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

[345] of my staff, to communicate with General Lee, requesting him to assist in a contemplated attack on the enemy in my front, by placing a battery of long-range guns, so as to enfilade his position from across the Chickahominy. Convinced, from information received, and from a personal reconnoissance, that the enemy were about to evacuate, I directed five of the long-range guns attached to my command to open fire from the New Bridge road, on the enemy, fortified at and near Golding's house. General Toombs being in advance, I directed him to take advantage of any positive retreat of the enemy, by the occupation, with his left flank, of the redoubt at Golding's, opening therefrom upon the retreating foe. Having ordered Brown's and Moody's batteries into position near the overseer's house, and made the necessary dispositions of my command, I went to the batteries on the road to direct their fire and watch its effect.

Observing that the enemy retreated in disorder from our fire, I despatched Captain Thurston, of my staff, to notify General Toombs of this fact, and to order Brown's and Moody's batteries to open upon the enemy's line to his (Toombs's) right, and went myself to communicate with General Magruder. On my way to whom, Captain Thurston reported to me, that, upon delivering my message to General Toombs, he had been sent by him to order Colonel Anderson to advance to the attack, relying upon him (Toombs) for support; that Colonel Anderson had at once ordered forward the Seventh and Eighth Georgia regiments. Upon hearing this, and meeting General Magruder, I reported it to him, who, in consequence of an order from General Lee, just received through Captain Latrobe, directed me to countermand the movement at once. I despatched Captain Ford, of my staff, with this order, but not in time to stop the engagement, which had already begun.

The Seventh and Eighth regiments, with that impetuous valor exhibited on other fields, advanced rapidly on the enemy, facing a hail of grape, canister, and musketry, and driving him from his intrenchments to the edge of the “Labor-in-vain” Swamp. Just then, as General Toombs had ordered his regiments to advance in support, the order of recall was received, and the Seventh and Eighth were withdrawn with much loss; leaving the chivalrous Lamar dangerously wounded on the field. (See Anderson's report.)

Sunday, June twenty-ninth, obedient to orders from General Magruder, I advanced across the Labor-in-vain Swamp through the camps lately occupied by the enemy, to the neighborhood of Fair Oaks Station. Discovering there that the enemy's pickets were a short distance in front, I directed Colonel Anderson to advance the First Georgia regulars, deployed as skirmishers, putting the remainder of his command in line of battle, instructing General Toombs to form his line on the left, rear of Colonel Anderson, and so placing the two brigades in echelon. Meanwhile the First Georgia regulars, having advanced about four hundred yards, came upon the enemy's picket line, and drove it back to the main body of his rear guard, which was in position, with several pieces of artillery, in a field beyond. Finding my command in advance of General Magruder's division, which was to move on my right, and without support on my left,--General Jackson not having crossed the Chickahominy,--I halted my command, and directed Hart's battery, attached to Anderson's brigade, and Moody's battery, attached to Toombs's brigade, to reply to the fire of the enemy, my skirmishers meanwhile keeping up a brisk exchange of fire. This was continued until he withdrew.

On notification from General Magruder, I advanced until my left had passed Mickly's farm, and my right had come in view of the enemy at Savage Station, when Colonel Anderson, by my order, opened with his artillery, to wit, two pieces of Hart's battery, compelling the retreat out of view of the enemy's infantry.

The engagement beginning on the right, about this time, I caused Colonel Anderson to change front to the right, so as to take the enemy in flank and rear, should he advance on General Cobb's position. Scarcely had this disposition been made, when orders were received from General Magruder, through Lieutenant Bryan, a member of his staff, to fall back to the railroad bridge with my whole command, to support the right of his line. Two guides were sent at the same time to conduct me to the position designated. This order I obeyed; but failing to find General Magruder, my men were bivouacked near the road in a drenching rain, about ten o'clock P. M.

I cannot close my report of this day's operations without expressing my very great satisfaction with the admirable manner with which the First Georgia regulars acquitted itself of the arduous duties assigned it. Deployed in full, as skirmishers, nearly the whole day, in advance of the entire division, it preserved its alignments through woods and over every obstacle, and when in immediate conflict with the enemy, behaved with a steadiness and coolness which exhibited the excellency of its discipline, the efficiency of its officers, and the courage of the men composing it.

Monday, June thirtieth, at eight o'clock A. M., according to orders, I marched with my command to General Longstreet's position, beyond New Market, on the Darbytown road, a march of over eighteen hours duration, reaching and occupying the field of Monday's battles with my exhausted troops, between two and three o'clock A. M. of Tuesday, July first.

About seven o'clock A. M., by direction of General Magruder, my command, in conjunction with other troops, advanced as far as the Willis Church road, where many prisoners were captured. In obedience to orders, about ten o'clock A. M. my troops were withdrawn from this position, marched back on the Darbytown road some three or four miles, countermarched, and finally halted some two miles in rear of the position occupied in the morning. Between two and three o'clock P. M., under orders from Major-General Longstreet, Colonel Anderson's brigade was placed