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Report of Captain E. B. Brunson, C. S. Artillery, commanding Reserve Artillery Battalion. JULY 31, 1863. LIEUTENANT: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of this battalion from the time it left Fredericksburg to the present time: On the evening of June 15, this battalion received orders, from headquarters artillery Third Corps, to be in readiness to move at early dawn the next morning. This battalion took up the line of march from its encampment on the Old Mine road, near Fredericksburg, early on the morning of the 16th, and reached Culpepe Court-House on the evening of the 18th, from which point we marched, via Sperryville, Front Royal, and Berryville, to Shepherdstown, reaching the latter place on the 24th. On the morning of the 25th, we crossed the Potomac at Boteler's Ford, near Shepherdstown, and proceeded through Hagerstown, Leitersburg, Waynesborough, Quincy, and Funkstown to a point on the Baltimore and Chambersburg pike, 6 miles southeast of the latter place, and near the town of Fayetteville. We arrived at this point on June 27, and encamped there for two days. No incident worthy of notice occurred on the march to this place, and I may say it was most successfully conducted, especially when we consider the miserable condition of the horses' feet, for lack, of shoes, on the limestone pikes, over which a large portion of our march was made. My ordnance officer made every effort to obtain shoes, as did the chief of artillery, so I am informed, but without avail. Consequently, we were obliged to abandon some 20 horses by the time we reached this encampment. At this point, an effort was made to procure fresh horses by means of a strong foraging party, under command of Lieutenant [J. H.] Chamberlayne, of the Crenshaw battery. This party obtained some horses, but, encountering the enemy's cavalry, Lieutenant Chamberlayne and 4 of his men were captured, and all the captured horses retaken. On the morning of the 30th, we moved on the Baltimore pike a distance of 8 miles to Cashtown, a village about 5 miles west of Gettysburg. Here we encamped for the night. We were ordered that night to report to Major-General Heth, and received orders to follow next morning immediately in the rear of General Heth's troops. On the morning of July 1, we moved forward on the Baltimore pike, in rear of General Heth's division. When within 2 miles of Gettysburg, Captain [E. A.] Marye's section of rifled guns was run forward, unlimbered in the road, and opened on a piece of woods to the left of the pike, where was stationed a reconnoitering party of the enemy. It was at this time and point that Major-General Reynolds, of the Yankee army, is reported to have been killed. After firing some eight or ten rounds, the pieces were limbered up, and the battalion moved forward to a commanding position on the right and left of the pike, a mile distant from Gettysburg. Here we found the enemy's batteries in position, and partially concealed from view behind the crest of a hill. We opened upon them with ten Napoleons and seven rifled guns (the two 12-pounder howitzers were not brought into position, and one of Lieutenant [W. E.] Zimmerman's rifles was disabled while being brought rapidly into action), and forced them to limber up and retire their pieces three distinct times. They were brought back twice under shelter of the hills, in order to support their advancing infantry, whose lines our guns played upon as they advanced, with telling effect. During the day, Captain [T. A.] Brander's battery was ordered to report to Brigadier-General Davis, whose line was on the left of the pike, and considerably in advance of our position. Captain Brander was ordered to post his battery upon a hill immediately in rear of General Davis' skirmishers, about 500 yards from the enemy's batteries, and to open upon their infantry, which he did in handsome style, suffering considerably from the enemy's canister. Our casualties in this battle were very small, considering the heavy fire to which the battalion was exposed for a greater portion of the day. They Consisted of 2 men killed and 8 wounded; also 6 horses killed. We bivouacked the night of the 1st near the position we occupied during the day. At an early hour on the morning of the 2d, we took position a mile to the right of the pike, in advance of the position we occupied the day before, and opposite the Yankee center, about 1,400 yards from the crest upon which his artillery was massed. From this position we opened upon the enemy at intervals, enfilading their batteries whenever they opened upon the batteries on our right. Our loss in the second day's fight was 2 men killed, 7 wounded, and 25 horses killed. We remained in this position, and were ordered about 12 o'clock on the third day to open upon the enemy's batteries in our front; and, when they were silenced and the batteries on our right advanced, we were ordered to advance our batteries to the crest the occupied by the Yankee guns. The enemy's cannoneers were driven repeatedly from their guns, and their batteries completely silenced. The artillery fight was one of the most terrific on record, and never were guns served more splendidly, and never did men behave more heroically, than the artillery men did in that memorable battle of the 3d. Had the result of that day's fight on the luckless heights around Gettysburg been dependent upon the heroic conduct of the artillery, we might now read upon the heroic conduct of the artillery, we might now read upon the resplendent roll of victories that have heretofore marked the career of the army of Northern Virginia the battle of Gettysburg. The infantry failed to dislodge the enemy from his position on the crest, and the operations of this battle at Gettysburg closed on the evening of July 3, with a total loss to the battalion of 10 men killed, 37 wounded, 38 horses killed, 3 guns and 1 caisson disabled, and 2 caissons exploded. It is here my painful duty to mention the loss on them morning of the 1st of my ordnance officer-a noble and gallant young officer, whose chivalrous nature led him to expose himself unnecessarily, in the hope of being of service on the field. He was mortally wounded by a solid shot, and survived but a few hours. Where officers and men, one and all, behaved so well, it would be unjust to make discrimination, but living worth will gladly award the meed of praise to our fallen and lamented comrade, [John C.] Eustace, whose conspicuous gallantry in his last battle attracted the admiration of all who witnessed it. The battalion expended in the three days' fight 3,800 rounds of ammunition. On the evening of the 4th, we were ordered to take up the line of march on the Fairfield road, and in rear of General Hill's corps. We arrived in the vicinity of Hagerstown on the 8th instant, without anything of interest transpiring. On the evening of the 10th, we reported to Major-General Heth at Funkstown, and on the morning of the 11th we took position in line with General Heth's division, near Saint Mary's [James'] College, where we remained without opening with our guns until the night of the 13th, when we recrossed the Potomac. Upon this march, we lost some 6 or 8 men prisoners, and had to abandon howitzer caisson after every effort to save it had been made. When we reached Gaines' Cross-Roads, we received orders to move on the dirt road to Culpeper Court-House, in rear of General Heth's division. After moving on this road for several miles, we found the enemy's cavalry posted to harass our advance. I posted Lieutenant Zimmerman's battery in position, and it soon succeeded in silencing the Yankee battery of four guns. Two of Captain [Joseph] McGraw's guns were also placed in position, and opened with effect upon the enemy's cavalry. Lieutenant [A. B.] Johnston's section afterward relieved Lieutenant Zimmerman, and, with Captain McGraw's section, remained in position until the rear guard of the corps came up, when they were withdrawn. Lieutenant Zimmerman had 3 men wounded, and was himself knocked down by a piece of shell. The other battery suffered no loss. We encamped at Culpeper Court-House for two days, and reached this encampment on July 28. Respectfully submitted, E. C. BRUNSON, Captain, Commanding Battalion. Lieutenant W. W. CHAMBERLAYNE, Acting Adjutant, Artillery Third Corps. |
Last updated: December 18, 2025