Summary:
Brig. Gen. Jubal A. Early commanded the division in the Army of Northern Virginia
which included the Staunton Artillery. Early reports that although he did not
witness the batteries in action, he heard that they did good service.
Capt. A. S. PENDLETON, Asst. Adjt. Gen. Second Corps, Army of Northern Virginia.
December 27, 1862
CAPT:
I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this division in the action of the 13th instant, near Fredericksburg:
Being posted at first in the second line, I did not have any immediate use for the batteries of the division, and therefore, after placing them under the charge of Capt. Latimer, as stated, I requested Col. Crutchfield, chief of artillery for the corps, to make such use of them as the emergencies of the day might require. In a short time he detached two batteries to a position on the left of Gen. [A. P.] Hill's line; these were Capt. Latimer's own battery and Capt. [William D.] Brown's battery, both being under charge of Capt. Latimer, who accompanied them. These batteries did not operate in my view, but I am informed that they did excellent service, Capt. Latimer having repulsed the enemy with canister after a regiment of infantry sent to support him had retired. Capt. D'Aquin's and Capt. Garber's batteries were also detached to the right of the railroad, and placed under charge of Gen. Stuart's chief of artillery, Maj. Pelham, and likewise did excellent service, as I am informed. Late in the evening, Capt. [J. McD.] Carrington, with his battery, relieved the two which had been sent to the left under Capt. Latimer, and next morning did good service.
The reports of brigade commanders and also of Capt. Latimer, acting chief of artillery, are herewith submitted. A list of killed, wounded, and missing has been heretofore forwarded, from which it will be seen that the total killed was 102; wounded, 726; missing, 105. Most of the wounded are but slightly injured, and about 50 of the missing, being entirely from Lawton's brigade, fell into the hands of the enemy, the greater part being, in all probability, wounded.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
J. A. EARLY,
Brig.-Gen., Cmdg. Division.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I. Vol. 21. Serial No. 31, Page 665, Broadfoot Publishing Company, , .
