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Report of Col. Henry W. Brown, Third New Jersey infantry, of the
battle of Cramptons Pass.
HQRS. THIRD REGIMENT NEW JERSEY VOLUNTEERS,
Camp in Cramptons Pass, Md., September 15, 1862.
SIR: On Sunday morning, the 14th instant, about 6 oclock, we left our
bivouac, and marched through a pass over the mountains to Jefferson, where
we halted in a field by the town for some time. A little before noon we
again marched to a point about half a mile to the rear of the village of
Burkittsville, where we formed line of battle on the slope of a wooded
height, a little on the right of the enemys position. After remaining a
few minutes, we moved forward into a swampy hollow, and there remained
until about 4 oclock p.m., when we marched by a flank side by side with
the First Regiment, followed respectively by the Fourth and Second,
keeping as well concealed as the nature of the ground permitted from the
fire of the enemys artillery, which was strongly posted on a road which
leads nearly parallel to the hillside from Burkittsville, and turned
suddenly to the left through the gap (artillery was also posted on the
steep, rocky, and woody height), until we came directly in front of the
enemys position, where we halted.
The First and Second Regiments moved forward, forming the first line
of the brigade. The Third and Fourth followed to the front at a distance
varying from 100 to sometimes only 30 paces in rear, according to the
nature of the ground. We moved thus over an open country intersected by
high fences, the men clambering over as best they could, and quickly
regaining their position in line, marching with great steadiness and
precision, and so through a corn-field, still exposed to a hot fire of
shell from the enemy, for a distance of one-fourth of a mile. At the verge
of the cornfield we were ordered to halt. Here we lost some men from their
shell.
Ten minutes after, we were ordered forward, and moved rapidly and
steadily across a grass field under cover of a slight rise in front. The
men were here ordered to lie down in line. The first line was now hotly
engaged, as we could hear from the incessant fusillade intermingled with
the roar of the enemys guns, now throwing grape and canister as well as
shell. In five minutes the Third and Fourth were ordered in to relieve the
first line and the men, springing up, went in with a cheer UI) to, over,
and through the high fence held by the enemy at the base of the wooded
heights and strongly lined by his sharpshooters, who delivered their fire
with great rapidity. But nothing could withstand the onset of our men. The
enemy broke and fled, pursued by our men with- out halt up the sides of
the mountain, climbing up the shingly sides of the hill until they reached
the road before mentioned.
Here it was observed that a battalion of the enemy were forming on the
right of our line, now become the first line of the brigade, when we
changed front forward and delivered a destructive fire on his half-formed
ine, followed up by a renewal of the charge, when he broke utterly and the
pursuit continued. A party of my regiment, under command of Lieutenant
Fairly, my acting adjutant, and Lieutenant Hufty, consisting of about 20
men, moved off from the regiment by my order, and cir- cling round by the
road to the right, got in rear of and around the heights up which the body
of the regiment was pursuing the retreating foe. They moved with such
rapidity that many of the party fell out exhausted, and on their arrival
at the point desired in rear the adjutant found he had but 5 men. With
these he succeeded in capturing 4 of the enemys officers and many of
their men. This party, being out of ammunition, was obliged to abandon the
pursuit, though they delivered their last remaining tire into the enemys
artil1er~, now in bill retreat, and which could easily have been captured
had there been cavalry to pursue.
Thus ended a sharp and well-contested action, in which the enemy had
every advantage of numbers, position, and artillery. In his utter and
complete rout, my men showed here what they could do when they had a fair
chance, and they here well sustained the honor of New Jersey on this
field. I have not to regret the loss of any officer killed. Captain
Stickney, of Company F, and Second Lieutenant Lambson, of Company E, are
both slightly wounded. My officers and men behaved most gallantly. Those
officers who had received their commissions the previous day (all in
command of companies) showed by their conduct how well they had deserved
their promotion. Lieutenant-Colonel Campbell, of the Fifteenth Regiment
New Jersey Volunteers, late captain of Company E, in my regiment, and of
the acceptance of whose resignation I have not yet received official
notice, was my only acting field officer, and though where all have
distinguished themselves it might seem invidious to particularize, I
should be acting unjustly did I not mention how nobly he assisted me. I
must also mention First Lieut. David Fairly, my acting adjutant, for his
promptness in repeating my commands, as well as for his perfect coolness
and daring intrepidity. Lieutenant Hufty also behaved remarkably
well.
One of my officers captured the colors of the Cobb Legion at the same
time with a private, but seeing the man belonged to the Fourth Regiment of
our brigade, he gave up his claim to the colors, and gave Colonel Hatch
the sling in the evening. Both color-bearers of my regiment, Sergeant
Haggerty, of Company A, and Corporal Westcott, of Company B, behaved with
distinguished gallantry, waving their colors continually in advance, and I
cannot speak too highly of the conduct of Acting Sergeant Dalziel of
Company D, who accompanied my acting adjutant with the party detailed and
brought down many of the enemy with his unerring rifle.
My entire loss was 11 killed and 28 wounded.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient
servant,
H. W. BROWN,
Colonel, Commanding.
Lieut. H. P. COOKE,
Acting Assistant Adjutant- General.
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