Columbia Democrat and Bloomsburg general advertiser. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1850-1866, 1862-05-31
Army Correspondence.
HEAD QUARTERS, 18th MASS. VoLs..)
Camp at Warrcnton Junction, Yap Z
April 10, 1862.

April 10, 1862.
II Brig. Gen. j. J. AbertromJis, Com.
mauting, 2d Brigade.
SIR i'm compliance with Special DR.
der No. 81, from Brigade Head Quarters,
have made a reconnaissance to the North
Fork of the Rappahannock River, and
have the honor to submit the following as
my report.
My command consisted Of 7 companies
18th Mass, Maj. Burbank, commanding
companies 9th N. Y, Lieut.. Col. After.
bury, commanding; s companies 18th
Ind, Lieut.. Col. Humphrey, commanding;
A companies Il. l. Cavalry, Capt. Gould,
commanding sections Matthew's Bat
terry, Licuts. Godbold & Brockway, COM
manding; section Thompson's Battery,
Lieut.. Berry, commanding; | section
Strumfels' Batterys Lieut., Monibal, CON-
mandiug, making a total of about 1900
Infantry, l6O Cavalry, 3 sections of Ar
tillory with new ordinance guns, and l
section of 10 FOUNDER Parrots.
l had issued orders for the command to
form ia the rear of the camp of the 18th
Mass, at 10 O'Clock, p. m, but by some
misunderstanding in the change of detail
for the Cavalry, they were not reported
present till 124 o'clock, p. m. Another
half hour was occupied in detailing the
advance and rear guard and fanking and
getting the command under way, SO that it
was | O clock before the rear left.
Not having map of the country or
guide, I requested Lieut.. Tucker Ct the
Maine Cavalry, to accompany me, he
having travelled the road once before. l
put him at the head of the advance guard,
and to his services we arc indebted for our
early arrival at our destination.
The roads are terrible for Artillery, the
caissons frequently cutting in hub deep, so
that our march was necessarily impedcd
much more than we could have Wished
We arrived at a cross.road near our scene
of action, about clock a. M, and Lieut..
Tucker thinking they led to ford on our
flanks, l despatched a company of Cavalry
down each to reconn oitre, and to warn
me of any attempt to intercept our rear.
The road on the left Lieut.. Wyman re
ports as leading to the ford below the
bridge, as laid down on the map, about
one eighth Of mile below. Lieut.. Wy
man received information from an officer
and two men across the river, as to the
direction of the ford in the river, who also
told him it was fordable OH horseback. -
When they found the Lieutenant was moi
inclined to cross, they called him to 'halt !!
and fired upon him but without effect
The Lieutenant on the right having gone
down some two miles, and not seeing the
river ahead, returned nearer the mail
} column to guard the right flank.
l then went forward to select position
for our guns. l saw at once that TIN
enemy were strongly fortified. The banl
i on the opposite shore overlooks that oil
this side some twenty feet at least. Earth
works could be seen in front, on both on
y fanks, and on all the prominent hills
while troops were employed building Others
t These works were laid out with consum
: mate skill, each one in rear commando,
d and strongly defended by its faces o
v fanks. Those in front were SO arrange,
S that an enflading fire could be brought o
" an enemy opposite in every available pos
: ition he could occupy. The master han'
i of Gen. G. w. Smith was clearly seen i
r their construction. l soon discovered tia
there was little choice of position, ther
being only the hills that we're at all tena
r BILE, should the enemy have many guns
1t These l occupied as follows, viz The hi
e ON the left by one section under Lieu
n Gobbold, and one section of Parrots unde
II Lieut.. Berry, their support being the l2t
&c Mass.
y The hill on the right, distant abor
N three-fourths of a mile directly N. N. L
l. was occupied by Lieut.. Brockway, h
Il support being the 18th Ind. The sectio
# under Lieut.. Monibal and the 9th N.
&c were kept as a reserve. The Cavalr
o. were placed on the fanks and the roaG
N in the rear.
10 Having thus disposed of the force, I'll
>. pieces were run by hand to the crests
O. the hills, and as the last echo of the reb
\ band at Guard Mounting died away, v
gave them as a chorus the right piece
70 Lieut.. Godbold. This was splendid shot
~ the she'll struck nearly the centre of IL
u large fort opposite, and bursting scattort
7 the men on all sides, doubtless killing som