John H. Taggart to George A. McCall, November 18, 1862

General GEORGE A. MCCALL:

GENERAL: * * * My regiment on the 30th June was assigned a position by yourself on the left of your division. Shortly afterward General Seymour made a change, posting six companies in a breastwork of logs hastily constructed and four companies as a support to two 20-pounder guns of the Dutch battery. At 5 p.m. a sudden and vigorous attack was made on my left and front. My men opened fire on the advancing foe, but the charge was so impetuous that after a short hand-to-hand struggle, in which many men were killed and wounded, the six companies fell back to the hill, where a new line was formed, and a number of the men fought side by side with a Massachusetts regiment, belonging, as I understood, to General Hooker’s division. Afterward, seeing General Hooker in the road alone, I reported to him the men under my command for duty. General Hooker replied that he did not want any more troops, and directed me to ride over to General Sumner and tell him to send no more troops to his (Hooker’s) support, as he did not want them. I delivered this message and returned to General Hooker, who directed me to remain with my command and report to my brigade commander. I then advanced my men to the front again under fire. I did not at any period of the battle see any disorganized masses of the Reserves break through General Hooker’s lines nor did I see any of our men kill or wound any of his troops. A number of our men, perhaps 150 or 200, passed down the road between Sumner’s and Hooker’s lines. These men were carrying off a number of prisoners taken by them in front. .

I have the honor to be, general, your obedient servant,