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

[438] pressed simultaneously upon front and flank, the enemy fled precipitately, leaving a large number of his dead and wounded scattered upon the field. Colonel Smith captured nine prisoners.

The timely appearance of Colonel Smith with his regiment, and his deliberate and judicious direction of its actions, rendered the combined movement of our forces at this point eminently successful. His written report to me is herewith forwarded as an interesting paper in connection with the engagement. In this action the Forty-ninth had two officers and six men wounded, the Sixth Virginia one man wounded, and the Twelfth twenty-three men wounded.

All which is respectfully submitted.

Colonel: In conformity to usage, and in compliance with the Major-General's request, I beg to report the conduct and casualties of this brigade in the battle of Malvern Hill, Tuesday, July first, 1862:

As directed by him, the brigade was reported to Major-General Magruder, who ordered that it should take position immediately in rear of Brigadier-General Wright's brigade, already in position, for the purpose of a combined charge upon the line of the enemy's batteries, which he had arranged to make by simultaneous movement from our front and flanks. The brigade, although prompt in moving to the position assigned it, and in doing which it was exposed to the fire of the enemy's sharpshooters, adroitly posted behind wheat shocks in the valley on our right, had not yet gotten into place when the order came from General Magruder, who, I presume, supposed all was ready with us, that the charge assigned to our forces (General Wright's brigade and my own) should be made. It was now about five P. M. The order was responded to with spirit and alacrity by our troops, but with less order and effect than was desirable, and would otherwise have been secured, owing to the circumstances which I have adverted to. Our troops, however, went forward with an earnest, over a succession of steep hills and ravines, until coming up within a few hundred yards of the enemy's left batteries, where they encountered his advance troops in large force, strongly positioned behind the crest of hills, under cover of his guns. At this time, there were no other troops engaging the enemy in our view, or in supporting connection; and here, for about two hours, the fire and fury of battle raged with great obstinacy and destruction, on both sides. Our men finally succeeded in driving the enemy from the heights occupied in our front, and immediately under his guns, and upon his reserves at that point, and occupying the position from which he had resisted our advance with such obstinacy and deadly effect. It was now near night, when it was discovered that the enemy had advanced from his right across the field, and had enfiladed our position. Our men were then suffering severely from his fire in this direction, when, opportunely for our protection, and, perhaps, rescue from utter destruction, our troops came upon him from the right of the line, disconcerting this plan of his, and driving him back, with great slaughter, upon his line of artillery and reserves. In the mean time, the portion of our command which had driven the enemy from our front and occupied his position, pressed on until more intimately engaged, many of them falling side by side with his men, and near his batteries. Utter darkness now covered the scene, and the tragedy closed, leaving General Wright and myself, with the remnants of our shattered brigades, in possession of the ground, which they had, at a heavy sacrifice of kindred blood, but with spirit and gallantry, won, General Wright and myself, conjointly as equals, and not as his senior, arranged and positioned for the night all the various troops which were now within the reach of our authority--first establishing our picket line, and then giving such attention to the wants of the wounded around as our capacity and resources would admit. These more exigent dispositions completed, General Wright and myself made a reconnoissance of the enemy's operations, when it was readily discovered that he was rapidly, though in evident good order, abandoning his lines, which information was promptly communicated to General Magruder. At an early hour next morning, a large body of the enemy's cavalry made their appearance on the line which he had occupied with his artillery at first, and for a while indicating, by their movements, the purpose of a descent upon our ambulance corps and details then employed on the field; the one in their legitimate duties, and the other in collecting scattered arms and accoutrements. The small body of troops now remaining upon the field, and under my command, were of my own brigade, exclusive, and with but few exceptions, of the Twelfth Virginia, the exertions and gallantry of whose Colonel, D. A. Weisiger, in conducting the operations of his regiment, merit high commendation. With these, I continued to hold the ground which we had occupied during the night, mainly with the view of protecting our details from any onslaught by the enemy's cavalry, employing details from my own limited force to care for the wounded, and to gather up the scattered arms and accoutrements in my immediate vicinity. This work completed, and the enemy's cavalry having withdrawn, and other bodies of our own troops having come upon the field, I withdrew my small band, which was now much in need of rest and food. It would be unjust, perhaps, to particularize any acts of personal gallantry, as my own inability to overlook the conduct of all might lead to injustice to some equally distinguished for deeds of heroism. The banners, however, of the regiments of this brigade, which were engaged in the fight, the Sixth, Sixteenth, Twelfth, and Forty-first Virginia regiments, bear