December 13, 1862
53rd PVI Casualties
Killed Wounded Captured Total
Enlisted Officers Enlisted Officers Enlisted Officers
20 1 126 7 1 -- 155
DECEMBER 11-15, 1862 -- Battle of Fredericksburg, Va. No. 76. -- Reports of Col. John R. Brooke, Fifty-third Pennsylvania Infantry
FALMOUTH, VA., December 19, 1862
SIR: I have the honor to report the following as the substance of the occurrences through which my regimant passed during the recent battle of Fredericksburg:
On the morning of the 11th of December, we moved out of Falmouth before daylight, and joing the brigade, were marched to a position near Phillips House, where we remained all night. Early next morning we marched down to and over the bridge into Fredericksburg. Shortly after arriving at our assigned position in town, the regiment was advanced as skirmishers, and, meeting the skirmishers of the enemy on the outskirts of town, drove them back, losing 1 man during the action. About 2 o'clock, the regimentbeing relieved, was withdrawn, and joined the brigade on the river bank, where it remained all night.
The following morning, December 13, we were drawn up in line in Main Street. At 12:30 p.m. I received the order of Colonel Zook to March up the railroad, and upon reaching the outskirts of town to bear to the right and form in rear of General French's last line, which being done in good order, the line advanced to the front, passed the junction of the roads, and moved steadily forward within 60 yards of the enemy's rifle-pits, the whole advance being made under a deadly shower of canister and musket balls. Finding it impossible to advance farther, I threw the right wing into and behind the houses, beyond the forks of the road; then gradually withdrawing the left, I thre the whole force remaining behind and into the houses referred to, keeping up an incessant fire upon the enemy's lines, until the cartridges were all exhausted. During the action the right was severely assailed, and sending to the colonel commanding notice of the fact, I soon saw the gallant Colonel Miles, of General Caldwell's brigade, coming to my support. I directed him to place his regiment on the right of the road, which he immediately did, but not for a moment too soon, as the enemy evidently trying to turn our right. I sent several times for relief to the colonel commanding, one officer being shot down while carrying the message. As none came, I did not retire, but, when all the ammunition of living, dead, and wounded was exhausted, fixed bayonets, and stood fast, determined to hold the point to the last. After a time, I went in person to Colonel Owen, commanding a brigade of General Howard's division, and asked for men, to return the fire of the enemy, which was harassing us greatly. The men were sent and did good service.
I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of my officers and men. Captains Coulter and Eicholtz and Lieutenants (commanding companies) Shiellds, Potts, and Smith were badly wounded, while gallantly leading on their men. Lieutenant Cross fell mortally wounded, while bravely cheering on the men. The wounded invariably threw their catridge boxes to their comrades before leaving the field, and would then retire alone.
Of those who escaped unhurt I cannot speak too well. It is sufficient that they did their duty. I would respectively request honorable mention of Lieut. W.D.W. Miller, aide-de-camp, of General Hancock's staff, whose gallantry is beyond all praise. I would also add that the Twenty-seventh Connecticut Volunteers deserve all praise for the gallant manner in which they conducted themselves. The colonel commanding knows well how hard the men fought, it being directly under his own eye. Lists of killed and wounded have already been sent forward. I will only say that my loss was 155. I also found men of Kimball's brigade in the front.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
JOHN R. BROOKE
Colonel, Fifty-third Pennsylvania
Lieut. CHARLES P. HATCH
Acting Assistant Adjutant-General
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FALMOUTH, VA., December 19, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to report that, in obedience to orders from headquarters right grand division, I proceeded, on the morning of December 7, 1862 with a large detail of the different regiments of the command, to the battle-field in front of Fredericksburg, VA., where I found and buried 913 of our soldiers, and brought to this side of the river the bodies of 5 officers, making a total of 918. Nearly all the dead were stripped entirely naked by the enemy.
I would also report that those bodies nearest the enemy's works were recognized as belonging to Kimball's brigade, of French's division, and to the different regiments of Hancock's division. The burying occupied two days.
Respectfully, your obediant servant,
JOHN R. BROOKE
Colonel Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers
Lieut. Col. J.H. TAYLOR
Chief of Staff and Assistant Adjutant-General.
Report of Col. Samuel K. Zook, Fifty-seventh New York Infantry,
Commanding, Third Brigade.
DECEMBER 11-15, 1862. -- Battle of Frederiksburg, Va.
O.R. -- SERIES I -- VOLUME XXI [S#31]
HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE
Falmouth, Va., December 20, 1862.
Capt. JOHN HANCOCK,
Assistant Adjutant-General
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of my brigade from the 11th to the 16th instant, inclusive:
Under orders received from General Couch, at General Sumner's headquarters, on the night of December 10, I detailed the Fifty-seventh and Sixty-sixth New York Volunteers to report to major Spaulding, of the engineers, at the Lacy house, to assist in building bridhes, and to protect the work.
The enemy opened fire upon them about 6 a.m. of the 11th. The Fifty-seventh New York was relieved about 8 a.m. by the Seventh Michigan. Its loss was Lieut. Col. A.B. Chapman, Captains Mott and Bell, and Lieutenants Brewster and White, wounded, besides 2 men killed and 23 wounded. The Sixty-sixth New York was relieved about 3 p.m. by the was Lieut. Col. James H. Bull and Capt. John P. Dodge, killed, and Lieutenant Switzer seriously wounded; also several men wounded.
At 7 a.m. of the 11th, the Fifty-third Pennsylvania, Second Delaware, and Fifty-second New York having been formed, with the Twenty-seventh Connecticut, near the camp of the latter, on the Stafford CourthouseRoad, took up the line of march about 8 a.m., in rear of the Irish Brigade for a point near the Phillips house, where they bivouacked, having been joined by the Fifty-seventh and Sixty-sixth New York during the afternoon.
About 8 a.m. on the 12th, the brigade resumed its march at the head of the division, and, having crossed the Rappahannock at the Lacy House Bridge, took position near the lower bridge, in Frederiksburg.
The Fifty-third Pennsylvania was immediately deployed as skirmishers in rear of the town, and drove the rebels pickets some distance, with the loss of 1 man mortally wounded. The brigade bivouacked on the ground occupied by it in the morning, nothing else having been done worthy of note. The Fifty-third regiment, having been releived during the afternoon, bivouacked with the others.
December 13, about 9 a.m., the Fifty-second New York and Second Delaware were sent on picket, but were soon after relieved, and formed on the left of the brigade, which had taken a position on Caroline Street, right resting on the railroad.
At 12 m., seeing General French's last regiment filing out past the railroad depot, I directed the Fifty-third Pennsylvania and Twenty-seventh Connecticut to pass out by the same route. The Sixty-sixth and Fifty-seventh New York, conducted by Lieut. Charles H.H. Broome, aide-de-camp, moved out through the next streetto the eastward, and Second Delaware and Fifty-second New York, conducted by Lieut. J.M. Faville, aide-de-camp, marched by the street next that taken by Lieutenant Broome. All these commands filed to the right at the outskirts of the town, and formed line of battle, with the Fifty-third Pennsylvania resting on HanoverStreet, and the Fifty-second New York on the railroad. The brigade then advanced rapidly over the crest of the hill nearest the enemy's line, under a very heavy fire from the heights, and musketryfrom a stone wall, sunken road, and numerous rifle-pits, charging over the division of its former commander (General French), and taking a position which was not passed by any other line during the day, though some of Kinball's men reached it.
The line was relieved about 4 p.m. (except the Fifty-third Pennsylvania, which held on until 7 p.m.) by a portion of General Syke's dicision, and marched back to its former bivouac, near the river, where it rested that night and the two following days.
On the night of the 15th, the brigade, with the addition of the Sixty-first and Sixty-fourth New York, from General Caldwell's, revieved the pickets in the rear of the town about 9 p.m., and was in turn relieved by a brigade of General Sykes' command about 3 a.m., when it recrossed the river to the camp it occupied before the attack on Fredericksburg. The Sixty-first and Sixty-fourth New York also returned to their former camp.
The regiments of the brigade fought in line, and were commanded as follows: The Fifty-third Pennsylvania, Col. John R. Brooke; Twenty-seventh Connecticut, Col. Richard S. Bostwick; Sixty-sixth New York, Capt. Julius Wehle, killed; Fifty-seventh New York, Maj. N.G. Throop, wounded; Second Delaware, Col. William P. Bally, slightly wounded, and Fifty-second NewYork, Colo. Paul Frank.
I am gratified to state that the conduct of both officers and men of the brigade was all that could be desired. The twenty-seventh Connecticut, having never before been under fire, and being wretchedly armed, deserve much credit. Colonels Brooke and Frank and Captain Wehle maitained a reputation for splendid courage and distinguished conduct won by them at Fair Oaks, and so well sustained in subsequent battles.
Chaplain J.W. Leek, of the Twenty-seventh Connecticut, deserves special mention. he went fearlessly into the hottest fire, cheering the regimenton in the most gallant manner.
To my staff I am under great obligations for valuable assitstance; especially to Lieutenants Faville and Broome, for the handsome manner in which they aided in taking the brigade into action.
The loss of the brigade in the action of the 13th was 7 commissioned officers killed and 31 wounded; 52 enlisted men killed, 395 wounded, and 42 missing, Total, 527.
I have the honor to be, captain, your very obedient servant,
S.K. ZOOK,
Colonel, Commanding Brigade.
