Can any of the good folk at CWT tell me how to obtain a copy online of the report by Col. Hamilton Brown of the 1st NC State Troops (CSA) at the battle of Chancellorsville?
It is apparently included in the Official Record. The report may be recorded as from the commander of Colston's Brigade, as Brown had temporary command of the brigade at the close of the battle.
First North Carolina Infantry
Chancellorsville, VA after battle report:
No. 411.
Report of Lieut. John A. Morgan, Acting Adjutant,
First North Carolina Infantry.
[MAY] --, 1863.
SIR: [I have the honor to submit the following] report of the part borne
by the First Regt. North Carolina Infantry in the engagements of
May 2 and 3, 1863:
The regiment broke camp at Skinker's Neck on Wednesday, 29th
ultimo, and took up the line of march for Fredericksburg, where it
remained in line of battle supporting the front line until Friday morning,
May 1, when we took up the line of march to flank the enemy's right.
Bivouacked Friday night on the Orange and Fredericksburg Plank road,
about equidistant from Fredericksburg and the point of attack. Took up
the line of march Saturday, and arrived about 4 miles west of
Chancellorsville about 3 p.m., where it formed into line on the north
side of the road leading from Chancellorsville westward, and supported
for a short time the front line, but was soon ordered to the front, when
it participated in the engagement of Saturday evening, with a very slight
loss.
On Sunday morning the regiment was formed in line of battle on the
south side of the road before mentioned, and was ordered to the front
as soon as the engagement commenced, where it fought gallantly; but,
being flanked, was ordered to retire, which was done in good order, but
with heavy loss, including its gallant colonel wounded, besides many
other officers and brave men.
On the same day, the enemy having been repulsed, it, with the other
regiments of the brigade, was thrown forward and formed into line
parallel to the road at Chancellorsville, where it remained under a
terrific fire of shell and solid shot for more than an hour.
In the afternoon was again ordered to the front, where it encountered the
enemy's sharpshooters and one of his batteries, which poured a deadly
shower of grape and canister in our already decimated ranks, compelling
it, with the brigade, to retire for a short distance. The advance, no
matter for what purpose, only served to increase our already too large
list of casualties.
Monday and Tuesday the regiment lay in the works east of
Chancellorsville, supporting a battery.
Wednesday it was ordered to where we are now bivouacked; for what
purpose I do not deem it necessary to say.
Its list of gallant dead and wounded will tell for themselves the part
which the regiment bore.
By order of Lieut. Col. H. A. Brown:
JNO. A. MORGAN,
Lieut. and Acting Adjutant.
[Lieut. JAMES T. TOSH,
Acting Assistant Adjutant-Gen., Colston's Brigade.]
Source: Official Records Series I. Vol. 25. Part I, Reports. Serial No. 39
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