am greatly indebted to him for his valuable services while acting as Quartermaster to my regiment. To my special Aids, Lieutenants J. T. Parks and William J. Marshall, I was greatly indebted, during the battle, for their valuable services in extending my orders. They distinguished themselves for their coolness and bravery. During the day, Lieutenant Parks captured seven prisoners. During the charge, my Color-Sergeant, Kyle, of company B, was distinguished for his coolness and the gallant manner in which he bore the regimental flag. When, in the thickest of the fight, he was shot down, dangerously wounded through the thighs, Corporal Milford, of company F, one of the color-guard, gathered the colors and bore them triumphantly through the charge. It has three bullet-holes through it, and one nearly cutting the staff in two. ton, who had left a sick bed to lead his men into action, bore himself in a gallant manner, at the head of his company, and is entitled to great credit. Captain F. E. Harrison was shot down, having received a severe wound in his leg, while gallantly leading his company through the severest of the fight. Captain G. W. Cox was shot down while nobly leading his company through the charge. He had sixteen men killed on the field. Captains Moore and Hadden, who passed through unscathed, were distinguished for their coolness and bravery throughout the entire engagement. Lieutenant William C. Davis distinguished himself for his coolness and bravery during the battle. He received a severe wound on the head, bound it up, and fought throughout the day. Lieutenant W. W. Higgins, of company G, was conspicuous for his coolness and bravery during the battle, fighting the Zouaves, and To the gallant non-commissioned officers and bringing them to a stand-still, with thirty men. privates who each personally distinguished himLieutenant Latimer, company G, fell dangerously self for coolness and bravery during the bloody wounded in the ankle, while gallantly supporting battle, the country owes a debt of lasting gratithe skirmishers. He has since died. Lieutenant tude. It is the private who has to bear the heat McKay, of company H, was seriously wounded and burden of the day, and his name should be in the arm, while leading his company after his placed high in the niche of fame. They are all encaptain fell. Lieutenant Philpot, of company A, titled to the highest reward of a grateful country. fell dangerously wounded, while sustaining the charge of his company. Lieutenant Norris, of company K, fell mortally wounded, (since dead,) while nobly leading his company after his captain had fallen. Lieutenants John B. Sloan, of company D; Fullerton, of company F; Pratt, of company G; Cheshire, of company K; Holcomb, of company A; Dixon, of company C; Mace, of company H, who passed through uninjured, deserve great credit for the coolness and bravery displayed by them throughout the engagement. It is gratifying for me to report upon the accurate and deliberate firing of my regiment. There was not a tree, on the side where we entered the woods, marked by a ball higher than six feet, and lower than the knees, while on the Yankee side, they ranged from thirty feet down to the ground. The result of our contest with the enemy was, two hundred and fifty-three regulars and Pennsylvanians, and thirty-two Zouaves, killed on the field, and twenty-three wounded prisoners, among them a Major and a First Lieutenant. To Lieutenant Robertson, company B, com- I trust that the part performed by my regiment mander of the infirmary corps, the regiment is in the recent battles before Richmond meets with greatly indebted for the prompt and timely as- the approval of our General. The highest ambisistance afforded the wounded during the thickest tion of the regiment was to perform every duty of the fight. This corps worked all night, carry-in the great struggle assigned to it, and to coning off the wounded, and were until twelve M., tribute, by its efforts, in connection with other the next day, before their labors were ended. [regiments, to the complete overthrow of the eneThey deserve great credit. my, and to see victory perch upon the Confederate standards. To my Surgeon, Dr. T. A. Evans, I am greatly indebted for the prompt preparations of the sur- The following is a synopsis of the casualties gical department for the battles, and for the skill of the First regiment rifles, South Carolina voland ability he displayed in his operations, andunteers, as made out by the commanders of comtaking care of the wounded. To my Chaplain, Rev. H. T. Sloan, I have always been indebted for the high moral influence he has exercised over the regiment, and particularly after this bloody battle, in administering spiritual comfort to the dying, and superintending the burial of the dead of the regiment. He is entitled to great credit for the faithful discharge of the duties of his office, under great privations and trials. My Commissary, Captain Edwards, was always at his post, with rations for the men, never allowing the regiment to be without something to eat during the battles. My Quartermaster, Captain Thomas B. Lee, was transferred, a few days previous, to the bride staff, in which he bore himself gallantly. I panies on the twelfth instant. Copies of such reports accompany this report: Total killed, eighty-one; wounded, two hundred and thirty-four; missing, four. Total, three hundred and nineteen. Carried into action, five hundred and thirtyseven. Infirmary corps, forty. Total on field for duty, five hundred and eighty-seven. In reference to proper persons to be recommended for promotions, I ask for further time, and desire a conference with the General. Respectfully submitted. J. FOSTER MARSHALL, Colonel First Regiment Rifles, S. C. Volunteers. REPORT OF CAPTAIN CRENSHAW. HEADQUARTERS CRENSHAW'S BATTERY, NEAR RICHMOND, July 14, 1862. GENERAL: In obedience to your orders of the tenth instant, I beg leave respectfully to submit the following report: Soon after receiving your orders (while in camp at Dr. Friend's house, Wednesday, twenty-fifth June) to cook two days' rations, and prepare to march that evening, the enemy opened fire upon us from the earthworks he had just thrown up near Hogan's house, on the opposite side of the Chickahominy. This fire was kept up very constantly during the day, and resulted only in the killing of two of my horses. In accordance with your orders, the fire was not returned by me. Soon after, we started on the march, bivouacked near the brook about three o'clock at night, rested nearly all of Thursday in the road, and in the afternoon crossed the Chickahominy at the Meadow Bridge, in the rear of your brigade. In accordance with your orders, I halted the battery under shelter of the hill, about half a mile this side of Mechanicsville, where we remained until next morning, receiving the shells of the enemy, but without taking any part in the fight. This shelling resulted in no loss to us. On Friday morning, twenty-seventh June, we started down the Chickahominy in rear of your brigade, and my battery was the first to cross the bridge at Gaines's Mill, which was effected about one o'clock P. M. Soon after crossing, in accordance with your orders, we went into battery near New Cold Harbor House, and commenced firing at the enemy's infantry, who were drawn up in line of battle across the hill above us. They were soon scattered and driven out of our sight, and we were opened upon by three batteries of the enemy, on the same hill, who fired very rapidly, and against whom we then directed our fire. Unfortunately for us, our position was such that we could not manoeuvre our battery ten yards to the right or left, the opening in the woods through which we had to fire being very narrow. We continued under the incessant fire of the enemy's batteries for nearly two hours, ceasing our own fire more than once, when the charge on the enemy's batteries was ordered to be made by our infantry. was suggested that they might be friends; and we ceased firing upon them, a few moments, until, with your assistance, we could examine them minutely with our glasses. You being satisfied that they were not friends, we, by your order, opened upon them again, when they soon disappeared from our view. We continued in this second engagement about an hour, when, two of our brass pieces becoming disabled by the breaking of the axles, and the other two brass pieces too hot to fire with safety, you ordered us to retire, to make room for Captain Johnson, who had been ordered up to relieve us. We had lost in it four men killed and seriously wounded, and eleven horses, but succeeded in taking off the two disabled pieces by hand, and the others by dismounting our chiefs and hitching their horses to most of the pieces. In accordance with your orders, the battery was then taken to the rear, and Lieutenant Hobson started at twelve o'clock, that night, to Richmond, with the disabled carriages for repairs, and a wagon for ammunition, and men to bring out more horses. The next morning, Saturday, twenty-eighth June, what ammunition we had left, consisting almost entirely of solid shot, canister, and longrange rifle shell, was placed in the chests of three pieces, which we carried upon the battle-field of the previous day. Soon after we arrived there, we received orders from Major-General Hill to return with my battery to Richmond to refit, and remain for orders. Upon my informing you of these orders, you authorized me to rejoin you as soon as I had fitted up, and that you would take the responsibility of any doing so without orders. I accordingly returned to Richmond, Saturday afternoon, remained there until the Thursday morning following, having succeeded in getting a temporary detail to my company of thirty men. With these I proceeded down the road, and overtook your brigade just below the battle-field of the Tuesday previous, remained with you until the return of the division to its present position near the city, without being in any other engagement. We fired between seven and eight hundred shots, with what loss to the enemy I do not know. I thus sum up my loss. Nine men killed and seriously wounded, per list annexed, besides several others slightly wounded, and twenty-four During this engagement, I received your mes- horses killed and seriously wounded, including sage to manœuvre the battery or remove it from the two killed on the twenty-fifth of June. I the field under fire, at my discretion. Finding went into the engagement with ninety-four men that no infantry of the enemy were in sight, and and four officers. None of my men left their that we had been so long under fire of their several guns while they were in battery; only two who batteries that they had been able to get our range were in the first engagement failed to be present very accurately, and that we were being damaged in the second; both of these sent me certificates by them, having lost in killed and seriously wound- of physicians that each had a foot so badly ed five men and eleven horses, I, in the exercise of the discretion you gave me, withdrew my battery some two hundred yards from the field. After resting about three quarters of an hour, and finding the enemy's infantry had formed on the hill above us again, we returned with the battery to its original position, soon scattering them, and then continued firing upon their batteries. While firing upon the infantry on the hill to my left, it mashed as to unfit them for duty. Therefore, where all behaved so well, I cannot draw any distinction, and shall always be contented, if, in the future, all do their duty as well as they did on the twenty-seventh of June, which was the first regular engagement the men were ever in. Respectfully submitted by Your obedient servant, WM. G. CRENSHAW, Captain, commanding Crenshaw's Battery. List of Killed and Wounded referred to in above as it could be of no use detached. Here I re Report. Private D. M. Lancaster, wounded in the leg by a shell; leg amputated, and died on fourth July. a Private B. V. Graves, wounded in the leg by shell, and leg amputated; continues very ill; may probably recover. Corporal Wm. B. Allen, severe wound in the leg by a minie ball. Private M. T. Rides, severely wounded in shoulder by minie ball. Private George T. Young, severely wounded in neck by shrapnell minie ball. Private Marion Knowles, severely wounded in leg by shell. Private Thomas J. Mallory, severely wounded in neck by minie ball. We were fortunate enough to get all of our wounded into the city during the evening and night. W. G. CRENSHAW. REPORT OF COLONEL BRADLEY T. JOHNSON. HEADQUARTERS MARYLAND LINE, Captain J. Campbell Brown, Assistant Adjutant a a mained until between five and six o'clock P. M., The conduct of my men and officers is beyond praise. They marched, each man in his place, with a precision and firmness which can never be surpassed. I append a list of casualties. That night we slept on the battle-field, and next morning, twenty-eighth, were ordered in front, by Major-General Ewell, and gained the York River Railroad. Pushing beyond to a hill which commanded Bottom's Bridge, I placed a picket on the Williamsburg road, and held the hill, by order, until the thirtieth, when I was ordered off. CAPTAIN: On Thursday, June twenty-sixth, when the army advanced from Ashland, the first Maryland regiment, of my command, was ordered to the front by Brigadier-General Ewell, with directions to drive in the enemy's pickets, when found. In the afternoon, Captain Nicholas, company G, whom I had sent in advance, skirmishing, discovered a cavalry picket at a church at the intersection of the Hundley Corner and Mechanicsville road. He immediately drove them in, and upon receiving reënforcements and making a stand, I took companies A and D, and drove them over Beaver Creek. Having thus gained a hill commanding the other side of the On the first of July, finding myself in the rear creek, I was ordered, by Major-General Jackson, without orders, I pushed forward until I got withto hold it, and take two pieces of artillery under in a quarter of a mile of Littleton's house, on the my command, and disperse the enemy, who ap- Malvern Hills. Here I halted, and went forward peared in some force beyond it. This was done. with my Adjutant and Adjutant-General of the I bivouacked on the hill in reach of their guns. Maryland line. A short distance from my posiOnce, during the night, they drove in my out- tion, I met Brigadier-General George B. Anderposts, to recover a piece of artillery which they son coming back, wounded, with the fragments had masked near my position, but which I did of his command, which had been repulsed, losing not discover until next morning. I immediately recovered the ground. The next day, June twenty-seventh, I again marched in advance, the Thirteenth Virginia, and Sixth Louisiana, being in front as skirmishers. When near Cold Harbor, the battery was ordered into position by BrigadierGeneral Elzey, to whom I had reported for orders, with the consent of Major-General Ewell, and the First Maryland was called to support it. valry company I ordered to report to Genugh L e First Virginia cavalry, heavily. I rode on, and just in front of Littleton's house, came suddenly on a small body of the enemy within one hundred yards of me. Retiring, I reported the facts to Major-General Jackson, and asked, should I go forward. He said, "No." I remained in position until dark, under the most terrific fire of shell and shrapnell I can conceive of. At that time, finding troops pouring back from the front, and no one to get orders from, I concluded to move forward toward the firing. As I was going up, Major orders from General Stuart, I followed with my battery, arriving at Dr. Wilcox's house, situated one mile from James River, about eight o'clock P. M., when I received orders from Colonel Lee to halt. General Ewell rode up, and approved of my action. I then went on, and found Brigadier-General Winder, and by his order took possession of the woods beyond Littleton's house, which I held until we marched. This gave us complete command of the battle-field. The next morning, a After reconnoitring the position my guns were squadron of cavalry, escorting an officer of rank, to occupy, Colonel Lee ordered me to march, coming impertinently near, was driven off by a taking a road known as the road to Wilcox's regiment of infantry, and in moving off gave us a Wharf. On arriving within one hundred yards of few scattering shots. On this day I lost but one the river, I placed my battery, by sections, on a man, but my Assistant Surgeon had his horse bluff, protected on the right by thick woods. killed by a piece of shell. On the fourth of July The section on the right, Lieutenant Owen comwe occupied, with Brigadier-General Early's commanding, composed of one steel and one bronze mand, the woods in front of Westover Church. three-inch rifle, and the left, Lieutenant Galbraith On the fifth there was some sharp skirmishing, commanding, consisting of two three-inch bronze but no loss, except that Lieutenant Bond, A. A. rifles. I placed two cannoneers as lookouts on General, Maryland line, had his horse killed. the banks of the river, and was informed, about Your obedient servant, one o'clock A. M., that a light was seen coming up stream. Preparing everything to give the craft a salute as she passed, we awaited her approach, and as soon as she appeared opposite our position, fire was opened from my four guns. Darkness prevented us from seeing the effect of our shot; but it was the opinion of all present that eight projectiles, out of thirteen fired, struck the mark. BRADLEY T. JOHNSON, REPORT OF FIFTH VIRGINIA BATTALION. Captain J. D. Darden, Aid-de-Camp and A. A. A. General: SIR: In pursuance of orders from brigade headquarters, I herewith submit a report of the part taken by the Fifth Virginia battalion in the engagement on Tuesday, the first instant. About ten o'clock A. M., the battalion was assigned to a position in line with the brigade, which position it maintained during the entire engagement. Though not immediately engaged on the battlefield, the battalion, during the whole time, was exposed to a heavy fire of shell and grape-shot from the enemy's battery. The casualties were, one private killed and five wounded. All of which is most respectfully submitted. WILLIAM E. ALLEY, Captain, commanding Fifth Virginia Battalion. REPORT OF FIRST COMPANY WASHINGTON At this I remained in the same position till daylight, when orders came to take my former position, in a piece of woods, near Waddill's farm. point, men and horses rested until six o'clock P. M., July sixth, when I received orders to place my command in readiness to move at a moment's notice. The artillery was now increased to seven guns, viz.: Four three-inch rifles, (my own battery,) two ten-pounder Parrott guns of the Loudoun artillery, Captain Rogers, and one Blakely gun of Stuart's artillery, under Lieutenant McGregor, the three additional pieces of artillery reporting to me by orders from General Stuart. About eight o'clock P. M., the artillery moved in rear of Colonel Rosser's cavalry, and finally took up a position near the river, on the farm of Mr. Thomas Wilcox, about nine miles from the point we occupied on the previous night. At sunrise, July seventh, a small steam transport, the "Jusand yards from our position, when the guns niata," was discovered aground, about one thouwere speedily thrown into battery, and opened upon her. The boat was lightened by her crew, up the river; but finding the direction was likely to prove of disadvantage, she moved down the river, evidently worsted by our fire; and we have since been informed by the army corre"Captain Squiers will report, with his battery spondent of the northern papers that she had to be of rifle guns, to General Longstreet, at his head-run ashore to keep her from sinking, with a loss quarters at Phillips's house. ARTILLERY. CAMP LONGSTREET, VA., July 19, 1862. Colonel J. B. Walton, commanding Battalion "HEADQUARters BattaLION WASHINGTON "J. B. WALTON, "Colonel, commanding." General Longstreet ordered me to follow, with my battery, such directions as Lieutenant-Colonel S. D. Lee would point out. Colonel Lee accompanied me over a farm road leading into the Charles City road. Reaching this road, I marched to a point opposite Waddill's farm, and there awaited the arrival of the cavalry, which I was informed would support the battery. The cavalry arrived about dark, and, in obedience to verbal VOL. IX.-Doc. 32 and backed of two killed and six wounded. The enemy now their fire, without sustaining any damage. He came up with his gunboats, and we retired under shelled the whole country, but could not discover our new position, which was in a piece of woods about one mile from the river. About four o'clock P. M., I received an order from Lieutenant-Colonel Lee to send one section of artillery to a point on the river near Christian's farm, which he informed me would be supported by one squadron of Colonel O'Brien's cavalry. I detached Lieutenant Galbraith's section, and I am informed by Lieutenant G. that he came into battery in time to fire upon two transports, conducted by a tugboat, compelling the tug to cut away and leave the transports to his mercy. Lieutenant Galbraith sunk one transport and damaged the other greatly, compelling the crew to abandon her and escape to the opposite shore. The enemy's gunboats now opened on this section, and Lieutenant Galbraith retired in good order, under his fire, and took up his former position. of June, belonged to a North Carolina battery. This battery, under command of Captain T. H. Brem, was the only one from North Carolina in the battle, and lost no guns at all. Since that time, Captain Brem having resigned, I have been promoted to the captaincy. And I presume the mistake has arisen in consequence of the identity of the two names - that of Captain Graham, from Petersburg, Virginia, (who lost two guns,) and my own. His case is now undergoing an examination before a court-martial in Petersburg. At the time of the engagement we were in General Holmes's division, and under the immediate supervision of Colonel Deshler, his Chief of Artillery. Very respectfully, your obedient servant, JOSEPH GRAHAM, Captain, commanding Tenth North Carolina Troops. REPORTS OF CAPTAIN MASTERS. July 12, 1862. Captain Morgan, A. A. General, Light Division: CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the battery of rifled guns under my command, from the twentysixth to the first: At five o'clock P. M., Lieutenant-Colonel Lee informed me that nine transports were coming up the river, and ordered me to move the artillery, now consisting of five guns, to the position on the river we occupied in the morning. The transports soon came in sight, convoyed by three gunboats. They consisted of eight schooners, two abreast, towed by a steamboat. The channel was very near the shore, say four hundred yards, and they were fairly within our range, when fire was opened on them, which was steadily kept up, nearly every shot taking effect. The enemy, from his gunboats, fired upon us the whole time; but I am happy to say the artillery sustained no damage. The transports having been towed beShortly before the action at Mechanicsville yond our range, we retired to Charles City Court- began, the enemy withdrew from their works in House, where we bivouacked for the night. The front of me. In the progress of the action I saw fire of the gunboats, though very hot, was not re-that while the guns were useless, if kept in the plied to by our artillery, and we did not condescend to turn a single piece of artillery upon him, which seemed to exasperate the enemy to such an extent that he avenged himself by shelling the neighboring farm-houses. Early next morning, July eighth, I was ordered to move down the Charles City road, in the direction of Bottom's Bridge, as the enemy was advancing in large force, with infantry and cavalry. Having accomplished our object, Lieutenant-Colonel Lee ordered the artillery to their respective camps. During the expedition the artillery fired one hundred and seventy-two rounds, as follows: First company battalion Washington artil- . Total number of rounds, 122 30 20 172 works built for them, that if removed a few hundred yards to the right, they could be used with effect against the heavy battery of the enemy near Beaver Dam Creek. I procured horses from Major Richardson, and moved the gun; but, when near the position I had selected, General Longstreet ordered me to carry it about a mile and a half farther to the right, and be ready to open the next morning on an important position of the enemy, which he intended to attack. The gun was placed in the position directed by him, and I opened a rapid fire of thirty-pounder shells, and, as I hear from an officer who was taken prisoner, with effect, which was continued until ordered by General Lee to cease, to enable the troops to charge over the ground I had been shelling. I had no further opportunity of participating in the battles before Richmond, although, by the orders of General Pendleton, I was with one of the guns near Garnett's farm, and both of them near the battle-ground of the first. The officers and men behaved well, laboring patiently and cheerfully to get the guns into the several positions to which I was ordered, especially Captains Milledge and Ansell, who accompanied me with detachments of men and horses from their companies. Respectfully, L. MASTERS, Captain P. A. C. S., commanding Battery. REPORT OF CAPTAIN MCINTOSH. HEADQUARTERS PEE DEE ARTILLERY, July 14, 1862. Brigadier-General Maxcy Gregg, commanding Second Brigade: GENERAL: In obedience to orders, I submit herewith a report of the part taken by my com mand in the late combats before Richmond. |