HDQRS. 149TH NEW YORK VOLUNTEERS,
CAPTAIN: In compliance with orders from brigade headquarters of this date, I have
the honor to make the following report:
The One hundred and forty-ninth went into action on the morning of May 3, with 24
commissioned officers and 479 enlisted men. It was placed behind the breastworks early in
the morning. The Seventy-eighth New York was on our right and the One hundred and
thirty-seventh on our left.
About 7 a.m. the enemy got a battery in position on our right, and opened fire on our
line, completely enfilading it.
We lay under a fire of shot, shell, and grape until about 9.30 a.m., when we were
attacked by a heavy body of infantry on our right flank. After firing a few volleys, the
regiment retired along the breastworks toward the cross-roads. We formed line several
times while falling back perpendicular to the trench, and drove the enemy back each time.
The enemy still kept advancing on our right and rear, and we fell back to the edge of the
woods near the road. Here we lay until the batteries began to leave, when we were ordered
by General Hooker to join our brigade.
Lieutenant-Colonel Cook was wounded when we first began to fall back. Captain May then
took command. Colonel Cook was almost immediately taken prisoner by some of the
Mississippi Volunteers, but we rallied and got him again, taking his captors prisoners. We
took about 20 prisoners of the Fifteenth [?] Mississippi Volunteers We joined the brigade
near the cross-roads, and marched with it to near the corps hospital. We have been with
the brigade since.
We lost during the day 5 commissioned officers wounded (1 wounded and a prisoner) and 3
missing; 11 enlisted men killed, 62 wounded, and 106 missing. Total loss, 9 officers and
179 men. I will send a report of the names of the killed, wounded, and missing to-morrow.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
KOERT S. VAN VOORHIS,
Lieut. Col. 137th N. Y. Vols.: Comdg. 149th N. Y. Vols.
