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Reports
of Brig. Gen. W. N. R. Beall, C. S. Army, commanding Brigade PORT
HUDSON, LA., SIR: I have just
received your communication containing instructions from the major-general
commanding that I shall send 80 men from my line to relieve the Ninth
Louisiana Battalion [Partisan Rangers], on Colonel Miles' line; that this
battalion cannot be trusted on outpost or picket duty; that they are
deserting, &c., and that I must put them where they can be watched and
shot down in case they desert. I would respectfully
call the attention of the major-general commanding to the following facts:
With my brigade I was assigned a certain portion of the breastworks to
defend. Since the enemy have appeared in our front, more than one-third of
my best troops have been taken from me and moved to the left, where they
now are, under the command of a junior officer. This I did not object to,
as the interests of the service seemed to require such an assignment; but
now that 80 men on the right are found who are worse than no men at all, I
do object to having men taken from my line, which is so thinly guarded
that I am constantly fearing that the enemy may storm the works, and 80
soldiers "that cannot be trusted" put in their stead. I do not
think that is doing me justice, and if I am to take the 80 men from the
line, cannot say that the chance to hold it against the enemy is even a
good one. I have no place to assign these 80 men where they can be watched
and fired upon should they attempt to desert, and the only place where
this can be done is the guard-house, and I would recommend that they be
sent there for safekeeping. I cannot guard them on my line. I had far
rather not have them than to have them. I ask that 80 men from the left be
sent to take the place of these men. If the major-general will only pass
along my line, he will see how few men I have to guard a long and
important front. Every day that 1 pass along it, my apprehensions are
greatly increased. I am, respectfully, W.
N. R. BEALL, Brigadier-General. Lieut. J. S. LANIER, Acting Assistant
Adjutant-General. ----- HDQRS.
BEALL'S BRIG., Jackson Road, June 14, 1863. GENERAL: The men have
repulsed several charges on this line. The First Mississippi is scarce of
caps; can you send me any? I am trying to get them from the regiments on
the right. Our loss thus far small; that of the enemy large. Most of our
guns (artillery) are disabled on this line. Fire of artillery from enemy
very severe. Respectfully, W.
N. R. BEALL, Brigadier-General. [Major-General GARDNER.] ----- HDQRS.
BEALL'S BRIG., Port Hudson, La., June 14, 1863. MAJOR: The loss of the
First Mississippi Regiment in to-day's engagement is very severe--18
killed and about 14 wounded. The command is much reduced. Cannot the 100
men ordered to Colonel [B. W.] Johnson for duty be returned to the
regiment? Very respectfully, W.
N. R. BEALL, Brigadier-General. Maj. T. F. WILLSON, Assistant
Adjutant-General, Third Military District. [Inclosure.] Report of Casualties in Beall's brigade up to
June 1, 1863.* Command
Killed
Wounded
Missing
T
1st
Alabama, Company K
2
2
....
4 49th
Alabama
3
18
11 32 10th
Arkansas
14
20
49 83 12th
Arkansas
3
11
.... 14 15th
Arkansas
12
39
30 81 16th
Arkansas
2
3
....
5 23d
Arkansas
7
28
5
40 1st
Arkansas Battalion
1
1
....
2 12th
Louisiana Artillery Battalion, Company D.
....
6
....
6 Watson
(Louisiana) Battery
2
10
....
12 1st
Mississippi
5
13
1
19 39th
Mississippi
2
4
....
6 1st
Mississippi Light Artillery Battalion
11
33
....
44 1st
Tennessee Artillery Battalion, Company B
2
2
....
4 1st
Tennessee Artillery Battalion, Company G
2
4
....
6
Total
68 194
96
358 Respectfully submitted. W.
N. R. BEALL, Brigadier-General. [Major-General GARDNER.] HEADQUARTERS
BEALL'S BRIGADE, GENERAL: The dead, 160,
and 1 wounded man have been delivered. There are signs of many having been
buried by the enemy. General Paine was
wounded in three places--in the leg, side, and shoulder--and lay all the
day of the fight near our breastworks; he will lose a leg. There are
hundreds of guns near the breastworks, also any number of hand-grenades. I am, general, respectfully,
&c., W.
N. R. BEALL, Brigadier-General Major-General GARDNER, Commanding. ----- HEADQUARTERS
BEALL'S BRIGADE, GENERAL: The works of
the enemy opposite the First Mississippi are very strong and extensive,
and enable him to throw a force in our ditch without our being able to use
sharpshooters on them. These facts will, I think, enable him to throw a
force of men inside of our works without our being able to drive him back,
unless heavy re-enforcements are brought from other points of the line. To do this will be to
leave said points unguarded, and to permit the enemy to come over there
also. There is more
discontent among the men within the last few days than I have discovered
before, and I very much fear that the officers are at the bottom of it. If you have any
directions to give me in reference to use of the troops in case the enemy
get over the works, I should like to have them, as I do not think that his
attack will be delayed much longer, as his works are very formidable, and,
to appearances, nearly completed. But one company of the
Tenth Arkansas has reported--the others refuse, so I am told. I am, general, very
respectfully, &c., W.
N. R. BEALL, Brigadier-General. Major-General GARDNER.
*These casualties are probably included in Surg. J. R. Barnett's returns. |
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