General Porter until a late hour of the night to Captain, July 6, 1862

July 6, 1862.

CAPTAIN: In pursuance of orders from division headquarters I beg to report the position and movements of my regiment in the late battles :

Thursday, June 26, at about 8 o’clock in the morning, the first squadron, composed of Companies E and F, was ordered to Mechaniesville, where they arrived about 9. When the pickets were driven in, about 12 o’clock, they were deployed as skirmishers on the several roads beyond Mechanicsville, and fell back gradually, exchanging shots with the enemy until within our line of infantry. At 2 p.m. the regiment formed line and waited orders. None came, and we bivouacked for the night on our late camp ground, in rear of General McCall’s headquarters.

Friday, June 27, at 3.30 o’clock a. m., I received an order from. Brigadier-General Porter to “move at once on the road past Gaines’ house, or Gaines’ Mill, to the bridge.” Conducted by one of General Porter’s aides, we formed line in a valley in rear of the house occupied by General McCall as headquarters and later as a hospital. We were then joined by the first squadron, and remained in line as ordered, awaiting orders, until the stampede among the wagons, ambulances, &c., began, when my regiment was formed across the field, with orders to stop all stragglers and compel ambulances and wagons to move only at a walk. Later in the evening, by suggestion of General Morell, we formed line with one squadron of regular cavalry, with the intention of charging the rebels on the left, but the artillery beginning to play upon them over our heads, we were ordered off the field by General Cooke We were then stationed in the next valley crossing the road to the rear, where we remained

by order of General Porter until a late hour of the night, keeping the trains upon the road in order, stopping stragglers, and reforming fragments of regiments. i

Although I am not able to particularize any one, I cannot speak too Report of Col. James H. Childs, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, of batCrar. XX1.] SEVEN-DAYS’ BATTLES.

highly of the courage and discipline evinced by my officers and men

when engaged under fire trying to subdue a panic, themselves cool

while all around them was fear and excitement, or of the steadiness

with which they formed line under a very heavy fire when ordered to

prepare to charge, and with which they left the field at a walk when

ordered to retire.

Monday, June 30, at 10 o’clock p.m., by order of Captain Biddle,