John H. Taggart to George H. Bemus, July 5, 1862

LIEUTENANT:

I have the honor to report that at the commencement of the battle of Gaines’ Mill, on the 27th of June, the regiment under my command was ordered to support a battery of regular artillery near the center of the field. After being in this position for two hours the regiment was ordered to support Griffin’s battery, and moved to a position on the right of the field. [or some time the battery was not engaged. I placed my men under cover of a hollow slope, or ravine, where we rested. During the afternoon the enemy’s batteries obtained a good range of our position, and we were subjected to a most galling cross-fire, by which we lost several killed and wounded. Toward dark, when the batteries were preparing to leave, I moved the regiment off in *Nominal list omitted shows 2 killed, 11 wounded, and 5 missing.

tolerably good order toward the road leading to Woodbury’s Bridge,

over the Chickahominy, which I crossed after dark, and bivouacked on the flats on the opposite side. Although not actively engaged, the

officers and men were exposed nearly the whole time to a heavy fire of

the enemy’s artillery, and under the circumstances they behaved with coolness and courage.

The casualties were as follows.*

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