An Account Of The 12th Army Corps In The Battle Of Chancellorsville, Signed By 12th Commander Henry Slocum: “The Rebel General T. J. Jackson Was Mortally Wounded Early In The Operations Of The Night Of The 2nd”

HENRY W. SLOCUM (1827-1894). Slocum was a Union Army General who saw action at First Manassas, Antietam and Chancellorsville, and then was a Representative from New York. DS. 2pg. 31” x 33”. May 1863. Headquarters of the 12th Army Corps, near Stafford County, Virginia. An enormous, partly-printed folio document signed “H. W. Slocum” as commander of the 12th Army Corps in the American Civil War. At the top, it is titled “Return of the Twelfth Army Corps, Army of the Potomac, Commanded by Major General Henry W. Slocum, for the month of May, 1863.” This partially-printed report details the 12th’s heavy involvement in the recent Battle of Chancellorsville. It gives details about divisions, brigades, leadership, personnel, etc., alongside narratives of the first and second divisions’ action at Chancellorsville. It is signed “S. E. Pittman” by aide de camp Samuel E. Pittman, who wrote the narratives and filled out the body of the document. It reads, in part: “The enemy were found and successfully engaged by our troops…the division was attacked by the enemy at 5:00 p.m. and after a brisk fight of about two hours duration repulsed him…One of the most important results of the campaign proceeded from the prompt and determined resistance made by the vision upon this occasion, for the Rebel General T. J. Jackson was mortally wounded early in the operations of the night of the 2nd…Shortly after daylight on the 3rd action commenced on right of our line of battle. At 8:00 a.m. the division was in the trenches exposed to a terrible infilade [sic] fire from the enemy who had succeeded in turning the right flank of the army. The flank of the division was exposed and ordered to retire and form lines at right angles with former line of battle, right resting near Chancellorsville House…”. Slocum signed at the bottom of the document, as did “C. H. Rodgers” as Assistant Adjutant General. This large document is in good condition, splitting along some of its many folds and joints. Although the battle narrative was not actually written in Slocum’s hand, his signature nearby still makes it rare for a Civil War battle account.