---

Home	Event Description	General Rules and Registration	Preservation Fundraising	Event Committee Contact Information	Event Area Pictures
Historical and Bibliographical Information	Site Directions	Confederate Participant Information	Federal Participant Information	Latest Additions to This Website	Sutlers

---

Confederate Official Record Accounts

Payne's Farm (Mine Run) Reports from the Stonewall Brigade
OR, Vol. XXIX, Part 1

---

Report of Brigadier General James A. Walker, C.S. Army, commanding brigade

MAJOR: In obedience to circular from division headquarters, I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the "Stonewall" Brigade, on the 27th ultimo, in the affair at Payne's Farm:

On the morning of the 27th, this brigade moved from the rifle-pits near Rhodes' house, on the road leading by Bartlett's Mill to Locust Grove, following Stafford's brigade, with the ambulances of the division, Andrews' artillery, and Steuart's-brigade in our rear. When about 2 miles from Bartlett's Mill, I was informed by Major Moore, division inspector, that the enemy's skirmishers were firing into General Steuart's column from the woods on our left. Halting my brigade and facing it to the front in line of battle, I ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Colston, commanding Second Virginia, to deploy his regiment in my front and advance his skirmishers through the woods, which he did, and his regiment remained in front, gallantly holding the enemy in check until the brigade advanced to its support.

I regret very much that Lieutenant-Colonel Colston lost his leg while commanding this line of skirmishers, as he is a gallant and efficient officer, and his services are very much needed with his regiment at this time.

After remaining in line of battle along the road for two hours, I received orders to advance with the rest of the division, and moved forward, with Stafford on my right and Steuart on my left. The ground in my front for about 500 yards was thickly wooded and brushy, and beyond that was a cleared farm owned by a man named Payne. The brigade advanced rapidly through the woods and encountered the enemy at the edge of the open ground, who soon gave way in confusion, and was followed by my men some distance into the open field, when, finding that they were unsupported on our left, and being exposed to a fire from the enemy on that flank posted in the woods, which extended farther on our left than in our front, they fell back to the edge of the woods, where we maintained our ground until dark, when we fell back to the road, bringing off all our wounded and a portion of our dead.

The total loss of the brigade in this action was 20 killed and 124 wounded.

About 10 o'clock that night the brigade moved off with the rest of the division unmolested by the enemy. The subsequent operations of the brigade during the rest of the campaign were unimportant, and no special report is deemed necessary.

To my personal staff, and especially to Captain Barton, assistant adjutant-general, I am indebted for valuable assistance on the field.

I am, major, very respectfully,

Maj. R. W. HUNTER,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Johnson's Division.

CAPTAIN: In obedience to instructions from brigade headquarters, I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the Second Regiment in the engagement of Payne's Farm on November 27, 1863:

On the morning of the 27th, we were ordered to move on the Zoar Church road, the Second Regiment bringing up the rear of brigade, crossing Mine Run at Bartlett's Mill, and at the intersection of a road leading off to the left at a point about 1 ½ miles beyond the mill the brigade was ordered to halt, sharp but desultory firing being heard apparently in our rear. Lieutenant-Colonel Colston, who was then in command of the Second Regiment, received instructions from the brigade commander to deploy his regiment on the center and move by the left flank till he made a connection with the skirmish line of General Steuart's brigade. In moving our line of skirmishers got in advance of General Steuart's line some 200 yards, and overlapped the right of his line some considerable distance.

While gallantly dashing forward at the head of his line Colonel Colston was dangerously wounded in the leg and removed from the field. At his request I assumed command, and hastening to the left was rectifying this line, placing the left in charge of Captain Randolph, when received Orders from the brigade commander to withdraw my line and to connect it with General Steuart's line, on my left, and General Stafford's line, on my right.

In a few minutes after our lines were established a skirmish fire was opened by the advance of the enemy, which gradually increased in intensity during the engagement. The enemy's line was re-en-forced three distinct times, the last time by bringing up a line of battle, who were forced to occupy the line to which we had steadily held their skirmishers during the entire action. The endeavor to advance their line of battle upon the skirmish line was simultaneous with the appearance of our line of battle advancing to the support of the skirmish line. The skirmishers in the center of my line being upon the crest of a hill and directly in line of fire from both lines, I ordered them to fall back upon our line of battle and reform in its rear. Owing to the length of the skirmish engagement, a large number of men had expended their ammunition, but those who had any in their boxes, and those who had supplied themselves from the boxes of their wounded comrades, joined in the charge and pressed forward on the enemy. The engagement was closed at dark.

I cannot speak too highly of the coolness of the officers and men, and of the steady and deliberate manner in which the men delivered their fire.

I have the honor to report the following casualties in the regiment, field, and staff: Lieutenant-Colonel Colston, wounded, since died. Killed, 6 enlisted men, wounded, 3 officers and 35 enlisted men.

Respectfully submitted.

In reporting the operations of the Fourth Virginia Infantry in the engagement on the 27th ultimo at Locust Hill, a few lines will suffice.

The regiment, with the brigade, was moving on the road running by [Bartlett s] Mill to Locust Grove, when about 1 ½ miles from the mill the enemy made their appearance, coming from direction of Jacobs' Ford, on the Rapidan, on the left of General Steuart's brigade, in our rear. Skirmishers from the Second Regiment were thrown out to the left, and, after the skirmishers had been engaged for some time, my regiment, in line of battle, as part of the brigade, moved against the enemy. Advancing through the woods some 250 yards, we became engaged with the enemy in and near the fields in front. The enemy were driven a short distance. This ground we held against the enemy until dark. Our advance commenced between 3 and 4 o clock and an infantry fight, with some artillery, was kept up until dark, when the brigade was withdrawn to the road. This latter statement is made upon information, as I received a wound in the right shoulder between sundown and dark which compelled me to leave the field.

In this engagement my regiment was posted between the Fifth, on the right, and the Twenty-seventh, on the left.

My regiment in this engagement sustained considerable loss. A report of casualties has already been forwarded to brigade headquarters. Two commissioned officers (Capt. J. B. Evans, Company L, and Second Lieut. H. H. McCrady, Company D) killed, and 1 (Lieut. A. P. Bourn, Company F) permanently disabled by amputation (since dead). Capt. H. D. Wade, Company G; Lieuts. I. W. Haymaker and W. F. Wright, Company B, and Lieut. Samuel H. Lyle, Company I, wounded. Five privates killed, and 43 non-commis-sioned officers and privates wounded, and 4 missing. Among the non-commissioned officers wounded is Color Sergt. J. H. Lawrence, who was severely wounded through both legs while gallantly bearing the colors of the regiment against the foe; and I desire to mention specially the conspicuous gallantry of Private A. T. Barclay, Company I, who seized the colors when Sergeant Lawrence fell and carried them through the balance of the fight.

It is with deep regret that I am called on to record the death of Captain Evans, Lieut. A. P. Bourn, and Lieutenant McCrady, veterans of many hard-fought fields, than whom there are no braver and truer men left. The loss of such men is hard to replace. I trust the survivors will emulate their truly soldierly bearing. Where duty pointed they were ever prompt to lead. Victories are dear when purchased with such sacrifices.

Among the lamented dead is Private George W. Chapin, Company I, for some time clerk at brigade headquarters. His friends may find consolation in the assurance that he fell in the fearless discharge of his whole duty.

Many of the officers and men behaved in the most satisfactory manner, and I do not desire to create any invidious distinction, or to be regarded as disparaging others, by referring specially to Junior Second Lieut. George M. Hanson, Company A, who, though the youngest officer of the regiment in age and commission, was conspicuous for the active discharge of his duty.

It affords me pleasure to say that Adjutant Wade behaved, as usual, with coolness and courage.

Respectfully submitted.

CAPTAIN: In obedience to circular, I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by my regiment in the engagement at Payne's Farm, November 27, 1863:

On the morning of the 26, I was ordered, in company with the brigade, down the Germanna Ford road, which runs through our fortifications, behind which we lay the previous night, and keeping this road for near a mile, we turned off abruptly to the right, crossing Mine Run at Bartlett s Mill. Continuing on the old Culpeper and Fredericksburg road 2 miles, we halted, hearing heavy skirmishing in front. In a few minutes, to my surprise, I heard skirmishing in our rear along the road which we had traveled. We faced about and marched back some 200 yards. Skirmishers were deployed and soon became engaged. We then fronted and moved in advance of the road some 50 paces, when we received orders to erect temporary fortifications.

In a few minutes all order was received from the brigade commander to prepare to move forward, it having been ascertained that there was nothing but the enemy's cavalry in our front. The regiment was immediately put in motion. A charge was commenced on the left of the brigade, which was immediately taken up by my regiment. After proceeding about 200 yards, and arriving at the edge of the field, I found that my regiment was very much scattered, owing to the denseness of the undergrowth. I halted and reformed it. By this time the left of the brigade became engaged with the enemy's infantry, posted behind a fence at the skirt of a woods which run at right angles with our line of battle. Finding no enemy in my front, I wheeled my regiment to the left and took position in a lane leading to and some 300 yards from the residence of Mr. Madison Payne, which threw me within some 200 yards of the enemy's lines, when we soon became hotly engaged, which was about 4 o'clock. General Stafford's brigade came up on our right and continued the line along the lane.

About sunset Captain Dement's battery was placed in position immediately in my rear, opened fire, but was soon silenced by the enemy's infantry. We were engaged until dark, when I received an order from General Walker to fall back to our fortifications along the old Culpeper and Fredericksburg road, carrying our dead and wounded with us. Owing to a number of horses in the battery being disabled, I sent Captain Hall and a squad of men, who assisted in bringing off the piece. About I o'clock, we took up the line of march, moving toward Zoar Church, and took position along Mine Run.

It only remains for me to say that the officers and men displayed their usual gallantry and determination. There was a greater exhibition of personal courage than I have witnessed upon any of the many fields upon which they have fought.

Capt. William T. Hall, Lieut. John M. Brown, Color Sergt. W. Grimm, Sergeant Thompson (Company G), and Sergeant Fauber (Company H), are mentioned for behaving with marked gallantry on this occasion.

I am indebted to Lieutenant-Colonel Williams, Major Newton, and Adjt. Charles S. Arnall for their valuable assistance and untiring energy in keeping the men to the post of duty.

My casualties were as follows: Six killed, 24 wounded, and 1 missing; total, 31.

With deep regret at the loss of so many noble and brave men of my command,

I am, most respectfully,

SIR: I have the honor to make the following report of the part taken by the Twenty-seventh Virginia Regiment in the action at Payne's Farm on November 27, 1863:

Pursuant to orders, it left camp near Morton's Ford on the night of November 26, and having marched down to the intrenchments remained in them all night in line of battle.

Next morning received orders to move, and marched on the Locust Grove road, crossing Mine Run at Bartlett's Mill and advancing from the run about 2 miles. Firing being heard in our rear, we about-faced and marched back about a quarter of a mile and formed a line of battle parallel with the Locust Grove road and constructed temporary intrenchments of logs and rails. We remained in this position for about half an hour, when we were ordered to move forward, which we did through a dense woods.

After moving forward in line about a quarter of a mile we engaged the enemy, who were posted in the edge of the woods. Having driven them back a short distance, we held the ground until after night, when we received orders from the brigade commander to fall back to the breastworks along the road. We here stacked arms and remained for a couple of hours, when we again moved down the Locust Grove road to the stone road, again crossing Mine Run. Near the point of crossing we bivouacked for the night.

Next morning we moved to the right of the road and constructed breastworks, and remained in them until the next morning, when, the enemy opening fire upon us, we were compelled to change position, and again threw up intrenchments at right angles to the ones we had left. We remained here two days, when we were ordered back to camp near Morton's Ford.

The regiment behaved with gallantry, and during the action both officers and men did their entire duty.

Below I submit a report of casualties:

Respectfully submitted.

SIR: The night of November 26, 1863, was passed behind the fortifications running at right angles from the Rapidan, and about 9 a.m. of the next day the line of march was taken up on the road leading by Bartlett's Mill. We had not proceeded more than 2 miles beyond the mill when firing was heard in our front and rear, which was the first indication we had of the near proximity of the enemy. The column was halted in the road, and the momentary confusion caused by the attack upon it was soon displaced by order, quiet, and a feeling of confidence. A line of battle was promptly formed on <ar48_855> the road and skirmishers deployed and marched to the front. While lying in line of battle the men, of their own accord and without orders, busied themselves in some preparations to repel an attack. After the lapse of an hour, perhaps, the line of battle thus formed was ordered to advance, which it did, at first in quick time, and then in double-quick time, and with a shout, it appearing that the enemy with a heavy line of battle was driving our skirmishers back. The advancing line of the enemy was met, hurled back, and pressed for some distance, with considerable loss in killed and wounded.

Our advance was checked and enthusiasm chilled by a report (coming from, it was supposed, a creditable source) that we had fired upon a part of General Steuart's command farther in the advance than ourselves, which was soon ascertained to be false, and our fire re-opened and continued till nightfall on a line of battle of the enemy running nearly perpendicular to ours. This fire, it is believed, was effective, as it was enfilading. The report incidentally mentioned of our firing upon a part of General Steuart's command, it is believed, originated in the fact that his command formed a continuation of the original line of battle, connecting with our left, and its not being closed upon our left, it was supposed to be in advance of us, which was not the case. I informed the brigadier-general commanding that my left was exposed to an enfilading fire, but he ordering me to hold my position, if possible, I protected my left as well as I could, and held the position until ordered away after night.

The casualties of this regiment were I killed and 6 wounded. The small number of casualties is attributable in part to the vigorous attack made and in part to the advantageous position occupied by my regiment.

The men and officers of my command generally acquitted themselves well and deserve praise.

I have thus, with such brevity as was consistent with the facts and circumstances, given you an account of the part taken by this command in the action of November 27, 1863.

I am, very respectfully,