colonel patrick kelly's

mine run report

 

HDQRS. SECOND BRIG., FIRST DIV., SECOND CORPS,
December 11, 1863.

 

MAJOR: In compliance with orders, I have the honor to report that the Second Brigade received orders to march with the division on the evening of the 26th of November, and at daylight of the following morning broke camp and took the road in the direction of Germanna Ford, reaching said place at 10 a.m., and halting for two hours until the pontoon bridge was completed, when we crossed the Rapidan on the bridge and marched about 1 mile and halted at deserted earth-works. Skirmishers were then thrown out to skirmish the woods in front of the brigade. No enemy being found, the skirmishers were drawn in, and the brigade advanced on the road by the right flank, while flankers were thrown out sufficiently strong to protect the line of the brigade.

 

We advanced in this order 4 or 5 miles, and encamped for the night near Flat Run Church. Next morning formed line at daylight, and marched through the Wilderness in the direction of the Fredericksburg and Orange Court-House pike, and encamped on the right of the road. Next morning, the 28th, advanced by the right flank on the road a distance of about 1 miles, and encamped for the night on the right of the road. Next morning, 29th, moved with the rest of the division to the extreme left of the line on the plank road. Skirmished the woods on the right and left of the road, the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts Volunteers, under command of Col. R. Byrnes, having the right and three companies of the New York battalions the left. The skirmishers advanced in good order, and in a short time came up to the enemy, when a short skirmish ensued, which resulted in the enemy retreating in confusion, closely followed by the skirmishers of the brigade. The next day, 30th, the brigade was detailed as guard to the division ammunition train. The skirmishers were relieved and the brigade moved with train to the rear, and remained with it as guard during the retreat on the night of the 1st of December. On the 2d of December, we arrived in our former encampment, on Mountain Run.

 

In conclusion, I would state that the officers and enlisted men under my command conducted themselves to my entire satisfaction.

 

The casualties were comparatively small, 5 men of the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts Volunteers and 1 of the Eighty-eighth New York Volunteers being wounded slightly.

 

I am, major, yours, respectfully,

P. KELLY,

Colonel, Commanding Brigade.

Maj. JOHN HANCOCK,

Assistant Adjutant-General.

 

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