Reports of Colonel David Ireland
CAMP NEAR AQUIA CREEK, VA., [May] -, 1863.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the One hundred and thirty-seventh Regiment New York Volunteers during the late engagement near Chancellorsville:
On Thursday afternoon, April 30, in accordance with orders from you, we formed in line of battle, and marched through a piece of woods a short distance from the Fredericksburg Plank road, and on the right of the road. We stacked arms, and remained there during the night.
On Friday, accompanied the brigade on the reconnaissance, and returned to the position we formerly occupied about 4 p. m. About 10 p. m. received orders to throw up a small breastwork and cover the front with abatis; this occupied us until about 3 a. m. The men having very few tools, threw up most of this with tin plates and bayonets.
We were in position behind this breastwork until about 2 p. m., May 3, when we received orders to move out by the flank promptly. This order was countermanded as we neared the Plank road on the left, when we returned to our former position. On arriving there, the same orders were again given and obeyed, but on nearing the Plank road again were countermanded, when we again returned to our former position, where we remained until Sunday morning, when the enemy opened a heavy fire of shots and shell, killing and wounding several, and, being in a position to enfilade us, we lay in the trenches under fire for some time. We had orders to march out by the left flank, which we obeyed. We marched thus out of the trenches, crossed the Plank road, and then across an open field, where we struck the Fredericksburg road, and field into the woods, and there halted. While there, the enemy shelled our position, killing 1 and wounding several men. The firing was quite heavy. We then received orders to march, and, with the exception of a short halt for dinner, continued our march until we reached the road and within about 3 miles from the United States Ford, and there took a position. While there, received orders to report to General Barlow, of the Eleventh Corps. By his order we were stationed in a ravine on the road leading to the United States Ford. We remained in that position from the time we entered (at 8 p. m. Sunday evening) until Monday morning, during which time the rest of the brigade moved near our position; we then joined the brigade.
On Monday, about 9 a. m., received orders to make a reconnaissance on the River road. We went a short distance, when we received orders from Major Guindon, of General Slocum's staff, to retire, which order was obeyed, and we returned to the brigade, where we remained.
During the time this regiment was under fire, the officers and men obeyed all orders promptly, and manifested much coolness and bravery.
One man caught a shell that was on fire and threw it over the breastworks, and there it exploded.
I am, respectfully, your obedient servant,
DAVID IRELAND,
Colonel, Commanding Regiment.
[Captain C. P. HORTON, Asst. Adjt. General, Third Brigade]
HDQRS. 137TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS,
May 8, 1863.
CAPTAIN: In compliance with orders, I have the honor to make the following report of the action of May 3:
The One hundred and thirty-seventh Regiment New York Volunteers went into with 29 commissioned officers and 534 enlisted men. We were in an intrenchment built by this regiment the night provisions with no other tools than bayonets and tin plates. The One hundred and second New York Volunteers were on our right and the Sixtieth New York Volunteers on our left.
About 7 a. m. the enemy got batteries in position on our right, and opened on us with shot and shell, raking our entrenchments completely. At the same time they opened on our front. We lay under that fire about two hours, having while there 1 commissioned officer wounded and 2 enlisted men killed. The men were perfectly cool, and some of them threw shells over the entrenchments, where they exploded. We then received orders to retire by the left flank, which order was obeyed, and after passing some batteries in an open field near the brick house, and while in a woods that was on our right, we were shelled again. Here we had 1 commissioned officer wounded and 1 enlisted man killed. We then marched with the brigade past the corps hospital, and, while resting in the woods, were again shelled. We returned again on the road toward the ford.
Toward evening received orders to report to General Barlow, of the Eleventh Corps, who stationed us in a ravine, where we took position. The brigade coming up in the morning, we joined it, and have been with it ever since.
Our loss is as follows:
Officers and men Killed / Wounded / Missing /Total.
Commissioned officers ......... 0/2/1/3
Enlisted men ....................... 3/14/35/52
Total ................. 3/16/36/55
The missing are supposed to have been taken prisoners.
I would most respectfully state that we had but 2 men leave the ranks without orders during the whole operations. One of them left on Monday. They have since returned.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
DAVID IRELAND,
Colonel One hundred and Thirty-seventh Regiment New York Vols.
[Captain C. P. HORTON, Asst. Adjt. General, Third Brigade.]
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