- Joined
- Jan 16, 2015
In the Fold3 archives for the 38th Virginia, of Armistead's brigade, an interesting report of "forage issued to public animals" appears for the month of July 1863. It was prepared by the regimental quartermaster, Captain John T. Averett.
On June 30, the 38th Virginia mustered 36 officers and 342 men, for a total of 378 - larger than average for the army. During the July 3 afternoon assault, it lost 230 of those officers and men [figures from Busey and Busey, Regimental Strength and Losses at Gettysburg]. Within a four hour period, the quartermaster found himself with considerable excess transportation capacity.
Captain Averett's monthly forage report tells the story:
On July 1, the regiment had 45 horses, 25 mules and 7 wagons.
On July 5, 1 of the mules was captured by the enemy.
On July 7, 42 horses were transferred to Major Dearing's artillery battalion.
On July 20, 2 mules and 2 wagons were transferred to Major Carter [probably Maj. Richard H. Carter, the brigade quartermaster].
On July 25, 1 additional horse was transferred to Major Carter.
At the end of the month, on July 31, Captain Averett was left with 2 horses, 22 mules and 5 wagons.
During the July 3 artillery bombardment, Maj. Dearing's four batteries lost the following horses killed or disabled:
Captain Macon's battery - 8
Capt. Stribling's battery - 10
Capt. Caskie's battery - 7
Capt. Blount's battery - 12
It appears that the July 7 transfer of 42 horses to Maj. Dearing principally made up the losses he incurred within his batteries during the cannonade on July 3, with the difference being additional loss from among members of his staff and/or during the early part of the retreat back to Virginia.
On June 30, the 38th Virginia mustered 36 officers and 342 men, for a total of 378 - larger than average for the army. During the July 3 afternoon assault, it lost 230 of those officers and men [figures from Busey and Busey, Regimental Strength and Losses at Gettysburg]. Within a four hour period, the quartermaster found himself with considerable excess transportation capacity.
Captain Averett's monthly forage report tells the story:
On July 1, the regiment had 45 horses, 25 mules and 7 wagons.
On July 5, 1 of the mules was captured by the enemy.
On July 7, 42 horses were transferred to Major Dearing's artillery battalion.
On July 20, 2 mules and 2 wagons were transferred to Major Carter [probably Maj. Richard H. Carter, the brigade quartermaster].
On July 25, 1 additional horse was transferred to Major Carter.
At the end of the month, on July 31, Captain Averett was left with 2 horses, 22 mules and 5 wagons.
During the July 3 artillery bombardment, Maj. Dearing's four batteries lost the following horses killed or disabled:
Captain Macon's battery - 8
Capt. Stribling's battery - 10
Capt. Caskie's battery - 7
Capt. Blount's battery - 12
It appears that the July 7 transfer of 42 horses to Maj. Dearing principally made up the losses he incurred within his batteries during the cannonade on July 3, with the difference being additional loss from among members of his staff and/or during the early part of the retreat back to Virginia.