Camp near Culpepper Va

Aug 13^th 1862

 

Capt H. B. Scott,                                                                                 

A.A.A.G.

                                   

Sir,                  I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken in the action of the 9^th by the 3^d Regt Wis Vols

 

The 3^d brigade of Gen Williams Div. Gen Gordon Commanding  occupied the right of the line. The place originally occupied by the 3^d Wis Vols was the left of said brigade immediately on the right of the battery in front of the house temporarily used as a hospital. Soon after the action began I was ordered by Gen Gordon to skirmish the woods to the left and front of our position with six companies which was done without any important developments. Soon after this examination and while awaiting orders I was ordered to join Gen Crawfords Command a portion of which had entered the woods referred to and taken up an advanced position. This order came in the name of Brig Gen Crawford. I replied in substance that I was there by order of Gen Gordon and had sent a report to him of the result of the examination of the woods and expected an order from him momentarily and suggested that the order taking my regiment from its brigade should come from superior authority. In the meantime I assembled the six companies there with me and moved up near the right of the position occupied by Gen Crawfords Command. Very soon Capt Wilkins of Gen Williams Staff came up and said in substance that he had seen Gen Banks who said it was proper that I should join Gen Crawford. I then reported to Gen Crawford for orders and was placed on the right of the line. The order to move forward was immediately given and soon after "double quick". The timber and undergrowth were thick which interfered much with the precision of the march.

 

Near the edge of the woods there was a rail fence in getting over which the men were exposed to full view of the enemy who were drawn up within close musketry range of the edge of the woods as we came out. The enemys line extended beyond the right of ours, considerably overlapping my regiment, sufficiently to give by an oblique fire of that part of their line a most destructive crossfire on the right wing of the regiment. The enemy also had a force on the right which opened a flank fire on the regt. The diagram below is a rough sketch of the relative position of the forces. /

 

 

[diagram]                                                       

Woods

Enemy             Enemy             Enemy             Enemy

            Slight ridge

                                   3^d Wis

 46 Pa

            Edge of woods                                    rail fence

 

The right of the regt was forced back under a most destructive fire. The loss here in killed and wounded of the right was in some companies over one fourth and in two a third. The whole line was driven back. With the assistance of the officers I rallied sufficient men to make a force about equal with the three companies that had not been engaged to the six companies originally engaged and moved up and took position in my brigade which had meantime advanced and engaged the enemy on the line before occupied by Gen Crawfords Command. My regiment remained and continued fire until the line was driven back by the turning of the right flank. The regt was assembled on its original position and some time after moved down to the road towards Culpepper according to orders striking the road farther than was intended in consequence of a detour made to avoid shells thrown across the path on which it was moving. The following lines give the numbers taken into action killed wounded and missing of the six companies that were engaged the first time. Co K was on the right.

In action                      44        45        45        45        44        44

Companies                  H         C         I           D         F          K

Killed W. & M.           9         11        9         19        14        18

 

The accompanying is a list of Killed Wounded & Missing accounted for by name

 

Lieut Col Crane fell at his post while gallantly performing his duty

 

Capt OBrian who was wounded in the first part of the action continued in command of his company and received his death wound when the second truce engaged.

 

He was a very brave man

 

Dr Raymond was confined to his bed by illness when the regt was ordered forward from Culpepper and was unable to reach the field although he attempted to do so.

 

Dr Conant who was with the regiment performed his duty in a manner worthy of all praise.

                                                                       

Very respectfully

Your Obt Servt.

Thos H Ruger

Col Comdg 3^d Wis Vols

SOURCES