[466]
range of the opposing lines of the enemy, and poured in upon them volley after volley, until night closed the scene.
Where all behaved so well, the mention of individual acts might seem to be invidious.
But justice demands that I should call your attention to the acts of Captain J. T. Kilby, company I, who, amidst the fire of the enemy, seized a flag of some regiment that had been broken, and tried to rally its scattered remnants, and bring them against the foe; and, while thus acting, the flagstaff was shot from his hand.
Of Captain James I. Phillips, who, after our color-bearer was shot down and its guard scattered, preserved the colors of his regiment, and saved it from the dishonor of leaving its colors on the field, and restored them, still to wave in their proper place.
Of Lieutenant James F. Crocker, Adjutant of the Ninth regiment, who received several severe, if not mortal wounds, in bravely leading the regiment in front of its colors, and encouraging the men by his bold and gallant bearing.
And I might, indeed, mention every officer on the field as having done their duty nobly, not only in this fight, but in all the hard duty that we had to undergo for the last thirty days.
In closing my report, it is with feelings of the deepest regret that we have to number among the fallen brave the names of Captain Dennis Vermillion, company K; Second Lieutenant C. M. Dosier, of company I.
These brave and gallant officers fell bravely fighting for their homes and firesides, martyrs to vandal tyranny; but a grateful country will cherish their sacrifice and preserve their memory.
Below you will please find a duplicate report of the casualties of my regiment, which you will discover to be quite large, since I carried not exceeding one hundred and fifty effective fighting men on the field.
Believing that my regiment did its duty faithfully, I cherish the hope that we shall receive your kind approval.
I have the honor to be,
Your very obedient servant,
James S. Gilliam, Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding Ninth Virginia Regiment.
Casualties.
Company B. Killed: Loyd W. Drake. Wounded: Sergeant J. H. Pressor, Corporal J. Walker, James R. Kello, B. Hight, John G. Kello, J. R. O'Donald, J. D. Smith. Missing: W. E. Wornell, G. Trader, W. Brown, J. Jenkins. Company C. Killed: John T. Brown. Wounded: First Sergeant H. C. Brittain, Second Sergeant Benjamin Dyson, Fifth Sergeant Leorick Wells, privates J. C. Cook, L. F. Chalkley, J. L. Farmer, J. M. Gregory, G. C. Hancock. Missing: H. B. Archer, W. R. Atkins, C. Graves. Company D. Killed: Private R. D. Saunders. Wounded: Private James H. Batlin. Company E. Wounded: Sergeant John W. Hack, First Corporal W. J. Banadolling. Company F. Wounded : Privates W. Gray, and Bray Walters. Missing: Privates W. J. Richardson, Holland, Edmonds, and Addison. Company G. Killed: First Sergeant William H. White. Wounded: J. H. Grant, R. K. Beaton, H. I. Phillips. Missing: W. B. Bennett, T. Johnson, W. J. Anderson, James Fundley. Company I. Killed: Junior Second Lieutenant L. M. Doser, privates Lucaters W. Jones, Joseph Prentiss, Thomas Parker. Wounded: Second Sergeant H. B. Lewer, privates J. T. Baines, Nathaniel Duke, Nathan E. Jones, Henry Waltem. Missing: Privates G. W. Barnes, John H. Bidgood, James C. Bidgood, (was wounded,) Josiah Cupps, James King, Richard Quillon. Company K. Killed: Captain Dennis Vermillion. Wounded: Private John Bennett. Missing: Fiske, (since learned to be mortally wounded,) Richardson. Field and Staff. James Y. Crocker, Adjutant, seriously wounded in neck, arm, and chest.
James S. Gilliam, Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding Ninth Regiment Virginia Volunteers.
Report of Colonel Tomlin, of Fifty-Third Virginia.
On the twenty-ninth of June, the Fifty-third regiment, reduced in strength, by sickness and death, to a very small number, marched from our camp, on the Richmond and York River Railroad, as a part of Brigadier-General Armistead's brigade, in pursuit of the enemy, retreating from before Richmond to the James River.
On Tuesday, the first day of July, after lying in the woods for some time, we marched in line of battle through the woods to the edge of the field on Crew's farm.
After receiving several orders from General Armistead, through his Aid, I waited upon him in person, and was instructed by him to throw forward into the field, to the distance of fifty yards, one company as skirmishers, with a field officer in command, and to support them, if attacked, at every hazard, and in case of my wanting reenforcements, to communicate the fact to him, and he would send them.
In obedience to his instructions, I ordered Lieutenant-Colonel Waddill to execute this command, with Captain Martin's company.
Immediately upon deploying this company, the artillery was brought from the woods into the field, and the attack became sufficiently spirited and warm to justify the advance of my regiment to the support of my skirmishers.
From the woods to the summit of the hill the ground was gently sloping.
The men were ordered to trail arms, and, bending forward and low, to use the crown of the hill as a protection, until they reached the position occupied by the skirmishers, where they were commanded to charge, and, at a run, drove the enemy back and advanced, and occupied a ravine, from five to six hundred yards from the woods.
During this distance we encountered a red storm of every deadly missile.
Fletcher Harwood, of company K, as color-bearer, while gallantly bearing the flag ahead, was cut down by a shell, and, waving it around, called for some one to bear it along.
Instantly,
