Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 9.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[491] beg leave to mention, most particularly, the great gallantry and coolness displayed by Lieutenant-Colonel Jones, who was most conspicuous in every engagement, until forced to leave the field of battle; and it was to me a source of intense satisfaction, that, when forced to relinquish the command, I was enabled to place the regiment under the charge of so capable and brave an officer. Major Summers led gallantly in various charges in which the regiment was engaged, acting with coolness and discretion. To Lieutenant Pollock, Adjutant of the regiment, too much praise cannot be rendered; conspicuous in the field, leading the men in every fight, and aiding most materially in rallying the regiment around its colors. Of the officers of the line, Captain Hammond, and Lieutenants George Given and Johnson, company D ; Captain Taylor and Lieutenants McClintic arid Larew, of company E; Captain Coyner and Lieutenants Cabell, Paxton, and Moore, company F; Captain Rowan, Lieutenants Pack and Shanklin, company A; Captain Johnston, Lieutenants Canon and Torbough, company B; Captain Dews, Lieutenants Easly and Darlington, (the latter commanding the infirmary corps,) of company C; Captain Bailey, Lieutenants Hale and Belcher, company H; Captain Gilliam, Lieutenants Wilson, Heslip, and Tucker, company K; Captain Tompkins, (killed,) Lieutenants Ingraham and Kelly, company G; Lieutenant George, commanding company I, aided by Lieutenant Stephenson and Lilly, (the latter killed,) all displayed conspicuous gallantry.

I desire to notice, particularly, the good conduct of Lieutenant George, not only throughout the engagements in which the regiment participated, but for past merits while in charge of company I, in faithfully discharging the responsible duties of his position. After Captain Coyner received his wounds, on the twenty-sixth, the command of company F devolved on First Lieutenant Cabell, who, in the succeeding engagements, deported himself with remarkable coolness and bravery. Lieutenant Ingraham, of company G, who assumed command of company G upon the death of Captain Tompkins, attracted the attention of all by his unshrinking courage and resolution. The highest terms of praise apply with equal justice to Lieutenants Curren, company B; Easly, of company C; Hale, of company H, upon whom, owing to the wounds or sickness of their Captains, in particular engagements, devolved the command of their respective companies. Lieutenant Larew, company E, particularly distinguished himself in the charge of the thirtieth. Seizing the colors of the regiment from the colorbearer, who was exhausted, he bore them gallantly in front of the regiment until the enemy were driven from the field. It is proper to remark, in this connection, that Lieutenant Summers, company A, was absent on detailed service, and Lieutenants Jones, company B; Johnson, company C; Rector, company G; Carr, company H, and Captain Ryan, company I, were absent, sick, during these engagements.

I would be doing injustice to Sergeant-Major Corbell, a mere youth, were I to omit calling special attention to the coolness and soldier-like bearing that marked his conduct throughout. He is a young officer of great promise.

Ordnance-Sergeant Peyton also discharged his duties with promptitude and fidelity. Captain McDonald, Quartermaster, and Captain Estelle, Regimental Commissary, were prompt and efficient in the discharge of their duties, and their general conduct ever since their connection with the regiment has been worthy of all praise. To Surgeon H. R. Noel, and Assistant Surgeon W. R. Capehart, I was under many obligations for their unwearied and skilful attentions to the wounded of the regiment. The non-commissioned officers, with but three exceptions, acted their parts well.

I cannot close this report without noticing the conduct of privates George R. Taylor, company E, and Robert A. Christian, company I. The former may be styled the father of the regiment. Near sixty years of age, he volunteered at the commencement of the war, and his energy, patriotism, and general good conduct, as well as his determined bravery in all the recent engagements, have excited the admiration of all. Private Christian, in the bayonet charge of the thirtieth, was assailed by no less than four of the enemy at the same instant. He succeeded in killing three of them with his own hands, though wounded in several places by bayonet thrusts, and his brother, Eli Christian, going to his aid, despatched the fourth. Rev. Nathaniel G. Robinson, formerly a Lieutenant in company I, but who was not a candidate for reelection, returned to the regiment after a brief absence, and taking his musket, fought gallantly through the battles of the twenty-sixth, twenty-seventh, and thirtieth ultimo, in the last of which he received a slight wound. Such conduct, prompted by patriotism and a sense of duty alone, is worthy of note. For a detailed account of the good conduct of the non-commissioned officers and privates generally, I beg leave to refer you to the several company reports accompanying this document.

sir: In obedience to orders from headquarters, I have the honor to submit the following report as embracing the part that my regiment took in the battles before Richmond, commencing Thursday, the twenty-sixth June, and ending on Tuesday night, first July, instant:

On Wednesday night, the twenty-fifth June, the brigade took up the line of march for Meadow Bridge, on the Chickahominy, and halted about three A. M. to rest the troops, preparatory to the coming struggle. On Thursday evening, four P. M., the brigade was put in motion for Meadow Bridge, which we reached about six P. M., the enemy having abandoned all their intrenchments