William Barksdale to Dickinson, July 24, 1862

CAaprain: I have the honor to submit the following report of the part taken by this brigade in the battles of Sunday, June 29, at Savage Station, and at Malvern Hill, on Tuesday, July 1:

On Sunday morning we were ordered to pursue the enemy, who had abandoned his fortifications on the Nine-mile road and was understood to be retreating down the York River Railroad. On reaching these fortifications a fire was opened upon us by the enemy’s rear guard. The brigade was at once ordered in line of battle, and while gallantly executing this order General Griffith fell mortally wounded, and was borne from the field by Majors Watts and Hawkins, of his staff, when the command devolved upon me. Continuing the pursuit, I was ordered to support General Cobb, who was in the advance, should he become engaged with the enemy. The brigade advanced in line of battle on the left of the railroad, through the thick woods and over a marshy country, until we reached Savage Station, when an attack was made on the right side of the road upon the enemy by General McLawsy’ division. The Seventeenth Regiment, Colonel Holder, and the Twentyfirst, Colonel Humphreys, were ordered to that side of the road, and to support Kershaw’s brigade if it should become necessary to do so.

About sundown these regiments advanced gallantly and promptly when the order was given under a severe fire across an open field to the support of a battery and engaged the enemy, then strongly posted in the woods beyond the field, and poured several destructive volleys into his ranks, when messengers arrived and requested that the firing should cease, as danger would result from it to our friends, who were maneuvering between them and the enemy. The men were ordered to lay down, and night coming on and the firing having ceased, they retired in good order to the woods in rear of the battle-field.

The Eighteenth Regiment, Colonel Griffin, was ordered after dark to

the battle-field and slept upon it, the enemy during the night continuing his flight.

* Embodied in return, p. 979.

On Monday we continued the march, but did not reach the battlefield of that day until 10 o’clock at night.

The next morning at daylight the pickets reported that the enemy was advancing. I at once ordered the brigade in line of battle and advanced across the field to a skirt of woods, halted, and awaited his attack, throwing out several companies of skirmishers; but the report proved to be unfounded, the enemy having during the night retreated, leaving his dead and wounded in our hands. Our companies of skirmishers captured a number of prisoners, who were sent to the rear.

About 2 o’clock the enemy were discovered in a strong position and in immense numbers on the Crew Farm and Malvern Hill. By your orders, given to me in person, the brigade was formed in the woods in front of the enemy and in range of his fire both from his batteries and gunboats in James River, about 14 miles distant, the men being protected as well as it could be done by the woods and brow of a hill. Here shot and shell fell thick among us, several being killed and wounded, and among them Major Moody, of the Twenty-first Regiment, who was seriously wounded in the foot.

At about 6 o’clock the brigade was ordered to advance upon the enemy to support our friends, who were already engaged, and if possible to take his batteries. The order was promptly obeyed. The brigade was formed in the open field, and advanced upon the enemy under a terrible fire of shell, grape, canister, and Minie balls, and continued the assault until night closed the scene, when it retired in good order to the position it formerly occupied in the woods. Colonels Holder, Griffin, and Lieutenant-Colonel Brandon, commanding Twenty-first Regiment, were all severely wounded while gallantly and nobly leading their regiments into action.

Lieutenant-Colonel Carter, commanding the Thirteenth Regiment, while handling his men with consummate skill, was wounded and taken from the field. The command in the Thirteenth Regiment devolved upon Major McElroy; in the Seventeenth on Lieutenant-Colonel Fiser; in the Kighteenth on Lieutenant Colonel Luse, and in the Twenty-first on Captain Brooks, all of whom discharged their duties bravely and with signal ability.

The entire command, although one-third of its number fell upon the field, maintained its ground with undaunted courage, and dealt bravely terrible blows upon the ranks of the enemy, as his dead and wounded in front of our lines the next morning clearly proved.

I am under peculiar obligations to Major Inge, adjutant-general of the brigade, for his valuable assistance in both engagements. He was prompt in the execution of all orders, and constantly exposed to the severest fire of the enemy’s guns in directing the regiment into battle.

To Captain Costin, aide-de-camp, I am much indebted. He was with me in the field encouraging the men by his example and gallantly discharging his duty. I was deprived of the valuable services of Majors Watts and Hawkins by the fall of General Griffith, both of whom were ordered to remain with him.

It is proper for me to say that twice during the battle Captain McCarthy’s battery engaged the enemy, and that both he and his command behaved with coolness and courage worthy of the cause. Dr. Gilmore, senior surgeon of the brigade, and his assistants, in the discharge of their duties, were indefatigable, having the wounded borne from the field as rapidly as they could be found. I desire to call the attention of the Department to this officer, who, by his skill as a sur- geon and ability as a physician, is eminently entitled to its favorable consideration.

I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,