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

[454]

Report D, Colonel T. L. Rosser, Fifth Virginia cavalry.

Report E, Colonel S. D. Lee, artillery, Fourth Virginia cavalry.

Report F, Colonel Thomas F. Goode, Third Virginia cavalry.

Map G, already referred to.

H. My instructions to officer commanding cavalry west of Chickahominy.

I. List of killed, wounded, and missing.

The reports of other commanders have not been received. Should they be sent in subsequently, they will be forwarded.

My command captured several thousand prisoners and arms, the precise number it being impossible to ascertain.

The detachment of cavalry left at the White House secured much valuable public property, enumerated already.

I have the honor to be, Colonel,

Your most obedient servant,

sir: I have the honor to report that the First Virginia cavalry remained, during the battles in front of Richmond, under the immediate command of General J. E. B. Stuart, and took part in all the operations. The only casualty was the loss of private R. P. Thomas, of company A. He had been sent to the front, in company with Lieutenant Stuart, of company B, to reconnoitre, dismounted, when he came suddenly upon a large body of the enemy, concealed in the woods. Refusing to surrender, this party of two gathered up some abandoned arms in the vicinity, and fought bravely, until Thomas was killed, when the Lieutenant made his escape, the enemy not daring to pursue a soldier who had shown he was not to be taken alive.

Very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

General: In pursuance with your instructions, I habitually kept my command, during the battles, well in hand, and as near the enemy as possible.

On the twenty-eighth of June, my scouts came in and reported the enemy in considerable force near Willis's Church, and also that he was moving small bodies of troops in the direction of James River. This I reported, at the time, to General Huger. The next morning I started out on a scout in the same direction, and met Colonel Baker, with his own regiment, (the First North Carolina,) and the Third Virginia, returning to his camp, having been unsuccessful in his attack upon the enemy near Willis's Church, where he found the enemy in great force — his attack being met with infantry, artillery, and cavalry. My scouts on the right found the enemy extending his lines in that direction, and succeeded in recapturing fifteen horses, belonging to the First North Carolina, that the enemy had taken in Colonel Baker's engagement, early in the morning. This was also reported to General Huger. That night, (Sunday, twenty-ninth ultimo,) my pickets were strongly reenforced, and I moved down, with my entire force, composed of my own regiment and the Hampton legion, to the junction of the River and Long Bridge roads, and remained there during the night.

Next morning, about eight o'clock, my pickets were driven in, on the Long Bridge road, near Willis's Church. I at once moved down with my entire command, and, after some skirmishing, succeeded in reestablishing my pickets. I then dismounted one company, and deployed them as skirmishers, giving them a squadron for support, and sent them forward, and after driving in the enemy's pickets, still pressed upon him, and, strange to say, this gallant little band of Captain Bullock's, of my regiment, drove them back within a few hundred yards of their main force, and was still pressing upon them, when General Longstreet's advance came up, and, with his infantry and artillery, attacked them upon the line to which I was holding them. My pickets upon the River road, about this time, reported the enemy advancing in that direction, and General Longstreet ordered me to take my command over in that way.

After reestablishing my pickets on that road, I made a reconnoissance, with a portion of my command, to the front, and found the head of the retiring column moving hurriedly and confusedly in the direction of James River. I was then just coming on Malvern Hill. I reporter this fact to Generals Longstreet and Holmes, about one o'clock P. M. For some reason or other, no attention was paid to this report. I then reported to General Lee, who came to see for himself, and who ordered General Holmes to move at once to this point, and attack the enemy. But as General Holmes did not arrive until late in the day, (about five o'clock P. M.,) and by marching his troops down the river road, the dust revealed the movement to the enemy, and gunboats were sent up the river, which opened a heavy fire upon Holmes's advancing column, which drove him back. I then withdrew my command to cover, and sent scouts in the direction of the river to observe the movements of the boats. My Quartermaster (Captain Taylor) was one of the party, and was taken prisoner. General Holmes having withdrawn, it became necessary for me to place the greater part of my command on picket, dismounted.

Early the following morning, the first instant, by reconnoissance, I found the enemy in line of battle on Malvern Hill. I was near enough to