Civil War Song

First Hand Accounts

In this book there are first hand accounts on the battle of Chancellersville.

Diary Entry by Albert Peel 1863

They entries below are by Albert Peel a year before his death and his battle at Chancellorsville.

Wednesday, April 29 - Orders came this evening to fall in to fight. Major Hardin went to take command of the right wing which was on picket. Col. Harris was absent so I formed the left wing & formed on the 12 Regt, marched in quick time to the Chanseller Hotel, & Genl. Posey sent us on picket 1½ mile up the road. I put out 2 Companies in advance as pickets. Col. Harris came to us at 9 p.m. Our pickets brought in a prisoner who reported that a company of the enemy had crossed at germanias ford.

Thursday, April 30 - I slept but little last night. Gen Posey ordered us to hold our position ½ an hour then fall back to Chancellerville hold it 1 hour and follow the Brigade towards Fredericksburg, our pickets fought. We came to the Brigade and halted near the frame church, dug rifle trenches, our pickets fought the enemy. One man from our Regt was wounded. We chopped the bushes down in front of our line. Sleep in the trenches.

Friday May 1, 1863 -The water rose in the trench & got me wet last night. We left the trench & went 2 miles up the plank Road with Genl Jackson. The 12 Regt was deployed as skirmishers & the remainder of the Brigade followed in line of battle. We killed 10 or 12 yankeys & drove them two & half miles through the worst swamp that I ever saw. They got into breastworks. We halt and sleep on our arms in 150 yards of the enemy.

Saturday 2 - We were ordered back a mile early this morning. Genl Jackson compliments us very highly Says we did more than he thought we could, we drew 2 days rations & clothes; marched down towards the river, form a line of battle Send out skirmishers, one got killed. A spy ran through our lines & escaped. Have heavy picket fighting tonight.

Sunday 3 - We repulsed the enemy every time last night. Genl Jackson had his arm shot off by his own men. We moved forward, Pastor Duke with 10 men captured 65 yankeys, 1 Lt Colonel and a Lt. our regiment was deployed as skirmishers charged a breastworks and took it. Lost 51 men killed & wounded, routed the enemy. We went to U. S. Ford our Regt was deployed as skirmishers had a little fight drew off our Regt at 11 oclock p.m.

Monday May 4, 1863 - We left U. S. Ford at 8. Left C, E, & A in our rear for guards. Came within 2 miles of the Brick Church & halted, eat dinner, & move and round south of Fredericksburg, formed a line of battle in sight of the enemy. They opened fire on us, at 5 we moved round to the right under hot fire, crossed the Plank Road, formed a line took some prisoners, stayed till 12m, the enemy retreated and we followed, halted at Banks ford at 1 a.m.

Tuesday 5 - We captured a regt at the ford last night. Sent out Skouts, captured a good many today, moved up on the Plank Road near the hospital, halted at dark , camped, sent out pickets. The enemy are at U. S. Ford 2 miles ahead. I heard that Genl Barksdale lost 1,100 men at Fredericksburg, Col. Griffin was Bayoneted after he was wounded. I Stay in the surgeons tent tonight. We are all very wet. It rained all the evening.

Wednesday 6 - We moved at 8 a.m. halted at Chancellerville at 9, heard that the enemy were crossing the river, went after them, took a few prisoners. Sent our men to gather up spoils of the Battlefield, returned to our old camp near Fredericksburg. I was very sick for 2 hour Got to camp at dark, it rained very hard, all of the field and staff officers sleep in the Surgeons tent.

Pictures of Chancellorsville

These are pictures of soldiers that battled in the War.

Newspaper Pictures.

The pictures below are a sketched pictures of the Battle of Chancellorsville by A. R. Waud and were printed in the Harper's Weekly Newspaper,which was a Civil War newspaper, on May 23 ,1863.

Letter 1-Samuel W. Noth

The




Camp Near Falmouth Va. May 7th 1863
Dear Father

I received your letter but had neither time nor of oportunity to answer it sooner. As you have no doubt heard the Army of the Potomac has fought another great battle. We left our camp on Monday the 27th [unclear: ult] & marched up the river about 25 miles where we crossed & then marched on to the rapidan river which We reached Wensday evening the pontoon train passed [ on before our corps] on did not lay a bridge for us consequently we had to wade it, the water up to our middles & so swift we could hardly keep our feet moved down to Chauncersville I took up position our corps commenced the battle the first fighting began on the 1st but our divission was not engaged until Sunday morning when the battle opened most [unclear: furious] our brigade was ordered to support another then ahead & advancing into the woods when it came near the enemies lines. They fired a few shots & then fell back & left us to stand it our selves we were engaged about [unclear: 2] hours the amunition began to run out & there was neither support nor relief coming so we had to fall back & they followed us yelling like indians. I fired 30 rounds some fired more but my gun was so hot I was afraid to load any faster

We lost one killed, Nick Trout, Bro of lieut Wounded Wm Starliper dangerously in the leg. Luther Zimmerman in the arm. Jas McConnell in the leg. Wm McDowell in the head, severely. Thom C. Metcalf in the back of the head. Bryson Bruce in leg & amp;hand. J. O. Parker finger shot off George Cole in the hand & [unclear: Doug] Coyle from a spent ball in the shoulder. he is still with us were all slightly wounded Starlipers is the only one very dangerous. Although McConnell, McDowell & Zimmerman are very severe wounds. We got home late on the evening of the tenth day, yesterday, tired and worn out. it rained a great deal & the roads were in an awfull condition. The result is a failure so far as I can hear though we had the fight behind Fredricksburg & did not take measures to hold them. I dont know who commanded the force which crossed there. We may be home before this reaches you. We hope to leave this tomorrow but are not sure but they will try to keep us a few days longer. it is uncertain about leaving tomorrow. Co. Cs time is up on the evening of the 8th Jacob & I are in our usual health, only a little stiff & sore from the fatigue & exposure it rained most every other day I lost my knapsack in the fight & had nothing to sleep in but the clothes I had on & a piece of tent excuse this poor letter as I lost my writing material. as I have just come from the battle field you need not fear that I will enlist again. there was five days fighting. We were all disappointed in Seigles dutch 11th Corps they did not stand up to the work well Our Brigade was complimented by Gen. Meade, for our Bravery. the battle will probably be called the Battle of Chauncerville . there was a battle going on at Fredricksburg at the same time our men drove them from the heighths but they returned with overwhelming force & retook them.

You have no doubt heard from the papers more correctly than I can tell you as Ive no way but hearsay to find out any news

your affectionate son