Humphries, were ordered to that side of the road, and to support Kershaw's brigade, if it should become necessary to do so. 403 all of The entire command, although one third of its The Eighteenth regiment, Colonel Griffin, was ordered, after dark, to the battle-field, and slept upon it-the enemy, during the night, continuing his flight. On Monday we continued the march, but did not reach the battle-field of that day until ten o'clock at night. The next morning at daylight, the pickets reported that the enemy was advancing. I at once ordered the brigade in line of battle, and advanced across the field to a skirt of woods, and halted, and awaited his attack, throwing out several companies of skirmishers; but -the enemy the report proved to be unfoundedhaving, during the night, retreated, leaving his dead and wounded in our hands. Our companies of skirmishers captured a number of prisoners, who were sent to the rear. About two o'clock the enemy were discovered in a strong position, and in immense numbers, on the Crew's farm and Malvern Hills. By your orders, given to me in person, the brigade was formed in the woods, in front of the enemy, and in range of his fire, both from his batteries and gunboats in James River, about one mile and a half distant- the men being protected, as well as it could be done, by the woods and brow of a hill. Here shot and shell fell thick among usseveral being killed and wounded, and among them, Major Moody, of the Twenty-first regiment, who was seriously wounded in the foot. At about six o'clock the brigade was ordered to advance upon the enemy, to support our friends who were already engaged, and if possible, to take his batteries. The order was promptly obeyed. The brigade was formed in the open field, and advanced upon the enemy under a terrible fire of shell, grape, canister, and minie balls, and continued the assault until night closed the scene, when it retired in good order to the position it formerly occupied in the woods. Colonels Holder and Griffin, and Lieutenant-Colonel Brandon, commanding Twenty-first regiment, were all severely wounded while gallantly and nobly leading their regiments into action. To Captain Costin, Aid-de-camp, I am much I was deprived of the valuable services of Ma- It is proper for me to say that twice during the battle Captain McCarthy's battery engaged the enemy, and that both he and his command behaved with coolness and courage worthy of the cause. Dr. Gilmore, senior surgeon of the brigade, and his assistants, in the discharge of their duborne from the field as rapidly as they could be ties, were indefatigable- having the wounded found. I desire to call the attention of the department to this officer, who, by his skill as a surgeon, and ability as a physician, is eminently entitled to its I have the honor to be, very respectfully, favorable consideration. Your obedient servant, WILLIAM BARKSDALE. Colonel, commanding Brigade. REPORT OF GENERAL KERSHAW. HEADQUARTERS FOURTH BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION, NEAR RICHMOND, July 14, 1862. CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit my report of the part taken by the troops under my command, in the recent battles before Richmond: With the exception of frequent movements of my regiments, under orders from Major-General Magruder, and occasional attacks upon the outposts of the enemy to ascertain their strength, resulting in the loss to the Seventh regiment of one killed and three wounded, and to the Third of several wounded, and the discovery that the enemy was at least in his usual force in our front, until Sunday morning, the twenty-ninth. nothing of importance occurred in my command At an early hour I received orders from MajorLieutenant-Colonel Carter, commanding the Thirteenth regiment, while handling his men General McLaws to send forward a regiment and with consummate skill, was wounded and taken ascertain the condition of things in front. I defrom the field. The command in the Thirteenth spatched the Second South Carolina, Colonel regiment devolved upon Major McElroy; in the Kennedy. Some hours after, I received from Seventeenth, on Lieutenant-Colonel Fizer; in that officer information that the enemy had dis appeared, and that he occupied his abandoned Savage's farm. Sending forward the line of works. Immediately communicating with di- skirmishers to brush the wood, they soon encounvision headquarters, I received orders to advance tered the enemy in heavy force, and a formidable my entire command to the support of Colonel artillery fire. Kemper's battery was placed in Kennedy. Soon after the arrival of this brigade position on the road, Colonel Henagan's Eighth at Fair Oaks, my skirmishers, under command of South Carolina regiment was thrown to his right Major Gaillard, of the Second regiment, became across the road, and the whole command became engaged slightly on the left, and my whole com- engaged. I ordered the Second and Third regimand was ordered to advance cautiously across ments to charge, which they did in gallant style; the York River Railroad, along the Nine-mile and, immediately after, the Seventh regiment, road, under repeated cautions to be careful not Colonel Aiken. These regiments steadily and to engage the forces of General Jackson, who rapidly advanced, driving the enemy before them were believed to be advancing from the Chicka- through the wood, and well into the field beyond, hominy to our left. We advanced about a mile, throwing them into confusion, and strewing the when the firing along the left of my line (of skir-ground with dead. In the mean time, the Seventh mishers) became general, and an artillery fire regiment, which was next the Williamsburg road, from our left front was opened upon our column. found itself flanked by the enemy, who had Having every reason to suppose that this might advanced along that road in the direction of be a collision with General Jackson's forces, I restrained the fire of my men, and sent a regimental battle-flag to the front to be waved on the railroad. At this juncture I was ordered to fall back and take position, with my left resting on the railroad. Here it became evident, from the continuance of the fire upon our lines, that the enemy was in front of us. Kemper's battery and the Eighth regiment, to a position some two hundred yards in our rear. Matters were in this position when General Semmes attacked on my right. The line of his fire upon the enemy rendered the position of my advanced regiments on the left of the road extremely hazardous, and Colonel Aiken very properly fell back to the general line of battle, followed by Colonels Nance and Kennedy. In the mean time, Kemper's battery, flanked by the Eighth regiment, had inflicted terrible havoc upon the enemy, whose dead lay in heaps along the road, scarcely two hundred yards from the battery. The conduct of both officers and men in this engagement was most commendable. Nothing could exceed the gallantry, self-possession, and efficiency of the regimental commanders, Colonels Henagan and Kennedy, Nance and Aiken, to whom my thanks are especially due. About three o'clock P. M., the other troops of General Magruder's command being in position, I received orders to advance along the line of the railroad, and marched at once steadily in the direction of Savage's Station. Arriving at the point from which the enemy had fired his artillery, (the first house on the right of the railroad, below Fair Oaks,) it was ascertained that he had retired. Still advancing, my right skirmishers became engaged while passing through the wood; but, upon reaching the open plain beyond, the enemy was found occupying a series of heavy Though my loss was heavy, it is with pride and earthworks, at the far end of the field, on the satisfaction that we turn to five hundred dead of Williamsburg road. I halted the command un- the enemy left on the field as attesting the der the brow of the hill, sent for Kemper's bat-bravery and efficiency of the troops engaged at tery, and ordered forward, along a ravine, near Savage's, and that our loss was fearfully avenged. the railroad, to a thick wood in front of my left, I regret to record the loss of Lieutenant-Colonel the Second and Third regiments South Carolina B. C. Garlington, Third regiment South Carolina volunteers, to flank the redoubts, and to charge volunteers, of whom his commanding officer them, if practicable. Kemper arriving, I direct- most truly says, he was an officer of fine judg ed him to open upon the enemy, which he did ment, cool courage, and commendable energy. with such rapidity and effect, as to disperse them He was killed instantly in the act of brandishing without the aid of infantry. At this moment I his sword defiantly. Lieutenant-Colonel Goodreceived orders from Major-General Magruder to wyn, of the Second regiment, and Lieutenantcontinue my advance, and attack any position I Colonel Bland, of the Seventh South Carolina might meet the enemy in. I ordered my com- regiment, were both severely wounded, conspicumand forward, preceded, as before, by skirmish- ously exposed as they were in the active disers, commanded by Major Gaillard, to whose as- charge of their duties in the field. Major Gailsistance I sent Major Rutherford, of the Third lard, of the Second regiment, was charged with regiment. I signified to Major Brent, who the important and responsible duty of directing brought me the order, that, in my opinion, there the movements of the skirmishers during the should be troops to my right, which only extend- day. This duty he discharged with great judged to the Williamsburg road, though my skirmish- ment and gallantry. His horse was killed under ers were extended beyond to cover that flank. In him during the engagement. He was efficiently a few minutes I heard that Major-General Mc-assisted in the duties of his position by Major Laws had ordered forward General Semmes' Rutherford, Third South Carolina volunteers. brigade to that position. Continuing the ad- Captain Kemper and the officers and men under vance through the abandoned works and camps his command maintained the high reputation they of themy, taking some prisoners on the way, established at Vienna, Bull Run, and Manassas. edge of the wood which skirts For particular mention of such of the company officers as require especial notice, I respectfully open ground in front, engaged the left line of the refer to the reports of the regimental com- enemy with some effect; but the rest of the commanders, which accompany this. This action be- mand were powerless to accomplish anything in ing closed by the approach of a stormy night, their then position, and I was satisfied that any my command, reenforced by the Eighteenth farther advance at that point would insure the Mississippi regiment, Colonel Griffin, lay upon destruction of my command, unless some change their arms on the field of battle until daylight, was made in the enemy's position. The nature when it was ascertained that the enemy had dis- of the ground affording considerable protection appeared. Removing our wounded and burying to the men, I determined to hold them there, in our dead, we marched, under the command of the hope that some diversion by an attack, either Major-General McLaws, by the Enroughty Town on the right or left, might be created in our favor. road to New Market, and prepared to bivouac After some time, a galling fire was opened from for the night, but were almost immediately or- our rear, killing and wounding the men and prodered forward to the support of General Long-ducing a general feeling of uneasiness in the street, then engaged with the enemy at Frazier's whole command. Captain Holmes, A. A. G., and farm. On the way, we were halted and permitted Lieutenant Dwight, A. A. I. G., of my staff, went to rest until eleven o'clock P. M., when we contin- back in person to arrest the fire. Major Rutherued the march to Frazier's farm, arriving just in ford, of the Third regiment, attempted to do the time to take our position by daylight on the morn-same, and Corporal T. Whitner is especially ing of the first of July. About eight o'clock A. M., commended by Colonel Nance for having volunwe advanced in line of battle as far as the Willis teered for the same dangerous duty. Finding Church road, where the forces of General Jack-that the fire still continued for some time, doing son passed to our right, and we were ordered us more damage than that of the enemy, I ordered back along the Long Bridge road, several miles to the command to retire by the route we came to the rear, where we remained in line of battle until the next road in our rear. At this point, I found four o'clock P. M., when we were ordered forward Major Gaillard commanding, re-forming the Secto the open field on the farm adjoining Crew's farm. ond regiment. With this regiment I retired to Here we remained under the fire of the enemy's ar- the next road in our rear, where I again halted, tillery until about six o'clock P. M., when I was di- supposing that the other regiments would be rected by an officer of Major-General Magruder's found there; but owing to the intricacies of the staff to advance and attack the enemy's battery. wood and the approaching darkness, the comHaving no special instructions and no knowledge manding officers conducted their regiments sevof the ground or position of the enemy, I led the erally to the field, whence we entered the fight. brigade in line of battle through a wood for half a While collecting on the flag of the Second regimile toward the right of the enemy's line of fire, ment all the men of the brigade who came by, exposed all the while to a front and flank fire of General Ewell rode up and desired me to advance artillery, which could not be avoided. During my command to support a brigade he was about this march, I passed three lines of troops, who to lead into action in Crew's field. Calling attenhad preceded me in the attack. Arriving im- tion to the small number of men with me, and my mediately in front of that portion of the enemy desire to collect the remainder of the brigade, I where I determined to assail him, I was indebted indicated my unwillingness to do so, on account to your assistance, Captain, for finding my way of the inefficiency of any support I could render; to a ravine which led immediately up to the pla- but as he became very urgent, I yielded, and led teau, upon which the enemy was formed. Avail- the Second regiment, under command of Major ing myself of this shelter, I led my command up Gaillard, to the point indicated. Soon General to the Willis Church road. Here the enemy oc- Ewell's forces appeared, and he led two regiments cupied the open field in two lines, in force, in my in beautiful order to the attack under a terrible front, forming an obtuse angle, facing toward fire of artillery and infantry. While we were at the road in such a manner as to flank any force this point, Sergeant Harley, color-bearer of the which might ascend the brow of the hill in my Second regiment, exposed himself with gallantry front. Between these two lines of the enemy, at worthy of especial mention, in his efforts to enthe point of intersection, a battery of artillery was courage and animate the men around him, and placed, pouring over our heads a crushing shower was wounded by a shell while thus engaged. of grape and canister, while the infantry lines Several regiments having arrived and taken poblazed with a constant stream of fire. Still far-sition in our rear in support of General Ewell's ther to my right, the artillery on the hill near the orchard, enfilading my line, and their infantry in Crew's farm to my right rear, were engaged with some of our forces, whose line of battle was parallel to my own. In this position we occupied a fence and thick hedge in front of the road, forming a considerable obstacle to an advance along the centre of my line, while the rising ground in front screened the enemy from view, except on my extreme right and left. The Second regiment, which extended to near the parsonage, having advance, and the infantry fire having materially diminished, I brought off the Second regiment about nine o'clock P. M., and re-formed the brigade in the field from which we had advanced. It gives me great pleasure to commend the conduct of officers and men for coolness and firmness under many trying circumstances on this occasion, and I have nothing to regret but that we were, by a series of accidents, prevented from accomplishing as much for the country on this occasion by the gallantry and discipline exhibited by the troops as we could desire, though the losses of the command attest that it was no fault of theirs. I must not omit to mention that the conduct, during these engagements and operations, of my personal staff was such as to entitle them to particular commendation. Captain C. R. Holmes, A. A. G.; Lieutenant A. E. Doby, A. D. C., and Lieutenant W. M. Dwight, A. A. I. G., in both engagements, and Mr. John A. Myers, acting as Aid on Sunday, were assiduous, active, and efficient in the discharge of their varied duties on the field, and distinguished themselves by high exhibitions of courage and self-possession amid the greatest dangers. I again refer to the accompanying reports of commanders for further particulars. The particulars of our losses are herewith forwarded. I have the honor to be, Captain, Your obedient servant, J. B. KERSHAW, REPORT OF GENERAL EARLY. I submit the following report of the operation of this brigade at or near Malvern Hill, on the first ultimo: ravine, covered with trees and thick undergrowth, until the head of it reached a small road leading across an open bottom on a creek. Here the brigade was halted for a few minutes, until the guide could ascertain the route to be pursued, when it was again put in motion, and as the head of it arrived at the open bottom, by the guide's direction, the brigade was started across the bottom, and General Ewell and myself, with my staff officers, were directed to cross by a detour to the right, over an old dam, as the only practicable way for horses. On arriving at the point where it was expected to meet the brigade, nothing could be seen of it, as thick brushwood excluded it from view. In the mean time, a large number of men, retreating from the battle-field, began to pass along the road into which we had then got, and filled the brushwood mentioned, producing great confusion, and rendering it impossible for me to ascertain whether the brigade was passing through the brushwood. After many fruitless efforts to ascertain this fact, I rode toward the route over which the brigade was started, as far as I could, and found a very deep ditch, filled with skulkers from the battle-field, over which it was impossible for me to pass with my horse. I then rode around to a point where I could get a view of the place at which I separated from the brigade, and seeing none of it passing, I rode forward on the road leading to the battle-field, with the hope of finding the brigade emerging from the woods farther off. It On that morning, I was ordered by General was then nearly dark, and I found the road filled Lee to report to Major-General Jackson, for tem- with a large number of men retreating in confuporary duty, with one of the brigades of this sion, being mostly from General Toombs's Georcommand, and was by him assigned to the com- gia brigade. These troops, aided by my Assistant mand of the brigade lately commanded by Brig- Adjutant-General, Captain Gardner, I endeavored adier-General Elzey, in the division of MajorGeneral Ewell. Of this brigade I assumed command about midday, on the road leading from White Oak Swamp to Willis's Church. In the afternoon of the same day, the brigade consisted of fragments of the Thirteenth, Twenty-fifth, Thirty-first, Forty-fourth, Fifty-second, and Fiftyeighth Virginia regiments, and the Twelfth Georgia regiment, numbering in all about one thousand and fifty men present, was formed, by order of General Éwell, in line of battle in the woods on the left of the road leading from Willis's Church to Malvern Hill, where it remained until very late in the afternoon, during a heavy cannonading between the enemy's artillery and our own, an occasional shell falling near the brigade, doing no damage, however, except the killing, by the same shot, of a private in the Forty-fourth Virginia and a young gentleman named Field, who was a volunteer on the staff of General Walker, of the Thirteenth Virginia regiment. About sundown, an order was received by General Ewell, in my presence, from General Jackson, through a staff officer, to send my brigade to the right, to the support of Major-General D. H. Hill, and the brigade was immediately put in motion, and marched, under the guidance of an offipurpose, across the road and passing along the side of the cer s f th to rally, but found it very difficult to do so. During my exertions to rally these men, the Twelfth Georgia regiment, of my own brigade, came up, under the command of Captain James G. Rodgers, and I marched it off, accompanied by Colonel Benning, with a few men from his regiment, of Toombs's brigade. These men were formed in line, by direction of General Ewell, who had preceded me with some men rallied by him in a field, over which a considerable body of our troops had charged, in the early part of the engagement, and in rear of some regiments then engaged with the enemy. Here I was soon joined by the Thirty-first and Twenty-fifth Virginia regiments, which were brought up by my Aid, Captain J. H. Early, who had gone to the rear to look for the brigade. With these regiments I remained on the field during the night, in the position designated by General EwellMajor-General D. H. Hill being present at the time they were posted, and for some time thereafter. During the march the brigade was exposed to a terrific cannonading, and shell were constantly bursting over and around it. For some time, the regiments with me on the field, which were ordered to lie down, were exposed to the fiercest artillery fire I ever witnessed. About the close of this fire, Brigadier-General Ransom, with a por me. tion of his command, retired to the rear, past my position, leaving none of our troops in front of A short time after the cessation of the fire, we heard, distinctly, the rumbling of wheels, indicating a movement of the enemy's artillery, and a large number of lights were seen moving about over the field, in immediate proximity to the enemy's position, which were doubtless borne by persons from the enemy's lines, in search of their wounded. As soon as it was light next morning, an appalling spectacle was presented to our view in front. The field, for some distance from the enemy's position, was literally strewn with the dead and wounded, and arms were lying in every direction. ticularly struck with that of Captain James G. Brigadier-General, commanding Brigade. HEADQUARTERS EIGHTH BRIGADE, { Captain G. Campbell Brown: SIR: In compliance with instructions from division headquarters, requiring a report of the part taken by this brigade in the late battles before Richmond, I have the honor to make the following statement of facts connected therewith: It was apparent that the enemy's main body, with his artillery, had retired; but a body of his cavalry, supported by infantry, was soon discovered on the field. To the right, near the top of a steep hill, leading up toward the enemy's position, we saw a body of our own troops, some distance off, lying down, which proved to be a small body under Brigadier-Generals Mahone and Owing to the illness of Brigadier-General TayWright. In the mean time, parties of our men lor, the command of the brigade devolved upon were going to the front in search of the wounded; Colonel J. G. Seymour, of the Sixth Louisiana and after a demonstration by the enemy's cav-regiment. On the afternoon of the twenty-sevalry, which was abandoned on the firing of a few enth ult., (Friday,) in the charge at Cold Harbor, shots by the Maryland regiment, posted in the Colonel Seymour was shot from his horse, and woods some distance to my left, the parties from both armies, in search of the dead and wounded; gradually approached each other, and continued their mournful work without molestation on either side, being apparently appalled, for the moment, into a cessation from all hostile purposes, by the terrible spectacle presented to their view. About ten o'clock A. M., the last of the enemy's forces retired, and left the field of battle to our occupation. died a few minutes after. I then took command of the brigade, and was ordered, by General Trimble, to form the troops in line of battle near the edge of the wood. This was done. It soon after became dark, and no other movements were made. The brigade remained on the ground that night, and the next morning (the twenty-eighth) was ordered to advance in pursuit of the enemy, who were retiring. On this and the two days following, we continued to advance steadily forThe other regiments of the brigade, which, on ward. The enemy, on arriving at Malvern Hill, the march, were in front of those who got with there made a stand, and prepared to resist our me on the field, not being able to find any practi- farther advance. The brigade was first ordered cable way for marching over the route designated to form in line of battle near the road on the left. by the guide, across the bottom mentioned, in Very soon, however, our position was changed to their efforts to discover me, reached the battle-a wheat-field near by. This movement was also field at a different point from that at which I had countermanded, and our position again changed arrived, and got very near to the enemy; but, as to a ravine near the enemy's batteries. At dusk, it had become very dark, and amidst the confu- an order was brought (we then being under orsion it being impossible to distinguish friend ders of General Whiting, and supporting his difrom foe, they retired, and went back that night vision) to charge forward on the battery. This to the position at which the brigade was first order was given by an officer unknown to mydrawn up in line of battle. The separation of self or any of the officers of my command. Three the brigade was caused by the impracticable char- of the regiments, the Sixth, Seventh, and Twenacter of the route over which it was marched, the ty-eighth Louisiana, advanced as ordered. It confusion produced by the immense number of now being night, this order was not heard or men retiring in disorder from the field, and the properly understood by the Ninth Louisiana, and attempt of the guide over a nearer route than no advance was made by that command. This that taken by General Ewell and myself. The charge resulted in the loss of some valuable men with me did not get under a musketry fire, lives. After the charge, the brigade, being someand were only exposed to the fire of the enemy's what scattered, was withdrawn to a gate, and orartillery, within the range of round shot and der restored. Leave was obtained of General Ewell for the men to get water at the church, I was favorably impressed with the deportment and again advanced and remained at the gate, of the officers and men of the brigade, so far as (near the ground previously occupied by them.) it came under my own. observation, and was par-During the night, a portion of the brigade, how shell. |