Report of Brig. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, U. S. Army, commanding First Division, 2d Corps
Brig. Gen. T. F. Meagher, commanding Second Brigade, led his brigade to the field under a heavy fire; but, owing to a serious lameness, making it difficult for him to either ride or walk, he was unable to bear that prominently active part which is usual with him. Some time after the Irish Brigade had gone into action, its regiments having suffered very severely, and after having been replaced by General Caldwell's brigade, General Meagher was instructed to collect the remnants of his regiments and march them to the point of formation, in order that their cartridge-boxes might be refilled. General Meagher, toward evening, took the remnant of his brigade, with his wounded, across the river, out of range of the enemy's fire.
On learning this fact, I directed him to return with all the men who were not disabled in his brigade. The general returned at once, and explained to me that he had understood that the transfer of the remnant of his brigade across the river was sanctioned by me.
The next morning, before the hour at which we were ordered to support the Ninth Corps in the meditated attack of that day upon the enemy's works, the brigade returned, numbering 240 men, all that could be collected up to that time.
The circumstance of the retiring of this brigade across the river, after it had been withdrawn from the battle, which I very much regretted at the time, although in no wise affecting the conduct of the brigade in action (it behaved with great spirit), is candidly and fully explained by General Meagher in his accompanying report. The strength of this brigade when the action commenced was 92 officers and 1,323 enlisted men. Its loss was 53 commissioned officers and 488 men.
Brig. Gen. J. C. Caldwell, commanding First Brigade, conducted his brigade into action, and was wounded while gallantly performing his duty on the advance line. He had two staff officers wounded. When this brigade went into action, it had 116 commissioned officers and 1,871 enlisted men. Its loss was 62 commissioned officers and 932 enlisted men killed and wounded.
Col. S. K. Zook, commanding Third Brigade, led his brigade with spirit, remaining on the field until the close of the fight. He had a horse shot under him during the contest. At the commencement of the engagement this brigade numbered 92 commissioned officers and 1,440 enlisted men. Its loss was 38 commissioned officers and 491 enlisted men killed and wounded.
Col. J. R. Brooke, with his gallant regiment, the Fifty-third Pennsylvania Volunteers, from being unhurt, was enabled to perform the highest service to his country, and added to the laurels he and his regiment had already won on many fields. This regiment went into action with 14 commissioned officers and 300 enlisted men, of which it lost 8 officers and 147 enlisted men killed and wounded.
Col. George W. Von Schack, who was slightly wounded, but kept the field, held the culvert over the railroad to the last, with his brave regiment, the Seventh New York Volunteers, and commanded the brigade after General Caldwell had been wounded. The strength of his regiment when the action commenced was 25 commissioned officers and 463 enlisted men. It lost 18 commissioned officers and 227 enlisted men killed and wounded.
Col. Edward E. Cross, commanding the Fifth New Hampshire Volunteers, severely wounded, behaved in the handsomest manner. The conduct of his regiment was heroic; refusing to yield any ground, his brave officers and men died where they stood. This regiment numbered 23 commissioned officers and 280 enlisted men when it went into action; 17 officers and 165 men were killed and wounded. This regiment had five commanders during the action, the first four having been killed or wounded.
Col. Paul Frank, commanding the Fifty-second New York Volunteers, occupied the extreme left with his regiment, and held his position in a steady and soldierly manner. The regiment numbered 11 commissioned officers and 149 enlisted men at the commencement of the action, of which it lost 2 officers and 43 enlisted men killed and wounded.
Col. Robert Nugent, severely wounded, commanding the Sixty-ninth New York Volunteers, conducted his troops with his usual spirit, and was making a final effort to advance when he was shot. His regiment had 19 commissioned officers and 219 enlisted men when the attack was made. Its loss was 16 officers wounded and 112 enlisted men killed, wounded, and missing. This gallant regiment was marched off the field by its fourth commander that day, the three senior commanders having been wounded.
Col. Patrick Kelly, commanding the Eighty-eighth New York Volunteers, was active and resolute, as he always is, and, with his regiment, performed their usual good service. The Eighty-eighth numbered 23 commissioned officers and 229 enlisted men when the assault commenced, of which it lost 12 officers and 115 enlisted men killed and wounded.
Col. Nelson A Miles, severely wounded, commanding the Sixty-first and Sixty-fourth Regiments New York Volunteers, consolidated, conducted himself in the most admirable and chivalrous manner. His battalion behaved with steadiness unsurpassed by any troops. The strength of his command was 27 commissioned officers and 408 enlisted men. Three officers were wounded and 105 enlisted men killed, wounded, and missing. The third commander during this action marched the regiments off the field, the others being disabled.
Col. H. L. Brown, of the One hundred and forty-fifth Pennsylvania Volunteers, I regret to say, was severely wounded in several places. His presence was much needed, his regiment being large and inexperienced in such a fight. Owing to his absence, and the fact that many of his officers were disabled, and a great number of his men killed and wounded, a portion of his regiment, under a very heavy fire, was forced back. Many gallant spirits, however, particularly on the right and left of the regiment, maintained their position to the last. This regiment had 25 commissioned officers and 475 enlisted men when it went into action. Its loss was 12 commissioned officers and 212 enlisted men killed and wounded. This regiment had two commanders during the engagement.
Col. Dennis Heenan, commanding the One hundred and sixteenth Pennsylvania Volunteers, was wounded severely. His regiment suffered heavily, and although comparatively young in the Service, be-hayed handsomely. This regiment marched on the field with 17 commissioned officers and 230 enlisted men. Its loss was 12 officers wounded and 77 men killed, wounded, and missing. The fourth officer in command during the battle brought the regiment off the field, the others being disabled.
Col. Richard Byrnes, a veteran soldier, commanding the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts Volunteers, displayed his excellent qualities in this action. His regiment entered the action with 16 officers and 400 men, of whom 7 officers and 149 enlisted men were killed and wounded.
Col. William P. Bally, commanding the Second Regiment Delaware Volunteers, was wounded. The strength of this regiment when it went into action was 19 commissioned officers and 225 enlisted men. The loss was 7 officers wounded and 47 enlisted men killed, wounded, and missing. The Second Delaware had three commanders during the battle, the first two having been wounded.
Col. Richard S. Bostwick, commanding the Twenty-seventh Connecticut Volunteers, bore himself worthily. His regiment had joined the division but a few days before the action, and on the day of the engagement had 270 men on picket who were not in the fight. His battalion behaved in a highly creditable manner. They took position in the front line, fighting under great discouragement, their arms being unreliable. The strength of this battalion at the commencement of the assault was 24 commissioned officers and 360 enlisted men. It lost 6 commissioned officers and 107 men in killed and wounded.
Lieut. Col. H. Boyd McKeen (wounded), commanding the Eighty first Pennsylvania Volunteers, behaved with extraordinary gallantry. The Eighty-first numbered 16 commissioned officers and 245 enlisted men when the action began. It lost 12 officers and 164 enlisted men killed and wounded. This regiment was marched off the field by the fourth officer, on whom the command had devolved during the fight, the first three having been wounded and carried off the field.
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