J. H. Hill to Malvern Hill, July 10, 1862

Sir: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part enacted in the engagement of the 27th ultimo near Gaines’ Mill by this brigade:

Arriving on the field between 4 and 5 p. m., I was informed by Col. J. M. Jones, of General well’s staff, that his troops were hard pressed and required assistance. Line of battle was formed at once with the Hampton Legion, Lieut. Col. M. W. Gary commanding, on the left, with orders to gain the crest of the hill in the woods and hold it, which they did, the Fifth Texas, Col. J. B. Robertson commanding, engaging the enemy on the right of the Legion, and the First Texas, Col. A. T, Rainey commanding, on the right of the Fifth Texas. The brigade moved gallantly forward, soon becoming engaged from left to right. The battle raged with great fury all along the line as these noble troops pressed steadily on, forcing the enemy to gradually give way.

Directing in person the Fourth Texas Regiment, Col. John Marshall commanding, on the right of my line, they were the first troops to pierce the strong line of breastworks occupied by the enemy, which caused great confusion in their ranks. Here the Kighteenth Georgia, Lieut. Col. 8. Z. Ruff commanding, came to the support of the Fourth Texas, and these regiments pressed on over a hotly contested field, inelining from right to left, with the Fifth Texas on their left, taking a large number of prisoners and capturing fourteen pieces of artillery, when night came on and farther pursuit of the enemy ceased. The guns were captured by the Fourth Texas and Kighteenth Georgia and a regiment was taken prisoners by the Fifth Texas Regiment.

In this engagement I regret to report the loss of many gallant officers and men, Among those who fell, either killed or mortally wounded, were Col. John Marshall, Lieut. Col. B. Warwick, Capts. E. D. Ryan, J. W. Hutcheson, P. P. Porter, and T. M. Owens, acting commissary of subsistence, and Licuts. R. J. Lambert, C. Reich, D. L. Butts, L. P. Lyons, and T. H. Hollamon, of the Fourth Texas; Lieuts. J. E. Clute and W. G. Wallace, of the Fifth Texas; Capt. B. F. Benton, First Texas; Lieuts. L. A. McCulloch, T. J. Cohn, and Thomas Dowtin, of the Kighteenth Georgia; also Major Key, of the Fourth Texas; Colonels Rainey, of the First Texas, and Robertson, of the Fifth Texas, received severe wounds while nobly discharging their duties.

All the field officers of the Fourth Texas being killed or wounded, the command of the regiment devolved upon Capt. (now Maj.) W. P. Townsend, who fed it most gallantly. There are many other officers and men distinguished for their noble deeds on that day, for which I will have to refer you to reports in detail of regimental commanders.

During the engagement most efficient service was rendered me, in gallantly leading forward troops and transmitting orders, by Capt. W. H. Seiers, assistant adjutant-general; Lieut. J.T. Hunter, of the Fourth Texas, aide-de-camp; Col. J. H. Murray and General T. J. Chambers, of Texas, and Maj. B. H. Blanton, of Kentucky, volunteer aides-decamp; Lieut. D. L. Sublett, aide-de-camp, being ordered to remain with the ordnance train. I also take great pleasure in acknowledging the distinguished services rendered me by Lieut. James Hamilton, of General Taylor’s staff.

As to the conduct of the officers and men, one and all, too much cannot, or ever will, be said in their praise.

The following 1s a recapitulation of casualties, the detailed list accompanying report:

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very respectfully, your obedient servant,