Mineral Point weekly tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1859-1868, 1862-05-28

Battle of williamsburg g-Col. Cobb
Official Report.
ApJUrAsr GE~EKAr's OFFICE,
MAplsoS, May 10, 1862,
Editors Of The Journal The enclosed
letter and -'Ofiicial Report of Colonel
Cobb commanding Fifth Regiment. Wis
eonsin Infantry, furnish details OF the en-
gagement AMI of the gallantry and bra
very of his regiment, at the battle of Will
iamsburr. Will you give it place in
vour columns as matter of public Inter
est.
AUG, GAYLORD, Adj. Gen
HEADQUARTERS OF THE 5TH RAG. WIS. NoI.., j
Camp No. II, in the field before williamsburg, Va,
May :, zs6-. }
General i have the honor TO hand
you herewith a copy of My report to the
General c. nmanding the Brigade, of the
operations of my Regiment in the battle
OF Wiliiamsburg; also 9 detailed states
ment Of the killed and wounded; also
statoIne t of the changes in my Regiment
for tha month of April, Ultimo. This
last paper was readv Tor mailing when we
received the order to march from our late
position before Yorktown.
You Will have seen an account Of the
engagement at this place on the 9th inst,
before this reaches YOU Our wounded
have been as we'll cared for as could we'll
be. and have al been taken aboard the
steamboat Commodore. on t ork River,
which Is in the employment OF the Santa
ry Committee
The 5th Regiment was Yesterday even
inc, thanked l,ytien Mcclellan iu person.
who said, Through you we have gained
the Gay"
We march tomorrow morning; and
beg YOU to assure his Excel.encv, the
Governor, that we viii woithily represent
Wisconsin in the Army of the Potomac.
| have the honor to be. General
Your obedient servant,
AMAsA COBB.
Col 5th R.a., Wv.
General Aug. Gaylord, Adjutant General
Wisconsin
HEApQUARTERs or TIE 9TH REG " VI
Camp No. II in the Field, May ., 1862.
General / have the honor to report
that yesterday, the 9th inst, at about 10
0 clock a. NJ. pursuant to your orders,
and following YOU | marched my Regi-
ment, the 9Th Wisconsin Volunteers from
Whitaker farm (wherc | laid on nv
arms the previous night. by the road t.
the right, striking the line OF the enemvs
works near Queen Greek Upon arriving
whe.e the road debouches on large on. n
field, | turned to the left and deployed nv
Regiment facing the right e rtifwork of
the enemy, on the oppos tie side of Queen
Creek. Throwing . hi. s..i.-i.rr, on m,
front and left, under the immediate com
mand of Major { III. Larrabee, ] crossed
the stream at double quick and occupied
the work which / found deserted by the
enemy. | then marched my Regiment cut
of the work and formed in line OF battle
facing the second work, which was distant
about eight hundred var 5. iiere | was
Joined BY other Regiments Of the Brigade
and a Battery of Artillery, which formed
on my left Receiving your order TO
advance, | threw out Companies A. +.
and Gas skirmishers on my right and
front-and marched upon the enemy 5
work. This. ike the other, was found
entirely deserted. From this work three
similar but lar9er works were in plain
view, at a distance of one aud two thous
and yards respectively to the front and
left These works were thieklv studded
- ith the enemy infantry and sharp shoot
ers, who opened a Calling fire on nay skir-
misLers, who, being thrown well forward,
game within their range.
Pursuant 10 Your orders, again advan-
ced about four hundred yards, and sent
forward Companies ID. and *. under the
immediate command Of Lieut. Col II W
Emery, to support my lie o. skirmishers.
The Battery having taken position near
some low farm houses and being engaged
in sheiIng the enemy works, held my
remaining five Companies to support It,
keeping nay men well under cover OF the
crest o. Il slight elevation, nav right resting
on thick wood, well covered by my line
Of skirmishers, and frequently lying
down to avoid the return shots from the
enemy artillery. maintained this posi-
ton until about half past 4 o clock p NJ,
when sharp ii.e OF mGsketry ON my line
OF skirmiShers, announced the approach
OF the enemy, who appeared In a long line
of infantry and cavalry. at a distance OF
about four hundred yards in mr frorf, and
generating the wood on nv right From
my position / could tnen see oniv the cav
AIRY. Holding my position until the Eat-
terry had passed to tue rear and reached
a place OF safety, and apprehendin. n
charge, formed my men IN square 10 re-
sIst cavalry; bat tue cavalry being effect
Ively checked by the FIRE OF nv skirmish-
efc- Iell ia rear oil tie infantry. l then
reduced my square, formed IN line of bat
tie and opened FIRE on the infantry, who
had already commenced sharp fire ON
my right, my let being To some extent
covered by the farm buildings some time
greatly prevented the effectiveness Of INV
fire.
After maintaining this position for some
time | received your order To .'iall back
fighting, which proceeded to execute to
the best OF H. ab::::ity In falling back to
the point indicated, was immediately
unmasked by the buildings and found my
self in front OF the enemvs centre. =
heavy regiment, afterwards ascertained to
be the 9th North Carolina, lich was
supported on either flank bv other troops.
ali OF whom advanced rapidly, concentra-
ting upon me rapid and heavy fire My
men fell back in good order every man
loading as he retreated, wheeling and re-
turning the fire of the enemy with a ra-
pIdity and coolness worthy of veterans
In this manner | fell back slowly TO the
line OF battle which had already formed,
and with your assistance orined my resi-
ment In the centre, space having been
left for that purpose.-l lou then ordered