Philip Kearny to Chauncey McKeever, July 6, 1862

Sir: I have the honor to report as follows on the moves and battles of the last week:

On the 28th of June, at midnight, I received orders to prepare to retire from Fair Oaks. This was executed at 6 a. m. regularly and without annoyance, the enemy appearing with distrust, as we left without pressure. My division then took up its position in the very strong fortified camp near Savage’s. In the afternoon we received orders again to retire across the White Oak Swamp. This I executed by the back (the mill) road. Some artillery and my Twentieth Indiana marksmen

11 R R—VOL XI, PT II held this place for several hours after the retreat commenced, and manned the works on the right of the road, for the purpose of preventing the enemy from hurrying us.

Colonel Brown, Twentieth Indiana Volunteers, greatly distinguished himself. His regiment lost some killed and wounded, as the enemy shelled the works toward the last, and parties of his advance and our rear guard became engaged.

Fearing lest the roads to the White Oak Swamp Bridge and Brackett’s Ford might be unduly clogged with troops, I proposed crossing at Jordon’s Ford, 3 miles below my camp. I had reconnoitered it in the morning, and found that the enemy was in force on the central road but not on the Charles City road, and did not then seem to be on the lookout. General Robinson was to cover my retreat, and was cautioned against the enemy’s troops arriving from across the Williamsburg road. General Birney, with his brigade, was to lead the march; General Berry to follow.

It was found, after crossing the double arm of the swamp at Jordon’s, that our moves had been expected, and it being problematical whether the relative position of the lines of retreat justified a full engagement after a successful skirmish of the advance pickets, and on learning that the road to Brackett’s was then free, I withdrew the troops and proceeded by that ford. General Berry’s brigade, however, finding Fisher’s Ford unobstructed, passed by that route.

This same night, by 10 p. m., the whole division was encamped on and near the Charles City road, at a point subsequently during the battle occupied by General Slocum.

In the morning of the 30th June I drew up in a very strong position on the Charles City road. Subsequently I was assigned to guard the New Market road and country thence to the Charles City road, a space of near 24 miles.

In taking up my line of battle, General Robinson, with the First Brigade, was posted on the left, his left on the New Market road, supporting Thompson’s battery. General Birney divided the distance with him to the Charles City road. General Berry was in reserve. General Slocum was to the right of my line of battle, General McCall to its left. The enemy’s attack commenced on General McCall at about 2 p.m. At about 3 p.m. it seemed to be fully developed, but as I rode over to visit it, it did not seem to me to be unduly threatening further than from the shape of his line, its left greatly refused. It had disadvantages for myself, although advantages for those to whom the enemy must present its flank in making an attack on him.

At 4 p.m. the attack commenced on my line with a determination and vigor and in such masses as I had never witnessed. Thompson’s battery, directed with great skill, literally swept the slightly-falling open space with the completest execution, and mowing them down by ranks would cause the survivors to momentarily halt; but almost instantly after increased masses came up and the wave bore on. These masses coming up with a rapid run, covering the entire breadth of the open ground some 200 paces, would alone be checked in their career by the gaps of the fallen. Still no retreat, and again a fresh mass would carry on the approaching line still nearer. If there was one man in this attack there must have been ten thousand, and their loss by artillery, although borne with such fortitude, must have been unusual. It was by scores. With the irrepressibility of numbers on they persisted. The artillery, destructive as it was, ceased to be a calcula- tion. It was then that Colonel Hays, with the Sixty-third Pennsylvania and half the Thirty-seventh New York Volunteers, was moved forward to the line of the guns.

I have here to call to the attention of my superior chiefs this most heroic action on the part of Colonel Hays and his regiment. The Sixtythird has won for Pennsylvania the laurels of fame. That which grape and canister failed in effecting was now accomplished by the determined charge and rapid volleys of this foot. The enemy at the mnzzles of our guns for the first time sulkily retired, fighting. Subsequently, ground having been gained, the Sixty-third Pennsylvania was ordered to “Lie low,” and the battery once more reopened its ceaseless work of destruction.

This battle saw renewed three onsets as above with similar vicissitudes, when finally the enemy betokened his efforts as past by converting his charges into an ordinary line fight of musketry, embracing the whole front of the brigade; for by this period he was enabled to do so from Thompson’s pieces having left the field after expending their grape and becoming tired of the futility of round shot.

It may have been then about 7.30 p. m.; full daylight remained, and

anticipating that the enemy, foiled in the attempt to carry the New Market road and adjacent open ground, would next hazard an attack toward the Charles City road or intermediate woods, my attention was called there. Itherefore left everything progressing steadily in the left and visited the entire line to the right, notwithstanding that the line was long and that no reserves (excepting the weak Third Michigan) existed. The cheerful manner and solid look of Birney’s brigade gave assurance of their readiness to be measured with the foe, and they met my warning of the coming storm with loud cheers of exultation. Halfan hour or forty minutes may have been thus passed. I then returned to the extreme left of my line. Arriving there, I found that Colonel Hays had been relieved by Colonel Barlow, of the Sixtyfirst New York Volunteers, the head of General Caldwell’s brigade, sent to me from Sumner’s corps, and which had reported to General Robinson. _ Almost in the commencement of the action, within the first half hour, as I had plainly foreseen and warned my superior, General Heintzelman, and General Humphreys, Engineers, who most kindly had gone over my position with me, every man was engaged or in position or in close support. The Highty-seventh New York Volunteers had been ordered by General Heintzelman to Brackett’s Ford, and the First New York Volunteers was diverted from me by a misapprehension of Colonel Dyckman. This fact [ announced to General Heintzelman without asking re-enforcements, since I did not conceive them necessary, nor would they have been but for the diverting of my First New York Volunteers—a very strong regiment—to General McCall.

The Sixty-first New York Volunteers, under its most intrepid leader, Colonel Barlow, had vied with the brave regiment he had relieved, and charging the enemy bore off as a trophy one of bis colors. It had subsequently taken up its position to the left of the One hundred and fifth Pennsylvania and itself been subsequently retired, but noue appointed _to take its place, that breastwork being unoccupied. It was at this conjuncture that I arrived from my right. I found McCall’s position abandoned, although not occupied by the enemy. I placed in it the First New Jersey Brigade, General Taylor. I then knew it to be in true hands. I observed that whilst the enemy were amusing my entire front with an ordinary musketry fire strong parties of rebel skirmishers in the gloom of the evening, rendered denser by the murky fogs of the smoke, were feeling their way slowly and distrustfully to the unoccupied parapet. Galloping back to find the nearest troops I met General Caldwell, who, under General McCall’s supervision, was putting two or more of his regiments into line to the right of the road (a quarter of a mile in rear of the breastworks) to move up in order. Circumstances denied this delay. Accordingly I directed General Caldwell to lead a wing of a regiment at double-quick up the road to open on these rebel skirmishers. This was done promptly, but from their being foreigners not with a full comprehension, and darkness embarrassing them, they fired at the rebels, but in the direction of others of my line; and thus whilst the enemy were swept off the arena it left for some little time our troops firing at each other. To increase this confasion the residue of the brigade who had not filed into the woods and formed on the road opened on us all who were in the front. It is my impression that General McCall must have been killed by this fire.

The errors of cross-firing having at last subsided my Fifth Michigan gallantly crossed the parapets and pursued the retiring enemy. The Highty-first Pennsylvania, then nobly responding to my orders, gallantly led by Lieutenant-Colonel Conner and Captain Miles, of General Caldwell’s staff, dashed over the parapet, pursued, charged, and with a few vigorous volleys finished the battle at 9.30 at night. I remained much longer on the field, and then reported in person to General Heintzelman at his quarters. [Under a tree at the junction of the Quaker and Charles City roads.—s. P. H.}

In concluding my report of this battle—one of the most desperate of the war, the one the most fatal if lost—I am proud to give my thanks and to include in the glory of my own division the First New Jersey Brigade, General Taylor, who held McCall’s deserted ground, and General Caldwell, whose personal gallantry and the bravery of whose regiments not only entitle them to share in the credit of our victory, but also ever after engender full sympathies between the two corps.

In this engagement the coolness and judicious arrangements of General Birney influenced his whole command to feel invincible in a very weak position. General Berry, as usual, was active. The fearful losses his noble regiments have sustained, reducing them to scarce 200 to a regiment, obliged me to preserve such heroes for the decisive moments. Still, they will not be repressed, and the Fifth Michigan, under Major Fairbanks, was the first to pursue the enemy. I regret for ourselves that he, almost the last of our nobly distinguished at Williamsburg and Fair Oaks and the forced advance of the 25th June, is dangerously wounded. 1 have to state that this division has been extremely used. This has prematurely reduced to nothing regiments of the highest mark.

I have reserved General Robinson for the last. To him this day is due, above all others in this division, the honors of this battle. The attack was on his wing. Everywhere present, by personal supervision and noble example he secured for us the honor of victory.

Tor the names of officers distinguished in their regiments I for the present refer you to the brigade and regimental reports. As to the action of my artillery (Battery G, Second U.S. Artillery), it has never been equaled for rapidity and precision of fire and coolness amidst great loss of men and horses. The gallantry of its commander, Captain Thompson, identifies him with its distinction.

Our loss has been severe, and when It is remembered that this occurs to mere skeletons of regiments, there is but one observation to be made— that previous military history presents no such parallel.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,