Unknown to Gouverneur K. Warren, July 4, 1862
Str: In obedience to instructions I have the honor to report the part taken by the Sixth U.S. Infantry, under my command, in the battle _ with the enemy in the vicinity of Gaines’ Mill, Va., on the 27th of June
last, and also in that of the 2d of July instant, near
About 3 o’clock p. m. of the 27th of June I received an order by the acting assistant adjutant-general of the Second Brigade, Sykes’ division, of which the Sixth Infantry forms a part, to take the regiment and report to Colonel Warren, of the Fifth New York Volunteers, commanding the Third Brigade, same division, then engaged with the en_emy in front.
In compliance with this order I immediately reported to Colonel Warren, and was ordered by him to take up a position in the wood to the left of his line and nearly at right angles with it, for the purpose of protecting his left flank and the ground in front of his line should – the enemy again appear in that direction. cy
The regiment had been but a few minutes in position when the two or three companies composing the left flank received a heavy volley of -musketry from a body of our own troops stationed diagonally to the right and front of my line. This unexpected event and the immediate _ falling back at the same time of a body of volunteers on its left caused, l a momentary confusion in the ranks. Order was, however, soon restored and the regiment again placed in position, which it continued to hold throughout the balance of the day, exposed at times to a heavy fire from the enemy, ftom which it only retired when the troops occupying the field to the right and left of it had fallen back at the close of the contest, causing its right flank to be exposed to a severe fire of musketry, which killed and wounded a number of men in the companies on the right of the line.
A list of casualties upon this occasion has already been furnished.* — Of these then reported as missing several of the soldiers have since — joined their companies. Captain Foote, who was reported among the missing, is, upon a report of a sergeant who saw him shot about the time the regiment began to retire from the field, supposed to have been — killed.
In the battle of the 2d of July instant the regiment occupied the extreme left of the line engaged, but was not engaged with the enemy upon that occasion. It lay upon the field of battle until a late hour of the night, and captured a few prisoners, who were sent to division headquarters.
The officers present with the regiment in the battle of the 27th ultimo were Capt. T. Hendrickson, commanding the regiment; Lieutenant Sanders, adjutant; Capt. R. W. Foote, acting field officer; Capt. L. C. Bootes, commanding Company G; Capt. B. F. Smith, commanding Company E; Capt. John McCleary, commanding Company H; Capt. M. Bryant, commanding Company D; First Lieut. H. A. F. Worth (wounded), commanding Company B; First Lieut. D. D. Lynn (wounded), commanding Company K; First Lieut. Joseph B. Rife, commanding Company F; Second Lieut. Charles M. Pyne, commanding Company I; Second Lieut. Alexander H. Freeman, Second Lieut. George T. Hodges, Second Lieut. Abram W. Bickley, and Second Lieut. Jeremiah P. Schindel, all of whom acted with great coolness throughout the day.
The same officers, except Captain Foote and Lieutenant Worth, were with the regiment in the battle of the 2d instant. Captain Upham was also with his company (I) upon this occasion.
No individual act of bravery on the part of the non-commissioned offi- — cers or privates of the regiment calling for special commendation has been brought to my notice except that of Sergt. Maj. George Anderson, whose conduct for coolness while under fire was quite conspicuous.
I have the honor to be, sir, with much respect, your obedient servant, T. HENDRICKSON,