Summary:
Brig. Gen. William H. Morris commanded the First Brigade of the Army of the
Potomac which included the 87th Pa. Inf. Morris reports on engaging the enemy
and being attacked by artillery.
Capt. ADAM E. KING, Asst. Adjt. Gen., Third Division, Sixth Corps.
May 10, 1864
CAPT
I have the honor to report that on the 3d of May, 1864, I received orders from division headquarters to march on the following morning at 4 o'clock. We left camp at 4.30 a.m. on the 4th of May, crossed the Rapidan at 3.45 p.m., and bivouacked near the river.
May 5, marched at 7 a.m. Capt. King brought me orders to pass Gen. Seymour's command and go into position near the house occupied on the preceding evening by Gen. Wright. One section First Massachusetts Artillery accompanied me. Formed line at 7.30 a.m., placing Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers in reserve, and threw out skirmishers; soon after placed some of my command in position on one of the side roads and on left of Gen. Seymour. At 12.45 received orders through Capt. Allstrom to march my command to the plank road. Capt. Richards came as my command was moving, and told me to wait until Gen. Willcox came. At about 1.15 p.m. Gen. Willcox arrived. I showed him the dispositions I had made, and then withdrew to the plank road. I massed my troops in front of the Wilderness Tavern, and about a mile from it.
May 6, at 1 a.m. Lieut. Waker brought me orders to attack the enemy; at 4.30 a.m. I went to see Gen. Ricketts, who told me my position would be on Upton's left. I immediately went to see Col. Upton, accompanied by Lieut. Waker, and conferred with him. Col. Upton informed me that his line would swing around his left flank as a pivot when the troops on his right advanced. He suggested that I should be a little in the rear of his left, so as to be on his left after he had swung around. He had received notice that the attack was postponed until 5 o'clock. I again saw Gen. Ricketts, and related to him my interview with Upton. At 4.30 a.m. I crossed my troops from the left to the right of the road, and placed them in position. The point being one of serious importance to hold, and owing to a swamp having but little room, the troops were necessarily extremely crowded. My brigade was in three lines, with two lines of Bartlett's command in my front. About 10 a.m. the enemy commenced shelling us with an exact range upon my brigade, and continued to do so at intervals throughout the day. The loss from this cause was 3 killed and 19 wounded in my brigade. At about 3 p.m. I was informed that Warren was authorized to call upon Upton's and Morris' brigades if the enemy attempted to force his way between Warren and Burnside. Toward evening Capt. Halsted, of Gen. Sedgwick's staff, brought around orders for three regiments of my brigade to re-enforce troops on his right, as they had been driven in by the enemy. I moved out at a double-quick the Tenth Vermont, Fourteenth New Jersey, and One hundred and sixth New York. Finding that our troops were retreating in such numbers that it was impossible to stop them, I changed front so as to face to the right, in order to injure the enemy as much as possible with my fire as he advanced. I sent a staff officer to search for Gen. Sedgwick to explain my position and ask for further instructions. It resulted in his coming in person, as also many of his staff, to my line. While placing my three regiments as I have just explained, I was aided by Capt. Judson, who displayed on that occasion great gallantry and judgment. The shells of the enemy were severe upon us, and, as I have not since that time heard of him, I presume he was either captured or killed. Later in the evening I was instructed to move my three regiments to the breast-works in the rear, and to recall the remainder of my command some hour later. Gen.'s Sedgwick and Wright mentioned to me that they were going to establish a new line, and I accompanied them in order that I might know where to place my troops. As soon as I knew where to place my brigade, I posted three of my regiments. The remaining regiments which sent Capt. Lockwood, my aide-de-camp, to bring in, I posted in the breast-works.
May 7, at dawn Gen. Griffin and I, following the instructions of Gen. Ricketts, examined carefully the lines and placed one of my two regiments, which had bivouacked in the breast-works, in its proper place, and threw out the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, Col. Schall, as picket. One hundred men in addition, from the One hundred and fifty-first New York Volunteers, were sent out as pickets. Breast-works were thrown up. During the day some changes in the relative position of my troops were made, owing to other troops reporting to the division commander. At 9.30 p.m. we marched along the pike and plank road to Piney Branch Church, through Chancellorsville. We were on the march fifteen consecutive hours. The brigade was massed on the left of the road. Col. Schall reported with his withdrawn pickets at about 1 p.m., 2 men only having straggled. At about 2.10 p.m. May 7 marched to report to Warren; reached him at 3.10. About 15,000 men, I should suppose from what I could see, were drawn up in a column of attack, composed of several lines. My brigade was placed in one of these lines. I received instructions to regulate my movements by those of Gen. Wright. Lieut.-Col. McMahon, assistant adjutant-general, brought me a peremptory order from Gen. Meade to move the whole of Rickett's division to the left, and said there was not time to communicate with Gen. Ricketts first, but would inform him of what had been done. Col. McMahon presently ordered me to halt and wait for further orders. Soon after Maj. Biddle, of Gen. Meade's staff, ordered me to move still farther to the left, and place my left flank about 50 paces beyond the main road, in the rear of Gen. Meade. I inquired of Gen. Meade if the line was where he wished it, and he seemed satisfied. Maj. Roebling, of Gen. Warren's staff, made me swing around the right of the left regiment in order to face more directly the enemy. Gen. Warren subsequently made me swing forward my left to the forks of the road. All this I communicated to Gen. Ricketts. About midnight I took up a position in advance and threw out the One hundred and sixth New York as pickets.
May 9, at dawn laid at breast-works. The exterior line was withdrawn and placed behind the one in the breast-works. About 10 a.m. was ordered to transfer the Fourteenth New Jersey from the left of the Eighty-seventh [Pennsylvania] to its right. While placing it in position I was wounded by a rifle-ball and rendered unfit for service in the field.
During the incessant labor of the five days' marching and fighting, I had every reason to be proud of the regiments composing my brigade, the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, the Fourteenth New Jersey, the One hundred and sixth New York, the Tenth Vermont, and the One hundred and fifty-first New York, and of the coolness, judgment, and gallantry of their commanding officers, Col. Schall, Lieut.-Col. Hall, Lieut.-Col. Townsend, Lieut.-Col. Fay, and Lieut.-Col. Henry. The field and line officers also distinguished themselves. The small amount of straggling from the command showed good discipline.
A list of casualties is appended.
Capt. Charles H. Leonard, my chief of staff, was untiring in his duties, and was conspicuous for prompt action, personal exposure, and courage.
Capt. Henry C. Lockwood, my aide-de-camp, rendered valuable service, and was many times exposed to severe fire. Capt. Kimball, acting aide-de-camp, was useful and indefatigable. Lieut. Oakes, acting aide-de-camp, accompanied me constantly, and performed creditably the missions intrusted to his charge. My thanks are due to my surgeons for their faithful attendance to the sick and wounded.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WM. H. MORRIS, Brig.-Gen.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I., Volume 36. Part I, Reports, Serial No. 67, Pages 723, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
