Report of Brig. Gen. Winfield S. Hancock, U. S. Army, commanding First Brigade, Smith's division, of reconnaissance toward Lee's Mill, April 28.
Camp near Lee's Mill, April 29, 1862.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report the following as the result of the operations of the troops under my command for special service yesterday:
In obedience to instructions from division headquarters, about 6 a.m. I left camp with the Fifth Wisconsin, Sixth Maine, and Forty-third New York Volunteers. The object of my operations was to cover a strong working party in felling timber in front of our picket line covering our whole front, in the direction of Lee's Mill; in leveling the limbs of said trees; in clearing out the undergrowth on the enemy's side of the picket line for a considerable distance back, and in making defenses of logs for our pickets-- this being necessary from the proximity of the enemy and his taking the advantage of the undergrowth and the approaches by a ravine which headed near the picket line and led to the creek, filled with tangled briers, giving the enemy's sharpshooters an opportunity to approach within 30 or 40 paces of our pickets unobserved, and causing them to be shot down every day at their posts with scarcely an opportunity of retaliation.
Incidentally it was also intended to give the engineer officers, Captain Stewart and Lieutenant Bowen, an opportunity to make a re-examination of the next work below the one in front of our batteries (about 750 yards) if opportunity presented.
To carry out these orders the Forty-third New York Volunteers was sent to the extreme right of our picket line along the creek especially to do the labor and guard that point during its continuance. I took the Fifth Wisconsin and Sixth Maine Volunteers beyond the picket line toward Lee's Mill, on the main road, with a view of approaching the enemy's works in question from the front and covering the workmen on the other part of the line.
I deployed a portion of the Maine regiment as skirmishers, the remainder as reserves and flankers. The Fifth Wisconsin, in line of battle and in support, then advanced toward the creek, with our right brushing the picket line.
The Thirty-third New York Volunteers, of General Davidson's brigade, which had been ordered to report to me, in order to cover like operations in front of the picket line of that brigade, I found on the ground, and posted them on the road leading to Lee's Mill and perpendicular to it and about 200 yards in front of the picket line, with skirmishers thrown out 400 yards in advance, said skirmishers connecting with the flankers of the Sixth Maine.
A section of artillery was ordered to report to me, but finding no opportunity to use it-- it being entirely a heavily-wooded country-- I directed it to remain in the camp of the Forty-ninth New York Volunteers.
Advancing the skirmishers of the Sixth Maine, the enemy's pickets and scouts were soon driven before them, and the line advanced until the right rested on the creek near the Forty-third New York, the front and left within about 100 yards of the stream. It was then found that on a prominent knoll on this side of the creek, and directly overlooking their works at a distance of about 75 paces from them, the enemy had thrown up a breastwork of logs in the form of a rifle pit. This is the only point from which their works could be overlooked. The commander applied to me for orders to take this rifle pit.
At this time the reserves and supports were brought up closer to the line. I found, however, that on the right and left of this prominence the moment our men descended the little crest behind which they were lying a column of assault would be exposed to a flank fire of their ranges of rifle pits along the creek on the other side and at short range.
I therefore concluded, having had an examination of their works from this prominence a day or two before-- -having had temporary possession of it, and knowing what the general nature of those works were, and the fact from experience then derived-- that the moment of ascending that knoll we were under their immediate fire at very short range; that the advantage to be gained in taking it would not counterbalance the losses we would sustain, unless it was intended that the works on the other side should be assaulted also. I concluded, as it had no reference to our main operations, that as long as we could keep the enemy confined to that point it would be good military judgment not to make the assault, but to hold the position.
In order to ascertain the views of the general commanding the division on the subject I sent an officer of engineers to him to represent the state of the case. He decided that the assault should not be made.
After holding this position about an hour, our skirmishers within 40 or 50 paces of it in front, the enemy became very defiant, and the officer in command ordered a charge on our skirmishers. Their men rose up behind their rifle pits apparently with the view of crossing their breastwork in obedience to the order, but a deadly and well directed volley from our skirmishers poured in at this moment at their very short range caused them to subside promptly with evident considerable loss. They never fired a shot afterward.
At the command "Charge" the colonel of the Sixth Maine brought up his reserve close to the skirmishers, sheltering them in a little ravine. Their assistance, however, was unnecessary. It is believed that the enemy were there in considerable force, for long rolls had been beaten in their works in different directions from the time we arrived there. On the last day of examination of these works several regiments took their places in the rifle pits while our men held the knoll.
On the right of the line toward the river, Colonel Vinton, in command, advanced the Forty-third New York down the ravine close to the creek and held his position there for more than an hour, and until the ravine was entirely cleared out from the underbrush, and nearly all this time under a teasing fire from the other side of the creek, generally from unseen enemies, who appeared to occupy rifle pits or were sheltered behind palisades in the woods. At the mouth of the ravine, on the opposite side of the creek, appeared a little work, explained in accompanying sketch.
At 2 o'clock p.m., the work having been substantially completed along the whole front of General Davidson's and my brigades, I ordered the troops to be slowly withdrawn, the skirmishers of the Sixth Maine bringing up the rear. The enemy had been so well punished at different places that they made no attempt to follow our skirmishers home.
We met with some losses, but I have no doubt far less than we would have subsequently encountered on the picket line had the work not been performed. Besides, our men had felt on picket a sense of the greatest insecurity. From the causes before mentioned it was necessary to remedy this, for from our proximity to the enemy, and owing to the comparatively short distance from them to our batteries, it is always necessary to throw the supports and reserves on the picket line and making the contest there immediately, instead of allowing our pickets to fall back upon the supports.
The men behaved with spirit. First Lieut. W. G. Mitchell, my aide, had charge of the working party, and performed his duties well and faith fully.
I herewith submit reports of Col. H. Burnham and Co;. F. L. Vinton, commanding the Sixth Maine and Forty-third New York Volunteers, respectively, with sketches of the prominent positions held by them, referred to herein.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
WINF'D S. HANCOCK,
Brigadier-General, Commanding Brigade.
Capt. L. D. H. CURRIE,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Smith's Division.
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