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Saturday, twenty-eighth, remained in one position all day, men being employed, a portion of the day, in gathering arms and burying the dead of friend and foe.
Sunday, twenty-ninth, marched down to Grapevine Bridge, where we remained for several hours, and then retired to our former position.
Monday, thirtieth, were aroused at half past 2 A. M.; got under arms, and took up the line of march in the direction of Grapevine Bridge; crossed the Chickahominy and marched to the York River Railroad; marched down the road some distance, and then down what I was told was the Williamsburg road; heard heavy firing in front of us, but did not get under fire all day; bivouacked at dark, near White Oak Swamp.
Tuesday, July first, marched at daylight; crossed the swamp and moved on in the direction of James River.
Do not remember what troops were immediately in our front; the Thirty-third regiment marched in rear of the brigade.
About eleven o'clock we filed into a wood on the right of the road, and formed line of battle, the Thirty-third on the extreme left.
Remained in this position a considerable time, and then fell back a short distance, to get out of the range of shells.
Here we remained until near sundown, when we were ordered to “attention,” faced to the left and moved down the road in the direction of the firing, the Thirty-third leading.
As we approached the scene of action, found the firing very warm, shot and shell flying over and around us. We again filed to the right into the woods, through which we soon made our way, entered a cornfield and inclined to the left, marching on until we again reached the main road.
On the road we halted for a moment, the men lying down behind a fence in the mean time, which afforded a partial protection; soon moved off again; crossed the fence to our left, and marched in an oblique direction, through a thick undergrowth, across a swamp; clambered up a steep acclivity on the opposite side; crossed the fence, and found ourselves on the field of battle.
It was now quite dark, and it was difficult to tell where were our friends or foes.
The regiment was put in line as well as circumstances would permit, the men sheltering themselves behind the hill as much as possible, while they delivered a pretty warm fire upon the enemy.
We were for some time unsupported, and our small force must certainly have been crushed by the superior weight of the enemy, had they known our numbers.
We were subsequently joined by some Louisiana regiments and General Lawton's brigade.
Considerable confusion was created necessarily in the swamp and bushes, officers and men becoming separated, and regiments more or less intermingled.
Yet as far as my observation extended, both officers and men behaved well.
Major Holiday, Adjutant Walton, Captain Galliday, and Sergeant-Major Baldwin, were particularly brought under my notice.
Captain Galliday was the only captain in the regiment on the occasion.
The firing did not cease until about nine o'clock P. M., when it gradually died away, the enemy finally withdrawing.
The loss of the regiment in this engagement was four killed and twenty-nine wounded. The strength of the regiment, as ascertained a short time before going into the engagement, was one hundred and thirty rank and file.
The entire loss of the regiment in the recent engagements before Richmond is five killed and thirty-two wounded.
Respectfully submitted.
John F. Neff, Colonel Thirty-third Virginia Infantry.
Report of Captain Vermillion, of the Forty-Eighth regiment Virginia Volunteebs.
camp near Liberty Mills, Tuesday, July 22, 1862.
The regiment was first ordered to the scene of action Friday, the twenty-seventh ultimo.
Marched in line of battle where the enemy made his first stand, when the brigade was halted, and lay in line of battle till morning.
In our advance to this point, four men were wounded (slightly) in the regiment.
The command remained near this field till Monday morning, when it again took up the pursuit of the enemy — camping Monday night near White Oak Station.
Tuesday, this regiment, together with the remainder of the brigade, formed a supporting line in rear of the first brigade, and thus spent most of the day near the battle-field.
About dark, it was ordered to the field, where it spent the night.
The enemy's bombs were a great annoyance this day, and wounded (slightly) one Captain and two privates in the regiment.
These are the positions taken by the Forty-eighth regiment in the battles in front of Richmond. John M. Vermillion, Captain, commanding Forty-eighth Regiment Virginia Volunteers.
Captain Mosely's Report of the twenty First Virginia regiment.
The above-named regiment, under the command of Major Mosely, was held in reserve the most of the twenty-seventh of June, and about sunset was ordered to advance.
When it arrived at Cold Harbor, it spent the night on its arms.
Saturday and Sunday, the twenty-eighth and twenty-ninth, it spent near Cold Harbor, in a state of inactivity.
On Monday, the thirtieth, it crossed over the Chickahominy, and spent the night in the neighborhood of White Oak Swamp, in camp.
Tuesday, first July, it spent mostly on the road, thence to Malvern Hill, and at sunset it formed the line of battle in the woods on the right of the road, near the last-named place, where it remained, under a heavy shelling, until dark, when it moved by its left flank, and spent the night on the roadside, just in front of Malvern Hill, on its arms.
The next day, July second, spent in camp, at Low Swamp Church; and on Thursday, the third, it retraced its footsteps, and camped near White Oak Swamp that night.
Friday, the fourth, it was ordered to the neighborhood of Westover,
