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

[389] and in all situations had shown himself true and faithful. After leaving Mechanicsville, he was obliged to return to the hospital, and before the close of the expedition, died of typhoid fever. My Aid-de-camp, W. A. Blount, was severely wounded at Cold Harbor, and Lieutenant F. T. Hawks, Assistant Engineer, was seriously injured on Tuesday. My ordnance officer, Lieutenant James A. Bryan, though instructed to remain with his train in the rear, placed it in charge of an assistant, and continued with me on the field throughout the expedition. My Quartermaster, Jos. A. Engelhard, did the same as soon as it was possible. All the gentlemen named bore themselves with marked gallantry and devotion. Captain Marmaduke Johnson's battery was attached to my brigade until so much disabled in action as to render it necessary to order it to the rear for repairs. I have reason to think that it performed very important service; but as it was not under my eye, and I have received no report from the Captain, I am not able to report the particulars of its action.

I beg leave to say, in conclusion, that it was a week of hard fighting and hard marching with my brigade, presenting few incidents to be committed to paper. I herewith present reports from the commanders of my regiments, to which I ask the attention of the Major-General commanding the division.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Major: In accordance with an order from general headquarters, I have the honor to submit the following report of the services rendered by the Third brigade, army of the Valley, in the several engagements on the Chickahominy:

Thursday, June twenty-sixth, 1862, this brigade, under command of the late Colonel Fulkerson, of the Thirty-seventh Virginia regiment, bivouacked on the north side of the Chickahominy and below Mechanicsville, having marched that day from Hughs's Tavern, near Ashland. Early Friday morning, it was on the road, and during the day kept well closed up on the brigade, which immediately preceded it. About five o'clock P. M., the brigade, except Captain Wooding's battery, was ordered forward, when, leaving the road on our left, we marched by the right flank through a wood, and crossing a branch to an open field in which the first brigade was forming, passing through this field and another skirt of woods, we entered a large grain field, where we were exposed to a harmless fire. Here the brigade was formed in line of battle, the Thirty-seventh Virginia, commanded by Major (now Colonel) Williams, on the right, the Eighth Virginia, under my command, in the centre, and the Twenty-third Virginia, under Captain A. V. Scott, on the left. Soon after the brigade was formed it was ordered forward, as I was then informed to drive the enemy from his works in the woods on the hill in front. The brigade moved forward rapidly with a shout, crossing the field and up to the enemy's works on the hill, which we found deserted, except by dead and wounded. We continued to advance until we came up to Brigadier-General Hood's brigade, which being at a halt, the Third was also halted, and Colonel Fulkerson went forward to examine the position of the enemy, when we received a heavy fire from the right, and the gallant Fulkerson fell mortally wounded. The fire was returned by another brigade on our right, and the enemy disappeared under cover of the darkness. The command of the brigade now devolved on the undersigned, and, by request of Brigadier-General Hood, I relieved his brigade, and having deployed skirmishers in front, bivouacked for the night, the engagement being at an end. The next morning I moved the brigade forward, with skirmishers in front, and had the satisfaction to encounter a portion of the enemy's cavalry, which fled precipitately at the first fire of the skirmishers. We took also a number of prisoners. Subsequently, pursuant to orders, I reported to Brigadier-General Whiting for orders, and Brigadier-General Hampton was assigned to the command of the brigade. Saturday and Sunday, the brigade was bivouacked in front of McGee's house. Early Monday morning, it crossed to the south side of the Chickahominy with the rest of the army of the Valley, and that evening, with the other brigade of Brigadier-General Whiting's division, was ordered to the support of our batteries at White Oak Swamp.

Tuesday morning we again took the road in pursuit of the enemy, whom we encountered rather suddenly about two and a half miles from our bivouac of the previous night. The Third brigade was ordered into position on the right of the road near a cornfield, and skirmishers from the Tenth Virginia regiment were deployed in front. Subsequently we were ordered to a position in a large grain-field on the left, where we remained during the rest of the day and night, and were exposed to a heavy battery of the enemy.

Our casualties were, however, but slight, for which we are alone indebted to the mercy of the Divine Being.

The action of Captain Wooding not coming under my observation, from the fact that I did not command the brigade, I respectfully refer to his report, herewith enclosed. For a list of casualties, I refer to the accompanying report from the different regiments.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,

Captain: In the absence of Brigadier-General Jones, from sickness, I have the honor to submit the following report of the recent operations of