she could participate in the fight until Tuesday morning. It was then definitely determined that the attack should be made at daylight on the morning of the fifth, the ram Arkansas, of whose steady and uninterrupted progress down the river we had constantly been advised, coöperating with the troops. At ten o'clock, Monday night, August fourth, the troops, about two thousand four hundred in all, advanced from their camp on Comite River. The men were in the finest spirits and confident of accomplishing their purpose before breakfasttime. The march of ten miles over a smooth, sandy road, between well-cultivated plantations, was conducted with quiet and order. with considerable precision and effect. It was, however, but the work of a moment to dislodge them. Like so many coveys of partridges, they started up and flew rapidly before our advancing columns, the boys giving vent to exulting cheers, as with fixed bayonets they followed the retreating Yankees. The morning was quite foggy, and a heavy mist hung over the entire landscape, rendering it difficult to plant our batteries so as not to operate either upon one or the other of our wings. Our town lines were then converging toward a common centre, the enemy fleeing toward his camps. But it was not without loss that we thus drove them in. They sought every possible covert-place, and, rallying, gave a peppery salute to our men. Their batteries were also admirably handled, and belched forth devastating columns of canister, grape, shrapnel, shell, and solid shot. One by one, however, they were forced to give back. Limber up, and to the rear march, was the constant order, and had it not been obeyed, all their guns would have fallen into our possession. But about dawn there occurred one of those terrible misadventures that are frequently the harbingers of disasters and gloom. While the column was advancing about three miles from the city, the road skirted on one side by a dense piece of woodland, and the other by a field of sugar-cane, there came a terrible volley of musketry from the woods where a party of Partisan Rangers had been posted. It was evident at once As it was, the Fourth Louisiana charged a batthat there was a mistake, but the confusion inci- tery twice, each time at considerable loss, and dent upon the alarm could not be obviated, and were finally forced to lose their trophy, their several casualties occurred. Brig. Gen. Helm's commander, Col. Allen, falling, shot through both horse fell into a ditch and disabled that gallant legs. This somewhat demoralized the regiment, young officer, his leg being badly mashed. The which had already been distinguished for its good troops were thus deprived of his valuable services conduct. Capt. Hughes, commanding the Twenin the field, and he was compelled to remain rest- ty-second Mississippi, fell dead while leading a ive away from the scene of action, while his bold charge; Col. Sam. Boyd, of the Louisiana batboys were winning fresh laurels. Capt. Alexan- talion, was severely wounded in the arm; the der A. Todd, (a brother of Mrs. Lincoln,) of Gen. gallant Thirty-first Mississippi, while charging Helm's staff, was instantly killed, and Captain ahead, lost its colors, but the battle-flag was imWillis S. Roberts, commanding the Fourth Ken-mediately grasped by a lieutenant, who, bearing tucky, dangerously wounded. Capt. Todd was a it aloft, was shot down, and a third man seized young gentleman of fine accomplishments, great it, receiving a death-wound. But onward went personal daring, exceeding amiability, and the the left. Gen. Ruggles was conspicuous for darwarmest home affections. But the evening be- ing, and his aid, Col. Charles Jones, of Louisiana, fore he wrote to his mother, and just before the while delivering an order, was struck down by a accident he was conversing with Lieut. L. E. shell and seriously wounded. Our troops were Payne, ordnance-officer of the brigade, communi- now in the camps, and though tempting enough, cating the messages he wished conveyed home in none stopped to pillage. The Third, Sixth, and case of his fall. Brave boy! he met his end Seventh Kentucky regiments were going ahead serenely, and his body was interred with tender like a hurricane. Nothing could stop their fearand loving hands. Cobb's Kentucky battery was ful and determined progress. The more obstinate also rendered hors du combat, the gun-carriages the resistance the fiercer their onset. Overwhelm and caissons being broken, and the pieces ren- ing as were the odds against them, they pressed dered unmanageable. This was exceedingly un- forward, mostly at a "charge bayonet," yelling fortunate from the great experience and intrepid- like madmen. Col. A. P. Thompson, of Paduity of Capt. Cobb and his cannoniers. At Shiloh cah, fell, wounded severely through the neck, and the battery was admirably manned, and at Vicks- Adjt. R. B. L. Soery was wounded dangerously, burgh, while in command of Lieut. Graces, it Other officers went down, but the men marched successfully drove back one of the enemy's gun-ahead. After the fall of Col. Thompson, Colonel boats. Order being restored, the column advanced and soon the line of battle was formed. General Clarke's division occupied the right, and that of Gen. Ruggles the left. The advance was made in four lines, that of the left over a very rough country, across ditches, through sugar-cane, over fences a very fatiguing and exhausting march. It was ten minutes of five o'clock when we first brushed the enemy. They were in good position, under cover, and opened out upon our advance Ed. Crossland, who had been leading his brave forced to yield his position to Major W. L. Clarke. This young officer was quite equal to the task. He was intrepid, skilful, and prudent, and brought his men safely out of more than one tight place. The Thirty-fifth Alabama, which had never before been under fire, acted with all the coolness of veterans. Its commander, Col. J. W. Robertson, was as self-possessed as on a dress-parade, and led his brave men into every danger. Falling from the effects of a sun-stroke, the command devolved upon Lieut.-Col. Goodwin, a young officer of great promise. The conduct of this brigade (Preston's) was preeminently noble, and I regret that its General could not have been present to have shared its perils and enjoyed its constant succession of triumphs. Unfortunately he is confined to his bed with typhoid fever, at the residence of a friend, near Clinton, Miss. Colonel Thompson, however, as Acting Brigadier, proved a gallant and intrepid commander. the members of his staff, Capt. W. P. Wallace, aid-de-camp, was wounded early in the action, having his ribs broken; and Lieut. Charles Semple, ordnance-officer, was shot with grape through the leg, being this heroic officer's second wound in the war, the first having been received at Fort Donelson. Major J. R. Throckmorten, BrigadeQuartermaster, rendered invaluable services in removing the wounded. He courted dangerous positions, and captured a lot of Government horses and mules. But this was nothing for a man who had been under fire in nine severe battles. Dr. J. W. Thompson, Brigade-Surgeon, was remarkably efficient in organizing and conducting his field-hospital arrangements. Of While the left was thus forcing the enemy into town, the right wing, under Gen. Charles Clarke, did not lag behind. Gen. Breckinridge was himself with this division, and his presence had a magical effect upon the men. There was no danger he did not share with them. His tall form seemed ubiquitous-here, there, and every where in peril, where there was an enemy to drive or a position to gain. Of the gallantry and noble bearing of his young son Cabell I should not speak, were it not that he is as modest as he is meritorious-a worthy scion of a noble stock. Gen. Breckinridge led personally several charges, and toward the close of the action, coming up to the Fourth and Fifth Kentucky, who had fallen back utterly exhausted, he drew his sword, and with one appealing look said, in his clear, musical tones: "My men, charge !" This charge is described to us by an officer who participated, as one of the most signal and effective acts of the battle. The men rushed forward in no particular order, firing at and pursuing the enemy, with a determination that could not be thwarted, driving them farther than they had yet been driven. But during the whole engagement the Fourth and Fifth Kentucky displayed the utmost gallantry, worthy of the laurels they had won at Shiloh. Better men never followed a flag or faced an enemy than compose these two regiments. Col. Thomas H. Hunt, of the Fifth, was in command of the brigade, and received a serious shot in the left hip while actively engaged on the field. He is a model soldier and the beau ideal of an officer, and his fall occasioned a pang of regret in the minds of all his men. Lieut.-Col. Caldwell and Capt. Cripps Wickliffe were worthy of their regiment, which exhibits the heaviest loss of any on the field. The Fourth Kentucky was without field-officers, but under Capt. Miller it proved a host, bearing through the heat of the fray its tattered and bullet-riddled banner, now thrice consecrated to glory by baptism of fire and blood. I speak of the Kentucky regiments more in detail, because I know more of their conduct, and for the reason that they bore the brunt of the fight. But this was only in accordance with the promise of Gen. Breckinridge, who, in a brief address a few days before, told his "brave, noble and ragged Kentuckians" that he would lead them wherever there was danger. During the frequent pauses of the fight, when the roll of musketry and the sharp crack of artillery were hushed, all ears were strained to catch some note of intelligence from the ram Arkansas. Long since she should have been engaging the enemy's gunboats, which had already poured a dreadful rain of shot and shell into our midst. But there was no welcome sound from the guns of our little vessel. Upon all tongues were the queries, "Where can the Arkansas be? why is she not here?" and there came the unwilling thought, has she failed us, and can all this deadly, terrible struggle have been for naught? We had already driven the enemy one and a half miles from the position where he was first encountered. We had seized all his camps, and forced him through the suburbs of the town. Then came the last charge, and right nobly did our exhausted soldiers discharge their duty. Wayworn, covered with dust, and consumed by the heat of battle, the gallant boys plunged headlong again into the fight, and before them fled the Yankees. In vain did they bring up their reserve. We drove them all quite to the river, completely under the protection of their gunboats, many of them taking to the water. It was then that Gen. Breckinridge ordered a recall. He had received a message that it would be impossible for the Arkansas to participate, then, in the engagement, but that by two o'clock she could take a part. Slowly and with reluctance our troops fell back, although exposed to the heavy firing of the gunboats.. About one mile and a half from the town they were halted, and the poor, wearied, jaded fellows threw themselves upon the ground to rest. It was in this last charge that General Charles Clarke had his hip badly shattered, and at his own request, he was conveyed to a house in town. Captain Yerger, his aid, remained with him, and both were afterward made prisoners. Throughout the whole engagement, Gen. Clarke's conduct was notable for its intrepid daring. He could have easily been removed, but he knew that the wound was a fatal one, and preferred remaining behind. Upon the fall back, Gen. Breckinridge ordered the various camps and stores of the enemy to be such that neither of her batteries could be brought to bear on the enemy. Only one gun was fired as a parting salvo, when her officers and crew escaped to the Louisiana shore. Although pressed by a body of Federal cavalry, most of them have reached our lines, bereft of every thing they possessed except the clothing upon their backs. As the burning fragments of the Arkansas floated down the river, the Yankee boats speedily fled to get out of harm's way, so that the ill-fated ram was a terror to the valiant sailors, even though a battered wreck. destroyed. This was accordingly done, and a of the invincible Arkansas. Her position was vast amount of property was burned. There were huge piles of pork, beef, bacon, flour, whisky, molasses, and sugar, quantities of clothing, at which our troops looked wistfully, all given to the flames. The encampments were those of the Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, New-Hampshire, Michigan, and Indiana regiments. There was an air of comfort about all of the tents, and luxurious appointments in many of them. The sutler's stores were crowded with delicacies. But nothing escaped. Many letters, pictures, and documents were picked up, but the boys brought away no booty. Had our means of transportation been more extensive, we could have brought off a month's supply for our army. Gen. Breckinridge intrusted the delicate and important duty of holding the field to Capt. John A. Buckner, his Adjutant-General. This officer, who had, during the morning, rendered himself a conspicuous target for the enemy, remained behind with a battery and seventy-five men. With this small force he maintained his position until near sundown, when the whole army was withdrawn to its present position. While thus posted, a flag of truce was sent from the enemy's lines, requesting permission to bury the dead, which was instantly granted. Later in the day, another flag approached, with a document addressed "To the commanding officer of the confederate forces outside of Paton Rouge." This was from Col. Cahill, and disclaimed the right of the officer sending the first. It appears that after Gen. Williams (who was chief in command) was killed, and Colonels Keith and McMillan had fallen, there was a controversy among the Federals as to the ranking officer, but the succession finally devolved on Cahill. One of the most hotly contested points of the field was a graveyard, from which the enemy had poured a galling fire, but which was finally wrested from them. Here the Sixth Kentucky found shelter, and suffered most of its loss. Truly it might have been remarked: "In the midst of life we are in death." As we drove the Yankees into the town, they sought the protection of houses, from the windows of which they discharged murderous volleys upon our troops. In one house where they had lodged themselves, they forced a man, holding an infant in his arms, to walk up and down a porch, while they fired from behind him. They knew that our men would not risk slaying the innocent man and child even to wreak vengeance on such dastards. Both engines of the ram Arkansas having been badly broken, there was no recourse left Lieut. Stevens, her commanding officer, to prevent the notable little craft falling into the hands of the enemy but destroying her. She was accordingly fired, and at half-past nine o'clock yesterday (Wednesday) morning exploded with a most terrible uproar. For some hours before the Essex and three sloops of war had been firing at her with their heaviest guns, but all their shot glanced harmlessly from the impenetrable sides Yesterday afternoon Major Haynes, of the Quartermaster's Department, proceeded to Baton Rouge, under a flag of truce, for the purpose of visiting General Clark. He was met outside of town, blindfolded, and the covering over his eyes not removed until he was taken into the arsenal building, the window-shutters of which were closed. He was not permitted to see General Clark, but learned that he was still living and well cared for. The enemy acknowledge the loss of Gen. Williams, Colonels Keith and McMillan, and about eight hundred killed and missing. The expedition has not proved a complete success, owing entirely to the Arkansas not having cooperated. Had not that vessel met with an unfortunate accident, the victory would have been one of the most brilliant of the war. The land forces accomplished all that was possible. They drove a largely superior force of the enemy from strong and well-chosen positions two miles through the city, to the shelter of their gunboats. They captured a number of prisoners, more ammunition than we used in the battle, a quantity of horses, and destroyed more than half a million dollars' worth of Government property. In excellence of plan and brilliancy of exccution-in the personal prowess of the men, and the heroic daring of the officers, the history of the war affords no better example. General Breckinridge fought the battle with small but trusty forces, and achieved what scarcely any other man could have done a victory over double numbers, at small loss of life, in the face of four of the enemy's gunboats. Our loss in killed and wounded will not reach three hundred. I send you the lists of the casualties in such regiments as I have been able to visit. We are now comfortably encamped on the Comite River, while the wounded have been removed to Greenwell Springs-most delightful locations. SE DE KAY. Doc. 92. BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS, VA. GENERAL HEINTZELMAN'S REPORT.* General R. B. Marcy, Chief of Staff, Army of * See page 72 Documents, ante. ations of the Third and Fourth army corps, under my command during the engagements of the thirty-first of May and first of June. On the twenty-fifth of May, Gen. Keyes's corps was placed under my command. He was directed to advance to the Seven Pines, on the Williamsburgh stage-road, about seven miles from the city of Richmond. My corps was ordered to cross the Chickahominy at Bottom's Bridge and occupy the position, two miles in advance of it, marked A and B on the accompanying map, and to watch the crossings of the White Oak swamp, with the woods beyond covering our left flank and rear. On that day I crossed the river and occupied the positions indicated. Gen. Keyes's corps advanced. The next day a reconnoissance having been ordered, I rode forward a mile beyond the Seven Pines, and had the positions examined to the front and right. Gen. Casey's division was located a short distance back of the Seven Pines. He selected a position in front of the Seven Pines, at which to throw up some defensive works. At his request, I let him move forward and occupy the ground. He did so, and immediately commenced strengthening it with rifle-pits and abattis. The engineers now made a more thorough examination, and it was decided to hold a position about three fourths of a mile in advance, as it covered a cross-road leading from the Seven Pines toward the "Old Tavern,' the latter strongly occupied by the enemy. Gen. Casey moved his division forward, and work was commenced on this new position. It progressed but slowly, however, on account of the incessant rains. This was on the twenty-ninth; on that day there was a sharp skirmish. Major Kelley, New-York volunteers, killed, and two privates wounded. On the thirtieth, our pickets and the enemy's were again engaged. In the afternoon we had a heavy thunder-storm with torrents of rain, continuing till late in the night and putting a stop to all work. · was. -- On the next day, the thirty-first, the forenoon was quiet. At about one o'clock P.M. I first heard firing more than there had been for several days. I sent Lieuts. Hunt and Johnson, two of my Aids, to the front, to learn what it At two o'clock P.M. I received a note from Lieut. Jackson, of Gen. Keyes's staff, informing me that the enemy was pressing them very hard, especially on the railroad, and asking me to send two brigades, if I had them at hand to spare. On this, I sent orders for a brigade to advance up the railroad as a support. The one selected by Gen. Kearny was Gen. Birney's brigade. Previous to this, I had received instructions from the Commanding General to hold the Seven Pines at all hazards, but not to move the troops guarding the approaches of Bottom's Bridge and the crossing of the White Oak swamp, unless it became absolutely necessary to hold the position in front at the Seven Pines. Believing the position in front of the Seven Pines to be a critical one, and not having entire confidence in the new troops composing the division of Gen. Casey, I sought and obtained permission on Friday afternoon to advance a portion of my corps from its position near Bottom's Bridge. The order was to make such disposition of the troops of my corps as I saw fit. I immediately ordered two brigades of Kearny's division to move forward on the Williamsburgh stage-road, and encamp about three quarters of a mile in advance of Savage's station. Lieuts. Hunt and Johnson returned about half-past two P.M., having seen Gen. Keyes, by whom they were directed to report that his front line, which was Gen. Casey's division, was being driven in; the road from the front was at this time filled with fugitives. I mounted my horse and rode briskly to the front. At the corner of the field, not a third of a mile from my headquarters, I met the fugitives from the battle-field increasing in numbers as I advanced. I had already given orders for all the available troops to advance to support those in front, as well as sent an officer to communicate with Gen. Sumner and request his assistance. This officer met a staff-officer sent by Gen. Sumner to offer me assistance. On reaching the front, I met our troops fiercely engaged with the enemy near the Seven Pines, having lost the first position, three fourths of a mile in advance. Gen. Keyes was there, and from him I learned the position of affairs. Our reënforcements soon began to arrive. Gen. Berry's brigade was sent into the woods on our left and ordered to outflank the enemy, who occupied in force Gen. Casey's camps, and had a battery of artillery near a large wood-pile in rear of the unfinished redoubt. This position Gen. Berry held till dark, when Gen. Jameson's brigade came up, the Fiftyseventh Pennsylvania having gone up the railroad from Savage's station, as the main road was full of fugitives. I directed him to send a regiment to the right to support Gen. Peck. He sent the Eighty-seventh New-York, Col. Dodge. The other two regiments, Sixty-third and One Hundred and Fifth Pennsylvania, went to the left through the woods, and were deployed, by Gen. Kearny's order, across the Williamsburgh road, and they gallantly drove the enemy out of the abattis and rifle-pits, holding their position for an hour and a half. This brought the time to about five o'clock, at which hour the enemy received a reënforcement of a division, and began to drive our troops out of the woods on the right of the road. The fire had increased so much that I went to the left to order two of Gen. Peck's regiments, from where they were guarding a road leading to the White Oak swamp, to support this line. I met them coming, having been ordered across by Gen. Keyes. They went into the woods, but, together with the troops already there, were driven out by the overwhelming masses of the enemy. Gen. Jameson rode across to rally them, but was met by a volley from the enemy. His horse fell with three balls in him. In falling, the General's leg was caught under the animal, when some men of the Sixty-third Pennsylvania came and lifted the horse off, and helped the General away. Gen. Peck's horse was shot under him, day. Through what misunderstanding or counand several other officers had their horses struck, ter-orders it was kept back, I am unable to say. or were themselves wounded at this time. Their I have since learned that Gen. Kearny gave the exertions, however, partially rallied the retiring orders. regiments, and they fell back fighting: this brought us into a narrow strip of woods, along the main road. With the assistance of my staff and other officers, we succeeded in rallying fragments of regiments, to the number of about one thousand eight hundred men. Part of these Gen. Keyes took to the left of the road. I placed Col. Hays, of the Sixty-third Pennsylvania, in command of the remainder, and with two companies of his regiment, just returned from picket. | This force I ordered to advance. They succeeded in repulsing the advancing enemy. This was late in the afternoon, and the fire gradually slackened and ceased on this part of the field. The enemy never got beyond those woods. A new line was formed in some unfinished rifle-pits, about a mile in rear, and occupied by the troops of Gens. Couch's and Kearny's division, and such troops of Gen. Casey's as could be collected. When the troops on the right of the road near the Seven Pines gave way, the enemy pushed several regiments across the main road, placing them between General Berry's brigade, part of Jameson's, and the portion of our troops who gave way from the right of the road. These troops, (Gen. Berry's,) however, most gallantly held their position on the rebels' right flank, and kept up such a deadly fire that no effort the enemy made could dislodge them. They remained till dark, firing away sixty rounds of ammunition to each man, and then supplying themselves with cartridges from the dead and wounded. Their fire completely commanded the open space in their front, and not a mounted man succeeded in passing under their fire. When night came on they fell back about a mile, took the saw-mill road, and by eight o'clock P.M. joined their division. When we reoccupied the ground again, the rebel dead covering their front attested their coolness and the accuracy of their fire. Early in the afternoon, (three o'clock P.M.,) an order was sent, on the application of Gen. Keyes, to Gen. Kearny, to send a brigade up the railroad to his assistance. The order sent to Gen. Kearny was to send a brigade up the railroad to the front, and Gen. Birney's was ordered up. I learned, after I arrived on the field of battle, that the brigade was halted on the railroad a very short distance from the camp. I sent at least two orders for it to advance. From the reports, a few chance shots fell among the left of this brigade, but I cannot learn that it was engaged during the day. Had it gone into action between the railroad and Williamsburgh road, as I expected it would, I believe we would have driven back the enemy and have recaptured our artillery, lost before I came on the field. The gallant manner in which the brigade fought when led into action the next day by the gallant Col. J. Hobart Ward, shows what it would have done if it had taken part in the battle of the previous After the battle, Gen. Birney was placed under arrest by my order, and brought before a courtmartial, for disobedience of orders. The Court honorably acquitted him. Gen. Keyes has written such an excellent report of the operations of his corps, that it is scarcely necessary for me to add to it. So much has, however, been said as to the conduct of Gen. Casey's division, that it is due to him and to the troops he commanded that I should give my views. Gen. Casey, in his report, states: "On the morning of the thirtyfirst, my pickets toward the right of my line succeeded in capturing Lieut. Washington, an aid of Gen. Johnston's, of the rebel service. This cir cumstance, in connection with the fact that Col. Hunt, my general officer of the day, had reported to me that his outer picket had heard cars running nearly all night on the Richmond and York River Railroad, led me to exercise increased vigilance. Between eleven and twelve o'clock, a mounted vidette was sent in from the advanced picket to report that a body of the enemy was in sight, approaching on the Richmond road. I immediately ordered the One Hundred and Third regiment Pennsylvania volunteers to advance to the front for the purpose of supporting the pickets. It was soon afterward reported to me, by a mounted vidette, that the enemy were advancing in force, and about the same time two shells were thrown over my camp. I was led to believe that a serious attack was contemplated. I immediately ordered the division under arms, the men at work on the rifle-pits and abattis to be recalled and to join their regiments, the artillery to be harnessed up at once. I made every disposition to repel the enemy; while they were in progress the pickets commenced firing." It is much to be regretted that I knew nothing of this until after the battle. After the fire had attracted my at tention, and I had sent two of my aids to the front for information, I received a note (at two o'clock P.M.) from Gen. Keyes, merely asking, as I have already said, for two brigades, if I could spare them, to be sent up the railroad. With this indefinite information I ordered up every available man, and as they arrived in succession was forced to put them in action to meet pressing emergencies, without waiting to make a concentrated effort. Nothing but the great gallantry of Gen. Kearny, who had a horse shot under him while leading the Thirty-seventh New-York into action, his officers and men, and the steadiness of most of Couch's division, saved us from a most disastrous defeat. The defensive works of Gen. Casey's position, in consequence of the increasing rains, and the short time allowed him for labor with intrenching tools, were in a very unfinished state, and could oppose but a feeble resistance to the overwhelming mass thrown upon them. The artillery was well served, and some of the regi ments fought gallantly till overwhelmed by num bers. After they were once broken, however, |