The above comprises all of the batteries serv- beyond. This order was promptly executed, and ing with General Holmes's division in the field. without much resistance, except from scattering There are a number of other batteries through- shots from the pickets of the enemy, who fled as out the department of North Carolina, but I have we advanced. We were now in full view of denot received any returns from them since the serted camps and burning fires in front. We division took the field. All of these batteries, immediately continued our march, and about excepting French's and Brem's, have only been half a mile farther we entered a piece of woods under my command for a few days, so that the where a large heap of commissary and other remarks regarding efficiency are necessarily more stores were on fire; but the quantity of knapor less imperfect. JAMES DESHLER, sacks, oil-cloths, and other articles scattered through the woods and along the roads, gave unmistakable evidence that the enemy had left his camp in great haste. Col. and Chief of Artillery, Department of N. Carolina. On the foregoing report was the following indorsement: HEADQUARTERS ARTILLERY CORPS, July 22, 1862. There is reason to believe that the two guns REPORT OF COLONEL BARNES. Captain A. C. Haskell, A. A. General: Here we halted a short time, when General Gregg came up, and ordered the regiment to be in that order. Just at this moment I was told formed in column of companies, and to advance that the enemy had been seen on our left. This fact I communicated to the General, when he or dered the two left companies to be sent in that direction to reconnoitre. Immediately company B, Captain Miller, and company K, Captain Neville, were sent, under command of LieutenantColonel Jones. The regiment now moved off in columns, and soon arrived at a church, where we met with General Jackson's command, or a portion of it. We remained here a short time, during which the two companies sent out to reconnoitre on our left sent in nine prisoners, and soon after came themselves, bringing eight more, making seventeen in all captured. We continued the march without further resistance until we arrived in the vicinity of Gaines's Mill, on Powhite Creek. Here, the enemy making demonstrations of resistance, the regiment was formed in line of battle, and company B, Captain Miller, thrown forward as skirmishers. A spirited attack being made by the skirmishers, and at the same time a few shells being thrown from one of our batteries, On the twenty-sixth ultimo, about five o'clock the enemy were soon put to flight, making P. M., we crossed the Chickahominy near the toward a pine thicket beyond the creek. AdvanCentral Railroad, having bivouacked, the night cing to the creek we found the bridge torn up; previous, some five miles below that point, on the the regiment was ordered to cross on the dam, Meadow Bridge road. Immediately after cross- and after crossing to wait for orders. In a short ing, we turned in the direction of Mechanicsville. time the bridge was repaired so as to enable the I had not advanced far before we came under the whole command to cross. The regiment was shells of the enemy, who had been attacked by the then formed in line, and throwing forward comadvanced forces of our division. We continued pany A, Lieutenant Parker, and company D, our march until we came within a half or three Captain Vonlandigham, as skirmishers, we adfourths of a mile from the point at which the bat-vanced at double-quick towards the pine thicket, tle was progressing, formed in line of battle in a the enemy, as before, firing and retiring before us. flat where we were enabled to protect ourselves In this advance private N. S. Camp, company A, from the shells and shot of the enemy by lying on the ground. In this position we remained during the night, being annoyed considerably by the shells, until a short time before dark, when the firing ceased. With the exception of one man, who was very slightly injured by a piece of shell, we escaped unhurt. Early the next morning we marched across the Mechanicsville turnpike road in the direction of Beaver Dam Creek. Arriving within half a mile of that stream, we halted, formed line of battle, and sent forward company B, Captain Miller, as skirmishers. We were then ordered by General Gregg to cross the stream and occupy the hills was killed. Continuing the pursuit, we soon came in sight of the enemy in force, at Cold Harbor. In a few moments a fight commenced between our artillery and that of the enemy. The shell from the batteries of the enemy soon began to fall thick and fast around us, and taking the double-quick, we advanced to a branch in front of us, and toward the enemy, under a heavy fire of shell; crossing this branch we came to halt for nearly two hours. During the halt, by order of the General, I sent company F, Captain McMeekin, and company H, Captain Erwin, in advance, to watch the movements of the enemy, and afterward relieved them by company D, Captain Bookter, and company G, Captain Garvin. In command took in the fight after this time; yet, the performance of this duty, company F and from reliable information, I am fully convinced company D had each two men wounded." that some did fall in with other commands, and About five o'clock P. M., as near as I can continued the fight after this time. Captain guess, the Twelfth and First regiments were Bookter, with Lieutenant Talley, and others of formed in line- the Twelfth having only eight his company, joined an Alabama regiment, comcompanies, the two sent in advance to watch the manded by Canty, and while with this regiment, movements of the enemy not having been called Captain Bookter and several of his men were in. My understanding of the order was, that we wounded. The conduct of the command, as a were to make the attack on the enemy. The whole, was gallant and commendable. We had, General himself giving the order to march, we when we left Mechanicsville, about four hundred moved off up the hill, through the pines, and, on and thirty muskets, including many who were reaching the open field above the Twelfth regi- indisposed. Taking from this number those who ment, continued the march across this field toward tired out during the march of the day, I am sure a branch or hollow, two or three hundred yards that we did not carry more than four hundred, if in front of us, where the enemy were known to be. that, into the fight. The casualties, a list of We did not advance, however, more than one which accompanies this report, are, seventeen hundred yards, before a battery (the position of killed, and one hundred and forty-eight killed which I was not before aware of) situated in a and wounded. Among the killed was First piece of woods about three or four hundred yards Lieutenant J. W. Delany, commanding company to my right, poured a heavy fire of shell and B. He was killed in the first conflict, at the edge grape-shot upon us, wounding and stunning five of the pine thicket. By his death the regiment, or six men in the first volley. I now discovered the State, and the Confederacy, have been deprived that the first regiment had halted at the edge of of an officer of intelligence and great gallantry. the pine thicket, and saw at once that to attempt to Among the wounded are some of our most valuareach the hollow under this fire, and then encoun- ble officers, to wit: Captain Vonlandigham, Mcter the enemy there, or to change front and march Meekin, Bookter, and Miller. Captains Vonlanalone against the battery, would be to sacrifice digham and McMeekin were wounded at the last the regiment, with little or no damage to the stand we made at the edge of the pine thicket. enemy. This being the situation of the regi-I am not informed as to the place Captain ment, I immediately marched, by the left flank, down the hill to the branch, turned, and marched up the branch, through a dense thicket, and under a heavy fire of shell and shot, until I got opposite the pine thicket through which I had gone before entering the open field. We were now out of range of the artillery, and here I formed the regiment in line as soon as I could, being joined by the two companies who were out reconnoitring the movements of the enemy, when we commenced the advance. The regiment was now marched in line through the pines up to the edge of the open field, and took position on the left of the first regiment. Miller was wounded, he having been absent ever since. Captain Bookter, as before stated, was wounded after joining an Alabama regiment, late in the evening. It is gratifying to know that the wounds of Captains Bookter, McMeekin and Miller are such as to render the loss of their services only temporary; but even this will be seriously felt by the regiment. The wound of Captain Vonlandigham was such as to require the amputation of the left leg. His loss will be seriously felt in the regiment, and to his company it will be irreparable. Passing by all the details of the pursuit, I come now to the fight of Monday evening, thirtieth June. Scarcely had we got into position before a About five o'clock P. M. we arrived in the vicinigreatly superior force appeared in front of us, ty of the enemy; halted and stacked arms in a and an engagement immediately ensued, being piece of wood to the right of the road. The fight commenced by us. We held our position obsti- soon commenced in front of us, and about half nately for a time, but in consequence of over- past six o'clock, the regiments of the brigade were whelming numbers, we were driven back a short formed in line and marched by the right flank distance, suffering seriously in killed and wound-above one mile and a quarter, to a point near ed. Although our numbers were much reduced, and our line somewhat broken, the greater portion of the command was soon rallied, and recovered our former position at the edge of the open ground. Again we poured a vigorous fire into the enemy, and maintained our position for some time; but owing to the great disparity of numbers, we were again forced back, sustaining a heavy loss in officers and men. The entire command by this time was well nigh exhausted and greatly reduced. I myself, from exhaustion and from a wound which I received in the thigh, causing considerable pain, was unable to take further command. I am not able, of my own knowledge, to say what part any portion of the where the fight was progressing. On arriving at this point we were halted, and the regiments were formed in column of companies, the Twelfth being third in order. About sundown, the Twelfth was ordered to form line to the front. This being done, we were ordered to march through the thicket and take position in rear as a support to the Fourteenth, which had been previously sent into the fight. I marched a short distance through the thicket, and came upon the First regiment, lying down. Halting, therefore, a few seconds, to make some inquiry about the position of the Fourteenth, I gave the command, "left face," marched around the left of the First regiment, then marched to the front and took posi tion about two or three hundred yards in rear of the firing, with my right flank a short distance from, and nearly opposite, the centre of the line of the First regiment, and perpendicular to it, and made the men lie down, in order to protect them from the bullets which were flying fast and thick over and about us. We remained in this position until the close of the fight, about half past eight P. M., having seven men wounded at this place. Colonel McGowan now brought out his command, (the Fourteenth,) and the regiments of the brigade bivouacked. About ten or eleven o'clock at night, the General himself came to us and ordered us to return in the morning to the place we had left in the evening. This we did, and remained in that position until about six o'clock P. M. of Tuesday, first July. We were then marched up the road about two miles, passing the battle-ground of the previous day, and were there halted. In a very short time the battle of the first of July began, and progressed fiercely in front of us and on the right wing of the enemy. The firing of the enemy soon slackened on his right, but was taken up fiercely along his line toward his centre and left, and we were marched back about half a mile, halted, and faced to the front. General Hill came up and ordered the Twelfth and Fourteenth to remain in that position, and watch toward the enemy. Here we remained until the close of the fight without participating in the engagement. I close this report by acknowledging the cordial and efficient assistance rendered me by Lieutenant-Colonel Cad. Jones, the only field officer I had, and also by bearing testimony to the faithful discharge, by Dr. J. Ford Prieleau, surgeon, and Dr. J. W. Keith, assistant surgeon, of their arduous duties. I have the honor to be Your obedient servant, D. BARNES, Colonel, commanding Twelfth Regiment. REPORT OF COLONEL MALLORY. HEADQUARTERS FIFTY-FIFTH VIRGINIA Captain G. F. Harrison, A. A. G., First Brigade, Light Division: CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of my regiment in the recent engagements before Richmond: On the night of Wednesday, June twenty-fifth, the regiment was on picket near the Little Meadow Bridges. About three o'clock P. M., Thursday, June twenty-sixth, it being reported that the enemy's pickets had been withdrawn, I immediately took possession of the bridge which he had held. Our brigade, being in advance, was soon ordered to cross. The Fortieth Virginia crossed first, followed by the Fifty-fifth Virginia and the other regiments composing the brigade. A mile or more beyond the swamp, the regiment was formed in line of battle across the road where the first prisoner was taken by Captain Alexander's company. It was here that we received a few shots from the enemy's pickets, which retreated in haste. Turning to the right, we marched VOL. IX.-Doc. 31 in the direction of Mechanicsville. About half a mile from Mechanicsville our line of battle was again formed on the right of the road, supported by the Sixtieth_Virginia, Colonel Starke commanding-the Fortieth Virginia on the left, supported by the Forty-seventh Virginia regiment and Second Virginia battalion. We advanced upon Mechanicsville, exposed to a very heavy fire from three of the enemy's batteries. After advancing a short distance beyond the village our line of battle was changed to the left, facing the batteries. We advanced some six hundred yards in the direction of the right battery, when, not wishing to be separated from the remainder of the brigade, it became necessary to cross the field to the left, the left of the brigade being at this time under cover of the woods. This was done by marching obliquely across the field, approaching the battery as we neared the woods to prevent their getting our range. Before entering the woods the regiment was halted just below the brow of a slight hill, and the men ordered to lie down to protect them from the shell, grape, and canister, which were being used with great effect. Our brigade was then ordered to advance. We moved forward a few hundred yards, under very heavy fire, and entered a wood, which we attempted to charge through. But the undergrowth being very thick, and finding another brigade in front of us, our men became scattered, many of them mixing in with this brigade. I ordered a halt; but finding it impossible to form the regiment in such a place, I directed the men to fall back to the edge of the woods and re-form. This was done in very good order. By this time it was quite dark, and my men being very much exhausted, I fell back about a hundred yards, over a hill, where we rejoined the brigade and rested for the night. In this engagement my loss was very heavy, being greater than that of both the others. Captain William L. Brook, company K, was killed while gallantly leading his company, and both of his Lieutenants wounded. His company was on the left of the colors, and suffered more than any other. Captain Street, and Lieutenants Boughan, Kerr, and Goodrich were wounded in this engagement, besides a number of men. About twelve o'clock, on Friday, June twentyseventh, the regiment was formed with the brigade, and marched in the direction of Gaines's Mill, Lieutenant-Colonel Christian commanding. After passing a short distance beyond the mill, the brigade was formed in line of battle to support General Anderson's brigade, who were ordered to attack the enemy in front. We advanced to his support until we found the brigade halted in a small orchard in an open space in front of the enemy's battery. This brigade finally broke and ran through ours, throwing it into some confusion. We, however, did not retire until ordered by General Field to "fall back in order." This was not very well executed; but a portion of the regiment was immediately rallied by Colonel Christian, and remained with him during the remainder of the evening, doing good service. In this engagement, Lieutenants Mann and Garnett Company M. Sergeants Bullock and Morris; privates James W. Smith, R. O. Perry, MeGary Burress, Blanton Humphreys, Johnson Newton, S. Rice, and Goodrich. Sergeant Robinson, company M, acted well. The aggregate loss is as follows: Killed, twen- F. MALLORY, were killed, and Lieutenant Brockenbrough and Carter, R. S. Burch, T. M. George, A. W. Hundtwo or three color-bearers wounded. On Sun-ley, W. C. Wayne, and E. D. Munday. day, June twenty-ninth, we marched from Gaines's Company H. Privates A. E. Vaughan, G. Mill to the south side of the Chickahominy. W. Vaughan, N. Mason, E. Clagville, and J. R. Monday morning, we marched a few miles, and Trader. Corporal Stilf fought through all the were halted in the woods until about five o'clock battles with a sick leave in his pocket. P. M., when we were ordered, with the brigade, Company I. William T. Cowan, James Yates, to go to the support of General Kemper. We R. Todd, and V. H. Fauntleroy. marched at a double-quick, when we were formed in line of battle on the right of the road, the Sixtieth Virginia on our left. We advanced through the woods until we came to the brow of a hill, where was a battery recently taken from the enemy. The brigade which had taken it had disappeared, and the enemy had advanced to within a few yards of the battery. We halted, fired a few volleys, and charged, driving the enemy about a mile into the woods, when we halted to re-form; and finding that the enemy were about to flank us, we fell back to the edge of the woods, where we remained until the firing had ceased. The REPORT OF LIEUTENANT-COLONEL BARBER. regiment was ordered to remain at this point until the captured battery could be taken off, when we marched back across the field, and bivouacked for the night. In this engagement, Lieutenant-Colonel Christian was seriously wounded, Major Burke and Captain Wright killed, and Lieutenants Hall and Blair, and Adjutant Williams, wounded. The regiment was in readiness to participate in the engagement of Tuesday, July first, but was not actively engaged. The officers and men who remained with the regiment acted well; but many of them, who had been on the sick list previously, and were just returned to duty when we started, being weak, were compelled to fall out during the march. I beg leave to call the attention of the General commanding to the following named officers for coolness under fire, and the efficient manner in which they performed their duties: LieutenantColonel Christian, who fell mortally wounded in the charge of the thirtieth; Adjutant Williams, Captain Fauntleroy, Captain Saunders, Captain Rice, Captain Roy, Captain Jett, Captain Healy, Captain Lawson, and Captain Alexander, and Lieutenants Brockenbrough, Roane, Reynolds, Davis, Healy, and Street; particularly Captain Fauntleroy and Lieutenants Brockenbrough and Roane. The General's attention is also called to the following named non-commissioned officers and privates: Sergeant-Major Mallory; Color-Sergeant Fauntleroy; Corporal Micon, company A; private Nicholson, company C; and Costenbader, company E. The following are names of non-commissioned officers and privates honorably mentioned by their Captains: Company A. Privates Ruffin Starke, E. T. Smith, Robert Carter, R. H. Dunmead, A. F. Allen. Company C. Private Thomas Thurston. Company D. Privates Archibald Brooks, G. E. Minor, Reuben L. Dyke, G. Shackleford, and Burwell Mitchell. Company G. William T. Garrettes, J. W. HEADQUARTERS THIRTY-SEventh RegiMENT N. C. TROOPS, July 13, 1862. GENERAL: The Thirty-seventh regiment left its camp on the twenty-fifth June, pursuant to orders, with the other regiments composing your brigade, and on the twenty-sixth crossed the Chickahominy. On the evening of the twentysixth, my command reached Mechanicsville, and was exposed to a severe artillery fire, which wounded severely several men and two officers; but the regiment was not otherwise engaged. On the evening of the twenty-seventh, we reached Cold Harbor, and my command was ordered into action. Not knowing the position of the enemy, we moved up the road some two hundred yards, when the enemy opened a deadly fire upon us, killing several and wounding a large number. The swamp and undergrowth rendered it very difficult to form the regiment in line of battle, which, together with the destructive fire of the enemy, threw it into considerable confusion, thereby rendering it inefficient for a short time, until order could be restored. During the rest of the engagement it behaved very well. On Monday evening, the thirtieth instant, my regiment, with the other regiments of your command, charged the strong position occupied by the enemy's artillery and infantry. Throughout this engagement, my regiment behaved with great gallantry, driving the enemy before them with great loss. On Tuesday evening, the regiment was again under arms, and under fire, but was not engaged. All the officers of my command behaved well, except those who have been reported to General Hill, under previous orders. I take pleasure in mentioning, specially, Captain Melon, who remained with his company during these trying scenes, although more than sixty years old, and worn out by exposure and fatigue. In the action of Monday evening, Colonel Lee was killed while gallantly leading the regiment into action. He was a brave, experienced officer, and a pure man. His loss will be severely felt. Lieutenant Isham Hartjoy was mortally wound. ed on Friday evening, and has since died. He was an excellent officer and a brave, true man. My total loss is one hundred and thirty-eight, killed and wounded. A number of the wounded have died since the action. A list of killed and wounded has been heretofore forwarded to you. Respectfully submitted. WILLIAM M. BARBER, Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding Thirtyseventh Regiment, N. C. T. LIST OF OFFICERS OF THIRTY-SEVENTH REGI- Lieutenant Owens, company K, behaved badly, and has not yet returned. Lieutenant Smith, company F, went to camp, on Tuesday, without permission; alleges he was sick and unfit for duty. WILLIAM M. BARBER, Lieutenant-Colonel. REPORT OF CAPTAIN MARMADUKE JOHNSON. RICHMOND, July 17, 1862. GENERAL: I have just received your order directing me to report to you the part taken by my battery in the late combats before Richmond, accompanied with a list of the killed, wounded, missing, &c. I beg leave to state that I should have done this some time since, but for continued and severe indisposition, on account of which I am now confined in my chamber. ous injury to my command, but for the fortunate protection of the breastworks mentioned. I beg leave to say, that too much praise cannot be awarded to the officers and men for the coolness and intrepidity manifested by them in this, the first heavy engagement in which they had ever participated. In this engagement only two men and two horses were slightly wounded. Later in the day I marched to the scene of the bloody battle which took place on Friday, and, quite late in the evening, was ordered by General Lee to report with my battery to you, which I immediately did with all possible despatch. You yourself were a personal witness to the behavior of the men and officers. You saw the fearless courage with which they fought through that deadly fire, until twenty of them fell, ten horses killed and wounded, and the battery entirely disabled, exposed to the fire not only of the batteries of the enemy, but of sharpshooters, who could not be seen. You saw them silence one of the batteries, and manfully resist others, until, by your orders, I withdrew them from the field. It is needless, therefore, for me to assure you of my gratification at their behavior. Accompanying, I send you a list of the casualties, as directed. I have the honor, General, to be Your most respectful and obedient servant, MARMADUKE JOHNSON, Captain. REPORT OF COLONEL LANE. GENERAL: I have the honor to report that on Wednesday, the twenty-fifth of June, I left camp with my regiment, numbering four hundred and eighty, and, with the balance of your brigade, proceeded up the Telegraph road, crossed the Chickahominy on the morning of the twentysixth, and advanced toward Meadow Bridge. Two of my companies were ordered to Mrs. Crenshaw's bridge, to apprise Lieutenant-Colonel Hoke, with a portion of his regiment, which was doing picket duty on the south side of the Chickahominy, that the way was clear. We then continued our march toward Mechanicsville. It may not be impertinent to state that, on Thursday, the twenty-sixth ultimo, I was under the command of Brigadier-General Branch, and marched my battery, with his brigade, from Brooke Church to Mechanicsville, and arrived at that place late in the evening, and but a short time before the battle ceased. I took my position behind some incompleted breastworks, erected by the enemy, and had hardly planted my battery when the order was given to cease firing. The breastworks were not in condition to be serviceable, and I kept my men at work all night in putting them in condition so that they could be useful. About daybreak the enemy's batteries, which had created so much havoc the evening before, opened on me, and also most vigorously The fight had commenced on our reaching this shelled all the quarters surrounding it. I imme- place, and we were ordered to support a battery, diately replied, having the cooperation of none which was firing from the works to the left of the of the other batteries on the field - Captain road. I had one man wounded that evening. McIntosh having exhausted his ammunition the We slept upon the field, and were held as a supevening before, and Captain Pegram, I believe, port again next morning, when the artillery having been ordered to hold his fire. So that opened upon us, and another one of my men was this battle was contested alone by my battery and wounded. As soon as it was ascertained that the those of the enemy. At six o'clock precisely, I enemy had abandoned his position, and was in entirely silenced and repulsed them, they hastily full retreat, we were ordered to follow, and, on leaving their works, after having suffered very reaching "Cold Harbor," the Seventh North Cargreat damage, as was obvious from a subsequent olina troops and my regiment were ordered into visit to the intrenchments. During the two the woods to the left of the road leading to the hours of this engagement the fire was unceasingly battle-field. The Seventh preceded us, and when vigorous on both sides. The enemy had an al- I was about to form my regiment on its left, a most perfect range, and he would have done seri-sharp fire, both of shell and infantry, was opened |