Samuel P. Heintzelman to Seth Williams, July 18, 1862

GENERAL:

I have the honor to make this report of the operations of my corps on the 25th of June, when our pickets were pushed forward from beyond our intrenchments near the Seven Pines, on the Richmond road, A few days after the battle of Fair Oaks our pickets were withdrawn from the position they occupied after the battle. This was in consequence of the difficult character of the swamp and the thick under- —

growth. Our pickets being so near, necessitated keeping the troops more on the alert than would have been necessary had they been out the usual distance, thus depriving them of necessary rest. All our efforts to extend our pickets were opposed by the rebels in the most determined manner, oceasioning a daily loss on both sides.

The evening of the 24th I received orders from the commanding general to put my whole corps under arms and extend my picket line to the requisite distance, that General Sumner’s left would advance at the same time, and a demonstration with artillery would be made still farther to the right. The necessary orders were given that night.

At 8 o’clock a. m., the hour fixed upon, I went to the front. The troops were soon in position, and the advance commenced. General Hooker has so fully explained the position of his division it is not necessary to repeat it here. Information was sent to General Richardson on the right and to General Kearny on the left of our advance to enable them to push forward their pickets at the same time. The enemy from the beginning opposed the advance of General Sickles’ brigade on both sides of the Williamsburg road. The enemy were, however, steadily driven back some 600 yards on our right half a mile in front of General Grover’s brigade and near a mile on the front of General Kearny’s division.

At this time General Hooker’s division was opposed by three to one, and the enemy held the woods so pertinaciously that no further progress could be made without re-enforcements. This I telegraphed to general headquarters, and ordered up General Birney’s brigade as a support. Just as this brigade reported to General Hooker he received a telegram from General Marcy, intended for me, directing him to fall back. The order was given, but the enemy was contented to hold the ground on which they were.

As the commanding general was coming to judge for himself about pressing farther, I directed the troops to halt and hold what we had gained. At about 1 o’clock p. m. the general arrived. After learning the position of affairs he directed the attack to be renewed. Ordering up General Palmer’s brigade, General Couch’s division, of General Keyes’ corps, as a support, should it be needed, I sent Captain De Russy forward with a section of a battery to dislodge the enemy. This was handsomely done, and the rebels were driven into the open field and to the woods beyond. In the edge of the woods were several rebel camps, which were shelled. Our troops were now in the position we wished to hold from right to left. Measures were taken to establish a picket line and withdraw the troops to their former lines.

Whilst this was being done (at 5 o’clock p. m) the commanding general received a telegram requiring his presence on our extreme right and left immediately. Everything remained quiet for half an hour, when the rebels made a sudden attack on the right of General Kearny’s line on General Robinson’s front. The attack was so vigorous that a portion of the line gave way. I had previously ordered up General Birney’s brigade to relieve General Grover’s, as the latter had already finished their tour in the advance.

This brigade being at hand I immediately directed it to the relief of General Robinson. One regiment, the , enabled him to repulse the enemy and again occupy our advanced line. By 9 o’clock p. m. all was quiet, and I returned to my headquarters. All the brigades of

Ce a ee – Cuar, XXIII] SEVEN-DAYS’ BATTLES.

General Hooker being worn-out by continued service in throwing up works and constant watchfulness, the commanding general allowed me to retain General Palmer’s brigade to cover our front on the Williamsburg road.

During the night there were several stampedes, but I observed that most of the firing came from our troops. There were also indications that the enemy were collecting and moving troops and artillery. This was supposed to indicate a purpose on their part to attack us in the morning. I thought it rather a preparation on their part to meet an advance from us, as a very small advance farther in this direction would turn their works at Old Tavern. To be prepared for any contingency I was on the ground at daylight. An hour after there was heavy firing again, but almost entirely from our side. Last evening it was reported to me by the signal officers that the enemy were moving and placing artillery in position. As soon as the fog lifted sufficiently it was observed that the rebel troops and camps had been withdrawn out of sight back into the woods, beyond the range of our artillery. Only their pickets were to be seen. The sounds taken for the moving of artillery the evening before being the wagons employed in removing the rebel camps, we were now left in undisturbed possession of the ground we had gained the day before.

I cannot close this report without again calling attention to the gallantry and good judgment displayed by General Hooker. All the arrangements of his division were made by him and under his special superintendence. Than him there is not a braver man in this army or one more worthy of promotion. I also would call attention to General Robinson. The attack on his line was one of the severest of the day, and he handsomely sustained himself. The Twentieth Indiana, of his brigade, distinguished itself and bore the brunt of the attack, well supported by the Sixty-third Pennsylvania, Colonel Hays. JI also desire to call attention to the special mention made in General Hooker’s report of Brigadier-Generals Sickles and Grover and the commanders of regiments.

General Kearny, with the officers and men of his division, conducted themselves with their usual gallantry. It is impossible to mention all

_ who are deserving, but I inclose the reports I have received.

The officers of my staff were with me, and active in the performance

of their duties. This was’apparently only an affair of pickets, but there were engaged

on our side both the divisions of my corps, a brigade of General Couch’s

division, General Keyes’ corps, and a portion of General Richardson’s division, General Sumner’s corps. The ground was exceedingly difii-

-eult, and every inch of it was most gallantly contested by a large force

of the enemy, and our heavy loss shows with what energy. It put us in a position that with fresh troops the next day I had no doubt we could have turned the enemy’s position at Old Tavern. The men of my corps were worn-out by continued watchfulness for near a month, and an encampment, with bad water, in an unwholesome swamp, on the old battle-field, with the half-buried dead men and horses poisoning the air. They had already accomplished all that could be expected from

I8 THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN, V. A. [(Cuar. XXII.

I annex a table of the loss in my corps.* I have no reports of the loss in General Palmer’s brigade.

Respectfully submitted.