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

[526] men got but little repose, as we had every reason to believe that the enemy intended to attack us during the night. I found several wounded North Carolinians near the top of the hill, from which I inferred that the hill had been in our possession and retaken by the enemy prior to our coming forward. I afterward ascertained that my inference was correct. I sent out details, as early as practicable, to take care of my wounded and to bury the dead.

I cannot undertake to mention the conduct of all the officers. All did their duty. Captain Wm. H. Randolph was killed by my side, urging his men on to the charge. A braver officer never poured out his blood for his country. Captain Fletcher and Captain Burke were wounded and disabled whilst in the fearless discharge of their duty. Lieutenant Swope, Lieutenant Rieser, and Lieutenant Brown, and others, were also wounded in the midst of the fight, whilst the officers who were so fortunate as to escape unhurt, did everything that brave men could do, and were foremost in the strife. Lieutenant McRamey, after fighting bravely through the battle, was wounded by the accidental discharge of a musket. Lieutenant-Colonel Funk again proved himself efficient, cool, and brave, doing all that an officer could do toward the achievement which blessed our brigade with a glorious triumph. Captain Roberts, acting Major, managed the left of the regiment in a manner highly creditable, and behaved with intrepidity and daring throughout the entire engagement. Whilst I feel unable to do justice to the officers, I find it impossible to give too much praise to the non-commissioned officers and privates, who, without the hope of praise or the incentives of promotion, behaved like heroes under the most trying circumstances. Their reward will, I trust, soon be realized in the full enjoyment of that liberty for which they have so cheerfully and nobly struggled. I feel it but right to mention Mr. S. H. Bell and Mr. Wm. J. Hunter, citizens of Augusta County, for their prompt and humane efforts in attending to and removing the wounded and burying the dead. The list of casualties hereto appended is, thanks to a protecting Providence, small, owing to the interposition of the darkness of night and the overshooting of the enemy.

On Tuesday, the first day of July, by order of General Winder, I had placed my regiment in the woods in rear of the battle-field. I had scarcely gotten into position before a Parrott shell wounded Captain Fletcher. This gallant young officer had, on so many occasions, proved himself so brave as to be the idol of his company, and of the entire regiment. His last words on the field were words of encouragement to his men. General Winder ordered me to move back some distance, and out of the range of the guns. I had hardly executed the order before another shell exploded in the line, killing one and wounding four privates. The brigade was then moved still farther back. I obtained permission of General Winder to go to the rear to look after my wounded, and whilst there was informed that the brigade was moving to the front. With difficulty I reached the head of my regiment, just as it filed to the right into the woods. The blocked — up condition of the roads compelled the regiment to move in single file, which scattered it very much. Having received no orders, I followed the regiment across a cornfield, until I arrived at a wood, and found it posted in a ravine, which seemed to be providentially placed in our way as a breastwork against the terrific shower of shell and grape. I soon after met Colonel Botts, who informed me that he had lost the balance of the brigade. After remaining in this perilous situation, in which our men were unable to do any good, and were in very great danger, and finding it impossible to join the rest of the brigade, Colonel Botts and I, on consultation, determined to fall back to the road, which we succeeded in doing, with but a few wounded. I gathered the scattered men of the brigade, assisted by Colonel Botts, and moved along the road until I received orders to halt and rest. It is a great source of regret to me and my regiment that we were unable to be with our old companions, and where we could have rendered them some assistance. As it was, we were almost as much exposed.

A list of the casualties of this day is also appended.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

sir: I have the honor to transmit herewith a report of the part taken by this battalion of the Reserve Artillery, in the late engagements before Richmond:

Having been assigned, with the batteries of Captains Rhett, Clark, and Peyton, (that of the latter under command of Lieutenant Fry, in the absence of the Captain, who is sick,) to act as reserve to General 1). H. Hill's division, we left our camp on the Williamsburg road on the night of Wednesday, twenty-fifth ultimo, with the other batteries of the division, marching in the direction of Mechanicsville.

Captain Rhett had previously been ordered to report for duty with General Ripley's brigade, and with it, about four P. M. of Thursday, crossed the Chickahominy in advance of other troops of the division. He experienced some difficulty in crossing, on account of the destruction of the bridges over the stream by the enemy. He succeeded, with the help of the pioneer corps, in rendering the bridge passable, and crossed with his battery, and engaged, in a very spirited manner, the enemy's batteries, which he continued to do, changing his position whenever he found that the enemy had his range, until ordered to cease firing, about nine P. M. In this engagement he suffered from a cross-fire of the enemy, and had