save the guns,' meaning some of although reinforced by the corps of Gen-mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Thourot, to eral Heintzelman. The corps of Generals Keyes and Heintzelman, having retreat- Casey's. The regiment moved up the ed to the third line, by direction of Williamsburg road at double-quick, conGeneral Heintzelman, I then collected ducted by General Naglee, where it beat together what remained of my division." off the enemy on the point of seizing some The report of General Keyes, corrob- guns, and held its position more than an orates this account of the services of hour. At the end of that time, its amGeneral Casey's division. "There was munition being exhausted, it fell back no surprise," he says, "all was prepared through the abattis, and after receiving for action. Had it been otherwise, the more cartridges, the regiment again did Confederates, pouring from the shelter good service. It lost, in the battle, of the woods in overpowering numbers, nearly one-fourth its numbers, killed and would have swept through our lines wounded. At a little past two o'clock I and routed us completely. As it was, ordered Neill's 23d and Rippey's 61st however, Casey's division held its line Pennsylvania regiments to move to the of battle for more than three hours, and support of Casey's right. Neill attacked the execution done upon the enemy was the enemy twice with great gallantry. shown by the number of rebel dead left In the first attack the enemy were driven upon the field after the enemy had held back. In the second attack, and under possession of that part of it for upwards the immediate command of General of twenty-four hours. During that time it Couch, these two regiments assailed a is understood, all the means of transport vastly superior force of the enemy, and available in Richmond were employed fought with extraordinary bravery; to carry away their dead and wound- though compelled at last to retire, they ed. The enemy advancing, as they fre- brought in thirty-five prisoners. Both quently did, in masses, received the shot regiments were badly cut up. Colonel and shell of our artillery like veterans, Rippey, of the 61st, and his adjutant, closing up the gaps, and moving steadily were killed; the lieutenant-colonel and on to the assault." major were wounded, and are missing. The casualties in the 61st amount to 263, and are heavier than in any other regiment in Couch's division. After this attack, the 23d took part in the hard fighting which closed the day near the Seven Pines. The 61st withdrew in detachments, some of which came again into action near my headquarters. Almost immediately after ordering the 23d and 61st to support the right, and as soon as they could be reached, I sent the 7th Massachusetts, Colonel Russell, and the 62d New York, Colonel Riker, to reinforce them. The overpowering advance of the enemy obliged these regiments to proceed to Fair Oaks, where they fought under the immediate orders of Generals Couch and Abercrombie. There they joined the 1st United States Chasseurs, Colonel Cochrane, previously ordered to The division of General Casey lost 1,433 killed, wounded and missing; about a third of its entire force. We now take up the report of General Keyes, of the second general line of defence, composed principally of Couch's division, the operations of which received his uninterrupted supervision. "As the pressure," says he, "on Casey's position became greater, he applied to me for reinforcements. I continued to send them as long as I had troops to spare. Colonel McCarter, with the 93d Pennsylvania, Peck's brigade, engaged the enemy on the left, and maintained his ground above two hours, until overwhelming numbers forced him to retire, which he did in good order. At about two o'clock, P. M., I ordered the 55th New York (Colonel De Trobriand, absent, sick), now in com although reinforced by the corps of Gen-mand of Lieutenant-Colonel Thourot, to eral Heintzelman. The corps of Generals 'save the guns,' meaning some of Keyes and Heintzelman, having retreat- Casey's. The regiment moved up the ed to the third line, by direction of Williamsburg road at double-quick, conGeneral Heintzelman, I then collected ducted by General Naglee, where it beat together what remained of my division." off the enemy on the point of seizing some The report of General Keyes, corrob- guns, and held its position more than an orates this account of the services of hour. At the end of that time, its amGeneral Casey's division. "There was munition being exhausted, it fell back no surprise," he says, "all was prepared through the abattis, and after receiving for action. Had it been otherwise, the more cartridges, the regiment again did Confederates, pouring from the shelter good service. It lost, in the battle, of the woods in overpowering numbers, nearly one-fourth its numbers, killed and would have swept through our lines wounded. At a little past two o'clock I and routed us completely. As it was, ordered Neill's 23d and Rippey's 61st however, Casey's division held its line Pennsylvania regiments to move to the of battle for more than three hours, and support of Casey's right. Neill attacked the execution done upon the enemy was the enemy twice with great gallantry. shown by the number of rebel dead left In the first attack the enemy were driven upon the field after the enemy had held back. In the second attack, and under possession of that part of it for upwards the immediate command of General of twenty-four hours. During that time it Couch, these two regiments assailed a is understood, all the means of transport vastly superior force of the enemy, and available in Richmond were employed fought with extraordinary bravery; to carry away their dead and wound- though compelled at last to retire, they ed. The enemy advancing, as they fre- brought in thirty-five prisoners. Both quently did, in masses, received the shot regiments were badly cut up. Colonel and shell of our artillery like veterans, Rippey, of the 61st, and his adjutant, closing up the gaps, and moving steadily were killed; the lieutenant-colonel and on to the assault." major were wounded, and are missing. The casualties in the 61st amount to 263, and are heavier than in any other regiment in Couch's division. After this attack, the 23d took part in the hard fighting which closed the day near the Seven Pines. The 61st withdrew in detachments, some of which came again into action near my headquarters. Almost immediately after ordering the 23d and 61st to support the right, and as soon as they could be reached, I sent the 7th Massachusetts, Colonel Russell, and the 62d New York, Colonel Riker, to reinforce them. The overpowering advance of the enemy obliged these regiments to proceed to Fair Oaks, where they fought under the immediate orders of Generals Couch and Abercrombie. There they joined the 1st United States Chasseurs, Colonel Cochrane, previously ordered to The division of General Casey lost 1,433 killed, wounded and missing; about a third of its entire force. We now take up the report of General Keyes, of the second general line of defence, composed principally of Couch's division, the operations of which received his uninterrupted supervision. "As the pressure," says he, "on Casey's position became greater, he applied to me for reinforcements. I continued to send them as long as I had troops to spare. Colonel McCarter, with the 93d Pennsylvania, Peck's brigade, engaged the enemy on the left, and maintained his ground above two hours, until overwhelming numbers forced him to retire, which he did in good order. At about two o'clock, P. M., I ordered the 55th New York (Colonel De Trobriand, absent, sick), now in com |