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REPORT OF CAPTAIN LOUIS E. D'AQUIN, LOUISIANA GUARD ARTILLERY
CAMP WHEAT, August 14, 1862
(I
have the honor of make the following) report of the behavior of the officer
and men of the Louisiana Guard Artillery in (the) late engagement of the 9th
instant:
The
behavior of both officers and men of this command in the battle (of) the 9th
was such as might be expected of men fighting for their homes and
liberties. It would be doing injustice to the others to mention any one for
better behavior. All seemed to have always been under fire. They behaved
like veterans, although this was their first engagement. Besides, there was
no opportunity for individual distinction. There were none absent without
leave, nor could I have made them leave even had I ordered it.
(signed) L.E. d'Aquin, Captain.
From
the Report of Capt. J.W. Latimer, Acting Chief of Artillery.
Camp near Port Royal, Va.,
December 25, 1862
Major: In obedience to orders, I would most respectfully beg leave to
submit the following report of the operation of the batteries of Ewell's
division in the engagements with the enemy, near Fredericksburg, on the
13th. and 14th. of the present month:
Early on the morning of the 13th., I was ordered by General Early to take
command of the batteries of the division as acting chief of artillery, and I
immediately reported to Colonel Crutchfield, Chief of artillery Second
Corps, for instructions..................He directed me to take my own
battery, under command of Lieutenant W.A. Tanner, and Captain Brown's, under
command of Lieutenant John E. Plater, to the relief of some batteries
occupying a position near the extreme left of the line formed by the Second
Corps, and to report to Brigadier General Pender, whose brigade then
occupied this position. Only five guns were required, and by direction of
General Pender I relieved five of the guns at that point by the two rifles
belonging to my battery, and the three rifles composing Captain Brown's.
The position on which these guns were posted was not a very advantageous
one, but the best that could be selected. It was a small rising in an open
field, with a wood to the right, in which a portion of General A.P. Hill's
division was posted, and on the left was a ditch and bank running parallel
with the railroad, behind which a portion of General Hood's division was
posted. In front, at the distance of about a mile, were four of the enemy's
batteries, with lines of skirmishers considerably advanced in front of said
batteries. We were exposed to quite a heavy fire from these batteries, but
gained the position without loss. My orders were to fire only at infantry
unless the batteries advanced, which orders I obeyed, firing only once at
them, and the only to cover the advance of General Law's brigade, which was
made late in the day. I was kept constantly engaged at this point from 11
a.m. (when I gained it) until night, repelling repeated advances of the
enemy by the use of canister.
I
relieved these batteries that night by Captain Carrington's battery, which
engaged the enemy next morning upon the advance of their skirmishers,
successfully driving them back.
Shortly after moving to the left with the batteries spoken of above, Captain
d'Aquin's and the Staunton Artillery, Lieutenant A.W. Garber, were order by
Colonel Crutchfield to the right of our lines, to report to Major John
Pelbam, where they were engaged most of the day. Not having personally
superintended their movements during the day, I am unable to describe them
minutely. Captain Dement's battery was ordered to the front on 14th., where
it remained in battery until we marched to this point, without, however,
becoming engaged at any time.
We
have to lament the loss of Capt. L.E. d'Aquin, of the Louisiana Guard
Artillery. A more gallant officer or more worthy man never fell upon the
field of battle..... He fell nobly, at his post.
The
losses in the different batteries are as follows:
Louisiana Guard Artillery (Captain d'Aquin): Captain d'Aquin killed, 1
private wounded, 2 horses disable, 1 gun disabled.
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The
following is from the Confederate Veteran, Vol. VI, No. 4 Nashville, Tenn.,
April, 1898. which contained an address by Capt. B. T. Walshe, President of
the Army of Northern Virginia Association:
"I speak more particularly now of the infantry of that army (the Army
of Northern Virginia), but to those named should be added such splendid
soldiers as.........Capt. Louis E. D'Aquin of the Louisiana Guard Artillery,
the first named killed while commanding his battery at Fredericksburg"
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