| JULY 30, 1863.
SIR:
I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the Sumter
Artillery Battalion (Eleventh Georgia Battalion) from June 14 to the 15th instant, which
was under my command during that period, owing to the absence of Lieutenant-Colonel Cutts
on account of indisposition:
In obedience to an order, I reported to Major-General Anderson upon leaving
Fredericksburg, June 14, and was subject to his command, and accompanied his division upon
the march through the Shenandoah Valley, across the Potomac River, through Maryland, and
as far as Gettysburg, Pa., near which place we arrived about 3 o'clock on the evening of
the 1st instant. No event worthy of mention occurred during the march, and it was made
without loss on the part of this command, save a few horses broken down and left on the
roadside.
Early on the morning of July 2, in compliance with an order, I sent Captain
[G. M.] Patterson's battery, consisting at that time of two Napoleon guns and four
12-pounder howitzers, with one 12-pounder howitzer of Captain [H. M.] Ross' battery, to
report to Brigadier-General Wilcox, while with the battery of Captain [John T.] Wingfield,
consisting of two 20-pounder Parrotts and three 3-inch navy Parrotts, and the five
remaining pieces of Captain Ross' battery, embracing three 10-pounder Parrotts, one 3-inch
navy Parrott, and one Napoleon, I went into position by your direction on a ridge east of
the town of Gettysburg, fronting the enemy's guns on Cemetery Hill, and distant therefrom
nearly 1,400 yards. With these guns immediately under my command, I took part in the
actions of the 2d and 3d instant, being at all times during the engagement subjected to a
very heavy fire, chiefly from Napoleon guns.
In these two days' actions, Captain Ross' battery sustained a loss of 1 man killed, 2
seriously, 2 severely, and 3 slightly wounded, besides losing 9 horses killed, and having
2 wheels destroyed, firing 78 rounds of Napoleon shell and spherical case, 332 rounds
10-pounder Parrott shell, and 96 rounds 3-inch navy Parrott shell.
Captain Wingfield's battery had 2 men seriously and 7 slightly
Vol. 44, page636
wounded, besides 8 or 10 others struck, but not disabled (Captain Wingfield had a very
severe bruise on leg by piece of shell, but did not leave the field), and lost 20 horses
killed, a caisson pole broken, and several sets harness torn up by shot, firing during the
engagement 106 rounds of 20-pounder Parrott shell, and 300 rounds navy Parrott ammunition.
From Captain Patterson's report, I learn that he went into action
only on the second day's battle, then with the brigade of General Wilcox, and, though
engaged but a short while, sustained a loss of 2 men killed, 2 severely and 3 slightly
wounded, losing also 7 horses killed, and firing 170 rounds.
During the march in Pennsylvania, this command lost 4 men not accounted for, supposed to
have been captured.
On the evening of July 4, I withdrew my guns from their position near Gettysburg, and,
with the remainder of the Third Corps, moved in the direction of Hagerstown, Md., arriving
there the evening of the 6th instant.
On the 11th instant, by your command, I placed in position near where the left of the
Third Army Corps rested, and north of Saint James' College, between the Potomac and
Hagerstown, eight guns of this battalion--four guns each from the batteries of Captains
Ross and Patterson--firing while there (two days) a half
dozen rounds to dislodge the enemy's sharpshooters from a barn, by order of Major-General
Heth, in which we were successful.
On the morning of the 13th, I crossed the Potomac into Virginia at Falling Waters, having
lost in this last movement a few sponges and grease buckets.
Lieutenant-Colonel Cutts arriving at camp at Bunker Hill, Va., on the 15th instant, I
turned over the battalion to his command.
From the time of leaving Fredericksburg to the assuming of command by Lieutenant-Colonel
Cutts at Bunker Hill, the whole loss sustained by the battalion was as follows: Men
killed, 3; wounded seriously, 2; severely, 7; slightly, 13; missing, 4; total loss of men,
29. Horses killed and abandoned on the road on account of being unable to travel, 53,
besides the loss of a few of the minor equipments of the batteries, which have been
replaced.
In conclusion, colonel, I feel that I would be guilty of injustice both to the officers
and men of this command if I failed to notice the gallantry displayed by them in action,
as well as their patient endurance of the hardships of the march and the gnawings of
hunger caused by being without rations for several days consecutively. It would be
invidious to make special mention of any particular persons where all acted their part
well, which, as far as my observation extended, I can safely assert, believing that no
troops could have displayed greater courage during action or fortitude under difficulties
than the officers and men of this command at the battle of Gettysburg.
We interred our dead decently, and brought every wounded man
of the battalion across the Potomac, for which Chief Surg. [W. A.] Green is entitled to
praise.
All of which is respectfully submitted, &c.
I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
JNO. LANE,
Major of Artillery.
Col. R. L. WALKER,
Chief of Artillery, Third Corps, Army Northern Virginia.
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