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

[384] out of about eighty men, sadly attests. I trust that the merits of this officer will not go unrewarded by the Department. The several field officers of the brigade bore themselves, with but one exception, reported elsewhere, as became accomplished and gallant officers. The particular conduct of subordinates is detailed in the reports herewith forwarded. My thanks are due to my personal staff, Captain G. F. Harrison, Assistant Adjutant-General, and Aids, Lieutenants W. It. Mason and It. Robb, for zeal and intelligence throughout the week. The entire loss of my brigade was six hundred and three killed and wounded, and eight made prisoners. This was about half my force at any time engaged, for I am pained to state that my brigade was like all others that I met with; some officers and men either deserting the field entirely, or seeking safety by skulking behind trees, or halting outside the avenue of fire.

I am, sir, very respectfully,

Your obedient servant,

General: I have the honor to report that, as a part of the light division of the army, I left my camp near Friend's house, on the Chickahominy, Wednesday afternoon, June 25th, 1862, with my brigade, and marched to a point near the crossing of the Chickahominy, on the Meadow Bridge road, where I joined the division. Upon resuming the march next day, my brigade was placed fifth in order, so that after crossing, late in the afternoon, I was ordered to cross the field direct for Mechanicsville, to meet the brigades in front that were making the march by the road. Soon after leaving the Meadow Bridge road, one or two pieces of artillery opened upon us from a wood directly above Mechanicsville. I at once deployed into line of battle, bringing up one section of Andrews's battery; my line was then advanced, and the enemy's artillery soon withdrew. Here, owing to my imperfect knowledge of the road, and partial misleading of the guide, my left regiment went too far to the left, and consequently did not join the brigade until late at night, for while it was coming up, after being sent for, it was ordered by some one to support another brigade; and I would here mention, it was reported to me as behaving well under a very murderous fire, to which it was soon exposed, losing about two hundred men. This was the Sixteenth North Carolina, commanded by Lieutenant-Colonel McElroy. Upon reaching Mechanicsville, I was ordered by you to support General Field. I at once made my disposition to do so, but soon found that by taking the direction General Field was going, left his right much exposed to a heavy fire of artillery, which was playing at the same time on Pegram's battery with great effect. This artillery was obliquely to the right and lower down Beaver Dam Creek, than I saw any troops going. I at once changed the direction of two of my regiments, so as to bring them to the right of this artillery, and succeeded in getting within one hundred and fifty or two hundred yards of it before we were opened upon; but when they did open upon us, it was destructive, and the obstacles so great in front of the creek and mill-dam, that after the Thirty-eighth North Carolina had reached these obstacles, and within less than one hundred yards of the enemy's rifle pits, they had to fall back. This regiment here advanced boldly and maintained its ground well. The Thirty-fourth North Carolina, the other regiment that had been led by me to the right, had made too much of a detour, and did not come up until the Thirty-eighth was repulsed. After bringing it up, I sent it still farther to the right, to make as much diversion as possible in that direction. General Ripley came up at this time, with his brigade advancing over part of the same ground which had been passed by the Thirty-eighth North Carolina directly in front of the mill. The Thirty-fourth North Carolina advanced to the creek, and there maintained its position until after dark, when I had it withdrawn, so that with this and General Ripley, with part of his brigade, we held the extreme right of our position until about daylight next morning, when I was relieved. General Ripley had been relieved before. Other brigades came up during the night. The Twenty-second North Carolina, which had followed to support General Field, when getting to the creek near him, came suddenly upon a regiment of the enemy, just across the run, and after some little parley, opened fire, driving the enemy quickly away, but found it impossible to cross. The loss of this regiment here was also very heavy; amongst others, its brave Colonel, Conner, received a severe wound in the leg. I should state, while relating the incidents of this day's fight, that Colonel Hoke, Thirty-eighth North Carolina, was also wounded, and had to leave the field. The Adjutant of the Thirty-eighth was wounded also, but nobly maintained his position until after dark.

At daylight, on Friday morning, I had changed my position, in obedience to your orders, bringing my brigade strictly in front of the mill, on Beaver Dam Creek. About this time, the enemy seemed to make a faint attack upon the troops on my right, when those brigades moved forward, and I moved mine forward also, until they had gained the creek, getting in the bed of it. Here our line was halted until a general concert of action could be had, by which their attention might be diverted to the extreme right from those in the immediate front. At this time, I brought up a section from each of three batteries I found in the plain in the rear. One of these was from the Donelson artillery, under Lieutenant Moran, who shelled them with spirit and effect, his men being exposed to a galling fire from the enemy's sharpshooters, not two hundred yards off, in the rifle pits. The section of Andrews's battery (Maryland) was under Lieutenant Dimint, who also did fine service. Captain Andrews, as usual, was present, chafing for a fight. I do not know to whose battery the other section belonged. We