5th & 8th New Jersey Infantry - Wilderness Battle Report

Item DOC-7375

Description

Original Civil War document. 2 pages, written in period ink.


Head Quarters 8th N. J. Vols
Camp near Petersburg Va
August 8th 1864
Sir
In compliance with Special Order 209, Hd Qrs Army of the Potomac, dated August 5th 1864, I have the honor to report the following as the part taken by this regiment during the first Epoch of the campaign, embracing the battle of the Wilderness Va.
The Regiment left camp near Brandy Station Va on the night of May 3rd and crossed the Rapidan at daylight on the morning of the 4th and continued the march until 3 P.M. of that day, and halted on the old battle field of Chancellorsville and bivouacked; distance marched about 23 miles. On the 5th of May about 6 A.M. we left our bivouac and marched to the Brock Road running through the wilderness and became engaged at 2 P.M., the regiment being relieved about 6 P.M. The regiment went into action with 10 officers and 184 enlisted men.
At 5 A.M. on the morning of the 6th the regiment again advanced on the enemy position, and remained under fire during the day until about 3 P.M. when we were compelled to fall back to our breastworks on the Brock Road, where we took up a position in the second line. About 4 1/2 P.M. the enemy attacked our front in strong force, but was repulsed with great loss. During the enemy’s assault the regiment was deployed in rear of the second line as a Guard to arrest stragglers, and prevent the men from falling back from the works and succeeded in collecting about 1000 men and returning them to their regiments, mostly in the front line.
May 7th the regiment lay in the 2nd line of works until the afternoon and then marched to the right about 2 miles and was there detailed for guard duty with the ammunition train, which we escorted back to the old battle field of Chancellorsville and bivouacked about 1 A.M.; distance marched about 14 miles.
Total of casualties during the series of battles, in killed and wounded and missing (5) five commissioned officers and (119) one hundred and nineteen enlisted men.
Very Respectfully
Your Obdt. Servt.
Virgil M. Healy
Major 8th N.J. Vols
Comdg Regt
To
Lieut W. J. Rusling
A.A.A. Genl 3 Brigade
3 Div, 2 Corps