L. A. Armistead to S. S. Anderson, July 14, 1862
CoLONEL: In obedience to orders dated Headquarters Department Northern Virginia, July 10, 1862, I have the honor to submit the tollowing report: ha
June 25, the Fourth Brigade, Huger’s division, was posted about 5 miles from Richmond, between the Richmond and York River Railroad and the Williamsburg road. The brigade occupied rifle pits in the margin of the woods from the railroad to the Williamsburg road. In front an open field extended along the line three-quarters of a mile wide to another belt of woods. The Ninth and Fifty-third Regiments and Fifth Battalion were thrown out as pickets in the woods in front of the field, with the Third Georgia, of General Wright’s brigade, as a reserve.
Engaged the enemy at 10 a. m.; enemy in force; Fourteenth and Thirty-eighth sent in to support the line, which was maintained. Later the Fourteenth and Thirty-eighth ordered to occupy the advanced line, with the Ninth, Fifty-third, and Fifth Battalion as reserve; Third Georgia in rifle pits. .
Loss on our side: One killed (private), 1 wounded (lieutenant), 2 missing. Loss of enemy unknown.
Prisoners taken and sent to General Wright’s headquarters : One cap-* tain, 1 sergeant, 9 privates.
June 26, the Third Georgia at 5 p. m. relieved the Fourteenth and Thirty-eighth Virginia. The Fifth Battalion, Ninth, Fourteenth, Thirtyeighth, and Fifty-third ordered back to rifle pits. yet
June 27, the Fifty-third and Ninth relieved the Third Georgia at 4 p. m.; enemy tried to force the line; Fourteenth and Thirty-eighth ordered to support it; enemy driven back; General Huger orders the woods to be held; don’t want to attack. Number of men present in the brigade for duty, 1,138; officers, 70, exclusive of the Third Georgia.
June 28, at sunrise Fourteenth Virginia was ordered to relieve the Fifty-third, which came back to rifle pits; reported loss 7 wounded ; Ninth and Fourteenth Virginia in advance, Thirty-eighth as reserve ; 4p. m. Fifty-seventh Virginia ordered out as advance; all other regiments back to rifle pits.
June 29, the Thirty-eighth Virginia ordered to support Fitty-seventh at 6.30 a. m.
During the last five days there has been constant skirmishing along the line. Sections of Captains Turner’s and Stribling’s artillery comwpanies were in position. The former did good service and delivered a very effective fire. The enemy did not come within range of the guns of the latter, who was ordered not io fire unless the enemy came into the field or appeared on the railroad. Brigade moved to Charles City road; skirmish engagement between General Mahone’s brigade in advance and the enemy; Captain Grimes’ artillery company reported to me.
June 30, moved down Charles City road, General Mahone in advance; engaged the enemy with artillery; loss in my brigade: One killed, 1 wounded.
July 1, being on the Charles City road, between the creek called White Oak Swamp and P. Williams’ farm, I was ordered by Major-General Huger, commanding division, with my brigade and General Wright’s, to pass to the right of the Charles City road and take the enemy in flank. Proceeding in this direction by a blind road for about 2 miles brought ine into the Long Bridge road near the point where General Longstreet had engaged the enemy the day before. I reported to General Lee, commanding, and was ordered by him to proceed to the Quaker road in the direction of Willis’ Church. Proceeding, in obedience to this order, for about a mile through the woods around Mrs. E. Garthright’s farm, 1 met with Captain Talcott, the commanding general’s aide, who informed me that the enemy were near. This [was] about 12 m. limmediately tbrew out the necessary pickets and skirmishers in front, and took a position with the right of my brigade in a ravine near the edge of the woods skirting Crew’s farm on that side.
By a reconnaissance, made first by Col. E. C. Edmonds, of the Thirtyeighth Virginia, and soon after verified by General Wright and myself (a sketch of which, made by Colonel Edmonds, was sent by me to the commanding general), 1 found that the enemy were in large force near and around Crew’s house, and that the hill in front of the ravine we occupied was a good position for artillery. It was asked for, and Uaptains Pegram’s and Grimes’ batteries were sent. The enemy’s pickets were handsomely driven in to prepare for our artillery. They were under the command of Lient. Col. M. F. T. Evans, Fourteenth Virginia the senior officer.
The enemy in the mean time had opened fire about 1 p.m. The fire was a terrible one, and the men stood it well. The enemy must have had thirty or forty pieces opposed to ours and of superior caliber. No men could have behaved better than Captains Pegram and Grimes; they worked their guns after their men were cut down, and only retired when entirely disabled. I sent for more artillery repeatedly. One officer reported to me whose name I have unfortunately forgot, but what I wanted never arrived; that is, more guns and heavier ones.
About 3 p.m. General Longstreet came where I was, to whom I made known my wants, and he promised to let me have what I required. If sent, I never saw or heard of them. Shortly after this the enemy approached with a heavy body of skirmishers. I ordered the Thirtyeighth, Fourteenth, and Fifty-third Virginia Regiments, of my brigade, to drive them back, which they did in handsome style. In their ardor they went too far, but fortunately gained some protection by a wave of the ground between our position and that of the enemy. I was thinking of the best way to withdraw them and of the practicability of charging the enemy’s battery, but another view of the ground and the distance, three-fourths of a mile, determined me in the opinion that it was folly to attempt it, unless there could be a simultaneous charge made on the right and left.
About this time (somewhere between 4 and 5 p. m.) General Magruder came to where I was, assumed command, and gave orders for a charge, my three regiments being still in advance of Generals Mahone’s and Wright’s brigades (which came up immediately upon my right); following my three regiments came General Cobb’s brigade, and soon after the Ninth and FVifty-third Virginia, of my brigade, and these by the Fifty-seventh Virginia, same brigade. The enemy’s fire ceased soon after dark. My brigade remained on the field until the next morning, and retired by permission to drier ground.
For the time I was in command I have to thank General Wright for his hearty co-operation and assistance. He exposes himself unnecessarily ; the country cannot afford to lose him.
To Colonel Edmonds and Maj. Joseph K. R. Cabell, of the Thirty-cighth Virginia, and to Col. J. G. Hodges and Lieutenant-Colonel Evans, of the Iourteenth Virginia, my thanks are due. Others may equally merit them, I do not doubt it, but it is impossible for any one man to see everything on a battle-field. I am certainly pleased with the conduct of my brigade on the Ist instant, although there were some few who did not behave well.
My staff officers—Capt. J. W. Pegram, assistant adjutant general ; Lieut. J. D. Darden, aide-de-camp; Lieut. W. L. Randolph, ordnance officer, and my volunteer aides, Lieut. John Dunlop and the Rey. J. E. Joyner, chaplain of the Fifty-seventh Virginia—did all that men could do and did it well. Lieutenant Dunlop was especially much exposed in carrying orders. =
Lieut. R. T. Daniel, jr., adjutant of the Fifth Kentucky, reported to me on the 27th ultimo as volunteer aide; he rendered valuable service in a bold reconnaissance, and for his subsequent gallant conduct I have to refer you to the report of Major Cabell, Thirty-eighth Virginia, and for the meritorious conduct of many others I respectfully refer you to the respective reports of the subordinate commanders. :
I would also mention the good conduct of one of my clerks, Private A. S. Darden, of Upshaw’s Randolph Dragoons; he was with me all the time. ; a
My brigade remained in camp until the 3d instant, about 10 or 11 a. m. I was then ordered to report to General Longstreet, near Temperance Hall, about 3 miles from Shirley, nearly opposite the mouth of the Appomattox. On the road I received an order from General Longstreet to report to General A. P. Hill, which I did that evening (3d) and remained subject [to] his orders until the 11th instant, when 1 rejoined my division at this place.
I have the honor to inclose the reports of subordinate commanders of the parts taken by them in the engagement of July 1; copies of reports of skirmishes on the 25th and 27th ultimo (originals previously forwarded), with lists of casualties.*
All of which is
respectfully submitted.