Hill, Magruder, and Huger, on our right wing, since the opening of the battle, and a third colpushed down the Long Bridge road in pursuit, umn upon the centre moved onward to the Yanand took position on the left and front of the ene-kee guns. The dark mass soon disappeared in

my, under fire of all his artillery on land and

water.

About four o'clock in the afternoon, the skirmishers of our pursuing column, on emerging from the wood, were met by the fire of the enemy, and fell back to report to the commanding General, Magruder, whose division, embracing the brigades of Howell Cobb, Toombs, Wright, and Armistead, was in the advance. Two batteries of light artillery, Grimes's and the Second Richmond howitzers, were immediately ordered to take position in the cleared field, some fifty yards from the edge of the forest, and to open fire upon the enemy's batteries, while the infantry were drawn up under cover of the woods, to be pushed across the field at the proper moment. Grimes's battery was thrown into hopeless disorder by the killing of three of its horses and the wounding of several others in the act of taking its ground, and never did get into position; whereupon the Purcell battery, Capt. Pegram, was ordered to replace it.

The howitzers, and Capt. Pegram's veterans, at once opened a furious cannonade on the Yankees, firing with great steadiness and effect, but so desolating was the rain of shot, shell and sphericalcase showered upon them by the enemy's guns, which had obtained the exact range, that they were greatly cut up in a short time, and had to be withdrawn. At the same moment, a column | of not more than six hundred confederate troops, which had moved with wonderful precision and celerity across the plateau, to a point within one hundred and fifty yards of the Yankee batteries, were compelled to retire with heavy loss, and in some disorder. The Letcher artillery, of six pieces, under command of Capt. Davidson, was now ordered to the spot till then occupied by the Purcell battery, and getting their guns quickly in place, despite the withering tempest of flame and iron, commenced to serve them with the utmost efficiency, firing twelve or fifteen discharges to the minute, while a second column of infantry advanced through the cleared space at doublequick to storm the terrible batteries of the foe. The fire was now appalling, and to add to the horrors of the scene, the gunboats of the enemy in the river began to throw the most tremendous projectiles into the field. The column moved on nearer and yet nearer, its ranks thinned at every moment, and lost to sight in the thick curtain of smoke which overspread the crimsoned battleground. But once again the whirlwind of death threw the advancing mass of gallant men into inextricable disorder, and they retired. Still the Letcher artillery held its ground. A brave lieutenant and two of the men had been killed at their pieces, nineteen others had fallen wounded by their side, and the horses were piled around them in heaps; a caisson had exploded, yet their fire was kept up as steadily as if they had been firing a holiday salute.

An hour and a half more had now passed

the cloud which enveloped all objects, and though it lost strength and solidity at every step, in the brave fellows who fell struck by the hurling missiles that strewed the air, it still gained the slope where stood the enemy's batteries, but only to be driven back, as had been their comrades before them. Meanwhile, the indomitable Jackson had assailed the enemy with great energy on the right of their position, and soon drove them from the field. The dusk of evening, deepening into darkness, favored the retreat of the Yankees, who succeeded in carrying off their pieces, though with a loss in killed and wounded equal to, if not greater than our own.

Thus closed the terrible battle of the first of July. The battle-field and the region round about seemed as if the lightnings of heaven had scathed and blasted it. The forest shows, in the splintered branches of a thousand trees, the fearful havoc of the artillery. The houses are riddled; the fences utterly demolished; the earth itself ploughed up in many places for yards; here stands a dismantled cannon, there a broken guncarriage; thick and many are the graves, the sods over which yet bear the marks of the blood of their occupants; on the plateau, across whose surface for hours the utmost fury of the battle raged, the tender corn that had grown up as high as the knee, betrays no sign of having ever “laughed and sung" in the breeze of early summer; every thing, in short, but the blue heaven above, speaks of the carnival of death which was there so frightfully celebrated.

About a quarter of a mile from the field stands, on the roadside, the house occupied by Gen. Lee, as his headquarters during the battle. The weather-boarding, and the shingled roof, exhibit abundant evidences of the terrible nature of the cannonade. The elongated shells thrown by the gunboats, were most fearful projectiles, measuring twenty inches in length by eight in diameter. It is remarkable that, as far as we know, the only damage done by them was to the enemy. Not having the proper range, the gunners so elevated their pieces as to let those messengers of death fall mostly among the ranks of their own men. The effect of one which burst near Crew's house, was indescribably fatal. It struck a gun of one of the batteries, shattering it into fragments, and by the explosion, which followed instantaneously, seven men standing near the piece were killed in the twinkling of an eye.

They fell without the movement of a muscle, in the very attitudes they occupied the moment 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 the ramrod with which he was driving home the load in his Belgian rifle; while the fourth, with clenched lips, retained in his mouth the little portion of the cartridge he had just bitten off. The faces

of the victims even still expressed the emotions over, and from a quarter to a half mile in width, which animated them in battle-indifference, lying between the head of the ravines and the hope, terror, triumph, rage, were there depicted, point where Herring Creek crosses the Charles but no traces of the suffering which should be City road. But it required only a very brief pecaused by the death-pang. They had passed into riod for the enemy, with his immense resources eternity unconscious of the shaft that sent them of men and machinery, to obstruct by art this there! only natural entrance to his stronghold. Already it was within range of his gunboats, and of his siege-guns planted on the Evelinton hills. Another day saw it strewn with felled timber and bristling with field-batteries.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 2.-The severe struggle of Tuesday, had given the main body of McClellan's army ample time to reach the much coveted 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 immediate attack. In this situation of affairs, a description of the locality and topographical features of the enemy's selected place of refuge, will be a matter of interest.

The James River was soon covered with the transports and gunboats of the enemy, and McClellan, secure in his "new base of operations," vigorously began the work of infusing courage and confidence among his beaten and demoralized troops.

BATTLE OF GAINES'S FARM. BRIGADIER-GENERAL TAYLOR'S REPORT. HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE NEW-JERSEY VOLUNTEERS, CAMP ON JAMES RIVER, July 4, 1862.

jutant-General:

My command, by order, left our intrenched camp, on the right bank of the Chickahominy, on Friday afternoon, the twenty-seventh of June, 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 regiments in front, and the First and Second regiments in the second line.

Berkeley, now the residence of Dr. Starke, lies on the north side of James River, five miles below 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. | H. C. Rodgers, Captain and Acting Assistant AdThe 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 between 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 apparent of these is, that the Westover landing is, perhaps, the very best on James River; and the stream for miles up and down, being broad and deep, affords both excellent sea-room and anchorage for his gunboats and transports. But this is by no means the only advantage of the position. On the west of Berkeley are innumerable impassable ravines, running from near the Charles City road, on the north, to James River, making a successful attack from that quarter next to impossible.

Within a quarter of a mile of where these ravines begin, Herring Run Creek crosses the Charles City road, and running in a south-easterly direction, skirts, on the north and east, the plantations of Berkeley and Westover, and empties 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 for heavy guns.

My line was scarcely formed when the Third regiment, under the command of Lieut.-Colonel 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 action. 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 regiment 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 third of their number, and gave not an inch of ground until their ammunition was expended and the retrograde movement became general. They were under this fire one hour and a half.

It will be seen that, protected on the south by The First regiment entered the woods about the river and his gunboats, on the west by im- half an hour after the Third, and remained until passable ravines, and on the north and east by the close of the action. Col. Torbert being unHerring Creek and the heights of Evelinton, the well, the regiment was led by Lieut.-Col. McAlenemy's position presents but one pregnable point lister, and well sustained by his presence and -the piece of level country north-west of West-courage. I shall, however, say that Colonel TorVOL. V.--Doc. 17

bert, though suffering from low fever, followed promptly, and did not hesitate, and were often us to the field and was present. exposed to the hottest fire of the day.

I take great pleasure in saying-for both these regiments fought under my own eye--that the First regiment showed the same indomitable courage as the Third regiment, exposing themselves 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, fiftyseven. The loss of commissioned officers was

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, 1862.

0. H. P. Champlin, Esq., Buffalo, N. Y.:
DEAR BROTHER: To relieve my friends of all

one killed, four wounded and one missing-mak-apprehension about my safety, I write to say that 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 being on duty in the field-works at Camp Lincoln,

and left behind under Lieut.-Col. Buck. While

I am now here a prisoner of war, with a large portion of my regiment, and in good health and sustain the centre in the battle near Gaines's Hill, spirits. My regiment was posted in the wood to hold its ground till about an hour after the right on Friday, June twenty-seventh, and nobly did it absent to the front, these four companies, by and left wings of the army had fallen back. Mine order of Gen. Porter, and without my knowledge, Eleventh Connecticut reserve, were the last to (Fourth New-Jersey) and Colonel Gallagher's were sent into the woods, suffering a most gall-leave the front, and only did so, when we found ing fire. Their loss was: enlisted men killed, that the rest of the army had given way, and we twelve; wounded, fifteen; missing, forty; makwere literally surrounded by the infantry and ing a total of ninety-seven enlisted men. I also batteries of the confederate forces. 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 gallantly, 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 wavering 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 casualties 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. Howell, of the Third, all officers of distinguished merit.

These officers fought under my eye. As regards the conduct of the Second and Fourth regiments' 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 that they carried out my orders intelligently and

rior officers to inform us when to retreat, and not Being in the woods, and trusting to our supebeing able to see on account of the woods what tinued fighting probably an hour after every other was going on towards our right and left, we conregiment had left the ground. The consequence times our number, and though we could have was inevitable. We were surrounded by ten fought till every man of us was slain, yet humanity and, as I think, wisdom dictated that we should at last yield.

Our casualties, so far as known, were as follows:

Officers killed-Captain Meves—1.
Officers wounded-Captain Mulford; Lieuten-
ants Roberts, Eldridge, Hatch, Ridgway, Myers
and Shaw-7.

Enlisted men, killed,..
Enlisted men, wounded,..

Total killed,.
Total wounded,.

87

104

38

111

149

Total killed and wounded,....
Besides seventy-five missing, of whom a number
probably was killed and wounded. Considering
it as a great mercy we all were not shot down.
the great jeopardy in which we were, I look upon

Kind remembrances and love to all.
Affectionately, your brother,

J. H. SIMPSON,

GENERAL LEE'S OFFICIAL REPORT.

HEADQUARTERS, June 27.

To His Excellency, President Davis:

MR. PRESIDENT: Profoundly grateful to Almighty 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

strong position behind Beaver Creek Dam, pursued to that beyond Powhatan Creek, and finally, after a severe contest of five hours, entirely repulsed 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 in the morning.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully,
R. E. LEE,

General.

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL ROBERTSON'S REPORT.

HEADQUARTERS FIFTH TEXAS REGIMENT,
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,
1862. 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.

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 the 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 volunteers. Colonel Simpson and his Lieutenant-Colonel surrendered their swords and two stands of colors. A company was detached and the prisoners marched to the rear, when I formed in line of battle and remained until the arrival of Brigadier-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 excepMy advance was much impeded by a dense tion, conducted themselves in a manner satisfacthicket and marsh. Hampton's Legion was upon tory, fully sustaining the name and character of my left. I reached the line of battle in good the Texas soldiers. When all behaved so well, order, and found a portion of (I believe) General distinction cannot be made. My color-bearer was Ewell's forces maintaining the ground against shot down and the colors immediately raised by heavy odds. I opened fire with my regiment, Captain Brantley, of company D, of the colorand after firing some thirty minutes it was evi-guard. In the list of casualties I have to report dent that the fire of the enemy was greatly weakened, and that the time for charging them was Having been separated from my brigade and all the officers, I was at some loss about making the charge, until I could do so in conjunction with other parts of the line. I sought the commanders 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 General 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 cheer 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 battery on my left, which was hidden from our view In obedience to instructions, my command was at first by the retreating enemy, ordered my men withdrawn from its advanced position before to fire on those around the battery as they ran, Richmond about sunrise, on the twenty-ninth which volley cleared the battery and left it in our ultimo. We retired, in condition to give or repossession. On emerging from the enemy's camp, ceive battle, as occasion might require, to a new through which we had charged, I discovered the line a mile or more in the rear, where it was haltFourth Texas and Eighteenth Georgia charging aed and drawn up to check any advance of the battery on a hill to my left. I directed my men enemy, either by the Williamsburgh road or railto oblique to the right so as to join them, which road. they did just after the battery was taken.

near.

My men seeing the enemy flying across the field in the direction of the road to the Chickahominy, continued the charge over the hill in the direction of a battery the enemy had been playing upon us from the hill beyond. Having left my horse at an impassable branch in the rear, and being much exhausted, about one third of my

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 GLENDALE, JUNE 30, 1862.*

REPORT OF GENERAL HOOKER. HEADQUARTERS HOOKER'S DIVISION, THIRD ARMY CORPS, CAMP NEAR HARRISON'S LANDING, JAMES RIVER, Va., July 15, 1862.

Captain C. McKeever, Assistant Adjutant-General Third Army Corps:

The enemy followed up our movements closely, taking possession of our camps as soon as they were abandoned, but evincing no disposition to come to close quarters. We remained in our new position until about three o'clock P.M., with no other event than a feeble attack on Sumner's

Known also as the battle of White Oak Swamp and Charles City Cross-Roads.

During all this time several of Sumner's batteries had been doing splendid execution in the About nine o'clock my line of battle was estab-rebel ranks, and greatly contributed to our suclished-Grover on the right, Carr in the centre, and Sickles's brigade on the left.