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

[474] number engaged being about one hundred and seventy-five rank and file. We did not again participate in an engagement until Monday, thirtieth, when we were called on, with the rest of the brigade, to advance upon two batteries of the enemy that had been taken by General Longstreet's division, but which had been recaptured. The Forty-seventh, with the Second Virginia battalion, were ordered to advance upon the battery on the left of the road, which they did, charging it immediately in front, and exposed to a raking fire of grape and canister for three quarters of a mile. As soon as we got within short musket range we opened fire, continuing to advance at the same time, and soon drove the cannoneers from their pieces. We followed them up until we arrived at a position about fifty yards beyond their battery, when we were opened upon, both on our right and left flanks, by a very severe fire. Our forces in all not amounting to three hundred, a halt was called to await reenforcements, and in the mean time, at the suggestion of some one whose name I have not been able to find out, one of the enemy's guns was trained to the left, the fire from that quarter being much the hottest, and a fire opened upon them. The fire from the front having nearly ceased, while that on the right and left still continued, I caused my command to be formed in the road, so as to protect the battery from either of those directions. About this time you rode up, for the second time, and ordered us to cease firing the cannon, as we might injure some of our friends in advance. It was then quite dark. Shortly after we ceased firing the cannon, and you had ridden off to another portion of the brigade, the sounds of horses' hoofs were heard advancing from the direction of the enemy, and the regiment was cautioned to be on their guard. They turned out to be four horsemen, who, riding up upon our left, inquired who we were. I called out at the top of my voice, “Friends;” but some one on the left having unwittingly called “Forty-seventh Virginia regiment,” two of the party turned back and rode off at a double-quick down the road. They were instantly fired at, and one of them, who turned out afterward to be Major Biddle, Adjutant-General to General Macall, or McCall, was killed. The other two were captured, and turned out to be Major-General McCall and one of his couriers. They were both immediately sent to the rear. Nothing more of importance that night, and we were not actively engaged on Tuesday, though somewhat exposed to the enemy's artillery. The casualties in this engagement were thirty-four, the total number engaged being one hundred and fifty-six rank and file, making the total number of casualties in all three engagements seventy-eight. The conduct of those who remained with their regiment was so uniformly good that I find it almost impossible to make any distinctions. I, however, make the following recommendations for promotion: Private T. V. Sanford, company E, clerk in Commissary Department, to the place of Second Lieutenant in company D, in which there are two vacancies; private Schooler, company I, colorbearer, to be made color-sergeant; and private Mason, company E, to be made sergeant in said company.

Very respectfully submitted.

sir: Having been absent for some weeks after the engagement at Malvern Hill, July first, 1862, the last of the series of battles around Richmond, on account of sickness, I beg leave to submit the following report of the part my regiment acted on that occasion, and respectfully request that it be filed with the report of the General commanding, as I consider the report furnished by Major J. R. Cabell incomplete in many particulars.

My regiment (the Thirty-eighth Virginia volunteers) formed the advance of Brigadier-General L. A. Armistead's brigade, General Huger's division, which was the leading brigade on that day. We proceeded, cautiously feeling our way, and reconnoitring diligently, to prevent falling unexpectedly upon the enemy, who might have been in ambush, in many of the swamps and thick woods fronting Malvern Hill. We soon became aware of his presence, when we were formed in the woods opposite to his position, and skirmishers thrown out from each regiment to feel the enemy's skirmishers and learn somewhat the strength of his position and numbers, my skirmishers being under the command of Major J. R. Cabell. The skirmishers soon engaged the enemy, each holding his position, no orders, as yet, having been given to advance. During the skirmishing, General Armistead and myself reconnoitred the position of the enemy, from a good stand-point, and, with the assistance of a strong glass, readily detected his presence, in force, and the advantages of his position. Major-Generals Magruder and Longstreet came up in turn, and observed the enemy from the several points to which I conducted them, and left, perfectly satisfied, as I supposed, of the impossibility of charging them from the position which our advance (Armistead's brigade) held, unless supported by a large amount of artillery, as General Magruder remarked, “It would take thirty pieces of the heaviest calibre.” This, I supposed, had been determined upon, as the Colonels commanding the regiments were immediately ordered to pull down the fencing in their front, preparatory to advancing our skirmishers, supported by the regimental reserves, so as to force back the enemy's skirmishers, with a view of bringing up our artillery. So soon as the fencing was removed, the order was given to drive in the enemy, which was being done in the most successful manner, when I received an order, or rather, General Armistead, with hat off and arm uplifted, waved us to charge, where and upon what I was