May 15, 1863, The New York Herald
REPORT OF BRIGADIER GENERAL STEINWEHR.
HEADQUARTERS, SECOND DIVISION, ELEVENTH CORPS,
STEVENS’ FARM, Va., May 8, 1863.
To Lieutenant Colonel Meurenburg, Assistant Adjutant General, Eleventh Corps:–
COLONEL – I have the honor to forward the following report of the part taken by my division in the action on the evening of the 2d of May:–
On the 30th ultimo we arrived near Dowdell’s tavern, about two miles west of Chancellorsville. This tavern is situated on the plank road, which runs in an easterly direction towards Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg. It is surrounded by undulating fields, which are seamed on three sides by heavy timber, but slope down at the west side towards open ground traversed by a small brook. Upon these fields you ordered me to take position.
I directed the First brigade, Colonel Buschbeck, to occupy the fields south of the road, and the Second brigade, General Francis Barlow, those north of it. My division was to be considered as a reserve for the First and Third divisions, which were placed in position west of us. At about four o’clock P. M., on the 2d instant, you ordered me to send the Second brigade, General F. Barlow, commanding, to support the right wing of General Sickles’ corps, then engaged with the enemy. The brigade immediately started, and accompanied by yourself and myself, reached the right wing of General Birney division (of General Sickles’ corps) in about an hour’s time. We found General Birney’s sharpshooters skirmishing with the enemy; and as no engagement was imminent, I returned to the First brigade, near Dowdell.
Soon I heard heavy firing in that direction, which showed that a strong attack was made upon our corps. When I arrived upon the field I found Colonel Buschbeck, with three regiments of his brigade (the Twenty-seventh Pennsylvania, Seventy-third Pennsylvania and One Hundred and Fifty fourth New York volunteers), still occupying the same ground, near the tavern, and defending this position with great firmness and gallantry; the fourth regiment (the Twenty-ninth regiment New York volunteers), he had sent to the north side of the road, to fill the place lately occupied by the Second brigade, before its detachment. The attack of the enemy was very powerful. They emerged in close columns from the woods, and had thrown the First and Second divisions, who retired towards Chancellorsville in great confusion. Col. A. Buschbeck succeeded to check the progress of the enemy, and I directed him to hold his position as long as possible. The men fought with great determination and courage.
Soon, however, the enemy gained both wings of the brigade, and the enfilading fire which was now opened upon this small force, and which killed and wounded nearly one-third of its whole strength, soon forced them to retire. Colonel A. Buschbeck then withdrew his small brigade in perfect order towards the woods, the enemy closely pressing on. Twice he halted, fired a round, and at last reached the rear of General Sickles’ corps, which had been drawn up in position near Chancellorsville. Here he formed his regiment in close column, and you will recollect, offered to advance again to a bayonet charge. The Second brigade, General F. Barlow, commanding, had, during this time, advanced in a southerly direction. General F. Barlow soon, also, heard the heavy firing. He received from General Birney a communication advising him to close up to the Third corps, which he joined at about nine o’clock P. M., near Chancellorsville. On the morning of May 3 General F. Barlow reviewed the corps.
Both brigades were placed, on the 3d of May, behind the rifle pits towards the left of the army, which position they occupied until the army was withdrawn, on May 6. From this short relation, you will see that my Second brigade was not engaged, owing to its being detached, and that the First brigade displayed the greatest bravery under very trying circumstances. It numbered about fifteen hundred muskets, and held a position which was originally designed to be held by my whole division. It stood undismayed by the furious attack of an enemy flushed with victory over the two other divisions, and was ready again to advance as soon as it was reformed. Our loss is heavy. The First brigade lost in killed and wounded four hundred and ninety-four men and two officers; among the latter, three regimental commanders – Colonel Jones, One Hundred and Fifty-fourth regiment New York Volunteers; Lieutenant Colonel Hartmann, Twenty-ninth regiment New York Volunteers, and Lieutenant Colonel Moore, of Third Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Colonel Buschbeck lost two aides, Captain Bode, seriously wounded, and Lieutenant Grimm, both probably in the hands of the enemy. I must speak in high terms of Colonel Adolph Buschbeck for his gallantry and determination, and for the complete control he retained over his command during the whole time of the engagement; also, of his Acting Assistant Adjutant General, Captain Alexander who was constantly in the lines, and cheered the men by his courageous bearing. The conduct of the officers of my own staff also merits praise. They were much exposed. Major McAloon, Assistant Inspector General, particularly distinguished himself. I annex a sketch of the ground, showing the first position of this division. I have the honor to be your obedient servant.
A. VON STEINWEHR,
Brigadier General Commanding Second Division.