Report, Battle of McDowell, 1862 May 8
Item
Report, Battle of McDowell, 1862 May 8
Report after the Battle of McDowell, Virginia. The report discusses the participation of 37th Virginia Regiment.
Dates
- 1862 May 8
Creator
Extent
From the Collection: 0.50 cubic feet (approximately 50 items)
Transcription
Official Report of the Battle of McDowell, May 8th, 1862
Head Qrs. 37 Regt. VA. Vols. Mason's Cabins, Augusta Co., Va.
16 May 1862
Sir-
In making my official report of the part borne by my Regt in the battle near McDowell on the 8th inst., I have to say; that when I was ordered to the field, being about one mile distant, I had to pass on a portion of the way, up a very rocky & brushy hollow, which embarrassed the advance of my men greatly, and it being nothing but a defile, and the men having to advance in a single file, the Regt. necessarily stretched out over a long line. They were also much annoyed on the march after entering the field, by the shell from one of the enemies guns.
When I reached the line of battle at the head of my Regt. (marching by flank) Brig. Genl. Taliaferro informed me that the enemy were endeavoring to turn our right flank by passing over a brushy and thickly wooded ridge, and that the 31st Va Vols were there to prevent the flank movement & he ordered me to support the 31st. I at once filed into the woods, but not knowing the position of either the 31st or of the enemy, for they were not at that time firing, I got in between the two, but nearer the enemy. On halting to put my men in line, I found that I had with me only my two front companies, Co. A Capt. Terry & Co. F. Capt. Graham. In pushing forward up the ravine two companies got ahead of the others, and when the remainder got to the line of battle, I with the two first were in the woods. As soon as I formed the two companies I ordered them to give a shout which they did with a hearty good will, and we charged down the hill directly at the enemy, and when we got within forty or fifty yards of him he broke and fled, when we instantly opened fire upon them as they ran. He did not stop running till he got entirely out of the woods around the hill.
When the remainder of the Regt. reached the line of battle in the field they joined in the fight there, but after awhile Maj. Williams brought a portion of it to me in the woods, not knowing that I might be hard pressed there. But before he reached me the woods were clear of the enemy, and I marched all back to the main fight in the field.
When I got on our line it was nearly dark and we could only see the outline of the enemy on the hill side below us, & that soon disappeared, when we could only direct our fire by the flash of the enemy's guns. The fight was kept up till 9 at night when the enemy withdrew, leaving us in full possession of the field. During the fight some of my men were out of ammunition, but I had them to supply themselves from the boxes of the dead and wounded.
I have to report the loss of some good officers and brave men. Capt. Terry, a gallant man and model officer, was severely wounded in the leg. Lieuts. Wilhelm, May, Dye, and Fletcher were badly wounded, and the two latter have since died. These Lieuts were young officers, but they nobly did their duty. All of my officers and men who went upon the field acted in the most gallant manner, and it would be unjust to discriminate by name, except in the case of the wounded.* The loss of my Regt. is thirty nine killed and wounded and one missing, a list of whom I herewith enclose.
I feel indebted to Surgeon Hinkle and Asst. Surgeon Butler for their prompt and untiring attention to the wounded. My Acting Adjt. C.T. Duncan also deserves special mention for the manner in which he discharged his duties upon the field.
I cannot close this report without saying that my chaplain the Revd. A.B. Carrington deserves the highest praise for his conduct during and since the fight. He was struck by a spent ball, and although it made him very sick for awhile, he was and continued to be unremitting in his attention to the wounded.
Respectfully
Saml. V. Fulkerson Col. 37 Va. Vols
Capt Wm. B. Pendleton AAAGenl. 3d Brigade. V.D.
*I am especially indebted to Maj. T.V. Williams for gallantry and good conduct throughout the fight. He was of great benefit in placing the men in their proper positions.
Head Qrs. 37 Regt. VA. Vols. Mason's Cabins, Augusta Co., Va.
16 May 1862
Sir-
In making my official report of the part borne by my Regt in the battle near McDowell on the 8th inst., I have to say; that when I was ordered to the field, being about one mile distant, I had to pass on a portion of the way, up a very rocky & brushy hollow, which embarrassed the advance of my men greatly, and it being nothing but a defile, and the men having to advance in a single file, the Regt. necessarily stretched out over a long line. They were also much annoyed on the march after entering the field, by the shell from one of the enemies guns.
When I reached the line of battle at the head of my Regt. (marching by flank) Brig. Genl. Taliaferro informed me that the enemy were endeavoring to turn our right flank by passing over a brushy and thickly wooded ridge, and that the 31st Va Vols were there to prevent the flank movement & he ordered me to support the 31st. I at once filed into the woods, but not knowing the position of either the 31st or of the enemy, for they were not at that time firing, I got in between the two, but nearer the enemy. On halting to put my men in line, I found that I had with me only my two front companies, Co. A Capt. Terry & Co. F. Capt. Graham. In pushing forward up the ravine two companies got ahead of the others, and when the remainder got to the line of battle, I with the two first were in the woods. As soon as I formed the two companies I ordered them to give a shout which they did with a hearty good will, and we charged down the hill directly at the enemy, and when we got within forty or fifty yards of him he broke and fled, when we instantly opened fire upon them as they ran. He did not stop running till he got entirely out of the woods around the hill.
When the remainder of the Regt. reached the line of battle in the field they joined in the fight there, but after awhile Maj. Williams brought a portion of it to me in the woods, not knowing that I might be hard pressed there. But before he reached me the woods were clear of the enemy, and I marched all back to the main fight in the field.
When I got on our line it was nearly dark and we could only see the outline of the enemy on the hill side below us, & that soon disappeared, when we could only direct our fire by the flash of the enemy's guns. The fight was kept up till 9 at night when the enemy withdrew, leaving us in full possession of the field. During the fight some of my men were out of ammunition, but I had them to supply themselves from the boxes of the dead and wounded.
I have to report the loss of some good officers and brave men. Capt. Terry, a gallant man and model officer, was severely wounded in the leg. Lieuts. Wilhelm, May, Dye, and Fletcher were badly wounded, and the two latter have since died. These Lieuts were young officers, but they nobly did their duty. All of my officers and men who went upon the field acted in the most gallant manner, and it would be unjust to discriminate by name, except in the case of the wounded.* The loss of my Regt. is thirty nine killed and wounded and one missing, a list of whom I herewith enclose.
I feel indebted to Surgeon Hinkle and Asst. Surgeon Butler for their prompt and untiring attention to the wounded. My Acting Adjt. C.T. Duncan also deserves special mention for the manner in which he discharged his duties upon the field.
I cannot close this report without saying that my chaplain the Revd. A.B. Carrington deserves the highest praise for his conduct during and since the fight. He was struck by a spent ball, and although it made him very sick for awhile, he was and continued to be unremitting in his attention to the wounded.
Respectfully
Saml. V. Fulkerson Col. 37 Va. Vols
Capt Wm. B. Pendleton AAAGenl. 3d Brigade. V.D.
*I am especially indebted to Maj. T.V. Williams for gallantry and good conduct throughout the fight. He was of great benefit in placing the men in their proper positions.
- Confederate States of America -- Army -- Virginia Infantry Regiment, 37th
- McDowell, Battle of (Virginia : 1862)
- Reports
- Shenandoah Valley Campaign, 1862
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865
- United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Personal narratives, Confederate
- Williams, Titus V. (Titus Vespasian), 1835-1908
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Repository Details
Part of the Virginia Military Institute Archives Repository
