Official Records VOL LI Part 2
p. 957 Butterfield HQ V Corps, Camp near Fredericksburg, Va Dec. 12, 1862 12m to Sykes, Griffin, Humphreys
A change has been made in the crossing of the divisions of the Third (Stoneman’s) Corps. Whipple’s division crosses the right (upper) bridge… General Humphreys the center, as above, General Griffin the left. General Griffin will be careful not to follow General Whipple when he (Whipple) changes position to cross the upper bridge.
Official Records VOL XXI Part 1
p. 55 Organization of Union forces at Fredericksburg Dec. 11 – 15, 1862
V Corps Butterfied: 1st Division: Griffin; 1st Brig: Barnes; 2nd Brig: Sweitzer; 3rd Brig: Stockton
p.72
Brig. Gen Butterfield Head Quarters V Corps, General Willcox’s Headquarters Dec. 13, 1862 3:40pm to Hooker: “Willcox has sent forward Sturgis to Couch’s support, and, at his suggestion, I have directed Griffin to follow Sturgis, and support him.”
“ 4:10pm: “Griffin I have had to place to relieve Sturgis, and he is now engaged/”
“ 8PM: “All here seem to agree that it will be one of the most difficult of operations to carry this crest in front, there being so many obstacles of natural and military strength. This is for your private information …..Griffin reports obstacles, such as rifle-fences, walls, etc, in the way.”
“ 11PM: “Griffin’s division to-day relieved Sturgis’, at the urgent request of Generals Sturgis and Willcox, and, by your order, I am now to relieve Couch’s line with Sykes and Humphreys. General Willcox states that Sturgis’ command has been in all day; his ammunition exhausted, and he cannot properly relieve Griffin. I am, therefore, fighting or holding to-morrow Couch’s line and Sturgis’ portion of Willcox’s line, a longer line than I ought to fight, and almost without support of my own.”
p. 76 Butterfield to Hooker Dec. 16, 1862 12:30am “Humphreys’ and Griffin’s divisions are getting in pretty near to their old places.”
p. 110:
Butterfield to Griffin commanding first Division, Dec. 12, 1862 9:15am
Asking Griffin to designate a regiment “you consider the best marching and fighting regiment (or one of the best) in your command – one to be designated for the duty of accompanying a light battery and forming portions of a light brigade, to march in advance and ascertain the force and position of the enemy. This brigade will be made up of regiments selected from Stoneman’s and the Fifth Corps. General Hooker wishes and excellent commander and a good marching regiment.”
p. 111: Kirkland, Major and aide-de-camp HQ V Corps to Griffin Dec. 12, 1862 2:30pm “The commanding general directs that you do not move to cross the river without further orders.”
p. 115 Butterfield to Griffin Dec. 13, 1862 1pm: “In compliance with orders from the major general commanding the center grand division, the corps will march at once across the river to Fredericksburg by the right, left, and center bridges, as heretofore ordered. The march must be as rapid as possible without over-fatiguing the troops previous to engaging…. The corps will move to the support of General Sumner’s grand division or for reserve, as the case may be.” Dispositions after leaving the town: Sykes to right, Griffin to left, and Humphreys to center. “If but two divisions are ordered forward, Griffin’s and Humphrey’s will advance, Sykes’ in reserve. If but one division, Griffin will lead.”
pp. 116: Butterfield to Hooker Dec. 13, 1862 3:12pm. “In compliance with your permission, I have sent Griffin to support Sturgis. Let some one meet him on the street I left you in and conduct him.”
p. 117 Butterfield to Hooker Dec. 13, 6:30pm “Griffin’s division, First Brigade, ammunition exhausted; heavy loss. Second Brigade, ditto; not as long as the First. Third Brigade ammunition not entirely exhausted. First Brigade in position on the left of where Humphreys was; ammunition exhausted.”
p. 119 Willcox (left signal station, Dec. 13, 4:25pm) to Burside: “General Griffin is relieving Sturgis, who is holding on, in spite of all, until he is relieved.”
p. 125: HW Perkins acting asst Adj Gen. HQ V Corps – Circular Dec. 15 11AM
corps assignment: … Griffins “from Fauquier street to the junction of the canal and Fall Hill road and General Whipple’s, from General Griffin’s right to the river.”
p. 126 Cutting, Aide-de-camp to Burnside, Dec. 16 6:20am; “After Griffin crossed, at the lower bridge, the bridge was torn up without order.”
pp. 135-6: V Corps 1st Div Casualties at Fredericksburg
Killed: 8 officers; 65 enlisted men
Wounded: 68 officers, 665 enlisted men
Captured/Missing: 120 enlisted men
p. 162: Willcox to Sumner: “General Butterfield is to send Griffin, his ‘right bower,’ to the assistance of General Sturgis.”
Willcox to Sumner: “General Griffin is relieving General Sturgis, who is holding on in spite of everything until he is relieved.”
p. 226-8 No. 55 Rep of Brig Gen WS Hancock commanding 1st Div (Dec. 25, 1862): “Several gallant attacks by Howard, Sturgis, Humphreys, Griffin, and others were afterward made in support of these brave troops, who could not advance and would not retire. These subsequent attacks, although conducted with spirt, failed to produce any more serious impression upon the enemy.”
pp. 310: No. 110: Report of Brig Gen Orlando B Willcox, U Army commanding IX Corps, Jan. 7, 1863
p. 311: “Meantime General Whipple sent me Carroll’s brigade…. which, together with some brigades of General Griffin’s division, also sent to co-operate, all gallantly pushed up to the support of General Sturgis’ left, under a heavy fire, gaining also a certain point, but beyond this nothing could live.”
p. 312: Capt. WW Buckley’s Rhode Island battery was also brought into action toward evening, and kept up the fire with coolness and judgment, covering the withdrawal of Sturgis’ division, which was finally relieved at 7:20pm by troops belonging to General Griffin.”
p. 313 “ I must express my thanks to Generals Griffin and Carroll and Caption Phillips for timely assistance.”
No 123: Rep of Brig Gen Edward Ferrero, US Army, commanding 2d Brig. Dec. 16, 1862
p. 326: Dec. 13: “My brigade remained on the field until 6:30pm., having been under fire six and a half hours, and having expended all their ammunition, when they were relieved by troops of General Griffin…. On the morning of the 14th, at 8pm, I was ordered to the front with my whole brigade to relieve the pickets of General Griffin, then occupying the line on which we had been engaged the day before.”
No. 144 Rep. of Maj Gen Joseph Hooker, US Army commanding Center Grand Division Sept. 5, 1863
p. 356 on Dec. 13 early afternoon “I was directed to send one division to support General Sturgis. General Griffin’s division, the largest of the three, being nearest in position, for the purpose, was assigned to this duty.”
No. 168, Rep of Col Samuel S. Carroll, 8 Ohio, commanding 2d Brigade Dec. 17, 1862
p. 397: “ I immediately moved out to obey the order, but the head of my column came in contact with General Griffin’s division, which seemed to be moving to the support of General Sturgis, and I joined it, moved abreast of one of his brigades into the railroad cut,and, finding I could move no farther without breaking that column, halted there while it filed off to the left.”
No. 170, Rep. of Brig Gen Daniel Butterfield, US Army commanding V Corps Dec. 1862
p. 399: V Corps broke camp morning Dec. 11; 1st Div (Griffin) on left an to the left of the road passing from camp to the Phillips House; Sykes on right; Humphreys in center
At 2pm on Dec. 13 ordered across river, Griffin on left, Hump center, Sykes right.
“At about 3pm, Griffin’s division was ordered to the rear of Fredericksburg, in front of the enemy’s works, to support General Sturgis’ command. A few moments after, in compliance with orders received, he relieved General Sturgis.
p. 400: “Orders were given to carry the heights with bayonets… The attack of Humphreys’ and Griffin’s divisions was made with a spirit and efficiency scarcely, if ever equaled in the records of war; but the attack was made against a position so advantageous and strong to the enemy that it failed…. General Griffin fell back, but shortly after advanced to the extreme front, which he had gained, and held his position…. General Griffin continued the line on the left, connecting with the Ninth Army Corps.
Late at night I received orders from the major general commanding to have these troops take an advanced position,…Colonel Stockton’s in General Griffin’s, held this line within close range of the enemy’s position behind the stone wall for twenty-four hours following, on the 14th.”
Dec. 15: apportioned line – Whipple on right from river to junction of the canal, Griffin on his left to Farquier street, Humphreys on Griffin’s left to Amelia Street.”
At 10 oclock at night, defense of town assigned to Butterfield. Griffin and Humphreys withdrawn from the right and assigned to the line from Hanover street to the left.
p. 402: Griffin’s “command was sent to relieve General Sturgis’, of General Willcox’s corps. .. Its gallant behavior is attested in the reports of casualties, the detailed reports of the operations, and the position to which it advanced under such disadvantages. I recommend that Generals Sykes, Humphreys, and Griffin should receive proper recognition for their services during these operations.”
[p. 404] Report No. 172.
Report of Brig. Gen. Charles Griffin, U.S.. Army, commanding First Division.
Headquarters First Division, Fifth Army Corps, Camp near Potomac Creek, Va., December 16,1862.
Sir : The following report, in reference to the operations of the First Division of this corps since December 11, is respectfully submitted for the information of the commanding general:
In compliance with orders received from headquarters of the Fifth Corps, this division marched from its present camp at 5 o’clock on the morning of the 11th instant, in the direction of Fredericksburg, and bivouacked at night to the left and rear of the Phillips house.
At about 8 o’clock on the morning of the 12th instant, the* division moved to the valley, in rear of the pontoon bridge thrown across the Rappahannock River, near the lower part of the city of Fredericksburg, where it remained under arms during the day, and bivouacked at this point at night.
At an early hour on the morning of the 13th, the division was got under arms, and at about 1 p.m. received an order to cross the river on the bridge above referred to, the head of the column arriving in the city at 2 o’clock.
At about 3 o’clock an order was received from General Butterfield to move the division to the support of General Sturgis’ command, and at 3.30 directions to relieve the brigade of General Ferrero, which was [405] engaged, when the First Brigade, under the command of Col. James Barnes, was moved forward to the front, and perfectly executed the order in a gallant manner, under a heavy fire of artillery and musketry from the enemy.
After the lapse of about an hour, further orders were received to push forward and endeavor to carry the works of the enemy. Immediately the Second Brigade, commanded by Col. J. B. Sweitzer, was advanced, supported on the left by a brigade of Whipple’s division, commanded by Colonel Carroll. Our troops advanced, exposed to a severe enfilading fire from both directions, and from a direct fire of artillery and musketry in front. Our lines moved up to within a few yards of the enemy’s infantry, who were protected behind stone walls and in trenches, when the fire became so galling that they were compelled to fall back behind the crest of a knoll. At this time the Third Brigade, under command of Colonel Stockton, which had been held in reserve, was advanced to the support of the brigades already engaged. Yet, owing to the lateness of the day or the obstacles to be overcome, little or no advantage was gained.
The division occupied their ground, which was to the right of what is known as the Telegraph road, until about 10 p. m. of the 14th instant, when it was relieved by a portion of the command of General Sturgis, and retired to the streets of Fredericksburg. At about 10 o’clock on the night of the 15th, the Third Brigade, under the command of Col. Strong Vincent, was thrown to the front, and occupied the lines previously held by the brigade of this division, relieving the command of Colonel Zook, of Hancock’s division, where it remained until the troops recrossed the river at 4 o’clock on the morning of the 16th, when the division marched to the present camp.
The loss of this division was 66 killed and 752 wounded.* Among the latter, dangerously, was Col. E. G. Marshall, Thirteenth New York Volunteers, a gallant and brave soldier, whose conduct deserves special commendation. Captain Goss, Fourteenth New York Volunteers, a good soldier, is also badly wounded. Lieutenant-Colonel Varney, Second Maine Volunteers; Major Michael, Fourteenth New York Volunteers, and others less dangerously.
The conduct of both officers and men of the division was gallant in the extreme, and highly deserving of remark, not a man flinching or a straggler turning to the rear during the advance movement. Col. James Barnes, commanding First Brigade, is entitled to special notice for his coolness, energy, and marked ability. Colonel Stockton, commanding Third Brigade, and Colonel Sweitzer, commanding Second Brigade, although engaged a shorter period, proved themselves worthy of their commands. Capt. C. B. Mervine, assistant adjutant-general, and Lieuts. Charles H. Ross and T. C. Case, aides-de-camp, were specially active in the discharge of their duties, often carrying orders through the most exposed portions of the lines.
For detailed statements special reference is called to the different reports of the brigade commanders, herewith inclosed.
Very respectfullv, your obedient servant,
CHAS. GRIFFIN,
Brigadier-General,, Commanding Division.
Assistant Adjutant-General, Fifth Army Corps.
* But see revised statement, p. 136 [73 Killed, 773 wounded]; .
p. 414: Rep. of Lt. Col Casper Trepp, 1st US Sharpshooters , Dec. 17, 1862
ordered Dec. 14 morning to cross river and report to Griffin. On Dec. 15, at about 5pm, by order Griffin, sent two companies under Capt. Seaton to picket on the right. They remained on the outposts until 3 o’clock next morning, when they were relieved, by order of General Griffin. On the 16th instant, by order of Griffin, the regiment, excepting the four companies on the out posts, crossed the Rappahannock at about 6am at the upper bridges.”
pp. 762-3 Butterfield, Brig Gen commanding V Corps. General Order No. 1 HQ near Warrenton Va. Nov. 16, 1862. Butterfield takes command of V Corps. Griffin “will assume command of the First Division.”
No comments:
Post a Comment