Summary:
Col. John S. Hoffman commanded the brigade of the Army of Northern Virginia which
included the 52nd Va. Inf. Hoffman reports little pitched fighting during the
battle.
Maj. John W. Daniel, Assistant Adjutant-Gen.
August 4, 1863
Maj.
This brigade was commanded by Gen. [William] Smith from the time it left the vicinity of Fredericksburg till July 10 last, when, having tendered his resignation and obtained leave of absence, the command devolved upon me. The brigade accompanied the main body of the division during the campaign, excepting that portions were temporarily detached, as will be mentioned.
Having left the Thirteenth and Fifty-eighth Virginia Regt.'s near Winchester, only the three others constituting the brigade, on July 1 it formed on the northward of the town of Gettysburg, and twice moved forward toward the town. After the enemy had been driven beyond the town, the brigade moved to the left, crossing the [Gettysburg] Railroad and York turnpike. The Forty-ninth Virginia Regt. was advanced as skirmishers. On several occasions during the day the brigade was exposed to fire from the enemy's batteries.
On the 2d, it being reported that the enemy's cavalry was approaching from the northward, the brigade, with that of Gen. Gordon, moved on the York turnpike, and the Forty-ninth Virginia Regt. was sent forward as skirmishers, and the Thirty-first Virginia Regt. was sent across to the Hunterstown road, to report to Maj.-Gen. Stuart, who ordered that it should remain in support of a part of his cavalry during the night.
On the morning of the 3d, the Forty-ninth and Fifty-second Virginia Regt.'s moved to the left and forward eastwardly, crossing the creek, and formed between the creek and the enemy's works near the left of Gen. Johnson's division, and thence moved to the left, and formed nearly at right angles to the extreme left of that division, when the Forty-ninth, supported by the Fifty-second Virginia Regt., advanced upon a large body of the enemy near the left flank of that division, and dislodged it from its position. The Thirty-first Virginia Regt. having been relieved by Gen. Stuart and joining the others about this time, the Forty-ninth Virginia Regt. was left, while the other two regiments recrossed the creek and moved down southeastwardly, and formed, and thence moved back up the creek and to the rear, and rested, when they were joined by the Forty-ninth Virginia Regt.
Early in the afternoon, the brigade moved, and again crossed the creek and formed under the enemy's works to the right of its former position, in rear of the Stonewall Brigade, of Gen. Johnson's division, where it remained till after dark. During most of the early part of the day the brigade was exposed to a heavy fire of artillery, and during a part to that of musketry also. The Forty-ninth Virginia Regt. suffered very severely, losing, indeed, more than two fifths of its members. During the latter part of the day, the brigade was much annoyed by the fire of the enemy's sharpshooters, protected by rocks.
In the night, the brigade moved to the rear and around to the right, and, on the morning of the 4th, formed westward of the town, on a ridge to the left of the Chambersburg turnpike, on the left of Gen. Gordon's and right of Gen. Hays' brigade, where we remained during the day.
During the three days of the battle, the loss of the brigade was 3 officers and 12 men killed, 5 officers and 105 men wounded, and 17 men missing.
On all occasions of exposure to danger during the campaign, as far as my observation has extended, while the conduct of the officers has been, without exception, highly creditable, the unfaltering steadiness of the men has surpassed anything that I had before witnessed.
Respectfully,
J. S. HOFFMAN, Col., Comdg. Brigade.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I. Vol. 27. Part II. Reports. Serial No. 44, Page 488, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
