Retreat to Falmouth

Wednesday, May 6, 1863

The Union Army, ordered to retreat to Falmouth, were delayed by heavy rain on Tuesday. This morning at 4 A.M. the Union Army resumed their march and crossed the Rappahannock River at the United States Ford. Marching for twelve hours they finally returned to Falmouth in the late afternoon.

The debacle at Chancellorsville left the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut with only two active companies, D and F, and had reduced their numbers from four-hundred to one-hundred and sixty.

General Darius Couch, commander of the Second Corps, requested a new assignment and was replaced by General Winfield S. Hancock. ¹

References:
¹Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 69-70.

Journey of the Captives - Arrival at Guinea Station

Tuesday, May 5, 1863

The Twenty Seventh Connecticut reached Guinea Station on route to Richmond. They camped not far from the house where Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson lay wounded from "friendly fire" encountered at Chancellorsville on May 2. They encountered severe weather at Guinea Station which delayed their progress for two days.¹

References:
¹Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 57.

Hooker Decides to Withdraw from Chancellorsville

Monday, May 4, 1863

In the evening General Joseph Hooker held a war council with his officers and decided to move the army across the Rappahannock River to Falmouth.¹

References:
¹Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 69.

Journey of the Captives - On Route to Richmond

Monday, May 4, 1863

On their first day as prisoners of the Confederate Army the Twenty Seventh Connecticut marched passed Spottsylvania Court House on route to Richmond.¹

References:
¹Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 51-56.

Captured by the Confederates

Sunday, May 3, 1863

The Twenty-Seventh Connecticut resumed the position they held on Friday near the Chancellor House. Companies D and F of the Twenty-Seventh Connecticut were held in reserve. The remainder of the Twenty-Seventh held a position at the extreme flank of the line. After exchanging gunfire with the Confederates during the morning they noticed Confederate infantry movements in their front and in their rear. Colonel Richard Bostwick sent orders to General Winfield Hancock for reinforcements. At that point a Confederate officer approached their line with a flag of truce. He informed the Twenty-Seventh that they were entirely surrounded and entreated with them to surrender in order to avoid further bloodshed. After Colonel Bostwick confirmed that they were indeed surrounded, he surrendered to the Confederates. The Twenty-Seventh Connecticut Regiment, excepting Companies D and F, were now prisoners of the Confederate army.¹

References:
¹Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 51-56.

Engaged in Battle

Saturday, May 2, 1863

The Twenty-Seventh Connecticut took a position in the woods near the Chancellor House with the Second Corps. They spent all morning and the early afternoon building breastworks for an ensuing attack. They expected an attack along the Orange Plank Road from the east, but in the late afternoon General Thomas "Stonewall" Jackson attacked from the west, rolling up the Union line toward Chancellorsville. General Winfield Hancock ordered his Second Corps to stand firm and expect an attack from the front or from the rear.¹

References:
¹Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 48-51.

First Encounter at Chancellorsville

Friday, May 1, 1863

The Twenty-Seventh Connecticut spent a long day and night at Chancellorsville. A morning reconnaissance in the woods near the Chancellor House revealed the proximity of the Confederate army. The Twenty-Seventh spent a long evening at arms, busily digging entrenchments and building breastworks for the next day.¹

References:
¹Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 45-48.

Bivouac near the Chancellor House

Thursday, April 30, 1863

The Twenty-Seventh Connecticut followed a long a winding route to United States Ford, where they crossed the Rappahannock River without opposition. By evening the Twenty-Seventh made camp near the Chancellor House situated at the intersection of the Orange and Gordonsville Plank roads.¹

References:
¹Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 44-46.

Advancing toward Chancellorsville

Wednesday, April 29, 1863

After two weeks of heavy rain the weather cleared on Monday. After receiving orders to march on Tuesday evening the Twenty-Seventh broke camp at Falmouth this morning and began a march toward the river crossing at United States Ford.¹

References:
¹Winthrop Dudley Sheldon The "Twenty-Seventh," : A Regimental History (New Haven, Connecticut: Morris and Benham, 1866), 43-44.