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Re: Chester Gap, VA
In Response To: Chester Gap, VA ()

The 29th Virginia, LCol. James Giles, was assigned to Corse's Brigade, Pickett's Division, Longstreet's First Army Corps.

Report [partial] of Col. William Gamble, Eighth Illinois Cavalry, commanding First Brigade [OR1, Vol. 27, Part 1, pp. 937/8]

[Note, there are various other references to Chester Gap found in the three parts of Vol. 27, Official Records of the War of Rebellion]

George Martin

NEAR CHESTER GAP, VA., JULY 21 AND 22.

In obedience to orders, this brigade marched from near Rectortown, Va., to Chester Gap (about 20 miles), arriving in that vicinity at 3.30 p.m., July 21. About a mile from the Gap our advance line of skirmishers encountered the enemy's pickets. I dismounted six squadrons, and drove the enemy's pickets to the crest of the Gap their reserve, which was found to consist of Pickett's division of infantry, one regiment of Jones' cavalry, and a battery of six guns, occupying the Gap, on the crest of the mountain. Upon obtaining this information, and not having a sufficient force to drive the enemy from the Gap, having no support nearer than 20 miles, we fell back 1 miles from the Gap, and took position so as to cover the two roads leading from the Gap, one toward Barbee's Cross-Roads, the other to Little Washington and Sperryville; placed the guns in battery, and a strong line of pickets in front and flanks.

We captured to-day 23 prisoners, 84 horses, 12 mules, 664 beef-cattle, 602 sheep, all purchased and on the way to be delivered to the rebel army at the Gap, in charge of a commissary agent and his son, who were also captured.
July 22, at 8 a.m., my pickets reported the enemy advancing in column with skirmishers on the road from the Gap toward Sperryville. When the head of the enemy's column came within easy range, we opened fire on it with artillery and the carbines of the dismounted men so effectually that his column, with his wagon train, halted and fell back out of our range, his advance guard and skirmishers being still engaged with ours, and continued firing, we holding our position, and preventing the head of Longstreet's corps from moving forward from the Gap from 8 a.m. till 6 p.m., when the enemy brought five regiments of infantry around out of sight in the woods, and, approaching my left flank, drove in our skirmishers, and only by overwhelming numbers compelled me to fall back slowly toward Barbee's Cross-Roads, keeping my vedettes and pickets watching the enemy.
I think it proper to state that our battery, under Lieutenant Heaton, Second U.S. Artillery, had the very worst kind of ammunition, and consequently could do but comparatively little execution. About one shell in twelve would explode, and then it would be prematurely, over the heads of our own men.
A tabular recapitulation of killed, wounded, and missing is herewith appended, the usual list of casualties by name having previously been forwarded, according to orders.

All of which is respectfully submitted.

WM. GAMBLE,
Col., Comdg. First Brigade, First Cavalry Division.

Capt. T. C. BACON,
Assistant Adjutant-General, First Cavalry Division,

[Inclosure.]

Number of killed, wounded, and missing of First Cavalry Brigade, from June 28 to July 31, 1863.

Locality. Date. Killed. Wounded. Missing.

Gettysburg, Pa(*) July 1, 1863 16 80 29
Williamsport, Md. July 6, 1863 3 .... 1
Boonsborough, Md. July 8, 1863 2 14 1
Funkstown, Md. July 10, 1863 3 3 1
Failing Waters, Md. July 14, 1863 .... 5 ....
Chester Gap, Va. July 21, 22, 1863 1 8 16

Total 25 110 48

WM. GAMBLE Colonel,
Commanding First Cavalry Brigade.

HEADQUARTERS FIRST CAVALRY BRIGADE,
August 24, 1863

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