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

[465] line of battle of the various regiments as they came up, to receive a new attack of the enemy, which was expected.

I am glad to inform you that my loss was not heavy. Lieutenants Boyd and Colbert were severely wounded,--Lieutenant Boyd being permanently disabled,--and six men were wounded, some of them dangerously.

N. B. I had commenced my report before I received your order to prepare it; hence the character of my first paragraph.

Our regiment was drawn up in line of battle along a string of fence, about nine o'clock, on the morning of the first July, near the battle-field of this memorable day. We were ordered to lie down, to prevent being too much exposed to the shell of the enemy that was flying over our heads in every direction all the time we remained in this position. Four men were slightly wounded during this part of the engagement. The left company of the regiment was posted beyond a small swamp, from the balance of the regiment, and were compelled to move lower down during the evening, to get out of the range of the shell, which, at this time, began to fall pretty thick and uncomfortably near.

At or about six o'clock P. M., orders passed down the lines for our regiment to charge the enemy's batteries, when the whole line were on their feet and started off with a defiant shout, and at a run, through a pine thicket, which had been literally torn to pieces by the artillery of the enemy, and a difficult pass down a steep bluff over a ravine and up a hill which cleared us of the woods and brought us in full view of the enemy, and in direct range of their guns. Here we confidently expected to begin the engagement, but found the enemy still a long way off, and posted in a very advantageous position; but on we sped, nothing daunted, and under partial cover of a hill; but really exposed to a galling fire, we were brought to a halt, and formed, when our commanding Colonel, E. F. Keen, gave the word to charge, and, taking the lead, was followed in good order and steady ranks to the summit. Here we again halted, and seeing the stars and stripes floating defiantly before, we poured in a well-directed fire, and had the extreme gratification of seeing the colors totter and fall to the ground, while a wide gap was made around it, as like wheat before the sickle. The hirelings wilted before Confederate fire. But a few well-directed rounds had been fired when Captain J. J. Alhew, company K, had his right arm nearly shot off, and Captain T. J. Martin, of company F, being instantly killed on the field, proved to the regiment an unfortunate affair, as these companies became confused, and the color-bearer being stunned by a piece of a shell, left the field, which tended to confuse the entire line; and we were ordered to fall back, which we did in some confusion. An attempt was made to rally the regiment to a second charge, but with partial success, as it was useless for a regiment, or even a brigade, to charge against such formidable odds as greeted us. The colors were again carried to the summit of the hill; but few men were found to rally a third time under such a fire.

Individual instances of heroic conduct might be here mentioned of both officers and men, who even followed other regiments to the charge again and again. But enough of this. The list already furnished will speak more plainly than words of the part the Fifty-seventh Virginia volunteers bore in the battle of July first.

I forgot to mention that company C, Captain Hechman's company, was sent out on picket before we were ordered to the charge, and was, consequently, not in the action.

Casualties.

	Killed.	Wounded.	Missing.	Total.
Captains,	1	1	0	2
Lieutenants,	0	3	0	3
Sergeants,	0	5	0	5
Corporals,	2	2	0	4
Privates,	10	72	17	99
	13	83	17	113

sir: I beg leave to submit the following report of the action of the Ninth Virginia regiment during the battle of the first of July:

On the morning of the first of July, we left the Charles City road in pursuit of the enemy, and arrived about ten o'clock A. M. at this farm. We were first left to guard the road, to prevent a flank movement of the enemy, and for two hours were exposed to a most appalling and incessant artillery fire; and, notwithstanding the terror of its rage, my officers and men behaved with great coolness and gallantry. About five o'clock, we were ordered to change our position and take post in rear of and to support an artillery battery; and, in about thirty minutes after, we were ordered to charge the enemy's battery, supporting Cobb's brigade. It is but just to say that no regiment ever charged with more impetuosity. On they went, with utmost speed, amidst the deadly fire of musketry and artillery. Having a force to our front, interfering with our fire, we, by an oblique to the right, came within good musket