Hooker a company of skirmishers to Captain, August 9, 1862

CAPTAIN:

I have the honor to report that, in obedience to orders. from headquarters Hooker’s division, this brigade took the position it was assigned in the column (which was immediately in rear of De Russy’s battery), and marched with the division from this camp about 5 p.m. August 4 in the following order: Second Regiment, Lieut. Col. H. L. Potter commanding; First Regiment, Maj. Thomas Holt commanding; Fifth Regiment, Capt. H. M. Alles commanding; Fourth Regiment, Capi. Thomas Smith commanding; Third Regiment, Lieut. Col. I. Moses commanding. Pursuant to orders De Russy’s battery was closely followed until about 11 p. m., when by orders from General Hooker the brigade was formed in line, and the men rested on their arms until 3 a. m. August 5. The column was then put on the march in the same order as before. We passed Nelson’s farm, near Charles City Cross-Roads, about sunrise, and advanced from there toward Malvern Hill, where, about 6 a. m., by orders of Major-General Hooker, it was. formed in line on the left of the First Brigade, under a heavy fire of shell from a section of the enemy’s artillery in our immediate front. Just previous to marching that morning two mounted scouts of the enemy, appearing within a few hundred feet of my line, were fired at by some of our men, and one of them, well armed and mounted, was captured. The line was formed skirting a belt of timber, and as much as possible protected from the enemy’s fire by the rising ground in front. Soon after a line of the enemy’s vedettes were distinctly seen on our left, when

by order of General Hooker a company of skirmishers