Headquarters
105th Pa. Volunteers
May 7th, 1863

Captain:

I have the honor to submit the following report of the movements of my command since the 28th day of April 1863, until our return to this camp.

Having complied with all preparatory orders, the regiment moved with the brigade of the afternoon of Tuesday, the 28th day of April, with 27 officers and 320 men, and reached a point about 4 miles below Fredericksburg, on the Rappahannock, where we bivouaked for the night. The next day, April 29, we moved to the woods skirting the river, where we camped for two nights. Col. McKnight holding an informal regimental muster, on the 30th day of April, 1863.

May 1st, we took up our line of march about 2 o'clock P.M., for the right, and halted within a short distance of U. S. Ford at 12 o'clock midnight. Soon after daylight, May 2nd, we moved forward and crossed the Rappahannock at U. S. Ford about noon, when we received orders to for picket duty, and moved to a field near Chancellorsville, on the Plank road to Orange C. H. At 3 o'clock, our orders being countermanded, we moved and formed line of battle near the Chancellorsville Brick mansion, our batteries at that point being attacked, where we received a heavy artillery fire, and remained there until daylight. The brigade at that time being removed to the centre, where we were deployed as skirmishers, and remained until afternoon, when we were ordered to join the reconnaissance. This we did, and returned about 9 P.M., and laid during that night (Saturday), to the rear of the batteries, about one mile south of the Orange road, while the other brigades of the division were employed with the night attack.

At daylight on the morning of Sunday, we moved a short distance for the purpose of making an artillery road across a swampy piece of ground; as we finished this, we received a sweeping fire of musketry from the enemy, which wounded several men; we then moved to the rear of the batteries at the brick mansion. From this point we moved forward, the 114th P. V. on our right, we being on the extreme left of the brigade, and charged the woods immediately in front of these batteries; where we were engaged for nearly town hours. At the entrance of the woods, at the time we were gaining position, Colonel M'Knight was shot through the head and instantly killed. The command of the regiment then devolved upon me. It was at this time that my regiment suffered its severe loss in killed and wounded. Discovering a movement to out-flank our left, I ordered Lieut. Nesbit, of Co. B, to take his men beyond the breast-works; this he did, occupying a position where he killed and wounded many of the enemy, thus assisting to drive them from their position, and for the time, checking their movements. The enemy, however, were reinforced, and the brigade was then out-flanked on the right, when we retired from the woods in the rear of the Batteries, forming line of battle immediately in the rear of the brick mansion. Leaving this position, we reached the woods near the Orange road, where we remained, alternately doing duty in the intrenchments and to the rear of the abattis of fallen timber, the right wing being placed upon the front line of battle. It being relieved in the morning, our regiment took position on the third line, when several unimportant movements took place, but nothing of note until orders were received to march. We were ready in line from 8, P.M., until 12 midnight, when we laid down and rested for an hour. At 8, A.M., we started for the ford, which we re-crossed about 7 A.M., and returned without particular events to our camp, where we arrived, in order, about 5 P.M., with 16 officers and 220 men, our loss during the entire operation being 5 killed, 65 wounded and 7 missing. Straggling did not occur at any time. A few men being cut off from the regiment during the retreating, rejoined us about 4, P.M. All the men and officers seemed to vie with one another in doing their duty; no instance of cowardice having occurred during the different engagements. All having done so well, I can not with justice make particular mention of individual bravery.

Very respectfully,
Your ob't servant,
C. A. Craig
Liet. Col. Commanding 105th Regt. P. V.

To Capt. Birney, A. A. G.
1st Brigade, 1st Division, 3d Corps