Cuvier Grover to Jos. Dickinson, July 8, 1862

CAPTAIN:

I have the honor to report that on the 25th of June I received orders to move my brigade to the front of our intrenchments, near Fair Oaks, and to take up a position with a view to advancing our picket line and await further orders. The length of front assigned to my command was about that occupied by it when in line of battle. Upon this line I caused to be deployed as skirmishers the First and Eleventh Massachusetts, with strong supports, and detached two companies of the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania on the left of the line to keep the connection with General Kearny’s division in case his pickets should not advance at the same time. The Second New Hampshire, the Sixteenth Massachusetts, and seven companies of the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania were held in reserve until the strong points of the enemy’s position should be developed by the advancing line.

These dispositions being made, at 8.30 a. m. the final order was received to advance, and our line moved steadily on, meeting with iucreased and varied resistance in proportion to our advance. It therefore became necessary to materially strengthen the whole line, and as any flank movements were from the nature of the ground and position of the enemy hazardous, it became necessary to support our line by pushing forward detachments from the reserves as circumstances and the constant and changing attempts of the enemy to break our lines made expedient. Tour companies of the Second New Hampshire Volunteers were ordered to the support of the right of the First Massachusetts and to keep the connection with the Excelsior Brigade on our right, which connection was becoming broken by the more rapid advance of our right, and six companies of the same regiment to the support of the left of the First and the right of the Eleventh, the latter regiment gradually closing on their centers to strengthen their line and fill the places of the killed and wounded. Five companies of the Sixteenth Massachusetts, under Lieutenant-Colonel Meacham, were thrown forward to support our extreme left, which was becoming very much exposed, as the division on that flank had not as yet commenced the advance.

Hardly had these re-enforcements got in place when I learned that our right required still further re-enforcements, on account of the increase in distance between it and the left of the Excelsior Brigade. Lieutenant-Colonel Wells, of the First Massachusetts, commanding the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania, was ordered to that flank with the remaining seven companies of his regiment, with orders to keep up the connection and to use whatever portion of his force he found necessary to accomplish that object. Colonel Wells was also ordered to fill a break in the line between the left.of the First Massachusetts and the re-enforcements from the Second New Hampshire, which he did with two companies. Failing to find the point of connection with the left of the Excelsior Brigade, Colonel Wells advanced three of his companies and covered the whole ground between the right of the Second New Hampshire and the Williamsburg road. This, however, was only a temporary position, and these companies were soon returned and withdrawn, the advance of the Excelsior Brigade making it no longer necessary to extend farther to the right than the ground occupied by the Second New Hampshire.

During all this time since the commencement of the advance the contest had been sharp all along the line, varied by dashes of the enemy to break our front at different points. Every attempt, however, was a failure, and at 11 o’clock a. m. my line occupied the whole ground I was ordered to take and hold, with considerable ground to the right and left of it. The fighting did not, however, cease, and our losses were considerable after our possession of the ground. I must in this connection make special mention of Company B, Captain Littlefield, of the Second New Hampshire Volunteers, which deployed upon a most exposed position in advance of our center, and did signal service in clearing the front of the enemy’s sharpshooters, who had made themselves especially annoying. I regret to say that in this gallant service the company lost 2 killed and 14 wounded, 1 mortally.

General Kearny’s lines having advanced in the afternoon and received the support of the five companies of the Sixteenth Massachusetts, no longer necessary, they were withdrawn about 4p.m. At about 9 p. m. I received a request from General Robinson to send him a regiment as a support to a battery at some distance from my left. Though I felt great reluctance in sparing my only remaining reserve, yet thinking that important results might depend upon it, Colonel Wyman was ordered with the seven remaining companies of his regiment to report to General Robinson for that service.

For details of the service thus rendered I would respectfully refer to the inclosed report of Colonel Wyman. ‘ me

Soon after the detachment of the Sixteenth information was received from the left that a heavy force of the enemy was advancing, apparently with a view to attack our position on that flank. Major Henry, of the Fifth New Jersey Volunteers, having his regiment in position in the field behind my right, at a request from me, with great alacrity reenforced my left, and remained in that position until my brigade, at a late hour in the evening, was relieved by a picket from General Couch’s division. Previous to the establishment of the pickets and after night had closed in the enemy had accumulated a large force of infantry, probably two brigades, with some artillery, in our front, and busied themselves the whole evening in removing their wounded, leaving the dead.

About 9 p. m. the enemy formed line of battle and marched on our lines, delivered one fire, which was returned along our whole lines, upon which he retired. After the establishment of the pickets upon the new line I withdrew my brigade into the trenches and guarded them for the night. Our whole loss during the day was 17 killed, 139 wounded, and 4 missing; total, 160. The First’ Massachusetts Volunteers suffered much more heavily than any other regiment.

In conclusion I would specially recommend all of the regimental commanders—Colonels Cowdin, Marston, Blaisdell, Wyman, and Lieutenant-Colonel Wells—for having well and gallantly performed every duty required of them, and would refer the attention of the general commanding the division to the recommendation which they make in their reports as deserving notice. i

I would also make special mention of Captain Hibbert, Lieutenants Hubbard and Perkins, of my staff, as having done their duty with the greatest efficiency, both on the field and off, during the day. I consider that the rank and file of the whole brigade behaved during the day with most admirable steadiness, as usual.

I have the honor to be, captain, most respectfully, your obedient