Southern Historical Society Papers, Volume 8.
Reverend J. William Jones, Ed.

Dear General — On the 25th June you called the commanding officers of your brigade together and informed them of the intended and manner of attack upon the enemy, who were on the north side of the Chickahominy, but at the same time ordered me to have my command ready to move at 5 o'clock P. M., with three days rations. I having five companies on picket at the Crenshaw bridge, was ordered to take command at that point, while the other five companies, under Major Cowan, would march with the brigade and cross the river at the Telegraph bridge and move down the river, in order to drive the enemy from their position.

My orders were that I should cross the river, with the five companies, and make an attack in rear of the enemy.

About twelve o'clock on the 26th, I heard sharp skirmishing, and drew in my pickets in order to cross, and while doing so could see that the enemy were in full retreat. While crossing the river, I received a dispatch from you, ordering me to join the command ; that you were in the road immediately opposite. I joined the command, and from that point we marched to Mechanicsville, and reached that place tinder a most terrific fire of shot and shell. [68]

About 12 o'clock P. M., the firing ceased, and we were ordered to lie in position upon our arms. At 3 o clock A. M. of the 27th, we were ordered to be ready to march at a moment's warning; but did not take up the line of march until twelve o'clock, and then moved in the direction of Gaines' mills down the Chickahominy. We reached that point at 4 o'clock P. M., and finding heavy fighting going on, were ordered immediately into the engagement, and remained in the fight until dark, by which time the enemy had been driven back to a distance of two miles. I then reported to you, with your command at the road, and was ordered to bivouac my men and give them rest. This was a hard fought battle, and the men deserve great praise for their coolness and firmness on this occasion.

On the 28th we remained quiet all day. The enemy having been driven across the Chickahominy, we were ordered to prepare two days rations and be ready to march at daylight.

On the 29th we crossed the river and moved down James river, marching a distance of twelve or fifteen miles and encamping.

On the 30th we again marched down the river, in order to make an attack, and reached the point about three o'clock. The presence of the enemy was soon made known by the roaring of artillery, and we were immediately ordered up the road in the direction of the enemy, by a flank movement, under a very great fire of shot and shell. Soon you, at the head of your brigade, filed to the right and moving six hundred yards in that direction, halted, faced to the front, formed a line of battle, and moved slowly through a skirt of woods until you reached an open field. You then halted, formed a perfect line of battle and charged, on the double-quick and with a yell, the enemy's batteries, which were strongly supported by infantry, across this field, a distance of five hundred yards. We at the same time were enfiladed by grape shot; but neither fire upon the front or flank at all stopped the men. but on they pressed and soon silenced the fire upon them. They seemed not to heed the falling of friends by their sides, but had the great duty of defeating the enemy foremost in their minds. Here my loss was heavy — not so much in killed as in wounded.

My men in this charge had no cover at all. I cannot refrain from asking that great praise may be given to both officers and men for their action on this occasion.

After passing through the field and entering the woods on the opposite side, my regiment became divided by the interference of [69] a brigadier-general unknown to me, who had ordered the left of my regiment to march to the left. I remained with a portion of my men on the field until dark, and reported to you in an old field, at which place you were encamped.

On the 1st July we were quiet until six o'clock in the evening, at which time we were ordered in to support D. H. Hill's division. In this fight I was not engaged, but was under a heavy fire of shot and shell.

On the 2d and 3d of July we were marching after the enemy; but their retreat was too speedy to be overtaken. We then bivouacked for several days, invited the enemy to battle, which was not accepted. We then marched to this point, arriving here on the 9th instant.

My loss was very heavy for a small command. The report of casualties has been sent in, as well as that of the action of the officers and men, which need no correction.

I am happy to say that, with a few exceptions, I am truly proud of the officers and men of my command. I cannot well make distinction among those officers and men who so nobly did their duty, but ask that credit may be given them to whom it is due, and action taken against those who deserve it.

Casualties — Killed, 8; wounded, 52; missing, 15. Total, 75.

Very respectfully,

General — The Thirty-seventh regiment left its camp on the 25th June, pursuant to orders, with the other regiments composing your brigade, and on the 26th crossed the Chickahominy. On the evening of the 26th my command reached Mechanicsville, and was exposed to a severe artillery fire, which wounded severely several men and two officers, but the regiment was not otherwise engaged.

On the evening of the 27th we reached Cold Harbor, and my command was ordered into action. Not knowing the position of the enemy, we moved up the road some two hundred yards, when the enemy opened a deadly fire upon us, killing several and wounding a large number. The swamp and undergrowth rendered it [70] very difficult to form the regiment in line of battle, which, together with the destructive fire of the enemy, threw it into considerable confusion, thereby rendering it inefficient for a short time, until order could be restored. During the rest of the engagement it behaved very well.

On Monday evening, the 30th instant, my regiment, with the other regiments of your command, charged the strong position occupied by the enemy's artillery and infantry. Throughout this engagement my command behaved with great gallantry, driving the enemy before them with great loss.

On Tuesday evening the regiment was again under arms and under fire, but was not engaged. All the officers of my command behaved well, except those whose names have been reported to General Hill under previous orders. I take pleasure in mentioning specially Captain Melton, who remained with his company during these trying scenes, although more than sixty years old and worn out by exposure and fatigue. In the action Monday evening, Colonel Lee was killed, while gallantly leading the regiment into action. He was a brave, experienced officer, and a pure man. His loss will be severely felt.

Lieutenant Isham Hartjoy was mortally wounded on Friday evening and has since died. He was an excellent officer, and a brave, true man. My total loss is one hundred and thirty-eight killed and wounded. A number of the wounded have died since the action. A list of killed and wounded has been heretofore forwarded to you.

Respectfully submitted,

General — In consequence of the fall of that gallant soldier and generous gentleman, Colonel R. P. Campbell, late the commanding officer of this regiment, who was slain in the fight near Gaines' mill on the 27th ultimo, it becomes my duty, as second in command of this regiment, to report to you the proceedings of my troops in the recent battles before Richmond. His (Colonel Campbell's) [71] fittest monument is the tattered flag which drooped above our glorious dead when this fearful conflict was over.

I have the honor to report that, on the 25th of June, 1862, after orders were received from you, we proceeded, together with the rest of your brigade, from our camp on the Brooke turnpike up the Telegraph road towards the Chickahominy river.

On the following morning, at half-past 3 (3) A. M., after bivouacking the night previous, in pursuance of orders received from you, we were in readiness to move, but did not change our position until 10 o'clock A. M., in consequence, as I was informed, of the want of information as to the position of Major-General Jackson. At this hour we were put in motion, the Seventh regiment being in front of your brigade. We soon reached the Chickahominy, upon the crossing of which I was immediately thrown forward with three companies — to wit: Companies C, F and A of the regiment — about one-quarter of a mile in front of the head of our column, for the purpose of dislodging the enemy's pickets between us and the Meadow bridge. After marching a few miles I encountered about two hundred of the enemy, whom we immediately attacked, and, after a short conflict, drove them from their position. We succeeded in capturing their flag and several of their company books and memoranda, with a slight loss of wounded and none killed on my part. The loss of the enemy we had no means of ascertaining. The next point at which we encountered the enemy was a few hundred yards beyond Atlee's station, on the Virginia Central Railroad. Here we had another severe skirmish, Colonel Campbell of the Seventh regiment, immediately ordered forward Company B. During the skirmish, one of the last named company was mortally wounded, and a few soldiers of the other companies were seriously wounded. It is a palpable duty, General, that I should express my high appreciation of the gallant conduct of the three companies that were more immediately under my command. Captain J. McLeod Turner, of Company F, had assigned him the perilous duty of covering my front, and skirmishing through woods, open fields and swamps, for the purpose of discovering the enemy's pickets. Whenever he became engaged he was promptly and fearlessly sustained by Captains R. B. McRae and J. G. Knox, of Companies C and A, under my command. Captain McRae succeeded in bringing away the enemy's flag from the first skirmish, near Crenshaw's, and Captain Knox did his best in effecting the dislodgment of the enemy. After this second [72] skirmish, Company F was withdrawn from the front, and Company A ordered to assume that position, in order to divide the labors of the march. Captain Knox's company was actively engaged for a while in firing upon an actual or supposed enemy in our front but there was no response.

About the middle of the afternoon, having learned that the greater portion of Major-General A. P. Hill's division had crossed the Chickahominy and was in front of us, I reported to you, whereupon I was ordered to unite my command with the rest of my regiment, under Colonel Campbell. I may confidently assert that no unnecessary time was spent in the various skirmishes just described.

About an hour and a half before dark we reached Mechanicsville, under a terrible fire of shot and shell. For a short time we were compelled to wait until we could receive orders from General Hill. Before dark, we were ordered to take our position in a road which appeared to run at right angles with the road we had previously occupied and to the left of it. Upon the appearance of General Archer, the Seventh and Twenty-eighth regiments were ordered by you to report to him, but, upon Colonel Campbell's application, we ascertained he had no immediate duty for us to perform. It was then fully dark, though the artillery conflict still continued, and, as soon as it ceased, we were ordered to take our position immediately in front of the enemy's batteries and about a quarter of a mile therefrom, being still in the front of your brigade. At this point we bivouacked for the night, and were prepared for action at three o'clock next morning, under orders from you. In a short time after this, the enemy's batteries opened upon us, as did some of their sharpshooters. Under this fire we remained for about an hour and a half, when we were ordered into the woods on the right of the road last spoken of, to which position we moved, marching by the right flank.

About 10 o'clock A. M. of the 27th ultimo, we were ordered again to take our position in the road, which we accordingly did. After remaining there for some time, it was ascertained that the enemy had abandoned his position in the batteries. We then took up our line of march for Gaines' mill, which point we reached between 3 and 4 o'clock P. M. of the same day. Almost immediately upon arriving at this point, our regiment was ordered into action. We advanced upon the right-hand road, having thrown forward two companies as skirmishers, who were immediately engaged, [73] when the whole regiment advanced steadily to their support. In this advance, Company B did distinguished credit to itself, and its commander, Captain R. S. Young, by the readiness with which it became aligned, and its marked steadiness in ad-advancing under a very heavy fire. As we approached, Colonel Campbell ordered the skirmishers to form upon the right of the regiment, and the line advanced to a rail fence in front of the woods. Here we engaged the enemy, vastly superior to us in numbers. After holding this position for some time, and finding that he was not so rapidly reinforced as he anticipated, Colonel Campbell ordered his regiment to retire to the rear of the woods and reported to Major-General Hill for orders. The seven companies under Colonel Campbell, after driving the enemy through the woods, were ordered by Major-General Ewell to change their position by a movement by the right flank. After moving about a quarter of a mile, they were ordered to advance across a swamp and over an abatis of felled trees, up a hill, upon an entrenched position of the enemy. It was in this advance that our patriotic Colonel lost that life which was so dear to his whole regiment. The colors, when the advance began, were in the hands of Corporal Henry T. Fight, of Company F. He was instantly shot down, when they were again seized by Corporal James Harris, of Company I; he was also shot down, when Colonel Campbell himself seized the colors, and advancing some twenty paces in front of his regiment, ordered them not to fire but to follow him. Within twenty paces of the enemy's line he was shot down, when Lieutenant Duncan C. Haywood, commanding Company E, again seized our flag, the staff of which had been shot in two, and advanced to the front of the regiment. He also immediately lost his life, whereupon the flag of the regiment was carried out of the action by Corporal Geary, of Company C.

It was now nightfall, and Major Junius L. Hill, who had behaved with his usual distinguished gallantry, finding that more than half of our force was destroyed, and himself exhausted by long action and a severe shock from one of the enemy's bombs, formed such of his men as he could collect and reported to me.

The flag which was borne during this conflict was literally shot to pieces, and bore upon its field the marks of thirty-two balls. This is the best indication of the heavy fire to which our brave men were exposed.

My portion of the command, which, in obedience to orders, had [74] fallen back to the rear of the woods, after the first two hours of the engagement, upon my application to Major-General A. P. Hill for orders, was ordered towards the right of our lines for the purpose of supporting a portion of General Jackson's command, which he informed me was then on the field. My men cheerfully and earnestly advanced towards the right, with cheers for “Old Stonewall.” We were under heavy fire for the rest of the evening, but were not so actively engaged as the rest of our regiment; the aforesaid portion of Jackson's command and Wheat's battalion being in our front.

Near nightfall, I reported to you, stating the exhausted condition of my troops, when you directed me to form on the left of the road, approaching the enemy, and post sentinels along the road so as to collect such portions of your brigade as might pass along said road, directing them to bivouac at this point.

On Saturday, the 28th, we remained quietly in our bivouac, caring for the wounded and dead.

The country and our State too painfully appreciate the loss of our most capable Colonel for me to say aught in his praise.

It was in this battle that Company E, under the command of Lieutenant Haywood, lost all of their officers. Lieutenants Haywood and Clap were killed in the brave discharge of their duties. Lieutenant H. C. Graham, late of the Twenty-second regiment of North Carolina troops, who had volunteered to take a command in the same company as lieutenant, had his leg broken early in the conflict.

Where almost every officer has distinguished himself, it is difficult to bestow especial praise upon any, but the serious bereavement which this company has sustained, not only in the loss of their officers but also in the loss of men, induces me to commend it to your especial consideration. I shall take occasion hereafter to recommend Lieutenant Graham for promotion if his wound will admit of his again entering the service.

In this battle it was also that Captain R. B. McRae was seriously and W. N. Peoples, of Company K, mortally wounded. Lieutenant Jos. C. Miller, of Company K, here rendered up his life, having fallen in close proximity to the point where Colonel Campbell fell while bravely leading his men in the conflict. Captain McAuley, Company I, and Lieutenant W. J. Kerr, Company D, (the color company) also sustained injuries from which they will not soon recover. Many others sustained injuries, the extent of which may be learned from official reports already published. [75]

On Saturday, the 29th, we proceeded to recross the Chickahominy, and pursued the enemy until Monday evening, the 30th, when we overtook him and were at once formed in columns of regiments, on the right of the road, under cover of the woods. In a few minutes we were led into action by you in person. Since you witnessed the daring of my regiment while advancing towards the enemy, under a terriffic fire, and the disadvantages under which they labored in meeting retreating batteries, and in not knowing with accuracy the point for which they had been designated, I shall leave it to you, General, to say all that is necessary in their praise.

So soon as the enemy appeared in sight, the order was given for our regiment to charge, which we did without faltering, and drove him before us at least a mile, every inch of which was hotly contested. It was now near sunset, and finding that he had fallen upon his reserves which extended far beyond my right flank, and that we had driven away the immediate force that were protecting the enemy's batteries, I ordered a change of position, so as to reform in rear of General Pender's brigade, which was then advancing to our support. About this time, I was myself disabled by a slight wound on the head, but by the assistance of some of any men was enabled for a while to keep the field and send a portion of my men again into action, under command of Major J. L. Hill.

During this action, and the reformation just spoken of, I take occasion to acknowledge the eminent services rendered to me, my regiment and the cause, by Major Hill, who was always ready to expose himself to the hottest fire; to Lieutenant L. D. Stockton, my adjutant, who was at my side during the whole action, except when bearing official messages, under the enemy's fire, and did great service in assisting me in rallying the men; Lieutenant Munro, of the Second North Carolina regiment, who was acting as voluteer Lieutenant in Company E, also distinguished himself by conspicuous bravery. Captain J. McLeod Turner, Company F, and his command, distinguished themselves, as they have always hitherto done, by the eagerness with which they approached the foe. Lieutenant Murchison, Company C, also proved himself a worthy successor of his disabled captain, R. B. McRae. It was in this contest that Lieutenant J. Milton Alexander was mortally, and Lieutenants Dickey and Blackmar seriously, wounded. In this battle I have no complaint to make of any officer or man in [76] their advance upon the enemy; and I beg leave especially to commend the conduct, not only of the officers whom I have just named, but also of Captain J. G. Harris, Company H, and Lieutenant A. A. Pool, commanding Company K. This night my regiment spent on the field, and on Tuesday evening, about seven o'clock, while we were under marching orders, and actually on the march, we were ordered in the direction of Malvern Hill. We advanced under a heavy fire, artillery and musketry, but the darkness came upon us so rapidly that we were not actively engaged that night. We were then continued in the pursuit of the enemy until the 9th instant, when we were ordered to our present camp four miles from Richmond.

During this contest we have lost six officers killed or mortally wounded, and sixteen wounded, twenty-nine men killed on the field, and two hundred and two wounded. The number actually carried into action on Friday, 29th ultimo, was near four hundred and fifty officers and men. In specially commending certain officers, whose conduct was markedly brought to my own notice, I have reason to believe that my officers generally behaved quite as gallantly as they. * * * * * * * *

I have the honor, General, to be with much respect,

Your obedient servant,