27th Virginia at the Battle of Port...
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The 27 th Virginia at the Battle of Port Republic By Austin Williams, 5 th Virginia At 3:45 on the morning of 9 June 1862, the 27 th Virginia Volunteer Infantry slowly crossed a makeshift footbridge over the South Branch of the Shenandoah and marched through the quiet village of Port Republic. Under the command of Colonel Andrew J. Grigsby, the 27 th formed part of the Stonewall Brigade then commanded General Charles S. Winder. Having defeated one Federal force the previous day at Cross Keys, General Thomas J. Jackson was impatient to engage Federal forces under General James Shields and directed Winder to begin the attack without waiting for reinforcements. With the 33 rd Virginia detached for picket duty the previous night, Winder ordered the 5 th and 27 th Virginia to advance across an open wheat field, nearly a mile and a half long, flanked by the river to the left and ending in a low wooded ridge where Indiana and Ohio regiments waited. The undersized 27 th , which numbered only 150 men at the time of the battle, advanced to the right of the 5 th Virginia. 1 After driving back Federal pickets and advancing a third of the way across the field, the 27 th and 5 th came under heavy artillery fire from Federal cannon posted at the coaling on the Confederate right flank. Winder sent the 2 nd and 4 th Virginia through the thick woods on the Confederate right to make a flank attack that ultimately failed to silence the cannons. Although guns of the Rockbridge Artillery attempted to provide supporting fire, the 27 th and 5 th were largely helpless, their lines raked with shot and grape from the guns at the coaling. Despite being bolstered by Colonel Harry Hays’ 7 th Louisiana, which advanced between the 5 th and 27 th , Winder’s position was rapidly becoming untenable under the bombardment and crossfire from a Federal regiment on the left. When Shield’s forces began to advance into the field to engage Winder’s three stalled regiments, Winder feared his thinning line would collapse. Gambling that an advance would be safer than remaining in the field under artillery fire, Winder ordered his forces to charge. The two lines of Virginians and Louisianans swept forward with a cheer, firing as they advanced and rapidly becoming disorganized. Colonel Grigsby’s horse was hit twice, throwing him to the ground but having no effect on the unending stream of oaths he directed at the enemy. 2 He advanced on foot with his regiment, later describing the effects of “a heavy fire of grape, by which my ranks were considerably thinned.” 3 Upon reaching a fence line in the middle of the field, the 5 th Virginia and 7 th Louisiana sought cover and began firing on the enemy. The 27 th , however, continued the advance a short way alone. Finding themselves unsupported and facing several regiments, they withdrew to the fence line, where they “remained under a perfect shower of balls for near an hour” according to Grigsby’s report. 4 Winder later wrote that “the men stood it boldly for some time and fought gallantly, many until all their cartridges were gone” but eventually “the infantry line began to waver 1 Official Records of the War of the Rebellion (OR). 2 Robertson, James The Stonewall Brigade, page 111. 2 Robertson, James The Stonewall Brigade, page 111. 3 OR. 4 OR.
Transcript of 27th Virginia at the Battle of Port...
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.
