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Report of Col. William M. Barbour, Thirty-seventh
North Carolina Infantry.
CAMP
GREGG, VA., May 9, 1863.
CAPT.: I have the honor to submit the following report of the
operations of my regiment in
the battle of Chancellorsville, May 3:
After a rapid march, we gained the enemy's right flank on Saturday
evening,
and a running fight ensued between the advanced troops of our
army and those of the enemy. Moving rapidly by the right
flank, we
soon gained a point near Chancellorsville, where the enemy had several
batteries in position, which did us
considerable injury that evening.
After sunset, my regiment was deployed to the right of the road, behind
a small breastwork
which the enemy had abandoned. Skirmishers were
thrown forward, and my regiment rested for the night.
Early next
morning, I received orders to advance in line of battle and
assail the enemy's works in front, my left resting on the road.
I
immediately put my regiment in motion, and advanced steadily under
a murderous fire of grape, shell, and Minie balls.
After a desperate
struggle, I succeeded in carrying the breastworks in front and in
capturing a number of prisoners.
About this time I received a wound in
my right arm, which compelled me to leave the field. I am informed by
the senior
captain, commanding the regiment, that the regiment
continued to advance upon the enemy's second line of entrenchments,
but,
in common with the whole brigade, was compelled to retire by an
enfilade fire from the enemy's artillery and infantry.
During
the entire engagement my officers and men behaved gallantly.
Lieut. Charlton C. Ragin, Company K, was killed, gallantly
commanding
his company.
The annexed tabular statement* will show that my total loss is as
follows: 1 officer killed, 19 officers
wounded, 35 men killed, 175
wounded, 8 men missing.
I do not hesitate to say that it was the bloodiest battle that
I have very
witnessed. The Seventh North Carolina was on my right, and, as its
field officers and many of the company
officers are killed and wounded,
I may be permitted to allude to the gallant manner in which its officers
and men advanced
upon the enemy's entrenchments. I doubt not that the
other regiments of the brigade also behaved gallantly, but they were
still
farther to my right, and, of course, did not come under my observation.
In conclusion, I shall always feel
proud of the noble bearing of my
officers and men on the bloody field, but sad when I reflect how many
who charged the
enemy's entrenchments with me are numbered with the
dead.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
WILL. M. BARBOUR,
Col. Thirty-seventh North Carolina Troops.
Capt. GEORGE B. JOHNSTON, Actg. Asst.
Adjt. Gen.
Source: Official Records, Series I, Vol. 25, Part I, Reports. Serial No. 39
Advance to:
37th North Carolina Infantry
Regiment
37th North Carolina Infantry
Regiment: Historical Sketch
37th North Carolina Infantry
Regiment: Statistics
37th North Carolina Infantry
Regiment: Battles and Casualties
Brigade, Division, Corps, and
Army Assignments for 37th North Carolina Infantry Regiment
37th North Carolina Infantry
Regiment: Letters, Newspaper Articles, Papers, Diaries, Memoirs
Recommended Reading: The
Thirty-seventh North Carolina Troops: Tar Heels in the Army of Northern Virginia, by Michael C. Hardy. Description: It vividly reflects the unit’s four years’ service, told
largely in the soldiers’ own words. Drawn from letters, diaries, and postwar articles and interviews, this history of
the 37th North Carolina follows the unit from its organization in November 1861 until its surrender at Appomattox. Continued
below...
The book includes photographs of the key players in the 37th’s story as well as maps illustrating
the unit’s position at several engagements. Appendices include a complete roster of the unit and a listing of individuals
buried in large sites such as prison cemeteries. (Great for genealogy, too.) A bibliography and index are also included.
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