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I would like to thank Adjutant Dangle and Major Wyman for their assistance in writing this report.
Headquarters
14th Tennessee,
Near Spotsylvania
Sir,
I beg to provide an after-action report for the Regiment's actions around the Hickman farm on the 30th, through 2 instant. The regiment returned from furlough on April 30. All company officers and field and staff had reported by 10 o’clock pm. Captain Hatcher’s company H was detached as sharpshooters to Major Hendrick’s battalion immediately. The regiment was consolidated into six companies as follows, in order of first through sixth company:
Company A – Capt. Schorr
Company E – Capt. Carver
Company F – Capt. Compton
Company K – Capt. Kirk
Company H – Capt. Hatcher – sharpshooters
Company L – Capt. Kegerise
The regiment bivouacked near Hubbard’s Bottom and stacked arms. Companies K and H were sent on grand guard duty and left camp around 5 o’clock pm. Shortly thereafter rations were issued with Serg’t. Matthew McLaughlin performing not only the duty of our Commissary Serg’t., but also consolidating returns for the rest of the Brigade as well.
At 8 o’clock pm Captain Carver’s company also left for grand guard. Around 10 o’clock pm two companies from the 13th Alabama were sent to relieve Co’s. K and E. For some reason these companies were not returned until early the next morning, Company K at 12 ½ o’clock am, and Company E at 7 o’clock am. At 10 ½ o’clock pm an officer’s meeting was held. Reveille was designated at 7 o’clock am. Officer’s were instructed on our probable mission for the 1st, to delay the passage of the Federal troops through the Wilderness, and oriented to the map provided by Brigade. At this time Lieu’t. Sunderland was appointed Regimental Officer of the Day. Shortly after the meeting Light’s Out was played and the Regiment slept.
Most of the officers and men awoke before Reveille and by 7 ½ o’clock am the Regiment had breakfasted and morning reports received. The Regiment’s consolidated morning report showed 99 aggregate. We shortly received orders from brigade to be prepared to move at 8 ¼ o’clock am and to lead the brigade until we connected with Major Hendricks’s sharpshooters. At 8 o’clock am The General was sounded and the Regiment quickly formed and prepared for action. By 8 ½ the Brigade was assembled and marched up toward the intersection of St. James Church Road and Beverly Ford Road. We briefly halted to allow the men to replenish their canteens and also found out that our baggage mule and teamster were missing and we would have to carry or leave any extra baggage.
We continued marching by the right flank until reaching St. James Church Road and then followed it for 100 yards before turning due North. Company A was sent forward as an advanced guard and shortly after leaving the road the Regiment deployed forward into line. Co’s. L and E were stacked behind their wings as a reserve during this movement. We advanced 300 yards before halting at the edge of the Wilderness.
At this point we received further orders. The Regiment was to be the left of the Brigade. Company L was deployed as skirmishers to our left and anchored our left flank with St. James Church Road. Company A was placed behind them as supports. The rest of the Regiment remained in line of battle. Sergeant Major James Thompson was instructed to keep communications open between Company L and the Regiment. We began moving forward into the dense woods and shortly redeployed by the right of companies to the front to allow us to pass more swiftly through the rough ground. As we advanced we began to hear firing toward our left but continued forward. Company A soon returned to the right wing and deployed behind Company E. After moving forward for approximately one mile we began to receive fire from our front. The Regiment was quickly formed and began to advance against the Federal infantry to our front. During the engagement all companies performed excellently in maintaining alignment with the exception of Company E, which was routinely 20 paces behind the battalion, perhaps due to exhaustion of the men form the previous night’s duty. Lieu’t. Colonel Semancik and Adjutant Dangel repeatedly urged Captain Carver to press forward. Although the Regiment maintained a steady fire on the enemy it also continued to advance and pressed them closely until the enemy seemed to dissolve from our front, having been driven off. Upon seeing to our front only a company deployed in open order, with a platoon with the Enemy Colors, the charge was sounded and at a run we drove off the Federal force, nearly succeeding in capturing their colors before we were ordered to halt. Casualties were very light in this engagement. Only two of the men requiring to leave the line. During this advance Ensign Haddock showed tremendous bravery in keeping the colors forward and the right wing, with the exception of Company E performed brilliantly in maintain their line while advancing and firing.
After driving the Federal Battalion off the Brigade retired 100 yards to the far side of an area devoid of underbrush. Orders were received to hold here and the men began constructing breastworks with a will. The line was marked by the Staff and in fifteen minutes a barricade of four feet tall was constructed in a cremaillere line. Companies L and E were again withdrawn and stacked behind the Regiments line as a reserve. The quickly constructed works to their front as well. The Regiments left was anchored on a copse of dense underbrush and their right on the 13th Alabama. At 75 yards to the front an abatis was constructed. Company A was detached to aggressively patrol our front and find the enemy.
Company A reported back after about 20 minutes. Captain Schor reported that he had engaged a large body of Federals but withdrew after briefly engaging them. He reported that he had found a place where his company might be able to tie out the Federals should they attempt to use the trail to our front. Col. Anders quickly ordered Capt. Schorr to try his plan. At this point fire from the Sharpshooter Battalion to our front became heavier. The 13th Alabama marched forward in an attempt to pull the enemy into our works. Company E moved back to the front lines to support the area vacated by the advancing 13th and our right was extended to over the 13th’s works.
After a short period of time extensive firing was hear to our front and shorted thereafter large numbers of casualties began streaming back. Apparently the 13th Alabama had been flanked and suffered fearful loses. The men of the 14th Tennessee manned their lines and lay down behind there works, even hiding their colors to prevent the advancing Federals from spotting our line. At this point Adjutant Dangel was ordered to take command of a company of stragglers. He moved this company behind the reserve line to replace Company E.
The Federal attack soon began. Realizing that our works were too strong for a frontal attack they pressed both flanks, the fighting on the left being most heavy.. The thin line of the 14th held the front from their breastworks while Company L and Adj’t. Dangel’s company refused the left and Company E and elements of the 13th Al. held the right. At this point Major Wyman led a counterattack on the left with Company L and Adj’t Dangel’s men. Company F was sent to support Major Wyman and the entire Regiment moved out to drive back the enemy. This sally stopped the Federal advance at that point. Their attack having failed, with significant casualties the Federals withdrew leaving the 14th to collect its wounded. During this action the Regiment lost 16 men. At this point it was noticed that Company E was missing. Almost 20 minutes later Captain Carver and his company returned- they had lost some additional men.
The Regiment rested on their arms until 5 o’clock pm, sending Companies forward on patrol and detaching four men to help guard the signal corps detachment. Shortly before 5 o’clock pm Col. Pridgeon assembled the Brigade’s officers and issued orders. We were to withdraw from our current position to one approximately 300 yards to our rear. This would allow us higher ground and a new line (the Federals were, by now, quite familiar with our works). The Regiment was the last in the column and deployed Company K to act as a rear guard. We arrived at our new position and shortly after laying out the positions for a new line of works the heavens opened with a slow steady rain. Shelter became the Regiments chief concern and the men quickly erected shebangs from oilcloths and captured shelter flies. The rain would continue until early the next morning. During the night Lieut. Col. Semancik led Company A on another patrol, not returning for several hours, with several men from Company F. Company E manned the advanced rifle pits until ordered to return when it was reported that the enemy was not within any distance of our camp, and had settled down for the night.
Total casualties for our first day’s engagement were slight. Only 20 men of all ranks were wounded severely enough to report to the aid station.
After a fitful night’s sleep the battalion awoke at 7 o’clock am. Morning reports for the 2nd totaled 73 aggregate. Some men had deserted during the night and some were forced to report to the surgeon due to illness, including the Serg’t. Maj’r. The General was sounded at 7 ½ o’clock am and the Regiment moved off, all discomfort forgotten at the prospect of renewed action. The Brigade moved along the St. James Church Road until reaching a trail, which led us toward Hickman Field, the 14th in the lead, followed cloesely by the 13th Alabama. The Brigade remained closed up despite shin deep mud. Company A was detached forward as an advanced guard and the Regiment soon broke into the Hickman Pasture. The Brigade formed a line of battle on the right by file into line and prepared to advance on the Federals who were observed about ½ mile to our front.
At this point Company A returned to the Regiment and was placed with Company K in reserve, placed 40 yards behind the main line. The 13th Alabama deployed skirmishers to our front and we began our advance. After moving over an open hill we descended into a ravine and began to climb the other side. Our skirmishers quickly drove off the Federal skirmishers allowing our Brigade to crest the next rise. When we cleared the slope we found another ravine with a woodline, evidence of a creek, between us and a larger hill to our front. The Federal skirmishers were retiring across a culvert on the creek and retiring to their main body on the hill.
We commenced firing on the Federals and began to advance toward the crossing. Major Wyman was detached with the reserved to move into the tree line to the right and bring fire upon the Federal main body. At this point Brigade ordered us to take the culvert and secure the hill on the far side. We quickly moved our by the right flank at the run to secure the crossing.
As we began the advance casualties began to drop. In short order Serg’t. McLaughlin was wounded and forced to retire. Shortly after Adjutant Dangel and Lieut. Col. Semancik were also hit. As the Regiment reached the culvert more men began to drop as they rushed to gain the far side. During the advance Col. Anders fell on the bridge and before Major Wyman could take command the attack had stalled, casualties were mounting. Just as he started them forward a detachment of Federal Cavalry charged the left flank of the Regiment. During this attack the Major was also wounded. With the loss of their entire Field and Staff, heavy casualties from the Federals on the hill, and finally the attack of the Cavalry the poor boys could take no more and fled, having suffered 50 percent casualties. With the loss of the 14th Tennessee, the 13th Alabama and the rest of the Brigade could no longer advance and the force retired.
During every action of the Regiment Ensign Haddock displayed tremendous skill and valor in advancing the colors. Captain Compton, with the assistance of Lt. Sunderland, likewise displayed cool leadership and the color company was never at fault during any evolution of the Regiment. Captains Kegerise and Kirk both displayed great bravery and accepted the major of the Regiments fatigue details with no complaints but concern for the well-being of their men. Above all Captain Schorr displayed unique courage, resourcefulness and initiative, especially for his youth and newness to command. The Staff of the 14th acted in an efficient and cooperative manner, even helping perform duties for the Brigade Staff; Serg’t. McLaughlin in particular. Both Lieut. Col. Semancik and Major Wyman also acted with resourcefulness, and worked within their wings to ensure excellent communication and great resolve. During the engagement the men of the 14th meet all that was asked of them with bravery, élan and attention to duty. Their loss on the 2nd in no way diminishes their actions as no other regiment could have effected more. Adjutant Dangel, Major Wyman, Serg’t. McLaughlin and Serg’t Major Thompson have recovered from their illness and wounds and will be rejoining the Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Semancik may not be able to return for some time. He is home on medical furlough and still regaining his health. Colonel Anders has recovered, but may be forced to resign at the end of this year due to his injuries.
Yours Most Respectfully,
First Lieut. A. Dangel,
Adj’t., 14th Tennessee Regiment
I would like to add that Lt Dangle did a superb job, and has proven to be the most useful and resourceful adjutant I have had the pleasure to work with. His skill and dedication to the Regiment has been recognized, and it duly noted.
Reviewed and added to by
Colonel S. Christian Anders
Command’g
14th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry
Headquarters
14th Tennessee,
Near Spotsylvania
Sir,
I beg to provide an after-action report for the Regiment's actions around the Hickman farm on the 30th, through 2 instant. The regiment returned from furlough on April 30. All company officers and field and staff had reported by 10 o’clock pm. Captain Hatcher’s company H was detached as sharpshooters to Major Hendrick’s battalion immediately. The regiment was consolidated into six companies as follows, in order of first through sixth company:
Company A – Capt. Schorr
Company E – Capt. Carver
Company F – Capt. Compton
Company K – Capt. Kirk
Company H – Capt. Hatcher – sharpshooters
Company L – Capt. Kegerise
The regiment bivouacked near Hubbard’s Bottom and stacked arms. Companies K and H were sent on grand guard duty and left camp around 5 o’clock pm. Shortly thereafter rations were issued with Serg’t. Matthew McLaughlin performing not only the duty of our Commissary Serg’t., but also consolidating returns for the rest of the Brigade as well.
At 8 o’clock pm Captain Carver’s company also left for grand guard. Around 10 o’clock pm two companies from the 13th Alabama were sent to relieve Co’s. K and E. For some reason these companies were not returned until early the next morning, Company K at 12 ½ o’clock am, and Company E at 7 o’clock am. At 10 ½ o’clock pm an officer’s meeting was held. Reveille was designated at 7 o’clock am. Officer’s were instructed on our probable mission for the 1st, to delay the passage of the Federal troops through the Wilderness, and oriented to the map provided by Brigade. At this time Lieu’t. Sunderland was appointed Regimental Officer of the Day. Shortly after the meeting Light’s Out was played and the Regiment slept.
Most of the officers and men awoke before Reveille and by 7 ½ o’clock am the Regiment had breakfasted and morning reports received. The Regiment’s consolidated morning report showed 99 aggregate. We shortly received orders from brigade to be prepared to move at 8 ¼ o’clock am and to lead the brigade until we connected with Major Hendricks’s sharpshooters. At 8 o’clock am The General was sounded and the Regiment quickly formed and prepared for action. By 8 ½ the Brigade was assembled and marched up toward the intersection of St. James Church Road and Beverly Ford Road. We briefly halted to allow the men to replenish their canteens and also found out that our baggage mule and teamster were missing and we would have to carry or leave any extra baggage.
We continued marching by the right flank until reaching St. James Church Road and then followed it for 100 yards before turning due North. Company A was sent forward as an advanced guard and shortly after leaving the road the Regiment deployed forward into line. Co’s. L and E were stacked behind their wings as a reserve during this movement. We advanced 300 yards before halting at the edge of the Wilderness.
At this point we received further orders. The Regiment was to be the left of the Brigade. Company L was deployed as skirmishers to our left and anchored our left flank with St. James Church Road. Company A was placed behind them as supports. The rest of the Regiment remained in line of battle. Sergeant Major James Thompson was instructed to keep communications open between Company L and the Regiment. We began moving forward into the dense woods and shortly redeployed by the right of companies to the front to allow us to pass more swiftly through the rough ground. As we advanced we began to hear firing toward our left but continued forward. Company A soon returned to the right wing and deployed behind Company E. After moving forward for approximately one mile we began to receive fire from our front. The Regiment was quickly formed and began to advance against the Federal infantry to our front. During the engagement all companies performed excellently in maintaining alignment with the exception of Company E, which was routinely 20 paces behind the battalion, perhaps due to exhaustion of the men form the previous night’s duty. Lieu’t. Colonel Semancik and Adjutant Dangel repeatedly urged Captain Carver to press forward. Although the Regiment maintained a steady fire on the enemy it also continued to advance and pressed them closely until the enemy seemed to dissolve from our front, having been driven off. Upon seeing to our front only a company deployed in open order, with a platoon with the Enemy Colors, the charge was sounded and at a run we drove off the Federal force, nearly succeeding in capturing their colors before we were ordered to halt. Casualties were very light in this engagement. Only two of the men requiring to leave the line. During this advance Ensign Haddock showed tremendous bravery in keeping the colors forward and the right wing, with the exception of Company E performed brilliantly in maintain their line while advancing and firing.
After driving the Federal Battalion off the Brigade retired 100 yards to the far side of an area devoid of underbrush. Orders were received to hold here and the men began constructing breastworks with a will. The line was marked by the Staff and in fifteen minutes a barricade of four feet tall was constructed in a cremaillere line. Companies L and E were again withdrawn and stacked behind the Regiments line as a reserve. The quickly constructed works to their front as well. The Regiments left was anchored on a copse of dense underbrush and their right on the 13th Alabama. At 75 yards to the front an abatis was constructed. Company A was detached to aggressively patrol our front and find the enemy.
Company A reported back after about 20 minutes. Captain Schor reported that he had engaged a large body of Federals but withdrew after briefly engaging them. He reported that he had found a place where his company might be able to tie out the Federals should they attempt to use the trail to our front. Col. Anders quickly ordered Capt. Schorr to try his plan. At this point fire from the Sharpshooter Battalion to our front became heavier. The 13th Alabama marched forward in an attempt to pull the enemy into our works. Company E moved back to the front lines to support the area vacated by the advancing 13th and our right was extended to over the 13th’s works.
After a short period of time extensive firing was hear to our front and shorted thereafter large numbers of casualties began streaming back. Apparently the 13th Alabama had been flanked and suffered fearful loses. The men of the 14th Tennessee manned their lines and lay down behind there works, even hiding their colors to prevent the advancing Federals from spotting our line. At this point Adjutant Dangel was ordered to take command of a company of stragglers. He moved this company behind the reserve line to replace Company E.
The Federal attack soon began. Realizing that our works were too strong for a frontal attack they pressed both flanks, the fighting on the left being most heavy.. The thin line of the 14th held the front from their breastworks while Company L and Adj’t. Dangel’s company refused the left and Company E and elements of the 13th Al. held the right. At this point Major Wyman led a counterattack on the left with Company L and Adj’t Dangel’s men. Company F was sent to support Major Wyman and the entire Regiment moved out to drive back the enemy. This sally stopped the Federal advance at that point. Their attack having failed, with significant casualties the Federals withdrew leaving the 14th to collect its wounded. During this action the Regiment lost 16 men. At this point it was noticed that Company E was missing. Almost 20 minutes later Captain Carver and his company returned- they had lost some additional men.
The Regiment rested on their arms until 5 o’clock pm, sending Companies forward on patrol and detaching four men to help guard the signal corps detachment. Shortly before 5 o’clock pm Col. Pridgeon assembled the Brigade’s officers and issued orders. We were to withdraw from our current position to one approximately 300 yards to our rear. This would allow us higher ground and a new line (the Federals were, by now, quite familiar with our works). The Regiment was the last in the column and deployed Company K to act as a rear guard. We arrived at our new position and shortly after laying out the positions for a new line of works the heavens opened with a slow steady rain. Shelter became the Regiments chief concern and the men quickly erected shebangs from oilcloths and captured shelter flies. The rain would continue until early the next morning. During the night Lieut. Col. Semancik led Company A on another patrol, not returning for several hours, with several men from Company F. Company E manned the advanced rifle pits until ordered to return when it was reported that the enemy was not within any distance of our camp, and had settled down for the night.
Total casualties for our first day’s engagement were slight. Only 20 men of all ranks were wounded severely enough to report to the aid station.
After a fitful night’s sleep the battalion awoke at 7 o’clock am. Morning reports for the 2nd totaled 73 aggregate. Some men had deserted during the night and some were forced to report to the surgeon due to illness, including the Serg’t. Maj’r. The General was sounded at 7 ½ o’clock am and the Regiment moved off, all discomfort forgotten at the prospect of renewed action. The Brigade moved along the St. James Church Road until reaching a trail, which led us toward Hickman Field, the 14th in the lead, followed cloesely by the 13th Alabama. The Brigade remained closed up despite shin deep mud. Company A was detached forward as an advanced guard and the Regiment soon broke into the Hickman Pasture. The Brigade formed a line of battle on the right by file into line and prepared to advance on the Federals who were observed about ½ mile to our front.
At this point Company A returned to the Regiment and was placed with Company K in reserve, placed 40 yards behind the main line. The 13th Alabama deployed skirmishers to our front and we began our advance. After moving over an open hill we descended into a ravine and began to climb the other side. Our skirmishers quickly drove off the Federal skirmishers allowing our Brigade to crest the next rise. When we cleared the slope we found another ravine with a woodline, evidence of a creek, between us and a larger hill to our front. The Federal skirmishers were retiring across a culvert on the creek and retiring to their main body on the hill.
We commenced firing on the Federals and began to advance toward the crossing. Major Wyman was detached with the reserved to move into the tree line to the right and bring fire upon the Federal main body. At this point Brigade ordered us to take the culvert and secure the hill on the far side. We quickly moved our by the right flank at the run to secure the crossing.
As we began the advance casualties began to drop. In short order Serg’t. McLaughlin was wounded and forced to retire. Shortly after Adjutant Dangel and Lieut. Col. Semancik were also hit. As the Regiment reached the culvert more men began to drop as they rushed to gain the far side. During the advance Col. Anders fell on the bridge and before Major Wyman could take command the attack had stalled, casualties were mounting. Just as he started them forward a detachment of Federal Cavalry charged the left flank of the Regiment. During this attack the Major was also wounded. With the loss of their entire Field and Staff, heavy casualties from the Federals on the hill, and finally the attack of the Cavalry the poor boys could take no more and fled, having suffered 50 percent casualties. With the loss of the 14th Tennessee, the 13th Alabama and the rest of the Brigade could no longer advance and the force retired.
During every action of the Regiment Ensign Haddock displayed tremendous skill and valor in advancing the colors. Captain Compton, with the assistance of Lt. Sunderland, likewise displayed cool leadership and the color company was never at fault during any evolution of the Regiment. Captains Kegerise and Kirk both displayed great bravery and accepted the major of the Regiments fatigue details with no complaints but concern for the well-being of their men. Above all Captain Schorr displayed unique courage, resourcefulness and initiative, especially for his youth and newness to command. The Staff of the 14th acted in an efficient and cooperative manner, even helping perform duties for the Brigade Staff; Serg’t. McLaughlin in particular. Both Lieut. Col. Semancik and Major Wyman also acted with resourcefulness, and worked within their wings to ensure excellent communication and great resolve. During the engagement the men of the 14th meet all that was asked of them with bravery, élan and attention to duty. Their loss on the 2nd in no way diminishes their actions as no other regiment could have effected more. Adjutant Dangel, Major Wyman, Serg’t. McLaughlin and Serg’t Major Thompson have recovered from their illness and wounds and will be rejoining the Regiment. Lieutenant Colonel Semancik may not be able to return for some time. He is home on medical furlough and still regaining his health. Colonel Anders has recovered, but may be forced to resign at the end of this year due to his injuries.
Yours Most Respectfully,
First Lieut. A. Dangel,
Adj’t., 14th Tennessee Regiment
I would like to add that Lt Dangle did a superb job, and has proven to be the most useful and resourceful adjutant I have had the pleasure to work with. His skill and dedication to the Regiment has been recognized, and it duly noted.
Reviewed and added to by
Colonel S. Christian Anders
Command’g
14th Tennessee Volunteer Infantry