Summary:
Confederate Colonel and Artillery Chief J. B. Walton reports on damaged guns sent
to Staunton following the June and July, 1863, Gettysburg campaign.
HDQRS. ARTILLERY CORPS, FIRST ARMY CORPS,
Lieut. Col. G. M. SORREL:
Culpeper Court-House,
July 30, 1863.
COL.:
In answer to your dispatch of yesterday afternoon I have the honor to report: First. That the injured Napoleon of the Washington Artillery was sent to the rear on the 4th of July, by order of Maj. Eshleman, in the reserve ordnance train of the army, under charge of Capt. James M. Garnett, and it is presumed it is now in Richmond. Capt. Garnett's train arrived at Gordonsville some days ago from Staunton, where it was intended to turn over the guns brought there by it. Second. The 12-pounder howitzer of Dearing's battalion was sent to the rear on the 4th of July, by order of Col. Alexander, in Capt. Garnett's train, proceeding to Staunton. Third. A 12-pounder howitzer of Alexander's battalion was sent to the rear on the 4th of July, by order of Col. Alexander, in Capt. Garnett's train, proceeding to Stanton. Fourth. The 12-pounder howitzer of the Washington Artillery was also sent to the rear on the 4th of July, by order of Maj. Eshleman, in the reserve ordnance train of the army (with the Napoleon of that battalion), proceeding to Staunton. Fifth. The 12-pounder howitzer of Henry's battalion was being transported to the rear when a wheel broke down and it was abandoned on the road from Gettysburg near Fairfield. It was subsequently found by Col. Baldwin, chief ordnance officer Army of Northern Virginia, and by him bought off in a wagon and supposed to have been sent to Staunton. Sixth. The 3-inch rifle (Rome, Ga., manufacture) of Cabell's battalion was turned over to Lieut. Walke, ordnance officer artillery First Corps, at Bunker Hill on 17th of July, and by him sent to Stanton. Seventh. A 12-pounder howitzer of Alexander's battalion was injured in action and ordered by Col. Alexander to be abandoned on the field of Gettysburg. It was subsequently brought off the field by the ordnance train artillery First Corps and sent to Staunton. Eighth. The 3-inch rifle (Richmond make), Henry's battalion, was bursted on the 2d of July and left upon the field. It will be seen by the foregoing that the only loss of guns by the artillery of this corps was one 3-inch rifle (Richmond make), Henry's battalion, bursted in action and abandoned on the field on the 2d instant. All the other disabled guns were finally saved and sent to the rear via Staunton for Richmond.
In the hope that the report may prove satisfactory to the general commanding, I am, colonel, very respectfully, your obedient servant.
J. B. WALTON,
Col. and Chief of Artillery, First Army Corps, Cmdg.
Bibliographic Information : Letter Reproduced from The War of The Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series 1, Volume 51, Serial No. 108, Pages 746, Broadfoot Publishing Company, Wilmington, NC, 1997.
