ever, remained on the field from which the charge was made. Accompanying the report is forwarded a list of the casualties of the brigade in the two engagements, in which it was actively engaged, viz., that of Cold Harbor and Malvern Hill, as furnished by the regimental commanders. I am, sir, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, L. A. STAFFORD, Colonel, commanding Eighth Brigade. List of Casualties in the Command of Major-General Jackson at the Battles of Cold Harbor, June 27, 1862, and Malvern Hill, July 1, 1862. GENERAL TRIMBLE'S REPORTS. HEADQUARTERS SEVENTII BRIGADE, ORANGE COUNTY, NEAR LIBERTY MILLS, July 28, 1862. Major-General R. S. Ewell, commanding Second Division, Valley District: GENERAL: In compliance with orders, I submit a report of the conduct and operation of the Seventh brigade, from June twenty-sixth to July third: On the twenty-sixth we moved with the army from Ashland, in a southerly direction, passing to the east of Mechanicsville, in the afternoon, and at four P. M. heard distinctly the volleys of artillery and musketry, in the engagement of General Hill with the enemy. Before sundown the firing was not more than two miles distant, and, in my opinion, we should have marched to the support of General Hill that evening. On the twenty-seventh, line of battle was formed at - roads by eight o'clock, after which we marched towards Cold Harbor, passing near church. At this point, distant one and a half miles from Cold Harbor, line of battle was again formed, about three and a half o'clock, and the advance ordered. After marching half a mile, 2348 649 203 171 26 177 28 5 32 38 155 10 164 1 175 336 1,373 37 1,746 377 1,746 39 2,162 the front was changed considerably to the left, and orders received to hasten to the front, in the direction of the enemy's fire. On reaching the vicinity of Cold Harbor, our front was again changed toward the left, under a heavy fire from the enemy's artillery, and the point indicated where we were to engage the enemy, with the impressive caution, that the troops already engaged were hotly pressed. By order of General Ewell, I took the Fifteenth Alabama, Colonel Canty, the leading regiment, down the road leading from Cold Harbor to McGee's farm, crossed the swamp, and placed this and the Twenty-first Georgia regiment, commanded by Major T. Hooper, in position to advance. The Sixteenth Mississippi and the Twenty-first North Carolina regiments, in the confusion, were cut off and separated from us by several regiments, who were marching out of action in such good order as showed they had fallen back WITHOUT hard fighting. The two regiments were ordered to advance, and soon concentrated a furious fire of musketry, shot and shell from the well-selected position of the enemy. Several regiments were met falling back; Reaching the plateau which the Federal General had judiciously selected, and so well defended by artificial aids, I found a battery of seven guns, the First Pennsylvania artillery, Captain Cater, which had been captured a few minutes before by parts of several regiments, who had, with determined courage, pressed forward at the first point of attack, with fearful losses. Parts of these companies of the Eighteenth Alabama, and fragments of several companies of the Twenty-first Georgia regiments, were the first at the guns followed by the Fifth Texas and Eighteenth Georgia. and, leaving the field, we continued slowly to ad- pushed on down the hill and over the trees felled vance through a dense wood, met by a perfect in the swampy ground to impede our progress, all sheet of fire, under which the killed and wounded the time under torrents of musketry fire, and were falling fast in our ranks. Still the brave bravely and rapidly ascended the hill, cheered on fellows pressed on, followed by a Virginia and by the continuous shouting of the command, a Texas regiment, who took an active part in the "Charge, men, charge!" It would have required engagement. General Ewell being on that part older and braver troops, and those engaged in a of the ground directing the movements and en- better cause, to have stood firm against an onset couraging the men with conspicuous bravery, his so rapid, so resolute, so defiant. The enemy were presence alone held the men in position for over swept from the hill, and retreated rapidly from an hour and a half, under this terrific fire. I re- his strong position, and it was not until his flyturned to bring up the Sixteenth Mississippi and ing forces presented a strong temptation, that a the Twenty-first North Carolina regiments, with destructive fire was opened upon them. Pursued Major Wharton's battery. I met General Whit- to his camp, the enemy perceiving some of our ing near the Cold Harbor house, who had just forces on his flank, one regiment surrendered in rode up, and asked me where he had better carry a body; the others fled down a ravine to the in his division. Convinced that our efforts were Chickahominy. too much concentrated in the previous direction, causing much confusion, in a dense wood, with the risk of firing on our own men, (as I am sure had been done,) I strongly advised him to meet the enemy half a mile to our right, (north,) so as to flank the force in our front, or encounter a second body of the foe. After results showed that General Whiting's selection of the point of attack, as indicated, was highly judicious, as he met a reserved body of the enemy, defeated them and captured their battery. A few moments after the brief interview with General Whiting, BrigadierGeneral Winder met me, and said his brigade was coming up, and asked where he should enter the field. I directed him to march well to the left, which he did, and brought a timely support in a perilous crisis to General Elzey, and other brigades, who had been terribly cut up by the terrible fire of the musketry, and the well-served batteries at McGee's house, afterward captured. These brief meetings over, I sought the two regiments who were awaiting orders, uncertain what to do. I decided to enlarge the front of attack, as I had suggested to Generals Whiting and Winder, and led these regiments across the road into the pines, one third of a mile to the right (north) of the first point of attack. Here we met two regiments coming out of the field in confusion, who cried out, "You need not go in; we are whipped; you can't do anything!" Some of our men cried, "Get out of our way; we will show you how to do it." I formed my force, increased on the left by the fragments of other regiments who had been rallied, as nearly parallel with the line opposed to us as I could judge by their fire through the woods, and then rode along the line, distinctly telling the men, in the hearing of all, that "they were now to make a charge with the bayonet, and not to stop one moment to fire or reload which they remained longer under and gave him the advanlage he was, in a good posiby fallen timber to obthat the quiler the s would be erfect co dvanced lleys t, with Placing the Twenty-first North Carolina in charge of the captured battery, my brigade slept on the field from which the enemy had fled. A careful examination of the ground the day after the battle showed as strong a position as could have been selected for defence. It is an elevated ridge on the south-east of the Chickahominy River, mostly cleared land on its summit, surrounded by several more elevated points admirably adapted for artillery, and from which an incessant fire could be maintained against an advancing foe, over the heads of its own infantry, which was secured from harm by the abrupt acclivity of the hill under which they had been posted. So that our men had, the day before, been exposed for over ten hours to the combined fire of shot, shell, grape, and musketry, to which Yankee ingenuity had added a sort of repeating gun, called a telescopic cannon, discharging sixty balls per minute. Several of these were captured. The natural defences of the position were strengthened by felling timber on the hill-side and in the marshy ground of the rivulet at its fork, to make the progress of an attacking force slow and longer held under fire. Many parts of the brow of the hill were provided with rude breastworks of logs, &c. There is good reason to believe that fresh forces of the enemy were successively brought into action, for several hours, to replace those who had become fatigued or defeated. To repulse a force double our own, thus advantageously posted, free from a fatiguing march, and liberally supplied with whiskey, (as the canteens of dead, wounded, and prisoners proved,) required much more than the ordinary exhibition of skill and daring; that it was done everywhere along the line by troops who had marched all day without food, entitles the army to the name of the "Indomitable." It is with just pride I record the fact that not one of the regiments of the Seventh brigade came out of the action during its progress, and that the charge of the Sixteenth Mississippi and Twenty-first North Carolina, sustained from the first movement without a falter, could not be surpassed for intrepid bravery and high resolve. I need not enumerate the gallant exploits of a brigade where every officer and man behaved so well; but I cannot refrain from allusion to the conspicuous gallantry of Captain Brown, of the Sixteenth Mississippi, and Captain Guery, of Fifteenth Alabama, both shot dead in front of their companies while cheering on their men to the charge; and of my Aid, Lieutenant McKim, who rode by my side or along the line, constantly repeating, with inspiring voice and gesture, the command, "Charge! charge!" Captain Hall A. Alsine did signal service during the action by bringing up and directing the movements of fresh troops, as also Lieutenant Lee, InspectorGeneral, who was slightly wounded. The subjoined list of killed and wounded best shows the severity of the conflict, and a comparison of those of the different regiments fairly illustrates the superiority of a rapid charge over a standing fight, not only as the best mode of securing victories, but doing it with smaller loss. The Thirteenth Alabama and Twenty-first Georgia, numbering one thousand three hundred and fifteen men, stood under a destructive fire for an hour or more, returning the enemy's volleys all the time, and advanced only half a mile with fragments of companies at the close of the day. Their loss in killed and wounded was two hundred and fifty-one men. The Sixteenth Mississippi and Twenty-first North Carolina, numbering one thousand two hundred and forty-four men, passed under as hot a fire an equal distance in fifteen minutes, losing in killed and wounded only eighty-five men. Annexed is a sketch of that part of the field of battle on which the Third brigade was engaged, but on which is put down only the positions occupied by the Seventh brigade. The Alabama and Georgia regiments advanced in a body no farther than the swamp, S, except the fragments of those companies who assisted in driving the enemy from F, and taking the battery. The Mississippi and North Carolina regiments advanced to B and F, taking the battery, and with unbroken front, in good condition to continue the fight. I have the honor to be, respectfully, Brigadier-General. I casually omitted to mention the name of Lieutenant Vindell, Adjutant of the Twenty-first Georgia regiment, who behaved with distinguished coolness and bravery, and did signal service in holding that regiment in its position while under the heaviest fire. J. R. TRIMBLE, Brigadier-General. OPERATIONS FROM JUNE 28 TO JULY 1, INCLUSIVE. HEADQUARTERS BRIGADE, July 30, 1862. Major-General R. S. Ewell, commanding Di vision: GENERAL: I respectfully append the following as a continuation of the operations of the Seventh brigade from June twenth-eighth to July first, inclusive: On the twenty-eighth June, the brigade rested on the field of battle, and was chiefly employed in taking care of the wounded and burial of the dead. On Sunday, twenty-ninth, orders were received to march down the Chickahominy. During the delay of starting, I halted, about nine o'clock, at a dwelling on the battle-field, and sent an officer up a tree which had been prepared by the enemy as an observatory. This officer could, with glasses, plainly see the Yankee forces moving southward from Reynoldsville, (General McClellan's headquarters.) The smoke of burning stores could also be distinctly seen. I wrote a note addressed to General Lee, or General Jackson, stating these facts, and that the Federal army were certainly retreating. General Lee answered the note, and stated that the enemy were in heavy force on the right, and that he had tried to reach them with artillery, but without effect. Meantime, four large conflagrations had become plainly visible, and infantry, artillery, and wagons were seen moving, amidst clouds of dust, in a southerly direction. I again wrote to General Lee, then two miles distant, communicating these facts, and expressed the opinion that the enemy were certainly retreating with great precipitation, as burning stores were a sure indication, and ought to be vigorously pursued. It was afterward known that General McClellan did break up the camps on Sunday morning at the place referred to, and commenced a rapid retreat. Under previous orders, we continued march, about ten o'clock, and, after several halts, reached the York River Railroad, near Bottom's Bridge, about two o'clock, with the Third division. After marching and countermarching several times, a halt of some hours was made two miles north of the railroad. Several times in the afternoon, I had called attention to the dense cloud of dust observed on the north side of the Chickahominy; that it plainly indicated a rapid retreat of the enemy, and that our forces should be thrown across that stream to intercept their flight or increase their disorder. A practicable ford was discovered near the point where we halted, and General Ewell had decided, under the discretion allowed him, to cross and attack them at four o'clock. But orders from General Jackson, conflicting with this, prevented so important a movement. About six P. M. the division was marched back up the Chickahominy, crossed that stream in the night at New Bridge, and bivouacked at Reynoldsville, twelve hours after the enemy and General McClellan had abandoned that place. our It is deeply to be regretted that, from the sure indications of rapid retreat given by the Federal forces, some portion of our army was not thrown across the Chickahominy that day to fall on the flank of the enemy's retreating columns. This could have been safely and suddenly done at the ford before alluded to. been made at right angles to that part of the field we were in. I suggested to General Hill the advantage of making an attack on this battery, and that it must be successful, as the enemy would not expect one from our position, and, unOn Monday, thirtieth, by orders, we marched, der cover of the darkness, we could approach at an early hour, over the same road taken by them undiscovered. General Hill did not seem the enemy twenty-four hours before, and, three inclined to make the movement. We rode miles distant, passed the battle-field where Gen- back to the brigade, conversed some time, eral Longstreet had engaged the enemy the after- when I again urged the propriety of an attack, noon previous. At about four P. M., we reached as we could approach so near undiscovered as to the White Oak Swamp, where, after an hour's insure success, the enemy having no skirmishers engagement with artillery, General Jackson's in our front; but he declined, as before, to orarmy bivouacked for the night, (including Gen-der the attack, and directed me to make no fureral Whiting's division.) On Tuesday, July first, we marched, by orders, at sunrise, crossed White Oak Swamp, (the bridge, destroyed by the enemy, causing some hours' delay,) continued by slow marches to Church, and formed line of battle on Poindexter's farm, opposite the Malvern Hills, about two P. M.,the Seventh brigade on the extreme left. We remained in position about three hours, during the greater part of which time artillery and musketry firing was heard on our right, a mile or two distant. At five P. M., Courtnay's battery was put in position, opened a brisk fire, which was answered by heavy discharges from four or five batteries of the enemy posted on Malvern Hill. After half an hour's engagement, doing good service, the battery was, withdrawn reluctantly by an order of General Whiting, through a courier, (staff officer R. S. E.,) which turned out to have been intended for another battery. ther movement. I occupied this position until about twelve o'clock, when all firing had ceased for more than two hours, and as General Ewell and General Hill had both been absent during this time, I retired the brigade into the woods to bivouac for the night, as the men were completely worn out, and no further action expected. The next morning, by dawn, I went off to ask for orders, when I found the whole army in the utmost disorder; thousands of straggling men asking every passer by for their regiment; ambulances, wagons, and artillery obstructing every road, and altogether in a drenching rain, presenting a scene of the most woful and disheartening confusion. The Seventh brigade, not having been fairly brought into action, was in good order next morning, and prepared to move in a body. By six o'clock, orders were received from General Jackson, whom I met casually, to march to the church, where we remained all day the second of July. Thursday, third July, we had orders to march to the front; did so, and encamped about eight miles from James River, opposite Westover. July fourth, we again marched to the front, reached a point about four miles from James River, where line of battle was formed and skirmishers thrown out half a mile in advance, who occasionally exchanged shots with the enemy's scouts. At We lay in camp until July eighth. We were ordered to move, at dark, to the rear, and on the tenth of July, encamped four miles from Richmond, scarcely able to march from excessive fatigue and prostration, the result of constant fighting and marching in a country where air and water were both impure, and rapidly breaking down the health of the army. At three P. M., that day, after the enemy's position and disposition of his forces had been well reconnoitred through a glass, and plainly visible, I asked permission to move through the continuous woods to the left and attack the enemy by a surprise on his right. This proposal, forwarded to General Jackson, was declined by him. About sundown, orders were received to march the Seventh brigade to the right, where the bat-night, one of my regiments was put on picket. tle had raged fiercely for some two hours, and our troops repulsed. I moved quickly, guided by an officer of General D. H. Hill's staff, through a dense woods, in the dark, exposed, for a mile and a half, to a continuous and rapid fire of the enemy's artillery, and took up a position on that part of the field where General Magruder had made his disastrous charges across an open field, every yard of which could be swept by the adverse artillery. This field was about half a mile broad, skirted by woods on the left, and a high and abrupt declivity, descending to Turkey Creek, on the right. I reported to General Ewell, and a few moments after, to D. H. Hill, who ordered the brigade to remain in its position near the woods, on the edge of the field. I proposed, soon after, to General D. H. Hill, to ride forward and reconnoitre the enemy's position. It was then about nine o'clock. We rode forward, and approached within one hundred steps of the batteries, and could hear plainly the ordinary tone of conversation. The guns were then firing on the woods to our left, where the last attack had I append below the list of killed and wounded in the before-mentioned engagements. Yours, respectfully, J. R. TRIMBLE, List of Killed and Wounded. Total, 3 4 8 15 J. E. DOUTHIT, On the above report was the following indorsement: This report was handed in by General Trimble after the completion of my report. Some por- COLONEL WALKER'S REPORT. Lieutenant G. Campbell Brown, A. A. General: oners. report of the part enacted in the engagement of the 27th ultimo, near Gaines's Mill,by this brigade: Arriving on the field between four and five o'clock, P. M., I was informed by Colonel J. M. Jones, of General Ewell's staff, that his troops were hard pressed and required assistance. Line of battle was formed at once, with the Hampton legion, Lieutenant-Colonel M. M. Gary commanding, on the left, with orders to gain the crest of the hill in the woods and hold it, which they did. The Fifth Texas, Colonel J. B. Robertson commanding, engaged the enemy on the right of the legion and the First Texas, Colonel A. T. Rainey commanding, on the right of the Fifth Texas. The brigade moved gallantly forward, soon becoming engaged from left to right. The battle raged with great fury all along the line, as these noble troops pressed steadily on, forcing the enemy to gradually give way. Directing in person the Fourth Texas regiment, Colonel John Marshall commanding, on the right of my line, they were the first troops to pierce the strong line of breastworks occupied by the enemy, which caused great confusion in their ranks. Here the Eighteenth Georgia, Lieutenant-Colonel S. L. Ruff commanding, came to the support of the Fourth Texas, and the regiments pressed on over a hotly contested field, inclining from right to left, with the Fifth Texas on their left, taking a large number of prisoners and capturing fourteen (14) pieces of artillery, when night came on and farther pursuit the Fourth Texas and Eighteenth Georgia, and a of the enemy ceased. The guns were captured by regiment was taken prisoners by the Fifth Texas regiment. I enclose the report of the commanding officer of each regiment for particulars and for list of killed and wounded. My own regiment, Thirteenth Virginia, was sent forward as skirmishers In this engagement, I regret to report the loss in the morning, and killed and wonnded five or of many gallant officers and men. Among those six of the enemy, and took some twenty-five pris- who fell, either killed or mortally wounded, were In the evening it was in the hottest of Colonel John Marshall, Lieutenant-Colonel Warthe fight, and both officers and men, with a few ex-wick, Captains E. D. Ryan, J. W. Hutcheson, ceptions, behaved well, and fought with a deter- P. P. Porter, T. M. Owen, A. A. G., and Lieutenmination and bravery worthy the cause in which ants R. J. Lambert, C. Rich, D. L. Butts, D. P. we are engaged. The loss of the regiment in killed and wounded was very heavy in proportion to the number engaged. Only about two hundred and fifty went into action, and of that number one hundred and twelve were killed and wounded. The loss in company officers was particularly heavy, and is the best evidence of the gallant manner in which they discharged their duties. I beg leave to add my humble testimony to the gallantry of Captain William H. Shearer, who was mortally wounded while bravely encouraging his men. Also to that of Captain C. G. Cooke, of company A; First Lieutenant F. D. Sherrard, of company K, and Lieutenant Strait, of company H, all of whom fell, like brave and true men, at their posts. I have the honor to be, very respectfully, GENERAL HOOD'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS TEXAS BRIGADE, July 10, 1862. Maj. J. H. Hill, A. A. G.: Lyons, T. H. Halleman, of the Fourth Texas; - Lieutenant |