Numbers 13. Report of Brigadier General John C. Caldwell, U. S. Army, commanding First Division.
CAMP NEAR TURKEY RUN BRIDGE,
October 28, 1863.
COLONEL: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my command for the week ending the 14th instant:
At noon on the 10th, in obedience to orders received from headquarters Army of the Potomac, the corps was marched from this side of Culpeper and put in position near Stone House Mountain, to meet a reported advance of the enemy from the direction of Sperryville. The Second and Third Divisions were placed in line of battle on the right of the Sperryville road, the left resting on the road about 300 yards in rear of the right of the Third Corps. The First Division was placed in reserve. The enemy made no attack, and about midnight we received orders to march at 3 in the morning to Bealeton Station. We reached this point, a distance of 16 miles, about 3 p.m. of the 11th, and bivouacked there that night.
The next day we marched at 12 m., and recrossed the Rappahannock in support of the cavalry, who were briskly skirmishing in our front. We advanced in line of battle to a point near Brandy Station, where we bivouacked. At midnight the troops were put under arms and recrossed the Rappahannock, and marched by the way of Bealeton to Fayetteville, where we arrived at daylight on the morning of the 13th. My division was formed in line of battle, covering the Warrenton road, and also the road leading to Sulphur Springs. We remained here about three hours, and then followed the Third Corps to Cedar Run, near Auburn, which point we reached at dark. A picket was thrown out and we bivouacked for the night.
At daybreak on the 14th, my division forded Cedar Run, and took position on a hill near the run, around the base of which is the road to Greenwich. Captain Ricketts' battery of 3-inch ordnance guns was put in position, and I massed the whole of my division in the rear of the battery, and after putting out a picket gave instructions to have the men cook their breakfast. My instructions were to hold this point against any attack of the enemy from the direction of Warrenton, until the rest of the corps, with the artillery and wagons, had got by on the road to Catlett's Station.
The Third Division, which followed me, had just commenced crossing the run, and my men were busily engaged in making coffee, when the enemy suddenly opened a battery from a hill about 800 yards in our rear, upon my masses. I immediately sent a staff officer to each of my brigades with orders to conduct the troops rapidly around the hill under cover; at the same time I directed Captain Ricketts to change front and fire rapidly on the battery of the enemy. Notwithstanding the unexpectedness of the fire in the rear, and their unprepared state, the men showed but little confusion, and kept their ranks while moving around the hill, the conscription moving nearly as steadily as old soldiers.
After a few minutes' fire, Captain Ricketts succeeded in silencing the enemy's battery, and the advance of General Hays drove them away.
I again changed front, and faced toward Warrenton. There had been skirmishing since daylight to our left and front, and we saw skirmishers coming in across the field. I then ordered the Fifty-seventh New York Volunteers, Third Brigade, to report to Colonel Brooke, and directed him to cover my front. He deployed the Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, the Second Delaware Volunteers, and the Fifty-seventh New York Volunteers as skirmishers, and kept the One hundred and forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers and the Sixty-fourth New York Volunteers as support. The enemy now opened on our left and front upon the battery of Captain Arnold, which had replaced that of Captain Ricketts. Their fire was at first from one battery, which was afterward increased by the fire of two batteries farther to the left. The enemy's fire was very accurate, but owing to the excellent cover for both artillery and infantry, no harm was done to the former, and but 1 or 2 men of the latter were wounded. As the enemy were evidently advancing, by direction of General Warren I sent the Irish Brigade to the support of Colonel Carroll's brigade, which was in position on a crest across Cedar Run. On moving across the run in the morning, I had left my picket in position, under the able command of Colonel Beaver, of the One hundred and forty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers. They now covered the front of Colonel Carroll.
The cavalry division of General Gregg was drawn across the Run about 8 o'clock. My instructions from General Warren were to remain in position until my line was relieved by the cavalry, and Arnold's battery replaced by a section of horse artillery. The section was very slow in coming it having, through some mistake, taken the road to Catlett's Station. The other two divisions, with the artillery, had all now passed by, and I had sent the Irish Brigade, with Captain Ames' battery, to take position on a crest in the rear beside the road. The section of horse artillery had now arrived, and I withdrew the division, detailing Colonel Brooke, with a section of artillery, to act as rear guard. Colonel Brooke withdrew his brigade, the enemy pressing his skirmishers very closely. The cavalry, which was to have covered his rear, preceded his skirmishers, and when he had got a quarter of a mile from his first position he was vigorously attacked on the right and rear, the enemy succeeding in throwing a column of infantry across the road and cutting off the Fifty-seventh New York Volunteers, which was in the rear. Colonel Chapman made a detour to the left across the fields and through the woods, and succeeded in rejoining the column with loss of but few prisoners. Colonel Brooke withdrew in perfect order, fighting, and repelling the attack of two lines of battle, the first consisting of five regiments. The division took up two positions of defense before reaching the railroad, but although we saw the enemy's lines of battle approaching, we were not attacked.
After a short rest at the railroad near Catlett's Station, the corps moved along toward Bristoe Station, my division still having the rear. When near Kettle Run, about a mile from Bristoe, I heard heavy firing in front and soon afterward was met by Lieutenant Haskell, of General Warren's staff, who said that the divisions ahead were engaged, and it was necessary to move forward with the utmost haste. The artillery and ambulances were moving on the single road between the Third Division and my own, and when they drew out there was a long space between my division and the one in front. I moved my men forward for about three-quarters of a mile at double-quick. When I arrived on the field, the enemy were charging on our men, who were at the railroad. By direction of General Warren, I sent Colonel Miles' brigade to support the batteries of Lieutenant Brown and Captain Ricketts. I formed my division along the railroad on the left of the Third Division, in the following order: The Third Brigade on the right, the Fourth on the left, and the Second in the center. Where the right of my division was formed, there was an embankment varying from 2 to 10 feet in height, which furnished an admirable protection for my men.
When I arrived on the ground, the enemy was moving around the flank of the Third Division. I placed two guns of Captain Ames' battery in position and opened on the enemy's lines with canister, which broke them and they fell back. Colonel Carroll's brigade was placed on my left, and partly in rear of Colonel Brooke. My skirmishers were constantly engaged until dark, but the enemy did not attack my line. Late in the afternoon a very heavy column moved to my left and partly crossed the track, but for some unexplained reason did not attack with their infantry. About dark they opened a battery of artillery on my left, which enfiladed Captain Arnold's battery in the position in which it then was. I had anticipated this, however, and had a position selected for Captain Arnold, and he at once changed front and silenced the enemy's battery with slight loss on his part. A little after dark the firing ceased, and my division withdrew with the rest of the corps, and marched to Blackburn's Ford, which we crossed about 4 o'clock on the morning of the 15th.
The conduct of my men during the four days ending the 15th was all that could be expected of the best soldiers and most enduring men. The loads carried by the men were very heavy, and the marching severe, much of it occurring in the night. The conscripts generally behaved very well, and under the very trying circumstances of the morning at Auburn, their conduct is worthy of admiration.
Colonel Brooke, commanding the rear guard, conducted it in the most admirable manner. This officer's merit as a military man is of very high order, and he has distinguished himself in every battle in which the division has been engaged. He has been in command of a brigade for more than a year, and has been recommended for promotion by all his commanding officers, and by three commanders of the Army of the Potomac. I earnestly recommend that he be promoted.
Colonel Miles, though not engaged in an infantry fight, handled his brigade with skill in the support of batteries. This officer, like Colonel Brooke, has been repeatedly recommended for promotion, and I most earnestly renew the recommendation.
The other brigade commanders, though not so actively engaged as the two above mentioned, conducted themselves to my entire satisfaction.
The batteries of Captains Arnold, Ricketts, and Ames were assigned to my command, the first two at Auburn and Captains Arnold and Ames at Bristoe, and did most signal service. More accurate and effective fire I have never seen. Captain Ames' two guns at Bristoe were especially effective.
All the members of my staff behaved to my entire satisfaction. The services of Lieutenant Cross, in particular, were of the highest value.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JOHN C. CALDWELL,
Brigadier-General of Volunteers, Commanding Division.
Lieutenant Colonel FRANCIS A. WALKER,
Assistant Adjutant-General.