The27thVirginiaattheBattleofPortRepublicByAustinWilliams,5thVirginia

At3:45onthemorningof9June1862,the27thVirginiaVolunteerInfantryslowly

crossedamakeshiftfootbridgeovertheSouthBranchoftheShenandoahandmarchedthroughthequietvillageofPortRepublic.UnderthecommandofColonelAndrewJ.Grigsby,the27thformedpartoftheStonewallBrigadethencommandedGeneralCharlesS.Winder.HavingdefeatedoneFederalforcethepreviousdayatCrossKeys,GeneralThomasJ.JacksonwasimpatienttoengageFederalforcesunderGeneralJamesShieldsanddirectedWindertobegintheattackwithoutwaitingforreinforcements.Withthe33rdVirginiadetachedforpicketdutythepreviousnight,Winderorderedthe5thand27thVirginiatoadvanceacrossanopenwheatfield,nearlyamileandahalflong,flankedbytherivertotheleftandendinginalowwoodedridgewhereIndianaandOhioregimentswaited.Theundersized27th,whichnumberedonly150menatthetimeofthebattle,advancedtotherightofthe5thVirginia.1

AfterdrivingbackFederalpicketsandadvancingathirdofthewayacrossthefield,the27thand5thcameunderheavyartilleryfirefromFederalcannonpostedatthecoalingontheConfederaterightflank.Windersentthe2ndand4thVirginiathroughthethickwoodsontheConfederaterighttomakeaflankattackthatultimatelyfailedtosilencethecannons.AlthoughgunsoftheRockbridgeArtilleryattemptedtoprovidesupportingfire,the27thand5thwerelargelyhelpless,theirlinesrakedwithshotandgrapefromthegunsatthecoaling.DespitebeingbolsteredbyColonelHarryHays’7thLouisiana,whichadvancedbetweenthe5thand27th,Winder’spositionwasrapidlybecominguntenableunderthebombardmentandcrossfirefromaFederalregimentontheleft.

WhenShield’sforcesbegantoadvanceintothefieldtoengageWinder’sthreestalledregiments,Winderfearedhisthinninglinewouldcollapse.Gamblingthatanadvancewouldbesaferthanremaininginthefieldunderartilleryfire,Winderorderedhisforcestocharge.ThetwolinesofVirginiansandLouisiananssweptforwardwithacheer,firingastheyadvancedandrapidlybecomingdisorganized.ColonelGrigsby’shorsewashittwice,throwinghimtothegroundbuthavingnoeffectontheunendingstreamofoathshedirectedattheenemy.2Headvancedonfootwithhisregiment,laterdescribingtheeffectsof“aheavyfireofgrape,bywhichmyrankswereconsiderablythinned.”3Uponreachingafencelineinthemiddleofthefield,the5thVirginiaand7thLouisianasoughtcoverandbeganfiringontheenemy.The27th,however,continuedtheadvanceashortwayalone.Findingthemselvesunsupportedandfacingseveralregiments,theywithdrewtothefenceline,wherethey“remainedunderaperfectshowerofballsfornearanhour”accordingtoGrigsby’sreport.4

Winderlaterwrotethat“themenstooditboldlyforsometimeandfoughtgallantly,manyuntilalltheircartridgesweregone”buteventually“theinfantrylinebegantowaver

1OfficialRecordsoftheWaroftheRebellion(OR).2Robertson,JamesTheStonewallBrigade,page111.2Robertson,JamesTheStonewallBrigade,page111.3OR.4OR.

underthestormofshot,shell,andballswhichwasbeingraineduponthem.”5DespitethebesteffortsofWinder,Grigsby,andtheotherofficers,menbegantoleavethefencelineandfallbackacrossthefield.ThetricklebecameafloodasUnionforceadvancedtowithin20pacesofGrigsby’sline.Asthelinegaveway,Grigsbyorderedhisbatteredregimentbackacrossthefield,withUnionforcesinclosepursuit.CaptainWilliamT.Poague’sartilleryhelpedcovertheretreat,losingasix-pounderintherout.Winderdesperatelysoughttoreorganizehiscommand,laterwriting“Itriedtorallythemen…hereIpartiallysucceeded,buttheenemysogreatlyoutnumberedus,and,gettingwithinsucheasyrange,thinnedourrankssoterribly,thatitwasimpossibletorallythemenforsometime.”6AsfreshtroopsfromGeneralEwell’sDivisionarrivedonthefield,JacksonrodeamonghisoldBrigade,shouting“TheStonewallBrigadeneverretreats!Followme!”7Ewell’stroopssucceededinfinallysilencingthegunsatthecoalinganddrovetheFederaltroopsfromtheiradvancedpositioninthewheatfield.AstheFederalforceswithdrew,therallied27thVirginiaandtherestoftheStonewallBrigadejoinedthepursuit,capturingsignificantnumbersofprisoners.

The27thsufferedheavycasualtiesforaunititssize,withnearlyathirdofits

strengthdead,wounded,ormissingbytheendofthebattle.Listsofcasualtiesinthe5OR.6OR.7Robertson,112.

OfficialRecordsrecordthedeathofLieutenantJamesA.Lennonand6menkilled.LieutenantJosephH.Haynesfellmorallywoundedandanadditionalofficerand26menwerewounded.11menwererecordedmissingafterthebattle.EquipmentandUniforms

Thereisnoexactrecordofthearms,equipment,anduniformswornandcarriedbythe27thduringtheBattleofPortRepublic.ThebattleoccurredafternearlytwomonthsoftheconstantmarchingandfightingoftheValleyCampaign,sothemen’sequipmentanduniformslikelyshowedsignsofheavyuse.ThediaryofJamesBeardofthe5thVirginiaindicatestheBrigade’sbaggagewassentsouthon17April1862,sothemenwouldhavebeentravelinglightforalmosttwomonths.Hedoesmention,however,carryingaknapsackon20May,indicatingatleastpartoftheStonewallBrigadelikelycarriedknapsacksatPortRepublic.8OneofthemostcommonitemsissuedtotheBrigadewhileitwasformingatHarper’sFerryinsummer1861waswebbing;presumablytomakecartridgeboxstrapsandbelts.SeveralimagesofStonewallBrigadesoldiersshowthemwearingthiswhitewebbing,someofwhichmaystillhavebeeninuseinspring1862. TheregimentsoftheStonewallBrigadewerenotissuedbattleflagsuntiltheirarrivalonthePeninsulafollowingtheBattleofPortRepublic.The27thVirginiawouldthereforehavelikelycarriedthecottonbuntingVirginiastateflagspresentedbyGovernorLetchertoallVirginiaregimentsinOctober1861. TheRegiment’sarmamentswerelikelyprimarilysmoothboremusketsandotheroutdatedweapons.CompaniesoftheStonewallBrigadewereissued“alteredmuskets”(likelyconvertedflintlocks),“minierifles”,“Deringerrifles”(likelytheM1814commonrifle),“Harper’sFerryrifleswithswordbayonets”,“percussionmuskets”(likelytheM1842smoothbore),“Mississippirifleswithsaberbayonets”,flintlocks,andevendoublebarreledshotgunsinthesummerof1861.9ManyofthelattertwostyleswerelikelyreplacedbythetimeofPortRepublicwithimportsandcapturedweapons.TedBarclayofthe4thVirginiawrotejustpriortoPortRepublicthathewascarryinga"Belgiumgun",likelyanearlyimport.Amemberofthe2ndVirginiacarrieda.70caliberBavarianmusketintheBattleofGainesMillsoonafterPortRepublic.10Membersofthe33rdVirginiawerecarryingsmoothboreM1842musketsin1862.NewYorktroopsrecoveredaM1842Harper'sFerrymusket,dated1847,thatwaslostbytheSergeant-Majorofthe33rdVirginiaatSecondManassasseveralmonthsafterPortRepublic.11 Theuniformsofthe27thmustbesimilarlyestimatedbasedontherecordsavailableforotherunitsoftheBrigadepriortothebattle.AsthedepotsystemhadnotyetreachedsignificantproductionintheConfederacy,theregimentwouldhavebeenuniformedbasedonthecommutationsysteminwhichmenwerereimbursedbythegovernmentforprovidingtheirownuniform.Companieswerelargelyoutfittedtogetheroralongacommontheme,givingafairdegreeofuniformitybycompany,butnotnecessarilyby8DiaryofJamesE.Beard.http://valley.lib.virginia.edu/papers/AD1008.9Sumner,Bret.“StonewallBrigade-1861ImpressionGuidelines.”http://www.stonewallbrigade.net/1861-impression.html.10SecondVirginiaLivingHistoryGroup.http://2ndvirginiacsa.tripod.com/id4.html11Mink,Eric.“WeaponryoftheStonewallBrigade.”http://www.stonewallbrigade.net/weapons.html.

regiment.ManyofthedistinctiveandelaboratemilitiauniformswornbysomecompaniesoftheBrigade,suchastheContinentalMorganGuardandthePulaskiGuards,werepresumablynolongerinusebyJune1862.SeveralcompaniesoftheBrigademusteredin1861wearingredflannelovershirts.ThesemayhavefallenoutofservicebyPortRepublic,asanewspaperaccountreportedacompanyofthe4thVirginiaplannedtoswapouttheirshirtsforgreyuniformspriortoenteringthefield.12ThesegreyuniformsmayhavebeenofthevariousstylesnowlabeledRichmondDepotTypeIorCommutationJackets,ofvariousshadesofgreyandvaryingcutsandbuttonconfigurations.Somehadtrimand/orepaulets,whileothersdidwithoutthisornamentation. ThefollowingaresomeimagesofStonewallBrigadesoldierswearinguniformsthatmayhavemadeanappearanceatPortRepublic:

PrivateCarterLouthanofthe2ndVirginiaispicturedinasimplegreyjacketwithtrimonthecollar.13

Thismilitiauniform,wornbyCaptainPeytonHaleofthe4thVirginiaincludesaforagecapwithleathervisorandgreypanswithabrown1”trimsewnintothetrousers.14

12Sumner.13ImagefromFrye,Denis.2ndVirginiaInfantry.

SergeantDanielH.Sheetz(left),ofthe2ndVirginia,wearsajacketwithepaulets,similartoaRichmondDepotTypeII,butappearstohavetrimonhiscollar.15CorporalGeorgeBaylor(right)ofthe5thVirginiawearsajacketsimilartoSheetz.16PrivateBenjaminBeahmsimilarlywearsajacketwithepaulets,although,basedonhisservicerecord,thisimagemaydatefromaftertheBattleofPortRepublic.17

PrivatesJosephHisey(left)andWesleyCulp(center)18ofthe2ndVirginiaandRichardWilliamsofanunknownregimentoftheStonewallBrigade19allweardifferentstylesofovershirts.NotethetrimonWilliams’strousersaswell.14Imagefromhttp://historical.ha.com/c/item.zx?saleNo=6074&lotNo=52144.15ImagefromNationalParkServiceMarkeratSpanglerSprings,Gettysburg.16ImagefromWallace,Lee.5thVirginiaInfantry.17Imageformhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Beambenj.jpg.18Imagefromhttp://www.gdg.org/Gettysburg%20Magazine/culpbros.html.

PrivateSamuelH.Wilhelm(left)ofthe4thVirginiawearsaplainsackcoatalongwithaflatsquarebeltbuckle.20JacobHale(right)ofthe4thVirginiaalsowearsasackcoat,butthisonefeaturesdarkcoloredepauletsortrimandaturneddowncollar.21

TheseimagesofWilliamDarstandJohnWelchDarst(left)andJohnBenjaminDarst(center),allofthe4thVirginia,22andSergeantJohnBrownofthe5thVirginia23(right)showwebbing,likelysimilartothatissuedinlargequantitiestotheStonewallBrigadein1861.

19Imagefromhttp://www.essential.civilwar.vt.edu/1145.html.20Imagefromhttp://www.loc.gov/pictures/resource/ppmsca.32458/.21ImagefromRoberstonJames.4thVirginiaInfantry.22ImagefromRoberstonJames.4thVirginiaInfantry.

PrivatePeterKurtzofthe5thVirginiawearsacoatwithdistinctivecollarfacingsandthreestripesoneachsleeve.24Notethewhitewebbingbelt.Hisslouchhatisalsouniqueamongtheimages,asotherphotographswithhatsfeaturekepisorforagecaps(ormilitiashakoslikelynotworeinthefield).

CaptainGeorgeBedingerofthe33rdVirginia25wearswhatappearstobeasackcoatbasedonthebuttonspacingandturneddowncollar.However,thecollarappearstohaveadifferentcoloredfacingandthecoathasepaulets.

23ImagefromWallace,Lee.5thVirginiaInfantry.24http://www.flickr.com/photos/library_of_congress/6883280574/25ImagefromReidenbaugh,Lowell.33rdVirginiaInfantry.

Appendix-AfterActionReportsThefollowingistheofficialafter-actionreport,containedintheOfficialRecordsoftheWaroftheRebellion,submittedbyGeneralWinderdetailingtheStonewallBrigade’sinvolvementatPortRepublic:HEADQUARTERSFIRSTBRIGADE,VALLEYDISTRICT,CampnearWeyer’sCave,Va.,June15,1862.SIR:Ihavethehonorherewithtoreporttheparttakenbythisbrigadeintheoperationsofthe8thand9thinstantnearPortRepublic,Va.:WhilequietlyincamponSundaymorning,the8thinstant,between8and9o’clock,Iheardartillerytoourrightandrear,whichIinferredmustbethatoftheenemy.CaptainPoaguecameinatthistimeandinformedmehehadorderedhisbatterytobepreparedforaction.Iapprovedit,andrequestedhimtotransmittoCaptainCarpenter,campedjustbyhim,instructionstothesameeffect.Thegoodjudgmentofboththeseofficershadanticipatedsuchorders,amostfortunatecircumstanceindeed,astheenemywerepressingrapidlyonourrear.GeneralJacksonrodetomytentatthistimeandorderedmetosendaregimenttothebridgeovertheShenandoahatPortRepublicindouble-quicktime.IatoncesentorderstoCol.J.W.Allen,commandingSecondRegiment,toconducthisregimenttothatpoint.Mountingmyhorse,Irodeinthedirectionofthebridge.PassingPoague’sbattery,IobservedaParrottgunhitchedupandorderedittofollowme.Aboutone-fourthofamilefromcampIdiscoveredthepositionofabatteryoftheenemyacrosstheriver,itsendingshelljustacrosstheroad,buttoohightodoanydamage.Thegunarriving,Iturnedittotheleft,tobearontheaforesaidbattery,whenGeneralJacksondirectedmetosendittohimontheright.ThisIdidandawaitedthearrivalofotherguns,whichweresoonbroughtupandplacedinpositiononthehillcommandingtheoppositesideof[the]river.Thesecondshotsilencedtheenemy’sbattery,causingittolimberupandmoveoff.Carpenter’sbatteryarriving,IordereditplacedontheleftofPoague’s,andtheeightpiecesofthetwobatteriestobedirectedontheretreatingbatteryandcolumnofinfantryadvancinguptheroad.Thegunswererapidlyandadmirablyserved,pouringaheavyanddestructivefireupontheenemy.Hiscolumnhalted,staggeredatsowarmareception,wavered,andthenretreateddowntheroad,beingsignallyrepulsedbytheartilleryalone.Idirectedpiecestomovetotheleft,keepingupaconstantfireuponhimsolongashewaswithinrange.Twoormoregunsweremovedamilebeyondtheoriginalposition.ColonelAllen,SecondRegiment,arriving,Idirectedhimtomovetotheleft(GeneralTaliaferro’sbrigadehavinggonetothebridge),throwingoutskirmishers,guardingagainstaflankmovementbytheenemy.TheFourthRegiment,ColonelRonald,wasorderedtosupportthisregiment.TheFifthRegiment,Lieutenant-ColonelFunk,supportedPoagne’sbattery.TheTwenty-seventh,ColonelGrigsby,supportedCarpenter’sbattery.TheThirty-thirdRegiment,ColonelNeft,wasadvancedontheleftandheldinpositiontorepelaflankmovement,andatnightpicketednearsamepoint.Somefewunimportantchangesoccurredduringtheday,buttheenemydidnotagainadvancewithinrangeofourguns.Soheavyandwelldirectedwasourartilleryfirehewasobligedtoabandonahowitzerandtwolimbers,whichwerefoundinthewoodsonthefollowingday,beingaportionofthebatteryusedagainstusinthemorning.

Ihadobservedhimtryingtoremoveitandsucceededbeyondmyexpectationsinforcinghimtoleaveit,thoughIknewhehadnottakenitoffbytheroadonwhichitadvanced.ThebrigademovedtocampatdarkjustabovePortRepublic.Thetotalstrengthofbrigadewas1,334rankandfileinaction.Onthemorningofthe9thinstant,at3.45o’clock,IreceivedorderstohavemybrigadeinPortRepublicat4.45o’clock.Orderswereimmediatelygiven,andtheheadofthebrigadereachedthepointindicatedatthathour.ImetGeneralJacksonshortlythereafter,whoorderedmetomoveacrossSouthRiveronatemporaryfoot-bridgebeingconstructed.IsentLieutenantGarnetttorecallColonelNeff’sregimentfrompicket,and[Ithenmovedthe]Brigadeasindicated.Iwasorderedtofollowtheroaddownthevalley.IplacedtheSecondRegiment,ColonelAllen,infront,throwingforwardtwocompaniesasanadvanceguard.Havingproceededaboutamile,thecavalryinfrontreportedtheenemy’spickets.GeneralJacksonbeingnear,Ireferredtheofficertohim.Ithenreceivedorderstodrivethemin,occupythewoodsinfront,andattacktheenemy.IdirectedCaptainNadenbousch,commanding[the]advance,todeployskirmishersoneithersideoftheroadandmoveforward;CaptainCarpentertoadvancetwopieces,takepostonleftofroad,andshellthepickets.Theseorderswererapidlyandwellexecuted;theenemy’spicketsdisappearedandIhadskirmishersadvanced,thelinebeingsupportedbyColonelAllen.Theenemyhereopenedarapidfireofshellwithgreataccuracyontheroadandvicinity.Iwasthenorderedtosendaregimentthroughthewoodstoendeavortoturntheirbattery,alsoabatterytogetapositionabovethem.IdirectedColonelAllentomovewithhisregiment,hebeinginadvanceandnearthewood,toaccomplishthis,andColonelRonald,FourthRegiment,tosupporthim;CaptainCarpentertotakehisbatteryinsamedirectiontoexecutetheaboveorder.CaptainPoague’stwoParrottgunsIorderedinpositiononleftofroadinawheatfieldandopenedonenemy’sbattery,thesmokeofwhichonlycouldbeseen,theremainingpiecesbeingundercover.ColonelGrigsby,Twenty-seventhRegiment,Iorderedtosupportthisbattery.Lieutenant-ColonelFunk,FifthRegiment,wasplacedonleftandtorearofTwenty-seventhRegiment.TheThirty-thirdRegiment,ColonelNeff,totakepositiononrightofroad,but,beingdetainedincrossingtheriver,thisorderneverreadiedhim.Theenemy’sfirewassowelldirectedIfounditnecessarytoseparatePoague’stwoguns,placingonesomedistanceonleft,orderingFunk’sregimenttofollowthemovement.Herethefirewasresumed.Theenemysoonplacedabatteryoftwopiecesinfrontandinacommandingposition.IsentLieutenantGarnett,andafterwardCaptainPoague,tolookforapositionnearerandmoredesirable,butnonecouldbefoundunlesstheenemyweredrivenoff.Ithenlearnedhisskirmisherswereadvancing,andorderedFunk’sregimentforwardtosupportextremeleftofline,atsametimesendingtoGeneralJacksonforreinforcements,beinggreatlyoutnumbered.Col.H.T.HayssoonreportedtomewiththeSeventhLouisianaRegiment.IdirectedhimtotakepositionontherightofFunk’s,andorderedGrigsby’sregimentup,placingitontherightofHays.ThislineunderHaysIorderedtomoveforward,drivetheenemyfromhisposition,andcarryhisbatteryatthepointofthebayonet.IatthesametimedirectedtimeremainderofPoague’sandasectionofCarpenter’sbattery,thelatterhavingreporteditimpossibletogetthroughthethickwoodsorfindanypositiontobeadvanced.ColonelHaysmovedhis

commandforwardingallantstylewithacheer.SeeinghismovementIadvancedwiththeartillery,placingthegunsinbatteryjustinrearofHays’line,whichIfoundhadbeenhaltedbehindafence,theenemybeinginsuchstrongforceandpouringinsuchafireofrifles.Ithensentforreinforcements,butheavyartilleryreceivednone.Themenstooditboldlyforsometimeandfoughtgallantly,manyuntilalltheircartridgesweregone.CaptainRainereportedwithtwopiecesofartillerytome,however,withoutanycannoneers;thispieceIsentfromthefield,theotherbeingbroughtintoaction.IhaddirectedCaptainPoaguetomovewithaParrottguntotheright,andsentLieutenantGarnetttoCarpentertoendeavortoplacehissectionsoastoenfiladetheenemy.TheThirty-firstRegimentVirginiaVolunteers(ColonelHoffman)arrivedaboutthistimetorelieveColonelHays,whowasorderedtojoinhisbrigade.Thischangewasimpossibletoeffect,andIheldColonelHoffmaninrearofthebatteriesfortheirsecurity,astheinfantrylinebegantowaverunderthestormofshot,shell,andballswhichwasbeingraineduponthem.ThebatteriesweremovedtorearandItriedtorallythemen,placingHoffman’sregimentinlineonwhichtorally;hereIpartiallysucceeded,buttheenemysogreatlyoutnumberedus,and,gettingwithinsucheasyrange,thinnedourrankssoterribly,thatitwasimpossibletorallythemenforsometime,thoughIwasmostablyassistedinmyendeavorsbymystaff;thegallantHays,Grigsby,Funk,MajorWilliams(FifthRegiment),CaptainsNadenbousch(Second),andBurke(FifthRegiment);thesecameparticularlyundermyobservation,thoughdoubtlessothersdidtheirdutyasnoblyandbravely.HereonepieceofPoague’s,Iregrettosay,fellintotheenemy’shands,Ihavingorderedittohaltandfireonhisadvancingcolumn,whereitwasdisabled,asshowninPoague’sreport.Istillendeavoredtorallytheremainderofthisforce,andsucceededingettingtheSeventhLouisiana,underMajorPenn,thecolonelandlieutenant-colonelbothbeingwounded,andFifthRegiment,underFunk.IplacedtwopiecesofPoague’sbatteryinthepositionpreviouslyoccupied,andagainopenedfireontheenemy,hehavinghaltedinhisadvance.Asharpfirefromthewoodon[the]righttoldGeneralTaylor’sandAllen’sforceswereengaged.IdirectedtheParrottgunontheenemy’sbattery,whichwasnowturnedonthoseforces.IwasgratifiedtolearnfromGeneralTaylorthisfirewasofservicetohim.Theenemynowmovedtohisleftflank,apparentlytosurroundthiscommandinthewoods.Seeingtworegimentslyingquietlyontheirarmstotherightunderthewoods,IdispatchedLieutenantGarnetttoorderthemforwardrapidlytopresstheenemy’srear.Ithenmovedforwardtheartillerywithitssupportsandobtainedafarbetterposition.CaptainChewherereportedtomeanddidgoodexecutionwithhisbattery,displayinggreatskillandaccuracyinhisfire.IsoonmetGeneralJacksonandreportedmyimpressionstohim,andwastoldhehadorderedupothertroops.Lieutenant-ColonelGarnett(Forty-eighthRegiment)cameup,reportingfororders.Idirectedhimtofollowtheroadindouble-quick,pressingtheenemyhotlyinrearanddrivinghimfromhisposition.MajorHoliday(Thirty-thirdRegiment)rodeupatthistime,andthroughhimIsentorderstoColonelNefftodothesame.Thebatteriesarriving,Icontinuedtoadvancethemasrapidlyaspossible,pouringinaheavyandwell-directedfireontheretreatingcolumnsoftheenemy,whowerenowdrivenfromthefield,routedateverypoint.AsectionofCaptainBrockenbrough’sbatteryjoinedmejustastheretreatcommencedandwasablyhandled.Theroadandwoodswereshelledandtheenemyscatteredineverydirection.

Thepursuitwascontinuedsome4miles,whenImetGeneralJackson,whowasinadvance,andbyhisordershaltedalltheartilleryexcepttwopiecesofChew’sbattery.Theenemybeingagaindrivenfromtheirambuscade,Ifollowedwithmycommandtoapointsome8or9milesbelowPortRepublic,whenIreceivedorderstoreturnandcampwithmywagons,whichorderwasexecuted,myadvancereachingcamponthesummitoftheBlueRidgeatBrown’sGapatmidnightandthebatteriesatdaylight.Itagainaffordsmesincereandgreatgratificationtobeartestimonytothecourage,gallantry,fortitude,andgoodconductoftheofficersandmenundermycommand,andtothemIreturnmyheartfeltthanks.Theyfoughtgallantlyanddesperately,asourholycauseurgedthemtodo,andthoughtemporarilyrepulsed,itwasonlyfromoverwhelmingnumbers.Althoughexposedtosuchawitheringfire,thekilledarefewinnumber,akindProvidencehavingguardedmanyfromthegreatdangerstowhichtheywereexposed.ColonelsAllenandRonaldweresofarseparatedfrommeImustrefertotheirrespectivereportsfortheoperationsoftheirregiments.Tomystaff,CaptainO’Brien,LieutenantsHowardandGarnett,Itendermysincerethanksfortheirassistanceintransmittingmyorderstodifferentpoints(thoughunderheavyfirefrequentlyafterthefightbecamegeneral),everreadyandprompt.Thecasualtieswere:Killed:officers,2;privates,11.Wounded:officers,6;privates.148.Missing:privates,32.Total,199.Thestrengthofthebrigadewas1,313,rankandfile.FordetailedaccountsoftheaffairIrespectfullyrefertothereportsoftheseveralcommandersherewithtransmitted.Iam,sir,veryrespectfully,CHAS.S.WINDERBrigadier-General,Commanding.Maj.R.L.DABNEY,AssistantAdjutant-GeneralHeadquartersValleyDistrict.ThefollowingistheofficialreportsubmittedbyColonelGrigsby,commanderofthe27thVirginia,detailingtheregiment’sparticipationinPortRepublic:CAMPNEARPORTREPUBLIC,VA.,June13,1862.CAPTAIN:IhavethehonortosubmitthefollowingreportoftheTwenty-seventhRegimentVirginiaVolunteers,undermycommand,intheengagementsofthe8thand9thinstant,nearthetownofPortRepublic.Theengagementofthe8thwaswithartillery;theinfantrydidnotparticipate.TheTwenty-seventhVirginiaRegimentwasorderedtosupportCaptainCarpenter’sbattery,andremainednearitduringtheday.AtanearlyhourMondaymorningthecommandcrossedtheSouthRiverandmoveddowntheroadleadingtoSwiftRunGap.Thecommandhadproceededabout1mileswhentheenemymadetheirappearanceandcommencedshellingouradvanceguard.CaptainPoague’sbatterywasorderedupandtookpositioninthefieldtotheleftoftheroad.My(theTwenty-seventh)regimentwasorderedtosupporthisbattery.Iimmediatelytookpositionashortdistanceinrearofit,andremainedunderaheavyfireofshellforoveranhour.Thebattery,byorder,changeditsposition.Imadeacorrespondingchange,keepingnearit.Myregimentwasafterwardsorderedtomovetothe

lefttosupportabatteryplacednearabarn.Uponreachingthepositionthebatterywaslimbereduptomove.Iwasorderedtoforminlineofbattle,movetothefront,andtakepositionontherightoftheSeventhLouisiana.ThisIpromptlydid,whenbothregimentsmovedforwardacrossanopenfieldunderaheavyfireofgrape,bywhichmyrankswereconsiderablythinned.TheSeventhLouisianatookpositionundercoverofafence;myregimentstilladvancedsomedistancefarther.Findingmyselfunsupported,IorderedmycommandtodropbackonalinewiththeSeventhLouisiana.Weremainedunderaperfectshowerofballsfornearanhour.InthispositionmyhorsewasshottwiceandsodisabledthatIwascompelledtoleavehim.Mycommand,thoughsmall,boldlymaintaineditspositionuntiltworegimentsoftheenemycamewithin20pacesoftheirline,whentheyfellback,bymyorder,amidaperfectshowerofballs,thewholelinegivingwayaboutthesametime.Theenemydidnotretainhisadvantagelong,astheywerecompelledtofallback,andweresoondrivenfromthefield.Apartofmyregimentjoinedourpursuingforces.InthisengagementtheTwenty-seventhsufferedseverely,havinglostinkilled,wounded,andmissing47officers,non-commissionedofficers,andprivates.Toomuchpraisecannotbegivenmyofficersforthegallantmannerinwhichtheybore,themselvesthroughouttheentireaction,bravingeverydangercoollyanddeliberately.Thenon-commissionedofficersandmenbehavedwellandgallantly,movingforwardingoodorderunderaheavyfireofgrape,obeyingallorderscheerfully.Tomakementionbynameofanyofmyofficerswouldbeinvidiouswhereallbehavedsowell.Thesameofmynon-commissionedofficersandprivates.Strength,rankandfile,150.Respectfully,yourobedientservant,A.J.GRIGSBY,ColonelTwenty-seventhVirginiaVolunteers.Capt.J.F.O’BRIEN,AssistantAdjutant-General.