Pelham's Report on the Battle of Williamsburg
BIVOUAC, NEAR NEW KENT COURT-HOUSE, GENERAL: In pursuance to orders I submit for your inspection a report of the part taken by the Stuart Horse Artillery in the engagement near Williamsburg. On the 2d instant I detached the section of mountain howitzers, under Lieutenant Shepherd, to report for duty at brigade headquarters, and reported with rest of my battery (six pieces) to Colonel Lee, at Bigler's Wharf. On the 4th the mountain howitzers were engaged in a skirmish below Williamsburg. The following is Lieutenant Shepherd's report: NEAR NEW KENT COURT-HOUSE, VA. , CAPTAIN: May 2 I reported, with the two mountain howitzers, to General J .E.B. Stuart. At 4 p.m. on the following day I took position on a small stream which empties near Grove Landing, where I remained until 1 p.m. of the 4th, when I was moved, under General Stuart's direction, on the main road toward Williamsburg. Here a skirmish took place. I fired three rounds spherical case, and then retired, following the cavalry by Grove Landing, then up the Beach road to Williamsburg. One of my men ( Private James W. Smith), having taken sick, was sent to the rear, and was probably taken by the enemy. Respectfully, your obedient servant, JAS. T. SHEPHERD, Capt. JOHN PELHAM, Between 10 and 11 a.m. May 5, I received orders from brigade headquarters to proceed inmediately to Williamsburg. I left five of my pieces in Williamsburg and reported with three (two 12-pounder howitzers and one 12-pounder rifled gun, Blakeley) to General J.E.B. Stuart on the field about 2 p.m. I took position to the right and in front of Fort Magruder, and opened fire on the enemy who occupied the woods on the road to Lebanon Church [i.e. the Yorktown Road]. Here I detached Lieutenant Elston, with two men, to bring off some captured artillery. In a few minutes they returned on foot, their horses having been shot down as soon as they made their appearance at the guns. I held this position under a heavy fire until General Hill's [A. P. Hill's] brigade roved up and deployed in front of my battery, when I moved to the left and took position on the Yorktown road, to enfilade the enemy's lines. Here the metal bed of the elevating screw of my Blakeley gun gave way; but it was retained on the field and did good service." I remained in this position until 5 p.m., when I withdrew for want of ammunition. I fired 286 rounds of spherical case and 4 of canister from the 12-pounder howitzers and 40 percussion shell and 30 solid shot from the Blakeley gun.1 Total of 360. During the entire engagement both officers and men acted with commendable calmness and courage. The example of cool, conspicuous bravery set by Lieutenants Breathed, McGregor, and Elston was emulated by my non-comissioned officers and men. Casualties as follows: 2 men wounded, Summers and Gibson; 4 horses killed, 3 wounded, and 13 escaped from horse-holders, all of which have since been found. except two. On the morning of the 6th I left Williamsburg, and encamped at a brick school-house half a mile from Burnt Ordinary [now Toano]. About 10 a.m., May 7, I received orders' fran the brigade commander to return to the rear, with a rifled gun am howitzer. The howitzer was left at the Methodist Church, about 1-1/2 miles beyond Burnt Ordinary , under Lieutenant Breathed; the rifled gun was placed in position about a mile farther on. The enemy's cavalry [two squads fran the 3rd Pa. and 8th Ill., under command of Col. William Averell ] made their appearance in the edge of the woods in front of us, and I fired five shots at thern. The shot fell, well scattering thern, but I could observe no other effect. I then retired in the rear of the main body of our forces. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JNO. PELHAM, Brig. Gen. J .E. B. STUART, |
1 A Blakeley shell was found a few years ago near the Yorktown Road.
This article first appeared in Volume 6, No. 6 of The Cannoneer.
Source:
O.R. Vol. XI, Part I, pp. 574-75).
