O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XI/1 [S# 12]
MAY 4, 1862.--Skirmishes near Williamsburg, Va.
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XI/1 [S# 12]
MAY 4, 1862.--Skirmishes near Williamsburg, Va.
No. 6. -- Report of Capt. Horatio G. Gibson, Third U. S. Artillery.
LIGHT COMPANY C, THIRD ARTILLERY,
Camp at Williamsburg, Va., May 6, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to report the operations of my battery in the engagement with the enemy near this place on the 4th instant:
Soon after passing Yorktown I received orders to detach a section under Lieut. W. D. Fuller to the front. A few miles in advance some of the enemy fired upon the head of our column, and Lieutenant Fuller at once came into action, and drove them from their cover just as I arrived with the rest of the battery on the ground with orders from General Stoneman to report to General Cooke and remain with him. The march was resumed, and on entering the woods near our last camp the whole battery was again ordered forward.
On arriving at the head of our column I found Lieutenant Fuller already engaged with the enemy, firing from the road on the skirt of the timber. By direction of General Cooke I ordered the section to be moved forward on the right of the road, and also brought the other sections into battery in the field on the left. I discovered a large body of the enemy (artillery, cavalry, and infantry) moving from the enemy's work in front to another on our right. I at once opened a rapid and steady fire upon them, and continued it so long as they were in sight and with considerable effect, and then directed the fire of the guns on both works. The enemy returned it rapidly and with serious effect, disabling the battery at nearly every shot. The line of the woods around us formed a crescent, partially inclosing the field in which the battery was posted. The ground was very miry and boggy, particularly on the edge of the timber, where my caissons were placed, in charge of Lieutenant D'Wolf, and the wheels sunk into the mud nearly to their axles. In this hazardous position, with a cross-fire of the enemy upon me, with no infantry support, I kept my guns in play for nearly an hour, and until I had expended about 250 rounds of ammunition.
Orders were then given by General Cooke to withdraw the battery, which was commenced by Lieutenant Fuller on the right, and followed by me with the other sections on the left. I succeeded in getting them all into the timber, except the last, which, having lost two of the horses, sunk in a boggy hole near the road. I sent Lieutenant Meinell to overtake the battery and bring teams to haul it out, and also the caissons mired down and disabled in horses; but this officer, being dismounted (his horse wounded), was unable to do to as quickly as it was necessary to save them. After occupying nearly twenty minutes in fruitless efforts, with ten horses attached, to extricate the piece, by the repeated advice of Lieutenant Colonel Grier and Captain Davis (as the rebel cavalry was close upon us) and the fire of all the enemy's guns concentrated upon us), I abandoned it with reluctance and retired with Captain Davis' squadron. At the same time Lieutenant Pendleton, seeing the helpless condition of the caissons, and that they could not be saved until the piece which obstructed the road was removed, ordered the drivers to retire with their teams.
I cannot speak too highly of the conduct of my officers and men. Under a hot and incessant fire from the enemy, shot and shell flying thick and fast around them, they stood gallantly to their posts without flinching. Lieutenant Fuller served his pieces bravely and handsomely, and Lieut. E. Pendleton and H. Meinell, chiefs of sections, and Lieut. William D'Wolf, chief of the line of caissons, more immediately under my eye, were cool, gallant and efficient in the discharge of their important duties. The latter, while remaining manfully at his exposed and inactive post under a severe fire, was dangerously wounded in two places, and as he was leaving the field had his horse killed under him.
Though almost all of my men behaved more than creditably, especially the non-commissioned officers, yet I am unable to speak of any one in particular except Sergt.. G. A. Niforth, whose gallant exertions to bring off his piece at no ordinary risk I deem worthy of especial notice.
After I left the First Cavalry in the woods I learn that they were charged by a regiment of the enemy's cavalry, whom they repulsed and charged upon in handsome style. Private John Thompson, Company G, Third Artillery, of my battery, reports that in the melee he took a standard from one of the enemy, but was sabered by one of our own men and compelled to give it up.
My loss in the action was 1 officer and 4 men wounded, I slightly. I also lost 17 horses killed, 6 at one fire in a caisson, and 5 wounded. I abandoned one piece, three caissons, and one caisson body, of which I have since recovered all except the piece and caisson.
The enemy, I am informed, lost from the effects of my fire 6 killed and 7 wounded and quite a number of horses. I should judge that the fire of at least eight guns was concentrated upon my battery--two large ship carronades and two rifled guns.
I am deeply sensible of the misfortune that I met with in the loss of my piece and caisson, but all those on the spot will bear witness that I made every effort to prevent it, and that I remained by them until I was obliged to give up all hope of saving them. I am much indebted to Capt. B. F. Davis and his squadron of the First Cavalry for their support and assistance under a severe fire concentrated upon them, and only regret that it was unavailing.
I forgot to mention that Lieut. J. W. Upham, Ninth New York Cavalry, attached to the battery, was left in rear in charge of the battery wagon and forge.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
H. G. GIBSON,
Captain Third Artillery, Commanding Battery.
First Lieut. J.P. MARTIN,
Seventh U.S. Infantry, A. A. A. G.
------------
O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XXV/2 [S# 40]
Correspondence, Orders, And Returns Relating To Operations In Northern Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, And Pennsylvania, From January 26 To June 2, 1863.
UNION CORRESPONDENCE, ETC.--#1
[excerpt]
CAVALRY.
Brig. Gen. DAVID McM. GREGG.
District of Columbia (independent company), Lieut. William H. Orton.
1st Maine, Lieut. Col. C. S. Douty.
1st New Jersey, Maj. M. H. Beaumont.
2d New York, Col. J. Kilpatrick.
10th New York, Maj. M. H. Avery.
1st Pennsylvania, Maj. D. Gardner.
3d U.S. Artillery, Battery C, Capt. H. G. Gibson.
Gibson would prompted to the position of :
GENERAL ORDERS, No. 46.
HDQRS. DEPARTMENT OF THE OHIO,
Cincinnati, Ohio, April 20, 1863.
Capt. H. G. Gibson, Third U.S. Artillery, is announced as chief of artillery for the Army of the Ohio. He will be obeyed and respected accordingly.
By command of Major-General Burnside:
LEWIS RICHMOND,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
-----
Fast forward...
O.R.--SERIES I--VOLUME XLIX/2 [S# 104]
Union Correspondence, Orders, And Returns Relating To Operations In Kentucky, Southwestern Virginia, Tennessee, Northern And Central Georgia, Mississippi, Alabama, And West Florida, From March 16 To June 30, 1865.(*)--#3
GENERAL ORDERS No. 21.
HDQRS. DISTRICT OF EAST TENNESSEE,
Knoxville, Tenn., March 22, 1865.
I. During the absence in the field of the major-general commanding, Col. H. G. Gibson, Second Ohio Heavy Artillery, will, in addition to his other duties, take charge of office of district headquarters and attend to the current business in the name of the general commanding. This does not contemplate the authorizing of any changes in the standing orders from these headquarters.
By command of Major-General Stoneman:
G. M. BASCOM,
Major and Assistant Adjutant-General.
--------------
Fast Forward:
Gibson, Horatio Gates - Col., 2nd Regt. Ohio Volunteer Heavy Artillery
Brevet Brig. Gen. U.S.V. March 13 1865
(Not bad for being a Captain in 3rd U.S. Artillery, holding that commission and then given a Colonel rank and commission from Ohio..then gets a Brevet-Brigadier-General as an 'atta boy.')