gradual cessation of the firing at our left from the woods shots being only fired as we exposed ourselves & finally it ceased altogether at twilight. The dying and wounded were gathered up when I found that one of my men was mortally wounded and two wounded severely. The casualties of the Ind Co were 5 wounded two having subsequently dying of their wounds. I have ascertained recently from a prisoner who participated in the action at the bridge the enemy had suffered the loss of 13 killed with a large number of wounded with the loss of 2 Captains one Capt Sheets & Capt Fletcher killed successfully in the charges / upon us, that depressed by these misfortunes and with no reliable leader they did not dare to make further assaults upon us. I feel that I cannot too highly commend the courage steadiness and even cool nonchalance of my men as well as those of the Ind. boys deporting themselves with the stolidity of regular soldiers. Flitting rumours had come to us for days previous from the negroes of the presence of the enemy a few miles from camp. I exercised increased vigilance in guarding the road & bridge hourly patrolling the road through the night but did not feel apprehensive of any attack as I presumed there were but small bands of Guerillas with audacity enough perhaps to make nightly raids upon the pickets. I was perfectly unaware of the depletion of Bank Corps & had not the least conception of the gathering power in the mountains. We were actually surprised, they having stolen silently upon us without the knowledge of the pickets as the attack upon them was simultaneous with the one made upon us. A dense growth of timber covering a high ledge of rock intervened between the run and the road, where screened from the observation of the pickets, explaining the surprise made upon us. This account as far as my knowledge comprehends is a true statement of the affair.

                                                                                   

Very Respectfully Yours

Edwin L. Hubbard

Capt Comm^dg Co "G" 3^d Wis Vols

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