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

[481] about two or three hundred yards in rear of the firing, with my right flank a short distance from, and nearly opposite, the centre of the line of the First regiment, and perpendicular to it, and made the men lie down, in order to protect them from the bullets which were flying fast and thick over and about us. We remained in this position until the close of the fight, about half past 8 P. M., having seven men wounded at this place. Colonel McGowan now brought out his command, (the Fourteenth,) and the regiments of the brigade bivouacked. About ten or eleven o'clock at night, the General himself came to us and ordered us to return in the morning to the place we had left in the evening. This we did, and remained in that position until about six o'clock P. M. of Tuesday, first July. We were then marched up the road about two miles, passing the battle-ground of the previous day, and were there halted. In a very short time the battle of the first of July began, and progressed fiercely in front of us and on the right wing of the enemy. The firing of the enemy soon slackened on his right, but was taken up fiercely along his line toward his centre and left, and we were marched back about half a mile, halted, and faced to the front. General Hill came up and ordered the Twelfth and Fourteenth to remain in that position, and watch toward the enemy. Here we remained until the close of the fight without participating in the engagement. I close this report by acknowledging the cordial and efficient assistance rendered me by Lieutenant-Colonel Cad. Jones, the only field officer I had, and also by bearing testimony to the faithful discharge, by Dr. J. Ford Prieleau, surgeon, and Dr. J. W. Keith, assistant surgeon, of their arduous duties.

I have the honor to be

Your obedient servant,

Captain: I have the honor to submit the following report of my regiment in the recent engagements before Richmond:

On the night of Wednesday, June twenty-fifth, the regiment was on picket near the Little Meadow Bridges. About three o'clock P. M., Thursday, June twenty-sixth, it being reported that the enemy's pickets had been withdrawn, I immediately took possession of the bridge which he had held. Our brigade, being in advance, was soon ordered to cross. The Fortieth Virginia crossed first, followed by the Fifty-fifth Virginia and the other regiments composing the brigade. A mile or more beyond the swamp, the regiment was formed in line of battle across the road where the first prisoner was taken by Captain Alexander's company. It was here that we received a few shots from the enemy's pickets, which retreated in haste. Turning to the right, we marched in the direction of Mechanicsville. About half a mile from Mechanicsville our line of battle was again formed on the right of the road, supported by the Sixtieth Virginia, Colonel Starke commanding — the Fortieth Virginia on the left, supported by the Forty-seventh Virginia regiment and Second Virginia battalion. We advanced upon Mechanicsville, exposed to a very heavy fire from three of the enemy's batteries. After advancing a short distance beyond the village our line of battle was changed to the left, facing the batteries. We advanced some six hundred yards in the direction of the right battery, when, not wishing to be separated from the remainder of the brigade, it became necessary to cross the field to the left, the left of the brigade being at this time under cover of the woods. This was done by marching obliquely across the field, approaching the battery as we neared the woods to prevent their getting our range. Before entering the woods the regiment was halted just below the brow of a slight hill, and the men ordered to lie down to protect them from the shell, grape, and canister, which were being used with great effect. Our brigade was then ordered to advance. We moved forward a few hundred yards, under very heavy fire, and entered a wood, which we attempted to charge through. But the undergrowth being very thick, and finding another brigade in front of us, our men became scattered, many of them mixing in with this brigade. I ordered a halt; but finding it impossible to form the regiment in such a place, I directed the men to fall back to the edge of the woods and re-form. This was done in very good order. By this time it was quite dark, and my men being very much exhausted, I fell back about a hundred yards, over a hill, where we rejoined the brigade and rested for the night. In this engagement my loss was very heavy, being greater than that of both the others. Captain William L. Brook, company K, was killed while gallantly leading his company, and both of his Lieutenants wounded. His company was on the left of the colors, and suffered more than any other. Captain Street, and Lieutenants Boughan, Kerr, and Goodrich were wounded in this engagement, besides a number of men. About twelve o'clock, on Friday, June twenty-seventh, the regiment was formed with the brigade, and marched in the direction of Gaines's Mill, Lieutenant-Colonel Christian commanding. After passing a short distance beyond the mill, the brigade was formed in line of battle to support General Anderson's brigade, who were ordered to attack the enemy in front. We advanced to his support until we found the brigade halted in a small orchard in an open space in front of the enemy's battery. This brigade finally broke and ran through ours, throwing it into some confusion. We, however, did not retire until ordered by General Field to “fall back in order.” This was not very well executed; but a portion of the regiment was immediately rallied by Colonel Christian, and remained with him during the remainder of the evening, doing good service. In this engagement, Lieutenants Mann and Garnett