Dispatch

McCall, July 6, 1862

HEADQUARTERS TENTH REGIMENT P. R. V. C.,

I have the honor to report that on Thursday, June 26, 1862, at 4 o’clock p. m., the Tenth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps, according to orders of the general, was formed in line of battle on the “color front.” Firing immediately commenced on our right. I threw forward, by the general’s order, Companies A and B, in command of Captain McConnell, to the rifle pits in front of a section of De Hart’s battery. These companies were supported by Companies F and G, all under command of Major Smith. Company K was sent to support Easton’s battery on the hill in rear of De Hart’s battery. The remaining companies, in charge of Lieutenant-Colonel Warner, were deployed through the woods on the right as skirmishers, to pick off the enemy’s gunners, and to prevent his crossing the swamp. Companies A and B held their positions in the pits until their ammunition was exhausted, when they were relieved by Companies E, Ff, and G. Company E was afterward relieved by Company K. Therifle pits were thus held until 10 o’clock p. m., when, by the general’s orders, I withdrew my command, the ground being occupied by the Highth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps. It is, perhaps, but justice to state that while in no part of the field was the enemy in greater force or more determined in his efforts to gain our lines than in the road in front of the rifle pits, he was every time repulsed with heavy loss. Our loss was 3 killed and 2 wounded, including Captain McConnell.

It affords me much pleasure to state that the officers and men did their duty nobly. The regiment rested for the night on their arms in the camp of the Ninth Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps.

Friday, June 27, 1862. The line was formed at3o’clock a.m. Firing began soon after. One man was killed and one wounded while standing in line. At about 5 o’clock a.m. I began the march to the rear, supporting the Ninth Regiment, which was deployed to hold the enemy in check. The march was conducted in excellent order. The regiment was again formed in line of battle on Gaines’ Hill, by the directions of General McCall, near the center of the ground held by our forces. At about 3 o’clock p. m. I moved my command to the right of the line, to support batteries there threatened by the enemy. Immediately, by direction of the general, I started back to the ground first occupied, when I was requested by General Sykes to halt my regiment and support one of his batteries that was then seriously endangered and was without support. The regiment here remained for near half an hour under a sharp fire. ;

The firing at this point slackening, under the general’s order I moved down to the woods near the center of our lines. Here the enemy, till now successfully driven back and held at bay, had succeeded in gaining the edge of the woods, where the Tenth Regiment lay, covering itself by lying down flat upon the ground. The engagement here for a time was severe and desperate. A portion of the regiment was engaged for full two hours, and was driven back only when its ammunition was entirely exhausted. Theregiment reformed at the foot of the

Nill in the evening, and at3 o’clock Saturday morning crossed the Chickabominy.

On Sunday at an early hour the march was continued across White Oak Swamp, with little interval for rest, till Monday at about 2 o’clock p.m. My command was then posted,

by order of General McCall, in

the edge of a wood, the right resting near upon the left of the Ninth
Regiment, and in line of battle perpendicular to that of the Ninth
Regiment. Companies B and G were thrown forward to support a battery situated immediately on our left. At about 4 o'clock p. m. the
left of the regiment was exposed to a raking fire from the enemy's batteries, which opened on the batteries immediately on our left and front.
I was ordered to move forward by General McCall in person, which I
did, halting for several minutes behind one of our batteries. Here the
horses of the batteries on our left came in wild confusion on my men.
The enemy were charging boldly upon the breastworks occupied by the
Editor's Notes
From: Peninsula Campaign, Pt. 1. Summary: McCall reports the tactical deployment and engagement of the Tenth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserve Volunteer Corps during a June 26, 1862 battle, detailing defensive positions and troop movements under fire.
Sources
The War of the Rebellion: Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume 11, Part 1 View original source ↗