Old Bedford Village AAR

From: Hqtrs, 1st Battalion Birney's Division
After Action Report from Old Bedford Village

15 June:

Troops began to filter into the village in the afternoon with the bulk of the army in camp by 10 PM. All the amenities were in place and the weather promised to be beautiful.

16 June:

Reveille was at 7 AM and morning reports were turned into headquarters promptly afterward. Morning reports showed 89 infantry, 6 artillery pieces, and 20 cavalry (mounted and dismounted). Dress parade was held with the aid of the 46th PVI Band and Battalion drill followed. The men were dismissed and given time to relax and rest up for the afternoon's action.

Formation for battle took place at 12:30 and the battalion moved out with 6 companies to a staging position covering the artillery battery on the north end of the field outside the village. 6th Company under CPT Felice moved forward of the lines to occupy the fortifications near the woods. Rebel artillery opened up around 1:00, the main confederate force came out of the woods using the Swamp Road, and after a stiff resistance, forced out the 6th Company. The 1st Division, under CPT Murphy with the 1st Company, under CPT MacGregor, and the 2nd Company, under CPT Towarnicki, moved forward to assist the 6th company and hold the confederate infantry at bay. After exchanging volleys, the 2nd and 3rd Division with COL Rohrbaugh leading, moved forward and pushed the remaning rebels back into the fortifications. The dismounted cavalry under CPT Brindle moved on the right flank and began to silence the enemy guns. A two prong assault of the fortifications began with the 1st Division making a frontal assault and the remainder of the Battalion sweeping the enemies right flank forcing the rebels to flee. Not wanting to be in an exposed position the battalion withdrew back to the town of Bedford for the night. After an almost wedding of 1LT Bowling to a "southern belle", all was quiet with the sounds of music from banjos, and singing was heard throughout camp.

17 June:

Reveille was held at the same time and after reports were turned in the battalion numbers showed 80 infantry ready for duty and the same amount of artillery and cavalry from the prior day. Church services were held and the men were given the morning to rest and spend time with their families.

Formation was at 1:00; dress parade was conducted with no change to the battalion order of battle from the 16th. The battalion stepped off at 1:40 and was in place by 1:50. The 1st Division was held at the western end of the line covering the artillery's right flank with dismounted cavalry covering the infantries right flank. The 5th company under CPT Dolbin was ordered to move out and occupy the fortifications vacated the prior day, and 4th Company under CPT Morgan was tasked with covering the Swamp Road. Rebel cavalry sweeped down the road and were heavily engaged by the 4th and 5th Companies. 4th Company linked up with 5th Company and were eventually pushed back by the supporting rebel infantry and artillery brought up. 1st Division moved out to push the rebel front and cover the withdrawal of the 4th and 5th Companies. The Left Wing moved out and linked up with the 4th and 5th companies. The 1st Division pushed forward to within 50 yards of the enemy fortifications, after heavy casuaulties, they were forced to withdrawal. The rebels began to push forward and began inflicting heavy casualties on the entire battalion. A fighting withdrawal took place making the rebels pay dearly, with the line holding at the hubs of the artillery with the artillery gunners ready to fight with their implements. A cease fire was arranged with the rebels holding the ground.

I would like to thank all the company commanders; CPT MacGregor, 1LT Bowling, CPT Towarnicki, CPT Wolgemuth, CPT Morgan, CPT Dolbin, and CPT Felice for all their hard work during the weekend, as well as the Battalion Staff, SGM Donahue, SGM Hicks, MAJ Doyle, MAJ Guilliams, LTC Wagner, MAJ Gallaher, and of course our commander COL Rohrbaugh, as well as our Chief of Staff BG Maffei.


Your Obediant Servant,

CPT M. Murphy
Adjutant, 1st Battalion, Birney's Division