Fr. Mallory to G. F. Harrison, July 12, 1862

July 12, 1862.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of my regiment in the recent engagements before Richmond:

On the night of Wednesday, June 25, the regiment was on picket near the Little Meadow Bridge. About 3 p. m. Thursday, June 26, it being reported that the enemy’s picket had been withdrawn, I immediately took possession of the bridge which he had held. Our brigade, being in advance, was soon ordered to cross. The Fortieth Virginia crossed first, followed by the Fifty-fifth Virginia and the other regiments composing the brigade. A mile or more beyond the swamp the regiment was formed in line of battle across the road, where the first prisoner was taken by Capt. J. F. Alexander’s company. It was here that we received a few shots from the enemy’s picket, who retreated in haste. Turning to the right, we marched in the direction of Mechanicsville. About half a mile from Mechaniesville our line of battle was again formed on the right of the road, supported by the Sixtieth Virginia, Colonel Starke commanding, the Fortieth Virginia on the left, supported by the Forty-sevehth Virginia Regiment and Second Virginia Battalion.

We advanced upon Mechanicsville exposed to a heavy fire from three of the enemy’s batteries. After advancing a short distance beyond the village our line of battle was changed to the left, facing the batteries. We advanced some 600 yards in the direction of the right battery, when, not wishing to be separated from the remainder of the brigade, it became necessary to cross the field to the left, the left of the brigade being at this time under cover of the woods. This was done by marching obliquely across the field, approaching the battery as we

Car. XXIII.) SEVEN-DAYS’ BATTLES. 847

neared the woods, to prevent their getting our range. Before entering the woods the regiment was halted just below the brow of a slight hill, and the men ordered to lie down to protect them from the shell, grape, and canister, which were being used with great effect.

Our brigade was then ordered to advance. We moved forward a few hundred yards under a very heavy fire and entered a wood, which we attempted to charge through. But the undergrowth being very thick, and finding another brigade in front of us, our men became scattered, many of them mixing in with this brigade. I ordered a halt, but finding it impossible to form the regiment in such a place, I directed the men to fall back to the edge of the woods and reform. This was done in very good order. By this time it was quite dark, and my men being very much exhausted I fell back about 100 yards over a hill, where we rejoined the brigade and rested for the night.

In this engagement my loss was very heavy, being greater than that of both the others. Capt. William L. Brooke, Company K, was killed while gallantly leading his company and both of his lieutenants wounded. His company was on the left of the colors and suffered more than any other. Capt. G. W. Street and Lieutenants Boughan, Ker, and Goolrick were wounded in this engagement, besides a number of men.

About 12 m. of Friday, June 27, the regiment was formed with the brigade and marched in the direction of Gaines’ Mill, LieutenantColonel Christian in command. After passing a short distance beyond the mill the brigade was formed in line of battle to support General Anderson’s brigade, which was ordered to attack the enemy in front. We advanced to his support until we found his brigade halted in a small orchard in an open space in front of the enemy’s battery. This brigade finally broke and ran through ours, throwing it into some confusion. We, however, did not retire until ordered by General Field to fall back in order. This was not very well executed, but a portion of the regiment was immediately rallied by Colonel Christian, and remained with him during the remainder of the evening, doing good service.

In this engagement Lieutenants Mann and Garnett were killed, and. Lieut. A. Brockenbrough and 2 or 3 color-bearers wounded.

On Sunday, June 29, we marched from Gaines’ Mill to the south side of the Chickahominy. Monday morning we marched a few miles and were halted in the weods until about 5 p. m., when we were ordered with the brigade to go to the support of General Kemper. We marched at a double-quick, when we were formed in line of battle on the right of the road, the Sixtieth Virginia on our left. We advanced through the woods until we came to the brow of the hill, where was a battery recently taken from the enemy. The brigade which had taken it had disappeared and the enemy had advanced to within a few yards of the battery. We halted, fired a few volleys, and charged, driving the enemy about 1 mile into the woods, where we halted to reform, and finding that the enemy were about to flank us we fell back to the edge of the woods, where we remained until the firing had ceased. The regiment was ordered to remain at this point until the captured battery could be taken off, when we marched back across the field and bivouacked for the night. Dt 5

In this engagement Lieut. Col. W. S. Christian was seriously wounded ; Maj. T. M. Burke and Captain Wright killed, and Lieuts. R. G. Haile and R. T. Bland and Adjt. R. L. Williams wounded. The regiment was in readiness to participate in the engagement of Tuesday, July 1, but

was not actually engaged.

The officers and men who remained with the regiment acted well, but many of them who had been on the sick list previously, and were just returned to duty when we started, being weak, were compelled to fall out during the march.

I beg leave to call the attention of the general commanding to the following-named officers for coolness under fire and the efficient manner in which they performed their duties:

Lieutenant-Colonel Christian, who fell severely wounded in the charge of the 30th; Adjutant Williams, Capt. R. B. Fauntleroy, Capt. A. D. Saunders, Capt. Evan Rice, Capt. G. G. Roy, Capt. J. B. Jett, Capt. E.

M. Healy, Capt. C. N. Lawson, and Capt. J. I’. Alexander, and Lieuts. A. Brockenbrough, L. D. Roane, A. Rennolds, W. J. Davis, R. Healy, jr., and W. A. Street; particularly Captain Fauntleroy and Lieutenants __ Brockenbrough and Roane. The general’s attention is also called to the following-pamed noncommissioned officers and privates:

Sergeant-Major Mallory, Color-Sergeant Fauntleroy, Corporal Micon, Company A; Privates Nicholson, Company C, and Costenbader, Company E.

The following are names of non-commissioned officers and privates honorably mentioned by their captains:

Company A.—Privates Ruffin Clarke, E. T. Smith, Ro. Carter, R. H. Dunn, and A. F. Allen.

Company C.—Private Thomas H. Thurston.

Company D.—Privates Archibald Brooks, G. C. Minor, Reu. L. Dyke, Gardner Shackelford, and Burrell Mitchell.

Company G.—William F. Garrett, J. W. Carter, R. 8. Burch, T. J. McGeorge, A. W. Hundley, W. C. Wayne, and E. D. Munday.

Company H.—Privates A. E. Vaughan, G. W. Vaughan, N. Mason, E. Clayville, and J. H. Trader. Corporal Stiff fought through all the battles with a sick leave in his pocket. Sergeant Robinson acted well.

Company I.—Wiiliam F’. Cavan, James D. Yates, R. Todd, and V. H. Fauntleroy.

Company M.—Sergeants Bullock and Morris; Privates James A. Smith, R. O. Perry, McGary, Burruss, Blanton, Humphries, Johnson, Newton, Sacra, Rice, and Goolrick.

The aggregate loss is as follows: Killed, 22 ; wounded, 94; missing, 3.

very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Fr. MALLORY,
Colonel, Commanding Fifty-fifth Virginia.
Capt. G. F. HARRISON,
Asst, Adjt. Gen., First Brigade, Light Division.
No. 331. Report of Col. William E. Starke, Sixtieth Virginia Infantry, of the battles of Mechanicsville, Gaines’ Mill, and Frazier’s Farm (Nelson’s Farm,
or Glendale).
HpgrRs. SIXTIETH REGIMENT VIRGINIA VOLUNTEERS,
July 19, 1862.