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Report of Colonel Langhorne Wister, HDQRS. 150TH PENNSYLVANIA Vols., SIR: I have the honor to report that the One hundred and fiftieth Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, which I have the honor of commanding, in obedience to orders from headquarters Second Brigade, Third Division, First Army Corps, broke camp near Belle Plain Landing, Va., at 2 p. m. on April 28, and marched to the vicinity of Pollock’s Mill, Va., a distance of about 7 miles, halting by the way for a short time near White Oak Church. The regiment reached the woods, when it was ordered to halt about three-quarters of a mile from the Rappahannock at about 5.30 p. m. It remained during the night and the greater part of the ensuing day in said woods. At about 1 p. m. it was ordered to advance nearer to the river, and was halted in a hollow about 1 furlong distant from the river and a little above the point of crossing. In this hollow and immediately near it the regiment lay still from the afternoon of April 29 until the morning of May 2, at about 8.30 a. m. of which day, in obedience to orders, it moved farther up the river. During the stay of the regiment at Pollock’s Mill, the enemy on two occasions attempted to throw shells into its position. First, on April 30, at about 6 p. in., and secondly, on May 2, just as the regiment was moving out of the hollow aforesaid to take up its line of march up the river. On neither occasion did the regiment suffer any damage. When the regiment, as aforesaid, moved on May 2, it proceeded past Falmouth to the United States Ford, on the Rappahannock, a distance of about 18 miles. There the river was crossed on a Pontoon bridge. A great delay was caused just before crossing by the passing of artillery and ammunition trains, so that it was 8 p. m. and very dark when the regiment reached the high land on the other side. Here Orders were received to move on immediately to the battlefield. The regiment accordingly moved with great difficulty, the road being blocked with ambulances, ammunition wagons, &c., and very much cut up. The regiment reached the road in the rear of the first line of battle at about 11,30 p.m., and was moved toward the left, but was halted and again moved toward the right of the line. The position desired was reached at about 1.30 a. m. on the morning of May 3. The regiment was, from the road, moved forward in line into a thick and very extensive forest, where it bivouacked. An abatis having first been hastily constructed and a line of pickets thrown forward, immediately after daylight the work of intrenching was begun, and a formidable rifle-pit was constructed by noon of May 3.The regiment remained in its intrenchments during May 3, throwing out heavy pickets and scouting parties, who captured a considerable number of prisoners. On the afternoon of May 4, the regiment, with the brigade of which it forms a part, was ordered to make a reconnaissance in advance of the right of our position. The regiment was in the advance of the reconnaissance, which- proceeded about half a mile beyond the picket line of our forces. During this little expedition the scouting parties of the regiment captured 2 prisoners and made some important discoveries of the enemy’s movements. On May 5, the regiment lay quiet in its intrenchments until 7 p.m., when it received orders to march at once toward the river. The regiment was moved out into the road and lay there until 9 p.m., when it was ordered to return to its position. At 2 a.m. on the morning of May 6, the regiment was again ordered to move, and marched to the bridge, recrossed the Rappahannock, which it reached, after a march of. about 5 miles over a very difficult road, at about daylight. The crossing was accomplished without trouble. The march was continued until about 12.30 p.m., when the regiment was halted about 2 miles above Falmouth, having marched about 13 miles. During the day it had been raining heavily at times. At about 4 p.m. the column was again put in motion. At about 5 p. m. a terrible storm of hail and rain came on, which made the roads almost impassable, and nearly overwhelmed men and horses by its violence. Darkness came on while this command was still about 2 miles from White Oak Church. That point was, however, at last reached, after a march of about 21 miles. The regiment bivouacked, as did the rest of the command, in the vacated camps of the Sixth Corps, lying near. Early in the morning of the 7th, the regiment was again moved forward, and reached its former camp near Belle Plain, Va., at about 10 a.m., a distance of 4 miles. It was allowed to remain here until about 7 a. m. on the morning of the 8th, when it was again moved to Po1lock’~ Mill, reaching the woods back of that place at about 11 a. m. on said morning, a distance of about 7 miles and went into camp. During all the marches hereinbefore described, some of which were extremely arduous, there was little or no straggling from the regiment, and very few men were compelled to fall out by reason of illness. Two men of the regiment have been wounded, 1 (detached with Battery B, of this command, the other, having fallen out of the regiment during the march from the United States Ford to Chancellorsville, was placed in one of the regiments actively engaged in the battle of May 3, and received a slight wound. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, LANGHORNE WISTER, Colonel One hundred and Fiftieth Regiment Pa. Vols. Lieut. JOHN E. PARSONS, Acting Assistant Adjutant- General.  |