Report of Captain W. A. Tanner, Courtney (Virginia) Artillery.
CAMP NEAR LIBERTY MILLS, VA., August 4, 1863.
COLONEL: On the morning of June 27, according to orders, I reported to General [J. B.] Gordon, and, after marching 27 miles, encamped for the night.
On the morning of the 28th, took up line of march (passing through York) for Wrightsville, and, after arriving within some 3 or 4 miles of said place, encountered and engaged the enemy, operating according to General Gordon's orders. Repulsed them, and pursued them through the town of Wirghtsville, capturing several prisoners. The bridge across the Susquehanna River having been burned by the enemy, I was ordered to encamp about half a mile from town.
On the morning of the 29th, left Wrightsville; took up line of march, passing through York, and encamped about 2 miles from that place.
On the 30th, I joined battalion, made a march, and encamped for the night.
On July 1, took up line of march for Gettysburg, operating with General Early's division; engaged the enemy near said place, and repulsed them; made an advance, but without taking position, returned near our first or former position, and remained for the night.
On the morning of the 2d, was ordered to take same position that was occupied the day before, and there remained until 3 p. m., when I was ordered to report to General Smith. I did so, and there remained until the morning of the 3d, when the battalion was moved remained to or near the town of Gettysburg, I moving with the same, and there remained until night, when I was ordered to turn over to Captain Green what ammunition I had, and move my battery to where the wagon train was parked, carrying at the same time two 12-pounder Napoleon guns to the field park. There remained until the morning of the 4th, when I moved with the wagon train in the direction of Williamsport.
After arriving at the intersection of the Emmitsburg pike and the Millerstown road, I took one of my pieces, with five rounds of ammunition, and proceeded to Monterey Springs, to resist an attack from the enemy upon the wagon train, and there remained until about 8 p. m., when the enemy made their appearance. After firing 3 rounds of canister, I repulsed them, and fell back about 200 yards, and there remained until the enemy made the second advance, when I was ordered by General [William E.] Jones to change my position again, and withdrew about 100 yards to the rear, where I occupied the third position, when the enemy flanked me both on my right and left, and I again canistered them, and retired (for the want of ammunition) in the direction of Williamsport, arriving there just after light on the morning of the 5th, when I was ordered in position by Colonel [George H.] Smith, and there remained until late in the evening, and was again ordered to proceed to the river, where I could get ammunition. After procuring it, I returned to my position, and there remained until the evening of the 6th when I was ordered by General Imboden to take two of my pieces to a position on the right, and engage the enemy. I did so, and there remained until my supply of ammunition was exhausted, having my horse killed.
In the meantime, my two other pieces were in position on the left of the Hagerstown road, and, after having exhausted the supply of ammunition, I removed my battery (according to orders) near the river, and there remained during the night-also the day and night of the 7th; and on the morning of the 8th I moved my battery with a wagon train to a camp upon the Hagerstown road, about 1 mile from Williamsport, and there remained until ordered to join the battalion at Hagerstown.
The above is a correct statement of the operations of my battery after leaving the battalion to report to General Gordon's brigade until ordered to report after battle at Williamsport.
W. A. TANNER,
Captain, Commanding Battery, Jones Artillery Battalion.
Lieutenant Colonel H. P. JONES,
Commanding Artillery Battalion.
