Summary:
Confederate Colonel Kenneth Murchison reports to the Assistant Adjutant for his
brigade on the role his men played in the Gettysburg campaign. Murchison reports
sending prisoners from Winchester to Richmond via Staunton during late June
skirmishing around the Union controlled town of Winchester.
Capt. J. M. Adams,
Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Hoke's
Brigade.
Near Rapidan Station,
August 5, 1863.
Sir:
Agreeably to instructions, I have the honor to report briefly the operations of this regiment during the late campaign.
Leaving Fredericksburg on Monday, June 4, after a succession of marches we reached the vicinity of Winchester on 13th instant, where the regiment was thrown in line of battle with the brigade. During the two days' engagement around that town, which consisted mostly of skirmishing, the regiment took no active part.
The enemy having evacuated on the night of June 14, and losing many prisoners, the regiment was detailed on the 18th to guard 2,000 prisoners to Richmond, via Staunton. With as little delay as practicable, the regiment returned to Winchester on July 3, when, in conjunction with a Virginia regiment, it was ordered to guard an ordnance train to the army, then in Pennsylvania.
Reaching Williamsport, Md., on the 5th, I was ordered by Gen. Imboden to take position, and repel any attack that might be made on the wagon train of the army, which had arrived there, but could not cross, owing to the high stage of the river.
On Monday July 6, the enemy advanced on Williamsport, by the Hagerstown and Boonsborough roads, with cavalry and artillery. Our infantry force being small, four companies of my regiment were sent to support two batteries of artillery at different points. With the remainder I deployed, so as to check any advance of the enemy on the Boonsborough road. Several detachments of soldiers returning to their commands were placed under my command, and acted with the regiment. After a brisk engagement of two hours, night coming on, the enemy withdrew.
My loss in this engagement was 17 men wounded, of whom 2 have since died; besides, a number of those attached to my command were killed and wounded.
On Tuesday July 7, I was ordered by Gen. Lee to cross to the south bank of the Potomac, to guard a wagon train and hold the heights. Remaining there until the 11th, I was relieved, and joined the brigade same day near Hagerstown.
With the army, the regiment again recrossed the Potomac on the morning of July 14. Marching almost continually, the regiment reached this point on the 3d instant, where it remains to this date.
It is not deemed necessary to give a detailed account of marches, as it is familiar to the brigade commander, in whose report it is supposed to appear.
Justice to the officers and men under my command requires that I should say that they have withstood the long marches and hardships incident thereto with a firmness worthy of the cause in which they are engaged.
I am, very respectfully,
K. M. MURCHISON,
Col., Comdg.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 27, Serial No. 44, Pages 487-488, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
