Rebellion Record: a Diary of American Events: Documents and Narratives, Volume 5.
Frank Moore, Ed.

[100] occupied the advance, and were drawn up in line of battle, preparing to meet the foe, notwithstanding the severe loss it had sustained in the morning. Many of our dead and wounded still remained upon the field, among which was the body of the lamented Col. Lomax. An omnibus was sent out to get as many as possible, but this was captured by the enemy. The Yankees advanced to the edge of a piece of woods, within about two hundred yards of our line, where they halted and remained at dusk. Gen. Mahone's brigade was soon reenforced by several brigades which were drawn up a short distance in its rear, while a large force was placed near by in reserve. President Davis, Gens. Lee, Smith, Longstreet, Stuart, and other commanding generals were upon the ground at this point, showing that it was an important position in the affairs of the day. Thus matters stood at sundown. As no further attack was anticipated during the night, our troops prepared to bivouac on the field, in readiness for the events of to-day.

Of course it is impossible at this time to chronicle but a small portion of the casualties and incidents. We give such as we have been able to obtain. The Twelfth Virginia and the Third Alabama behaved nobly. Both regiments were cut up badly. The Richmond Grays lost two killed and five wounded and missing. Probably no regiment suffered more than the Third Alabama. Besides Col. Lomax, Adjt. Johnson, Capt. Mays, Capt. Phelan, and Lieut. James Brown were killed, and Capt. Ready, Capt. Robinson, Lieut. Witherspoon, Lieut. Gardner, Lieut. Patridge were wounded. The casualties were among the officers alone. The slaughter among the privates was terrific.

The Lynchburgh artillery, formerly known as Latham's battery, now commanded by Captain James Dearing, did good service in the fight. The men fought bravely and laid many a Yankee upon the ground. Capt. Dearing entered with thirty-four cannoneers, and had nineteen wounded. He also had between thirty and forty horses disabled. The First Lieutenant, James L. Dickenson, had his leg broken. Capt. Dearing is a brave and efficient young officer, and won his spurs on this occasion.

One of the batteries captured was the “Empire battery,” of New-York, Capt. Miller. The guns were new brass field-pieces, known as the Napoleon gun, made by the American Manufacturing Company. The horses were all killed, but the pieces have been turned over to Captain Miller, of the Washington artillery.

Col. D. G. Goodwin, of the Ninth Virginia, was severely wounded. The Petersburgh corps was badly used up. The Twelfth Virginia and the Third Alabama charged a battery and drove the Yankees from it. The Twelfth and Sixth Alabama took a battery. of ten pieces. The First Virginia and the Fourth North-Carolina charged a battery and drove the enemy out. The Eighth Virginia also suffered much. The Colonel of the Eleventh Alabama is reported killed.

June 3.--As farther information comes in, we get more correctly the details of the battles of Saturday and Sunday. It is not surprising that the account given by our reporter yesterday morning should contain some errors. Depending principally upon the statements of those engaged, the first accounts generally give the movements of particular bodies of troops rather than the disposition of all. It is almost impossible for one man to trace the acts of the different divisions, much more to detail the engagements of brigades and regiments. One by one, as the accounts come in, we make corrections, and endeavor to make the description as accurate and comprehensive as possible.

The fact that the enemy crossed the Chickahominy in large numbers is already known. Coming up on the Williamsburgh road, they threw up intrenchments near Barker's farm, and posted themselves behind fallen trees, clumps of bushes, and breastworks. Saturday morning it was determined to attack them, and two divisions were sent down the Williamsburgh road. Gen. Hill's division led the advance, supported by General Longstreet. As soon as the enemy's position was reached, Gen. Hill prepared for a vigorous attack. Featherstone's brigade led the advance. It was commanded on the occasion by Col. Anderson, the General being ill in the city. Garland's brigade commenced the attack on the left, and in a few minutes the engagement became general. After two hours fighting our men drove the enemy from his camps. This brigade then, in pursuance of the original plan, deployed right and left of the enemy's works. Our artillery then commenced to play on them. In the Fourth North-Carolina, out of twenty-eight officers, four were killed instantly and nineteen wounded.

Capt. Baker, of the Twenty-seventh Georgia, while acting as aid to Col. Anderson, was killed.

Among the distinguished acts of daring on Saturday was the capture, by Capt. Thos. Walton, of Mississippi, of the colors of a Federal regiment. He was acting on General Longstreet's staff, and while Col. Giles's regiment was charging he galloped ahead of it, and dashing into the Yankee regiment, seized their colors and bore them off. He then rode up to Giles's regiment and presented the flag to them. The act was rewarded by three hearty cheers from our men. The gallant Captain was shot in the head later in the day, but refused to leave the field before the fighting was over.

Later in the day, General Longstreet's division came up and rushed eagerly into the battle. About four o'clock our artillery came into play, and did excellent service, as has been already said. Although heavily reenforced, the enemy were charged by Longstreet's and Hill's men and driven off the field, our men taking possession of their camps and fortifications. The Yankees very closely contested the ground as they fell back, while our forces steadily pushed upon their lines.

This battle occurred upon the Williamsburgh road, or near it, close by the railroad. Making quite a detour to the left, theNine-mile road runs