R. F. Hoke to L. O™b. Branch, July 12, 1862

Near Richmond, Va., July 12, 1862.

GENERAL:

I have the honor to report that on Wednesday, June 25, I left camp with my regiment, numbering 480, and, with the balance of your brigade, proceeded up the Telegraph road, crossed the Chickahominy on the morning of the 26th, and advanced toward Meadow Bridge. ‘Two of my companies were ordered to Mrs. Crenshaw’s bridge to apprise Lieutenant-Colonel Hoke, with a portion of his regiment which was doing picket duty on the south side of the Chickahominy, that the way was clear. We then continued our march toward Mechanicsville. The fight had commenced on our reaching this place, and we were ordered to support a battery which was firing from the works to the left of the road. I had 1 man wounded that evening. We slept upon the field, and were held as a support again next morning, when the artillery opened upon us, and another one of my men was wounded.

As soon as it was ascertained that the enemy had abandoned his position and was in full retreat we were ordered to follow, and on

Caar XXII1.} SEVEN-DAYS’ BATTLES.

reaching Cold Harbor the Seventh North Carolina Troops and my regiment were ordered into the woods to the left of the road leading to the battle-field. The Seventh preceded us, and when I was about to form my regiment on its left a sharp fire, both of shell and infantry, was opened upon us, causing one of the wings of the Seventh to give way. On asking the cause of this, I was informed by some of the company officers of the Seventh, whose names I do not know, that Colonel Campbell had ordered them to fall back, and as there was a large pond of water in my rear, I led my regiment out of the woods by the left flank, when I met you and was ordered back. I then marched up the road and wheeled my entire regiment into the same piece of woods. Colouel Lee followed with his regiment, which he intended posting to my right, but the enemy opened upon him just as he was about to turn the angle of the road and his right was thrown into confusion. This caused Companies D, A, and I, of the right wing, and Company H, to the left of the colorsin my regiment, to give way. Company D promptly reformed and came into line; the other three companies, I am told, reformed and attached themselves for the remainder of the day to other regiments. They were not with me. Colonel Campbell’s regiment, seven of my companies, Lieutenant Webb, of Company H, and a few rank and file from the. three missing companies, engaged the enemy in the woods and were exposed toa hot fire, when fresh troops came up and relieved us temporarily. Maj. James Barbour, General Elzey’s assistant adjutant-general, approached me soon afterward and requested me to take my command to the support of a portion of his forces, which had advanced into the open field in front of the woods. My command advanced most gallantly through the woods and into the open field, although exposed to a front and right enfilade infantry fire, and bravely remained there until General George B. Anderson’s brigade debouched from the woods to our left and charged across the field. I ordered my men to cease firing when this brigade was nearly in front of us, and, forming on the right, assisted them in clearing the field of the enemy. At the advice of General Anderson, my men now being very much fatigued, I remained with a portion of his brigade in a somewhat sheltered position until night-fall, when I rejoined ou.

Our loss in this engagement was 13 killed and 78 wounded.

Sunday evening we recrossed the Chickahominy, and on Monday evening (the 30th) were among the first to engage the enemy; the whole brigade advanced, driving the foe before us, notwithstanding the character of the ground. My regiment, in its advance, had to pass through two skirts of woods containing swampy ground, and an intermediate open field, in which there was a dwelling surrounded by 2 yard and garden; all of which, I am told, had been converted into a temporary breastwork by the enemy. All of my men behaved well in this action, notwithstanding they were exposed to a murderous fire of shell, grape, and small-arms. I did not remain with my regiment until the close of the fight, as a flesh-wound in the right cheek forced me to leave the field.

Our loss was 6 killed and 50 wounded.

We were not actively engaged in the Tuesday’s fight, though we were ordered out late in the evening, and were exposed to a terrific shelling, first in the open field in front of the enemy’s guns and then to the left in a small piece of woods. Fortunately we had only 1 man wounded and none killed. ‘

With only 1 field officer, 3 captains, but few lieutenants, and our:

ranks greatly reduced by sickness, caused by the hardships we had to undergo in our retreat from Hanover Court-House, we had to contend with the enemy in the recent terrible engagements before Richmond under many disadvantages, but our loss—150 killed and wounded out of an effective force of 480, including the ambulance corps, about onethird—will show how nobly the Twenty-eighth behaved in this: great struggle for independence.

I would respectfully call to your attention Capt. T. James Linebarger, of Company ©; Capt. D. A. Parker, of Company D; also First Lieut. N. Clark, of Company E; First Lieut. E.G. Morrow, of Company G; First Lieut. W. W. Cloninger, of Company B; Second Lieut. J. W. Randle, of Company D; Second Lieut. George W. McCauley, of Company G; Second Lieut. Robert D. Rhyne, of Company B, as all of these officers behaved with great gallantry and bravery. Sergt. Maj. Milton A. Lowe, on the battle-field of the 27th and 30th, more than once proved himself a brave and fearless young defender of Southern rights, and has won the admiration of all who saw him. Color-bearer J. P. Little, of Company C, was wounded on the 27th, but was at his post again in a Short time.

Respectfully, JAMES H. LANE, Colonel, Comdg. Twenty-eighth Regiment North Carolina Vols.

Report of Lieut. Col. Robert F. Hoke, Thirty-third North Carolina InSantry, of the battles of Mechanicsville, Gaines’ Mill, Frazier’s Farm (Nelson’s Farm, or Glendale), and Malvern Hill.

HDQRs. THIRTY-THIRD RuGT. NORTH CAROLINA TROOPS, July 12, 1862.

DEAR GENERAL: On June 25 you called the commanding officers of your brigade together and informed us of the intended [plan] and man: ner of attack upon the enemy, who were on the north side of the Chickahominy, and at the same time ordered me to have my command ready to move at 5 p. m., with three days’ rations. I, having tive companies on picket at the Crenshaw Bridge, was ordered to take command at that point, while the other five companies, under Major Cowan, would march with the brigade and cross the river at the telegraphic bridge and move down the river in order to drive the enemy from their posi. tion. My orders were that I should cross the river with the five companies as soon as J heard firing and make an attack in the rear of the enemy.

About 12 o’clock on the 26th I heard sharp skirmishing, and drew in my pickets in order to cross, and while doing so could see that the enemy were in full retreat. While crossing the river I received a dispatch from you ordering me to join the command; that you were in the road immediately opposite. I joined the command, and from that point we marched to Mechanicsville, and reached that place under a most terrific fire of shot and shell, About 10 p. m. the firing ceased and we were ordered to lie in our position upon our arms. :

At 3a. m. of the 27th we were ordered to be ready to march at a moment’s warning, but did not take up the line of march until 12 o’elock, and then moved in the direction of Gaines’ Mill down the Chickahominy. We reached that point at 4 p. m., and finding heavy fighting going on, were ordered immediately into the engagement, and remained in the fight until dark, by which time the enemy had been driven back a distance of 2 miles. I then reported to you with my command at the road, and was ordered to bivouac my men and give them rest. This was a very hard-fought battle, and the men deserve great praise for their coolness and firmness on this occasion.

On the 28th we remained quiet all day. The enemy having been driven across the Chickahominy, we were ordered to prepare two days’ rations and be ready to march at daylight.

On the 29th we recrossed the river and moved down James River, marching a distance of 12 or 15 miles, and encamped.

On the 30th we again marched down the river in order to make an attack, and reached the point about 3 o’clock. The presence of the enemy was soon.made known by the roaring of artillery, and we were immediately ordered up the road in the direction of the enemy by a flank movement under very great fire of shot and shell. Soon you, at the head of your brigade, filed to the right, and, moving 600 yards in that direction, halted, faced to the front, and forming a line of battle, moved slowly through a skirt of woods until you reached an open field; you then halted, formed a perfect line of battle, and charged, by the double-quick and with a yell, the enemy’s batteries, which were strongly supported by infantry across this field, a distance of 500 yards. We at the same time were enfiladed by grape shot; neither fire upon the front or flank at all stopped the men, but on they pressed and soon silenced the fire upon them. They seemed not to heed the falling of friends by their side, but had the great duty of defeating the enemy foremost in their minds. Here my loss was heavy, not so much in killed as in wounded. °

My men in this charge had no cover at all. :

I cannot refrain from asking that great praise may be given to both officers and men for their actions on this occasion.

After passing through the field and entering the field on the opposite side my regiment became divided by the interference of a brigadiergeneral, unknown to me, who had ordered the left of my regiment to march to the left. I remained with a portion of my men on the field until dark, and reported to you in an old field, at which place you were encamped.

On July 1 we were quiet until 6 o’clock in the evening, at which time we were ordered in to support D. H. Hill’s division. In this fight I was not engaged, but was under a heavy fire of shot and shell.

On July 2 and 3 we were marching after the enemy, but their retreat was too speedy to be overtaken. We then bivouacked for several days, inviting the enemy to battle, which was not accepted. We then marched to this point, arriving here on the 9th instant.

My loss was very heavy for a small command. The report of casualties has been sent in, as well as that of the action of officers and men who need correction.

I am happy to say that, with few exceptions, I am truly proud of the officers and men of my command. I cannot well make distinction among those officers and men, who so nobly did their duty, but ask that credit may be given those to whom it is due and action taken against those

who deserve it.

Very respectfully,

R. F. HOKE, —

Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding.

General L. O’B. BRANCH,

Fourth Brigade, Light Division.

No. 346.

Report of Lieut. Col. William M. Barbour, Thirty-seventh North Carolina

Infantry, of the battles of Mechanicsville, Gaines’ Mill, Frazier’s Farm

(Nelson’s Farm, or Glendale), and Malvern Hill.