D. H. E. Sickles to Jos. Dickinson, July 9, 1862

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to report that late at night on the 28th ultimo orders were received from division headquarters to be ready to move at daylight the following morning, with three days’ cooked rations in haversacks. This order was accompanied by instructions to employ all our available means of transportation in bringing away intrenching tools, ammunition, subsistence, and hospital stores, and to send the train to the rear immediately. Such camp and garrison equipage, subsistence, clothing, and other stores as could not be removed I was directed to destroy. These orders were executed.

Early next morning my command broke camp, and pursuant to orders marched to the defenses in front. The pioneers of the several regiments were detailed, under the command of Lieut. Van B. Bates, First Regiment, to destroy all the property Jeft in the camps.

In obedience to the order of the brigadier-general commanding the division, aS soon as our pickets were withdrawn and the artillery had moved to the rear the division marched in column to the first line of defenses in the rear, this brigade on the left. Lieutenant Bates with his pioneers followed the column as a rear guard, felling timber and placing obstacles in the road. Captain Leonard’s company, Third Excelsicr, was thrown out as a picket between the old camp and our new position.

The division formed in line of battle on the first line of earthworks, between the Williamsburg road and the railroad, my right resting on the left of General Grover. The First and Second Regiments were held in reserve on my right and left flank. We remained in this position \. hile General Sumner was engaged on our right—annoyed occasionally by the explosion of some of the enemy’s shell within our lines, killing 2 and wounding 5 of my men.

About 4 in the afternoon I was ordered to face to the rear and move in line of battle through the woods between the railroad and the stage road to Savage Station. Approaching the station I was directed by General Heintzelman to counter-march and move briskly toward the Charles City road across Brackett’s Ford, over the White Oak Swamp, throwing out flankers on the line of march. Crossing the swamp at sunset the head of my column reached the Charles City road soon after dark, and having reported to the brigadier-general commanding the division, I was ordered to bivouac with the division near the road in an opening skirted by woods on all sides. A few pickets were thrown out in front and toward the James River.

On the morning of the 30th I was directed by the brigadier-general commanding the division to reconnoiter the country in front of the Quaker road toward, James River, and especially with reference to intersecting roads leading from the front. Accompanied by Colonel Carr, commanding Third Brigade, and Captain Chester, of my staff, L made a careful examination of the line as far as Malvern Hill. While returning heavy cannonading on the right admonished me that an engagement had begun in the vicinity of the Charles City road. Hastening to my command, I found it moving under Colonel Taylor to a position covering the Quaker road, along which our train was passing. General McCall was in front and to the right. The brigadier-general commanding the division assigned me the left of the line of battle, embracing my own and the Third Brigade, which was formed on the outskirts of a belt of woods covering the Quaker road and commanding an opening extending to a small stream in front. On the left the woods encircled the opening, and through this timber, as well as in front to another belt of timber, flankers and skirmishers were thrown out. My left requiring support, I directed the Second New York to form on Colonel Taylor’s left, and later in the day the Eleventh Massachusetts reported to me with orders to cover the left flank. It was not long after these dispositions were made before General McCall became engaged. A considerable body of his troops falling back on my line, and mistaking us for the enemy, poured several volleys into us. Our colors were promptly displayed along the line, and through the exertions of Major Holt (First Regiment) and Major Stevens (Third), with a company of Berdan’s Sharpshooters, which were in front, these fugitives were driven back to their line. From a lookout which I established in a tall tree, in charge of Corporal Bowen, Company D, and Private Patrick Connor, Company EH, Third Regiment, and also from the reports of my skirmishers, confirmed by my own observations, I ascertained that the enemy’s reserves were moving against our right in a line of battle almost perpendicular with my front. This I caused to be reported to the brigadier-general commanding the division, with the suggestion that a battery of artillery, supported by my left, might be advantageously thrown forward, so as to assail the enemy in the rear and on his right flank.

At this moment my second regiment was ordered to report to General Sumner, and learning that the First and Sixteenth Massachusetts, of this division, were also sent to support our position on the right, I reluctantly relinquished the design of moving my left forward, even without artillery. Hach regiment as it was successively posted on my left flank (Third Excelsior, Second New York, and Eleventh Massachusetts), by throwing forward skirmishers and flankers, captured numbers of prisoners—at least 150 in all—and among these the field and some of the line officers, together with the colors of ——— Regiment.

These prisoners were sent to the rear in charge of Captain Chester, of my staff, with directions to report with them to the division or corps commander, and in their absence to turn them over to the nearest provost-marshal. My loss during the day was limited to a small number wounded, which is embraced in the list of casualties heretofore reported. I regret exccedingly that Private Patrick Connor, Company ii, Third Kegiment, was seriously injured by falling from the tree in which he was rendering important service as a look-out. Corporal Bowen, Company D, Third Regiment, was exceedingly active and useful in discharging the same duties.

During the night we rested on our arms. The enemy was in motion all night. Rations for two days were issued to his men. Parties were constantly sent out for wounded. AI] commands given were distinctly heard along my line, and especially by my pickets. These commands embraced at least forty regiments, from various States. Just before dawn—indeed, twice during the night—the enemy formed a line of battle in front and extending far beyond my left. These movements were promptly reported to the brigadier-general commanding the division. At daybreak, in pursuance of orders, I called in my pickets and flankers and withdrew my command, moving by the right flank through the wocds to the Quaker road, where I joincd the division column and marched with it to Malvern Hill, whither the main body of the army had preceded us.

After remaining in column of battalions for several hours, exposed to the enemy’s artillery, fortunately without loss, L was ordered about 2 p.m. to support the Virst Brigade in front. Covering my men in a ravine on the right, I threw out Captain Bliss’ company, Third Regiment, as scouts, and the First and Fourth Regiments (forming one battalion), under Major Holt, as pickets along the interval between the right of the Third Corps and Sumner’s left.

Two prisoners taken by Captain Bliss, who were sent to division headquarters, reported a movement of the enemy in force toward our front. This was corroborated by other information and some demonstrations of the enemy, who was then attacking General Porter on our extreme left, so that it appeared evident that a general engagement along the whole line was imminent. Soon afterward, say about 5 p. n., I was ordered to move at once to support General Porter, which order was welcomed and obeyed with admirable spirit by my command. Tor my operations in that part of the field I have the honor to refer you to the special report made to the assistant adjutant-general of the Fifth Provisional Corps, a duplicate of which is herewith transmitted.

This is an imperfect and barren narrative of the movements of my command during two eventful days and nights. Desiring to confine my report within the appropriate limits sanctioned by usage, yet [ cannot close this communication without putting on record ny heartfelt testimony to the fortitude and constancy—traits rarer than courage— which signalized alike my officers and men in all the critical positions, the anxious vigils, the arduous marches, and the severe privations which they shared in common with this army in its successful movement to a new and distant base of operations.

very respectfully, your most obedient servant,