No. 163. — Report of Capt. Matthew Donovan, 16th Massachusetts Infantry

BIVOUAC IN THE FIELD, July 29, 1863.

CAPTAIN:

In accordance with circular from brigade headquarters, dated July 27, 1863, asking for a report of the operations of the regiment from the date of leaving camp to July 8, inclusive, I have the honor to transmit the following:

Thursday. June 11, broke camp at 2 p.m.; marched to Hartwood Church; bivouacked for the night. Friday, June 12, started at 6.30 a.m. and marched to Beverly Ford, on the Rappahannock; distance, 25 miles; bivouacked in woods, within 300 yards of the river.

Saturday, June 13, remained in bivouac all day; saw enemy’s pickets across the river; no shots fired. Detail from First Brigade to throw up redoubt to-night; great delay caused by not getting intrenching tools until past 1 a.m. Sunday, June 14, redoubts finished at 5.30 a.m.; the day passed quietly; received orders to be ready to start at sundown; got off at 8.30, and marched all night.

Monday, June 15, arrived at Warrenton Junction at 5 a.m.; bivouacked half a mile below Junction; slept until 12 m.; started at 1.30 p.m. for Manassas Junction, and arrived at 1 a.m. Tuesday, June 16; lay down and slept for the night.

At 7 a.m. packed up and marched 1 ½ miles; stacked arms, and remained all day and night.

Wednesday, June 17, received orders to start at 9.30 a.m.; marched about 3 miles toward Bull Run; halted until 3 p.m., in order to let the men bathe; off again, and marched to Centreville; bivouacked for the night.

Thursday, June 18, changed bivouac half a mile; remained all day and night.

Friday, June 19, received orders to start at 1 p.m.; marched to Gum Springs, arriving about dark; bivouacked for the night. Saturday, June 20, remained in bivouac all day; all quiet. Sunday, June 21, under arms all day; heard heavy firing in direction of Aldie; changed camp about 300 yards. Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, June 22, 23, and 24, remained in bivouac; all quiet.

Thursday, June 25, received orders to pack up at 4 a.m.; started at 8.30 a.m.; marched to the mouth of Monocacy River (in Maryland) by way of Edwards Ferry, arriving at 1 a.m. of the 26th. On this march we did not have time to make coffee, day or night.

Friday, June 26, started at 9 a.m. and marched to Point of Rocks; bivouacked for the night.

Saturday, June 27, started at 8 a.m. for Jefferson, arriving at 1 p.m.; from there marched to Burkittsville, arriving at 5 p.m.; our regiment ordered on picket on Crampton’s Gap, in the South Mountain; passed a quiet night. Sunday, June 28, received orders to pack up and start for Middletown, arriving at 1 a.m.; remained one hour; started again for Frederick City, arriving at 7 p.m.; marched through the city (bands playing and colors flying), and bivouacked 3 miles outside the city. Monday, June 29, started at 4.30 a.m.; marched to Taneytown, passing through the villages of Woodsborough and Middleburg, arriving about 5 p.m.; bivouacked for the night in woods in rear of the town.

Tuesday, June 30, the regiment was mustered for pay; started, and marched about 4 miles outside of Taneytown; halted, and bivouacked for the night.

Wednesday, July 1, started about 9 a.m.; marched to Emmitsburg and rested, expecting to stay all night, but got orders to start; marched toward Gettysburg; got on wrong road; about-faced, and marched toward Gettysburg, arriving some 3 miles from it at 1 a.m.; lay down and slept.

Thursday, July 2, up at daylight. At 8 a.m. were ordered into line of battle; lay down behind the stacks; skirmishing going on in front. At 4 p.m. we were ordered to advance in line of battle to an orchard; lay down under the crest of a hill. Soon after, the battle commenced in earnest. We were attacked in front and on the flank. Our men stood it bravely until overpowered by numbers; were forced to fall back a distance of 300 yards, when they again rallied, and drove the enemy back to their original lines. Our regiment lost, in killed, wounded, and missing, 81 officers and men.

Friday, July 3, at 6 a.m., cannonading commenced on our right. Our regiment, with the corps, was marched to a piece of woods, where it drew three days’ rations, the first it had had for thirty-six hours. Lay in reserve until 3 p.m., when we were ordered to support a battery, at which time we had 1 officer wounded; firing ceased about 6 p.m.; we were ordered back to the woods; passed a quiet night.

Saturday, July 4, up at 2.30 a.m.; no firing in our front; a little skirmishing on our right; the day closed with a report that the enemy were skedaddling.

Sunday, July 5, up early; all quiet; received orders to be ready to start at 6 a.m.

Monday, July 6, remained in woods all day; again received orders to start at 3 o’clock next morning.

Tuesday, July 7, started at 3 a.m.; the roads were in very bad condition owing to late rains; halted half an hour to get breakfast near Monocacy River; off again, and marched through Emmitsburg; 11.30 o’clock, halted and had dinner; started again, and marched to Mechanicstown; bivouacked for the night.

Wednesday, July 8, started at 8 a.m.; marched to Frederick City, passing through several small villages on the way; heavy rain all forenoon; roads in bad condition; we marched through the city at sundown, and bivouacked for the night 1 mile outside.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

M. DONOVAN,
Captain, Comdg. Sixteenth Regiment Mass. Vols.

Capt. LE GRAND BENEDICT,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., First Brig., Second Div., Third Corps.

from Official Records, Series 1, Volume 27, Part 1