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Report of Major D. G. McIntosh, C. S. Artillery, commanding Reserve Artillery battalion. MITHCELL'S STATION, July 30, 1863. COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report, as called for, of the operations of this battalion since leaving Fredericksburg, June 15: The command was moved from the latter place, by way of Culpeper Court-House, Front Royal, Shepherdstown, &c., Cashtown, Pa., without incident worthy of special note. On the morning of Wednesday, July 1, it moved with General Pender's division into the line of battle. One battery of Napoleons (Captain [R. S.] Rice) and a section of Whitworths were placed first in position a short distance to the right of the turnpike, by the side of a portion of Major Pegram's battalion, and fire was opened slowly upon the enemy wherever they brought into view considerable bodies of troops, and occasionally upon their batteries. The whitworth guns were used to shell the woods to the right of the town. After a short interval, Captain [M.] Johnson's battery and the remaining section of Captain [W. B.] Hurt's were placed on a commanding hill some distance to the right, near the Fairfield road, at or near which point they remained during the first day's action without any occasion for an active participation, though frequently under fire. The remaining battery of the command, under Lieutenant [Samuel] Wallace, was also placed in position near the Cashtown pike, and contributed its portion of work. The artillery fire on both sides was occasionally brisk, but deliberate on our part. At the time General Ewell's batteries occupied the enemy's attention, I opened on them a flank fire, which caused them to leave the position in haste. A fine opportunity was also afforded at this time of enfilading a heavy column of the enemy's infantry, formed in the railroad cut and along a line of fence, which was employed to advantage by my batteries in connection with Major Pegram's, and the enemy, entirely discomfited, disappeared from the field. Previous to this time, I had advanced two of my batteries to the intervening hollow, and followed close upon the enemy as he left the hills. No further movements were made during the day, the casualties being 1 man killed of Captain Johnson's and 1 wounded of Captain Rice's by premature explosion, and several horses disabled. On Thursday morning, July 2, the battalion was put in position behind a stone wall, on the range of hills to the left of the town of Gettysburg, Captain Rice's battery in reserve. The enemy opened upon this spot at various times throughout the two succeeding days a terrible artillery fire, accompanied with a galling fire of musketry from their sharpshooters. Our line remained quiet until a movement forward being made by the First Corps, a few rounds were fired by us to draw the enemy's attention, which never failed to do so. The firing in the afternoon became extremely warm, and continued, and resulted in considerable loss, Lieutenants [J. W.] Tullis and [G. A.] Ferrell, of Hurt's battery, being wounded. Two guns were disabled in the first day's action-one 3-inch rifle (Lieutenant Wallace's) being struck upon its face, which was sent to the rear with the wagon, and one Whitworth having had an axle broken. The latter was taken to Major [George] Duffy's train, and repaired. The two Whitworth guns were moved Friday morning, by direction of Lieutenant General A. P. Hill, to a commanding point north of the railroad cut, to enable them to enfilade the enemy's position. They fired, it is believed, with effect from this point. In the afternoon, it was reported to me that the gun formerly disabled had broken its axle again, this time from its own firing. I immediately ordered it to be sent back to the rear for repairs, and learning the next morning that the gun was on the road, and could not be hauled along, I sent Captain Hurt to superintend it himself. He succeeded in getting it repaired, and followed with it by the route of the wagon train, leaving the rear part of his caisson somewhere on the road. Captain Hurt rejoined me at Hagerstown, the horses belonging to that gun being completely broken down. The day of the 3rd witnessed in great measure a repetition of the 2d. Previous to the charge of our men, a general fire of artillery commenced on the right, and extended along the left. The bombardment was replied to with equal spirit by the enemy, but their fire in time slackened, and, when the charge was made by our men, had almost entirely ceased. During the two day's engagement, and especially the terrific bombardment of the 3d, it gives me pleasure to speak of the general good conduct of officers and men of this command, and I am proud to say that, occupying a good position for observation, not a single case came under my notice where any one flinched from the post of danger. Where all behaved so well, it is difficult to draw distinctions, yet being nearest the company of Lieutenant Wallace, I can bear especial testimony to the coolness and gallantry of himself and men. I cannot forbear also paying a tribute to the handsome conduct of my ordnance officer (Lieutenant [M. H.] Houston), who exposed himself frequently to the hottest fire, and assisted in working at one of the guns. Saturday, the 4th, the same position was maintained with but little firing, and on the afternoon of that day, under orders from General Hill, I withdrew to Stone bridge, and awaited there the body of the corps, with which I moved to the village of Fairfield. Ordered here to report go General Anderson with two batteries, which I did, moving with his division across the mountain before dark, leaving a section on the top of the Emmitsburg road, and sending a battery at night with a regiment of Posey's brigade, to take position on the hill overlooking Waynesborough. Monday, the 5th, moved with the main column to Hagerstown, and sent one battery to picket with Anderson's and one with Lane's division. On the 11th instant, moved with General Anderson's division into line of battle, and took position designated near Saint James' College, which, strong of itself, was well intrenched, but occupied without battle till the evening of the 13th, when I withdrew at dark, by your order, moving to Williamsport, and thence to Falling Waters, over the worst road and during the worst night of the season. The river was reached and crossed in safety about 9 a. m., the caissons having been sent on before, under Lieutenant [B. Z.] Price, who conveyed them all safely to camp, about a mile and a half from the river. The Whitworth guns, under Captain Hurt, were put in position near the bridge by General Pendleton, and several shots were fired from them at columns of the enemy's cavalry. Captain Hurt, withdrawing by another road, rejoined the battalion at Bunker Hill. From Bunker Hill the battalion moved with General Anderson's division to Culpeper Court-House. Annexed is a statement of casualties, with amount of ammunition expended. Casualties in men-Killed and wounded, 24; captured, 16. Casualties in horses-Disabled and killed, 38. From the battle of Gettysburg to the time of reaching Culpeper Court-House, the horses received no corn, subsisting entirely upon grass, with a little sheaf oats and wheat. Ammunition expended in battle: Rounds of Napoleon: 213 Rounds of 3-inch rifle: 1049 Rounds of Whitworth: 133 TOTAL: 1395 Respectfully forwarded. D. G. McINTOSH, Major, Commanding. Colonel R. L. WALKER, Commanding Artillery, Third Corps. |
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