fen the very attitudes they occupied the moment
I/before, stiffening at once into the stony fixedness
of death. One, indeed, was almost blown into
annihilation ; but another was seen still grasping
the lanyard of his gun ; yet another, belonging
to an infantry regiment, held in his hand tho
ramrod with which he was driving home the load
in his Belgian rifle; while the fourth, with clench
ed lips, retained in his mouth the little portion of
ithe cartridge he had just bitten off. The faces
DOCUMENTS.
257
of the victims even still expressed the emotions
which animated* them in battle indifference,
hope, terror, triumph, rage, were there depicted,
but no traces of the suffering which should be
caused by the death-pang. They had passed intd
eternity unconscious of the shaft that sent thenl
there !
WEDNESDAY, JULY 2. The severe struggle of
Tuesday, had given the main body of McClel-
tan s army ample time to reach the much covet-
> ed positions in the neighborhood of Berkeley and
Westover, on the James River, where, availing
themselves of the strong natural defences of the
place, and under cover of their gunboats, they
were relieved from the apprehensions of an im
mediate attack. In this situation of affairs, a
description of the locality and topographical fea
tures of the enemy s selected place of refuge, will
be a matter of interest.
Berkeley, now the residence of Dr. Starke, lies
on the north side of James River, five miles be
low City Point, and by the course of the river
sixty-five miles, but by the Charles City road not
more than twenty -five miles from Richmond.
The building, an old-fashioned, brick edifice,
stands upon an eminence a few hundred yards
from the river, in a grove of poplars and other
trees. President Harrison was born here in 1773.
The "Westover plantation, long the seat of the
distinguished family of Byrds, and at present
owned by Mr. John Selden, adjoins Berkeley
on the east, the dwelling-houses being some two
miles apart. Charles City Court-House is be
tween eight and ten miles east of the latter place.
It is not to be supposed the enemy selected these
plantations as the scene of his last great stand
without good reasons. The first and most appa
rent of these is, that the Westover landing is, per
haps, the very best on James River ; and the
stream for miles up and down, being broad and
deep, affords both excellent sea-room and anchor
age for his gunboats and transports. But this is
by no means the only advantage of the position.
On the west of Berkeley are innumerable impas
sable ravines, running from near the Charles City
road, on the north, to James River, making a
successful attack from that quarter next to im
possible.
Within a quarter of a mile of where these ra
vines begin, Herring Run Creek crosses the
Charles City road, and running in a south-east
erly direction, skirts, on the north and east, the
plantations of Berkeley and Westover, and emp
ties into James River at the extreme eastern
boundary of the latter. The whole course of this
creek is one impassable morass, while along its
northern and eastern banks extend the heights
of Evelinton a long range of hills that overlook
the Westover and Berkeley estates, and which
offer eligible positions fon heavy guns.
It will be seen that, protected on the south by
the river and his gunboats, on the west by im
passable ravines, and on the north and east by
Herring Creek and the heights of Evelinton, the
enemy s position presents but one pregnable point
- .-the piece of level country north-west of West-
VOL. V. Doc. 17
over, and from a quarter to a half mile in width,
lying between the head of the ravines and the
point where Herring Creek crosses the Charles
City road. But it required only a very brief pe
riod for the enemy, with his immense" resources
of men and machinery, to obstruct by art this
only natural entrance to his stronghold. Already
it was within range of his gunboats, and of his
siege-guns planted on the Evelinton hills. An
other day saw it strewn with felled timber and
bristling with field-batteries.
The James River was soon covered with the
transports and gunboats of the enemy, and Mo-
Clellan, secure in his " new base of operations/
vigorously began the work of infusing courage
and confidence among his beaten and demoraliz
ed troops.
BATTLE OF GAINES S FARM.
BRiaADIEll-GENERAL TAYLOR o REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE NEW-JERSEY VOLUNTEERS, )
CAMP ON JAMES RIVER, July 4, 1SG2. f
H. C. Rodgers, Captain and Acting Assistant A<&
jutant- General :
My command, by order, left our intrenched
camp, on the right bank of the Chickahominy, otj
Friday afternoon, the twenty - seventh of Juno,
and crossed the said stream by the Woodbury
bridge.
The battle begun the day previous, had been
renewed at Gaines s Farm, where we arrived
about four o clock P.M. I immediately formed my
brigade in two lines, the Third and Fourth regj,-
ments in front, and the First and Second regi
ments in the second line.
My line was scarcely formed when the Third
regiment, under the command of Li cut. -Colon el
Brown, was ordered to advance forward into the
woods, where a fierce combat was raging.
Col. Brown immediately formed his regiment
in line of battle, led it into the woods and began
a rapid fire upon the enemy. As this was the
first of my regiments engaged, I will complete
my report of it by saying that they continued
the fight in the woods until the close of the ac
tion. They were all this time under a galling fire,
often a cross-fire, but maintained their ground
until near sunset, when the whole line fell back.
They had at this time expended (a large majority
of the men) their last cartridge sixty rounds to
the man. It is but justice to say, that this regi
ment bore itself most heroically throughout the
entire action. Their conduct was all that could
be desired. With their comrades falling around,
they stood up like a wall of iron, losing over one
bird of their number, and gave not an inch of
jround until their ammunition was expended and
the retrograde movement became general. They
were under this fire one hour and a half.
The First regiment entered the woods about
lalf an hour after the Third, and remained until
:he close of the action. Col. Torbert being un
well, the regiment was led by Lieut. -Col. McAl-
ister, and well sustained by his presence and
courage. I shall, however, say that Colonel Tor
258
REBELLION RECORD, 1862.
bcrt, though suffering from low fever, followed
us to the iieM and was present. .
I take great pleasure in saying for both these
regimdhts fought under my own eye that the
First regiment showed the same indomitable
courage as the Third regiment, exposing them
selves to the leaden hail of an often unseen foe,
advancing with the Third regiment, and stood
steadily under a most galling fire until the close
of the action. Their loss was : enlisted men
killed, twenty ; wounded, eighty ; missing, fifty-
seven. The loss of commissioned officers was
one killed, four wounded and one missing mak
ing a total of one hundred and sixty-three.
I have now to speak of the Second and Fourth
regiments, the first of which, under Col. Tucker,
numbered only four companies, the other six be
ing on duty in the field-works at Camp Lincoln,
and left behind under Lieut. -Col. Buck. While
absent to the front, these four companies, by
order of Gen. Porter, and without my knowledge,
were sent into the woods, suffering a most gall
ing fire. Their loss was : enlisted men killed,
twelve ; wounded, fifteen ; missing, forty ; mak
ing a total of ninety-seven enlisted men. I also
regret to record the death of Col. I. M. Tucker, and
probably Major Ryerson, both of whom were left
upon the field; also Captain Danforth, mortally
wounded, and Lieuts. Plewitt, Root and Bogert,
severely wounded, and Lieut. Callan missing.
They, however, sustained themselves most gal
lantly, and proved their courage against superior
numbers. The fate of the Fourth regiment, Col.
Simpson, one of my most efficient regiments, as
regards officers and men, was most painful.
At the moment when victory seemed waver
ing in the balance, an aid of Gen. McClellan took
them from my command and ordered them into
the woods. All the account I can give of them
is, that but one officer (wounded) and eighty-two
men have rejoined my command ; all the rest, if
living, are believed to be prisoners of war.
I learn from those who have come in, that up
to the time that the regiment was surrounded
they had received from and returned the enemy
a most galling fire. I annex a report of the cas
ualties of the day, showing the total loss of my
brigade.
In conclusion I would say that, so far as I am
at present informed, my officers, commissioned
and non-commissioned, nobly performed their
duties; and it might, therefore, be invidious to
particularize. Still, in justice to the gallant dead,
who have devoted their lives to their country, I
must record the names of Capt, Brewster, of the
First, and Capt. Buckley, of the Third; also,
Second Lieut. Ilowell, of the Third, all officers
of distinguished merit.
These officers fought under my eye. As re
gards the conduct of the Second and Fourth regi
ments 1 officers, I am told that it was all that
could be desired. But these regiments having
been taken from me, I did not see them during
the action.
It is eminently due to my staff-officers to say
chat .they carried out my orders intelligently and
promptly, and did not hesitate, and were often
exposed to the hottest fire of the day.
I will forward a more detailed report in a few
days. I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
etc., GEORGE W. TAYLOR,
Brigadier-General.
COLONEL SIMPSON S LETTER.
MILITARY PRISON, /
RICHMOND, VA., July 8, 1802. )
0. H. P. Cliamplin, Esq., Buffalo, N. T. :
DEAR BROTHER : To relieve my friends of all *
apprehension about my safety, I write to say that
I am now here a prisoner of war, with a large
portion of my regiment, and in good health and
spirits. My regiment was posted in the wood to
sustain the centre in the battle near Games s Hill,
on Friday, June twenty-seventh, and nobly did it
hold its ground till about an hour after the right
and left wings of the army had fallen back. Mine
(Fourth New- Jersey) and Colonel Gallagher s
Eleventh Connecticut reserve, were the last to
leave the front, and only did so, when we found
that the rest of the army had given way, and we
were literally surrounded by the infantry and
batteries of the confederate forces.
Being in the woods, and trusting to our supe
rior officers to inform us when to retreat, and not
being able to see on account of the woods what
was going on towards our right and left, we con
tinued fighting probably an hour after every other
regiment had left the ground. The consequence
was inevitable. We were surrounded by ten
times our number, and though we could have
fought till every man of us was slain, } r et human
ity and, as I think, wisdom dictated that we should
at last yield.
Our casualties, so far as known, were as fol
lows :
Officers killed Captain Moves 1.
Officers wounded - Captain Mulford ; Lieuten
ants Roberts, Eldridge, Hatch, Ridgway, Myers
and Shaw 7.
Enlisted men, killed, 87
Enlisted men, wounded, 104
Total killed, 38
Total wounded, Ill
Total killed and wounded, 149
Besides sevent3 r -fivc missing, of whom a number
probably was killed and wounded. Considering
the great jeopardy in which we were, I look upon
it as a great mercy we all were not shot down.
Kind remembrances and love to all.
Affectionately, your brother,
J. II. SIMPSON.
GENERAL LEE S OFFICIAL REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS, June 27.
To His Excellency, President Davis:
MR. PRESIDENT : Profoundly grateful to Al
mighty God for the signal victory granted us, it
is my pleasure and task to announce to you the
success achieved by this army to-day.
The enemy was this morning driven from his
DOCUMENTS.
259
strong position behind Beaver Creek Dam, pur
sued to that beyond Powhatan Creek, and finally
after a severe contest of five hours, entirely re
pulsed from the field.
Night put an end to the contest. I grieve to
state our loss in officers and men is great. We
sleep on the field and shall renew the contest ir
the morning.
I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
11. E. LEE,
General
LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ROBERTSON S REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS FIFTH TEXAS RECIMENT, J
June 29, 1862. (
W. H. Sellers, A. A. General Texas Brigade:
MAJOR : I have the honor to report the part
taken by my regiment, the Fifth Texas volun
teers, in the action of the twenty-seventh June,
] 862. I was ordered into the action to support
that part of the line immediately in front of the
house, which stands near the Telegraph road,
and which was used as a hospital.
My advance was much impeded by a dense
thicket and marsh. Hampton s Legion was upon
my left. I reached the line of battle in good
order, and found a portion of (I believe) Genera]
Ewell s forces maintaining the ground against
heavy odds. I opened tire with my regiment,
and aftei firing some thirty minutes it was evi
dent that the fire of the enemy was greatly weak
ened, and that the time for charging them was
near. Having been separated from my brigade
and all the officers, I was at some loss about mak
ing the charge, until I could do so in conjunction
with other parts of the line. I sought the com
manders of the forces on my immediate right and
left, but found none willing to join me in the
charge. About this time the gallant General
Ewell came up and ordered a charge, my right
was by this time unsupported, and I asked Gene
ral Ewell to bring me a force to support me, then
I would make the charge. He brought up at
once a small force; as soon as it got into line on
my right, the charge was ordered, and with a
hearty checf the men rushed down the hill, across
the branch, up and over the enemy s position,
and through his camp. I charged with loaded
guns. On reaching the field I discovered a bat
tery on my left, which was hidden from our view
at first by the retreating enemy, ordered my men
to fire on those around the battery as they ran,
which volley cleared the battery and left it in our
possession. On emerging from the enemy s camp,
through which we had charged, I discovered the
Fourth Texas and Eighteenth Georgia charging a
battery on a hill to my left. I directed my men
to oblique to the right so as to join them, which
they did just after the battery was taken.
My men seeing the enemy flying across the
field in the direction of the road to the Chicka-
. hominy, continued the charge over the hill in the
direction of a battery the enemy had been play
ing upon us from the hill beyond. Having left
rriy horse at an impassable branch in the rear, and
being much exhausted, about one third of my
men got so far ahead of me that it was difficult to
stop them. Night was fast closing on us ; it was
then dark ; I thought it proper to recall my men,
and from a hill protect the batteries already
taken.
On my march back I discovered a fire was
being made upon my men from the camp through
which we had just charged, and on reaching tho
crest of the hill, I discovered a regiment of the
enemy advancing on us from that camp ; we
opened fire on them, at the same time advancing
upon them. After receiving two or three volleys
they threw down their arms and surrendered. It
was the Fourth regiment of New-Jersey volun
teers. Colonel Simpson and his Lieutenant-Col
onel surrendered their swords and two stands of
colors. A company was detached and the pris
oners marched to the rear, when I formed in line
of battle and remained until the arrival of Briga
dier-General Hood. The regiment of the enemy
taken was larger at least by one hundred men (at
the time of its capture) than mine. Throughout
the action my officers and men, without excep
tion, conducted themselves in a manner satisfac
tory, fully sustaining the name and character of
the Texas soldiers. When all behaved so well,
distinction cannot be made. My color-bearer was
shot down and the colors immediately raised by
Captain Brantley, of company D, of the color-
guard. In the list of casualties I have to report
thirteen killed, among them Lieutenant J. E.
Clute, company A, who was in command of his
company, and fell while leading it to victory ; also
fifty-nine wounded, among them Captain T. T.
Clay, company I, and Lieutenant Wallace, both
of them at the head of their companies when
wounded, and thirteen missing. For particulars
see Adjutant s report already sent in.
Respectfully submitted.
J. B. ROBERTSON^
Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding Fifth Texas Volunteers.
BATTLE OF GLEXDALE, JUNE 30, 18(52.*
REPORT OF GENERAL HOOKER.
HEADQUARTERS HOOKKH S DIVISION, THIRD ARMY CORPS, )
CAMP NEAR HARRISON S LANDING. JAMES RIVER, VA., >
July 15, 1662. f
Captain G. McKeever, Assistant Adjutant- Gene
ral Third Army Corps :
In obedience to instructions, my command was
withdrawn from its advanced position before
Richmond about sunrise, on the twenty-ninth
ultimo. We retired, in condition to give or re
ceive battle, as occasion might require, to a new
ine a mile or more in the rear, where it was halt
ed and drawn up to check any advance of the
enemy, either by the Williamsburgh road or rail
road.
The enemy followed up our movements closely,
;aking possession of our camps as soon as they
,vere abandoned, but evincing no disposition to
;oiue to close quarters. We remained in our
lew position until about three o clock V.M., with
10 other event than a feeble attack on Simmer s
* Known also as the battle of White Oak Swamp and Chari ei
City Cross- Roads.
260
BEBELLION RECORD, 1862.
advance line that officer s corps being on my
right and a few projectiles from the artillery,
which found their way inside my lines. Orders
were now sent me to fall back to Savage s station
for its defence ; and while my column was mov
ing for that purpose, orders were again received
to follow Kearney in his flank movements to
wards James River, and to cross Oak. swamp at
Brackett s Ford, which was accomplished that
night the rear of my column coming up to the
Charles City road about ten o clock, at which
point we bivouacked for the night.
In this flank movement two of my batteries
Osborne s and Bramhall s had been detached
for duty in the defence of Savage s station, where
they rendered efficient service. The report of
Capt. Osborne is herewith forwarded, to which
the attention of the Major-General commanding
the corps is especially invited.
About daylight the following morning, thirtieth
ult., the Major-General commanding the corps
communicated to me in person that it was his
desire that my division should cover what is
called the Quaker road, over which our troops,
artillery and trains were to pass in their retro
grade march to James River.
As Kearney s division was assigned the same
duty, and as it was yet early in the morning, we
mounted our horses, rode over the road we were
required to defend, and examined the country
and the approaches over which the enemy would
be the most likely to advance.
The direction of Quaker s road is nearly per
pendicular to the general course of James River,
and crosses at nearly right angles the principal
highways leading out of Richmond, between the
river and the WilHamsburgh road. Numerous
by-roads connect these most-travelled highways
with the Quaker road, and it was determined
that I should establish my division on the one
which falls into the last-named road, near St.
Paul s church, the right resting on this cross
road, and the line nearly parallel with, and half
a mile or more in advance of, the Quaker road.
A forest covered the area between my position
and this road.
On my right was Sumner s corps, in a cleared
field, occupying the position which I had sup
posed was assigned to Kearney, and Kearney re
mained near where I had 4eft him early in the
morning.
About nine o clock my line of battle was estab
lished Grover on the right, Carr in the centre,
and Sickles s brigade on the left.
In the mean time, directions were given for all
of my batteries to continue their march to our
proposed camp near James River, in order that
they might be put in position there.
About eleven o clock A.M. some of our army-
wagons were observed in my front, which, on in-
ouiry, were found to belong to McCall s division,
which was the first intimation I had received of
his being in my neighborhood, and, on examina
tion, I found his division drawn up in line of bat
tle, his left resting five hundred or six hundred
yards from iny right, and stretching off at an ob
tuse angle with the direction of my own. Tho
woods in which this division was found extended
to the immediate front of my right, narrowing in
width as it approached my position.
About three o clock the enemy commenced a
vigorous attack on McCall, and in such force that
Gen. Sumner voluntarily tendered me the ser
vices of a regiment which was posted in an open
field on my extreme right, and under shelter
from the enemy s artillery. This was the Sixty-
ninth regiment Pennsylvania volunteers, under
Col. Owen.
Meanwhile, the enemy s attack had grown in
force and violence, and after an ineffectual effort
to resist it, the whole of McCall s division was
completely routed, and many of the fugitives
rushed down the road on which my right was
resting, while others took the cleared field, and
broke through my lines, from one end of them to
the other, and actually fired on and killed some
of my men as they passed. At first I was ap
prehensive that the effect would be disastrous on
my command, and was no little relieved when
they had passed my lines. Following closely
upon the footsteps of these demoralized people,
were the broken masses of the enemy, furiously
pressing them on to me under cover of the woods,
until they were checked by a front fire of the
Sixteenth Massachusetts volunteers, and after
wards by a diagonal fire on their Bright and left
flanks from the Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania volun
teers and the left of the Sixteenth Massachusetts.
Also, whenever the enemy ventured to uncover
himself from the forest, a destructive fire was
poured into him along my right wing.
After great loss the enemy gave way, and were
instantly followed with great gallantry by Grovor
at the head of the First Massachusetts regiment,
while the Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania, heroically
led by Owen, advanced in the open field on their
flank, with almost reckless daring.
Grover was reenforced by the Second New-
Hampshire and the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania
regiments, but not until after he had suffered
severely from the enemy s reserves. The enemy
were rolled back through a part of McCalFs camp,
and passing Sumner s front, they were by him
hurriedly thrown over on to Kearney, where the
fire was kept up until a late hour in the night.
During all this time several of Sumner s bat
teries had been doing splendid execution in the
rebel ranks, and greatly contributed to our suc
cess. The troops under Grover were withdrawn
from the pursuit at dark, and restored to thei?
places in 4ine of battle.
Soon after this attack was made, word was re
ceived from Gen. Sickles that the enemy in his
immediate front were preparing to turn our left,
when all our reserves were despatched to strength
en him. No attack, however, in force was made,
and Sickles s and Carr s brigades remained in
position. The former reports tne capture of ono
hundred and fifty prisoners, in which are includ
ed one Lieutenant-Colonel, one Captain, five Lieu
tenants, and forty enlisted men, taken by Capt
Parks, company F, Second New-York volunteers.
DOCUMENTS.
261
Carr s brigade. To these should be added on
stand of colors, all of which were forwarded to
the headquarters of Gen. Sumner.
The loss of the rebels in this battle was verj
severe. The field on which they fought was om
of unusual extent for the number engaged, anc
it was almost covered with their dead and dying,
From their torches we could see that the ene
my was busy all night long in searching for his
wounded, but up to daylight the following morn
ing there had been no apparent diminution in
the heart-rending cries and groans of his wound
ed. The unbroken, mournful wail of human suf
fering was all that we heard from Glendale dur
ing that long, dismal night.
I was instructed to hold my position until
Sumner and Kearney had retired over the Quaker