American Historical Ephemera & Photography

3 pages, 7 3/4 x 12 1/4 in., old folds, minimal spotting. 

Manuscript document, "Statement of Ordnance Stores, Lost while in possession and charge of Captain Gilbert M. Elliott, 102d New York Volunteers, Acting Ordnance Officer, 2d Division, 12th Army Corps, on the 2d and 3d days of May 1863 at the Battle of Chancellorsville, Virginia." With list of ammunition followed by a statement from Captain Elliott explaining the circumstances under which the "stores above enumerated were lost." 

Captain Elliott relates, in part: 

...About dusk Saturday May 2d I was ordered by Brigadier General John W. Geary, commanding Division to load my pack train of mules with Ammunition (2 boxes each) and proceed with the same to the woods immediately in rare of the line of battle of the Second Division, 12th Army Corps, which was scarcely accomplished when the disorderly flight of the Eleventh Corps behind the line, stampeded the mule train. The mules were reassembled as speedily as possible, but (17) seventeen were missing with their load and were not afterwards recovered by me. By direction of General Geary, the reserve ammunition for the division was placed in the Orchard in the rear of the Chancellor Mansion on the night of the first of May.

From what remained of issues on the morning of the 3d day of May, the train of pack mules was loaded. Their number being insufficient to transport all the ammunition, I had there collected, and my wagon being, by order of Major General Hooker, four miles distant, I placed a guard consisting of a Sergeant and four men over the balance of the ammunition intending to reload as fas as issues were made from the pack train, making issues in the meantime from the unloaded ammunition, until several of my mules being killed, and the fire being very hot at that point, it was deemed advisable for security to move the pack train. I did not again see the ammunition left at the mansion. 

Captain Elliott then describes in detail how the ammunition was issued to Union forces. He states:

I have no doubt that the ammunition was so issued, and did not fall into the hands of the enemy...I learned afterwards from two of the guard who were taken prisoners at that point & from officers captured at the Chancellor Mansion that no ammunition fell into the hands of the enemy at that point...

Signed ("Gilbert M. Elliott") as Major, 102nd NY Vols. Murfreesboro, TN, 22 October 1863. 

The statement is also signed by Francis Gibson, Private 102nd NY, who was then on duty with the Ordnance Officer, and Captain Lewis R. Stegman, 102nd NY (25 October 1863).