Benjamin Huger to Robert E. Lee, July 21, 1862

GENERAL:

I submit herewith the reports of different commanders in this division, showing the part taken by the troops under their com-‘ mand in the battles near Richmond between June 25 and July 1:

Immediately after the battle of Seven Pines my division was posted in the advance opposite that position of the enemy from which our troops retired on the morning of June 2. Our line extended from the York River Railroad across the Williamsburg road to and beyond the Charles City road. Major-General Longstreet, commanding right wing, furnished additional brigades to assist in performing the arduous picket duty, and placed all the troops of his command at my disposal for support in case of need. I continually pushed the pickets up to the enemy’s works and offered them battle daily, always shooting or capturing every individual we could.

The enemy made no advance upon us, and seemed to be occupied in strengthening and enlarging his fortifications and clearing away the woods near them until June 18, when he advanced and drove in some of our pickets. The Fifty-third Virginia Regiment, on picket duty that day, were driven in on part of the line. Colonel [A. R.] Wright came to their assistance with his regiment (the Third Georgia) and drove the enemy back.

In the course of the next day or two we found and buried 29 bodies of the enemy who were killed in this skirmish; 11 prisoners also being captured, from which we may suppose their loss was severe. The Fiftythird Virginia had 7 wounded. The Third Georgia had 5 killed and 2 wounded. I consider that the enemy were severely punished for their attempt.

On the morning of June 25 the brigade of Brigadier-General Ransom (six regiments of North Carolina troops) joined me, by your order, and was placed in rear of our line as a support. The picket line, which extended through the woods close up to the enemy’s works, consisted of the Fourth Georgia Regiment, Colonel [George] Doles, on the right of the Williamsburg road, and the Ninth Virginia Regiment, Fifth Virginia Battalion, and Fifty-third Virginia Regiment, of General Armistead’s brigade, between the Williamsburg road and the railroad.

At daylight the enemy made a severe attack on our picket line, which was re-enforced by Generals Armistead and Wright bringing up their regiments from our intrenchments, and by the regiments of General Ransom’s brigade, which had just arrived, and were promptly brought up by him as supports. One of the latter regiments (the Twenty-fifth North Carolina, Colonel [Henry M.] Rutledge) was pushed to the left of the Williamsburg road, where the enemy had advanced, and drove them back in gallant style, holding our original line of pickets. General Armistead’s troops, pushing back the enemy, resumed our line of pickets from Colonel Rutledge’s left to the railroad. General Wright brought forward the First Louisiana Regiment and the Twenty-second Georgia to the support of the Fourth Georgia, and drove the enemy back ; in doing which our loss was considerable, espe- cially in the First Louisiana Regiment, as shown by the list of casualties herewith appended.* Our pickets were relieved by regiments of General Ransom’s brigade, and most of them, composed of new troops, behaved with great steadiness and coolness in this their first conflict with the enemy.

Late in the evening we pushed the enemy on our right to recover the ground lost in the morning. This was accomplished by the Fourth Georgia Regiment, supported by Colonel [Robert C.] Hill’s regiment, of Ransom’s brigade (Forty-eighth North Carolina). Brigadier-General Mahone had sent Grimes’ battery to a position near French’s house, and it was well served against the enemy. He also moved a portion of his brigade so as to protect the right of General Wright’s line. The Forty-ninth Virginia, Col. William Smith, supported by the Fortyfirst. Virginia Regiment, were so placed as to flank the enemy on their left as they advanced on Colonel Hill. Their fire assisted greatly in repulsing the enemy. I inclose the reports of Generals Mahone and Wright. General Armistead’s whole force was engaged on our left, and by evening they had fully recovered our original picket line. General Wright reports the handsome manner in which a portion of Capt. Frank Huger’s battery drove off the pieces the enemy had advanced down the Williamsburg road and with which he kept up a fire on our whole line until driven off by our guns, which were afterward advanced to the position held by the enemy and fired into his camps.

The brigade of Brigadier-General Walker reported to me on the 26th and was held in reserve as a support, but was next morning, by your instructions, sent elsewhere. The troops which were in my rear all moved off during the night of the 25th or morning of the 26th to commence that series of brilliant actions which began on the enemy’s right. My division alone remained between the enemy and Richmond on this approach.

During June 26, 27, and 28 we pushed forward our scouts and advanced to the abatis around the enemy’s works, but found them in force; and similar reconnaissances made by Generals Magruder and MeLaws, with whom I was in communication, indicated that the force in our front was not reduced by the operations taking place on our left. _ On Saturday, June 28, the enemy kept quiet and we suspected they were retiring. The pickets heard wagons moving off during that night. I ordered the pickets to advance and push scouts up at daylight Sunday morning to give information. No report coming from them, after sunrise I rode forward to the advanced pickets and met Colonel Doles, of the Fourth Georgia, who had just come to the conclusion that the enemy had left and a white flag was shown from the works. With a company of the Fourth Georgia Regiment I rode forward with one aide-de-camp, Lieutenant Sloan, and entered the works. A few men, who represented themselves left as hospital attendants, were the only persons there. The tents were left standing, cut, and I was informed a surgeon was left with [the] sick. I rode on and found him and read his order, and directed him to remain with the sick and he would not be considered a prisoner of war.

By this time all the regiments on picket duty had marched up to the works. I rode along the lines, announced to them the enemy had left, and we were ordered to follow them down the Charles City road. General Wright had joined me, and he and the other brigadiers were or-

* Embodied in returns, pp. 981, 982.

dered to get ready to march at once and move over to the Charles City road. General Mahone, who was on that road, was ordered to move down it, General Armistead to follow him, Generals Wright and Ransom to follow.

Soon after Generals Wright and Ransom. got their brigades in motion a message was received from General Magruder, at Fair Oaks Station, that the enemy were advancing on him in force and asking me to support him with two brigades. Ransom’s brigade was at once recalled and I marched with it back to the Seven Pines. Wright’s brigade was ordered back. .

The day was intensely hot and this marching and counter-marching exhausted the men. I met General Magruder, who insisted the enemy were advancing in great force, and he desired my assistance, asking me to form line of battle, left on railroad and right at Seven Pines. I had commenced moving the troops into position when I saw a line in my front, and inquiring what troops they were, was informed it was MeLaws’ division.

At the same moment I received a dispatch from General Lee, whom I left at my late headquarters, saying it was very important I should proceed at once down the Charles City road, and, if my assistance was not necessary to General Magruder, to move on. As the enemy had abandoned their works and retired I could not conceive their attack was a serious one, but the demonstration was only to delay us, and as General McLaws occupied the ground I might leave, and sent a message to General Magruder that under my orders I had decided it was not necessary for me to stay. I had halted General Wright near French’s house, and I sent him orders to resume his march to the Charles City road, and General Ransom was sent off in the same direction at once.

In the mean time Mahone and Armistead had advanced down the road. In the evening Ransom and Wright followed. I reached the head of the column late in the afternoon near Brightwell’s (on map), when our flankers on the left were fired on by the enemy. We pushed light troops into the woods and examined the country. It appeared the enemy had not retired from the camps on our left, and as I went down the road I was leaving Kearny’s division behind me. I was informed there was a road, called the New road, running along the edge of White Oak Swamp, and Kearny’s division was on the other side of the swamp. A boy who had been over the swamp on a message and prisoners captured gave me this information.

I ordered a battery of artillery, supported by the Forty-fourth Alabama Regiment, to protect the junction of the New road with the Charles City road, and directed Brigadier-General Wright to proceed at daylight June 30 down the New road to find the enemy and guard our left flank and the main body to proceed down the Charles City road.

The troops bivouacked in their position while it was dark and resumed the mareh at daylight. Mahone advanced cautiously, captured many prisoners, and killed some cavalry scouts, one bearing an order to Kearny to retire and keep a strong battery of artillery with his rear guard. After passing Fisher’s house (map) we found the road obstructed by trees felled all across it. General Mahone found it best to cut a road around the obstructions. For such work we were deficient in tools. The column was delayed while the work was going on, and it was evening before we got through and drove off the workmen, who were still cutting down other trees. As we advanced through the woods and came to an open field on high ground (P. Williams’ on map) a powerful battery of rifled guns opened on us. General Mahone disposed his troops and advanced a battery of artillery (Moorman’s), and a sharp artillery fire was kept up for some time. The enemy’s fire was very severe, and we had many men killed and wounded. List of casualties sent herewith.*

I went to the front and examined the position. I withdrew most of our guns and only kept up a moderate fire. On our left the White Oak Swamp approached very near; the right appeared to be good ground, and I determined to turn the battery by moving a column of infantry to my right. It was now dark. I issued the following order for the morning: Order for Armistead’s and Wright’s brigades to move to the right; Mahone to push pickets forward and move on as soon as the road was clear; Ransom to follow.

My headquarters Monday night was at Mrs. Fisher’s. Wright reported the camps on White Oak Swamp abandoned. He went on to White Oak Bridge, where he met General Jackson, who informed me he was stopped at that point by the destruction of the bridge. General Wright, having only infantry, crossed the swamp and joined me at

Tuesday, July 1, at 3 a. m., [ saw Armistead with his brigade ready to move, but passing through the woods the progress was slow; as soon as he cleared the road Wright followed. I now received notice from General Longstreet that the Charles City road was clear, and was much disappointed that General Mahone had not discovered the retreat during the night. He informed me he saw the pickets this morning, which was true, for, on advancing, the pickets gave themselves up as prisoners and said the army had retired without ordering them in.

IT now pushed on as rapidly as I could with Ransom’s and Mahone’s brigades; we were delayed by meeting our troops (first Cobb’s brigade and afterward Jackson’s troops), and I had no one to show us what road to take. Major Taylor, aide-de-camp to General Lee, came up and conducted us to the front, where I reported to General Lee. I found Armistead’s and Wright’s brigades on front line, exactly opposite the enemy, who were posted in large force, with powerful batteries of artillery, on a commanding plateau near Crew’s house.

On riding to the ravine where these brigades were posted the action commenced between the pickets. I had previously, by direction of General Lee, sent Mahone’s brigade to support Cobb’s, and as the action progressed, at the request of General Magruder, I ordered Ransom’s brigade to report to him. All the brigades of my division were thus sent into the battle and were engaged in the attack on the enemy’s batteries. They were during the action under the immediate command of General Magruder.

As the different brigades of my division were sent forward into the battle at Malvern Hill, and I was directed to report them to another commander, though present myself, I was not in command during this battle. As I was treated in the same manner at Seven Pines, I can only hope this course was accidental and required by the necessities of the service. I therefore make no report, and I have to refer you to the subordinate reports, herewith transmitted, and to the reports of other commanders, for details of the action of Malvern Hill. After this battle, as required, the division was occupied, under my orders, in removing the wounded and burying the dead.

From my personal staff I received every assistance, and I beg to name Lieut. Col. 8. S. Anderson, assistant adjutant-general; Capt.

* Embodied in returns, p. 981.

Benjamin Huger, assistant adjutant-general; Lieutenants Sloan and Preston, aides-de-camp; Lieuts. Willoughby Anderson (Engineers) and Thomas Pinckney, volunteer aides-de-camp, as officers who rendered important service, and to whom my thanks are especially due.

To Surg. E. N. Wood, medical director, and Maj. J. A. Johnston, quartermaster, I beg to call the attention of the general for the prompt care bestowed on the wounded and the transportation of them to the hospitals, &e.

very respectfully, your most obedient servant,