WM. W. Averell to Fred. T. Locke, July 7, 1862

July 7, 1862.

Camp near Harrison’s Landing, July 7, 1862.

Str: In obedience to instructions contained in circular from headquarters Fifth Corps I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of this regiment since the 26th ultimo:

On the 27th, when the corps of General I’. J. Porter became engaged with the enemy, I sent Capt. E. S. Jones, with a squadron of this regiment, to picket the railroad from Dispatch Station to Tunstall’s, which duty was well performed by him until he was relieved at daylight the next morning. A squadron under the command of Capt. J. C. White went at the same time across the Chickahominy at Bottom’s Bridge and scoured the country on the left bank of that stream as far down as Jones’ Bridge. Captain White’s squadron was relieved on the evening of the 27th by Captain Town’s, which continued the same duty.

In obedience to orders received from the general commanding this army, through General Heintzelman, at 3 o’clock a. m. 28th I proceeded with five squadrons of the regiment and crossed the White Oak Swamp Bridge, which was completed at 6.30 a. m., and covered the advance of the army toward the James River about 2 miles, where the advance of the Second Corps was halted for the night. The advance pickets for the night were composed of Companies D, K, and B, of this regiment, under Captains Gary, Martin, and Russell. By direction of the general commanding the army I sent Lieutenant Davis to communicate with the gunboats on James River, which delicate duty was successfully performed.

Karly in the morning of the 29th I sent Capt. J. C. White, with his squadron, a section of alight battery, and 200 infantry to Jones’ Bridge, on the Chickahominy, to prevent the enemy crossing at that point and to patrol the right bank of the stream, in order that the army might have the earliest information of any attempt of the enemy to cross. ‘aptain White performed this duty well, and held Jones’ Bridge until

Cuar. XXII.) SEVEN-DAYS’ BATTLES. 235

the night of June 30, when the enemy attacked him in force with artillery. The captain had his horse shot under him. My pickets in advance of the army were relieved about 8 a.m. by Captain Walsh with three companies. At 9 a. m. my pickets in the Quaker road were driven in by a force of rebel cavalry, represented to have been composed of five companies of the First North Carolina and four of the Fourth Virginia, under the command of Col. Lawrence Baker. My pickets drew them into a position in front of a section of Major West’s artillery, which opened an effective discharge of canister at short range, which killed a major, 8 men, several horses, and wounded perhaps 100, and threw the regiment into complete disorder, when the reserves to my pickets, led by Captains Walsh and Russell, charged and drove them nearly 2 miles, taking many prisoners—I believe about 60.

Toward the close of the day I received an order to report to General F. J. Porter for duty with his corps, and under instructions from him took my regiment, Benson’s battery, and Colonel Hays’ regiment infantry and covered the advance of the corps on the road to New Market. Remained on picket duty until morning, when the column was withdrawn and put in the Quaker road, with the exception of one squadron under Captain Town, which remained in position in the road until relieved by General McCall about noon. The regiment was held in position on the Quaker road until 3 p. m., some squadrons being engaged in keeping the wagon trains in orderand in arresting stragglers. During this time I was sent to White Oak Bridge by the chief of staft of the general commanding the army, to view the engagement then going on at that point and to give such orders as might be essential to the holding of the position. Upon my return from that duty I rode to Malvern Hill, on the James River, to investigate the position and condition of our advance, and seeing that my regiment could be well employed along the route sent back for it, and it was engaged from that time until next evening in controlling the movements of trains and collecting stragglers and returning them to their regiments. During the night of the 30th Lieutenants Newhall and Treichel were sent by the general commanding the army to communicate with our right and center. This hazardous duty was well performed. Lieutenant Newhall passed along the line of our army twice during the night, each time being obliged to go for 14 miles through the bivouacs of the enemy. At 12 o’clock on the night of the 1st instant I received orders from the general commanding to take charge of the rear guard of thearmy. At daybreak on the 2d I took command of the rear guard, composed of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry and four regiments of U. S. Infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Buchanan. I found the New York Chasseurs on the field, and assumed command of them also.

Lieutenant-Colonel Buchanan informed me on my taking command that the enemy was threatening his pickets and advancing toward both his flanks. I sent an officer to the rear to direct the cavalry I had upon the road to push the trains forward with all dispatch and to collect those which could not be removed and prepare them for burning ; then deployed three regiments of infantry with the Chasseurs along the front, which I immediately covered with a double line of skirmishers; then advanced the whole line as if for attack, pushing forward simultaneously from the right and left wings columns of cavalry and disposing parties of horsemen far to the right and left to divert the attention of the enemy and to give me information of their movements.

Observing that the feint was about to succeed, although the cavalry was suffering from the enemy’s sharpshooters, 1 sent an officer to the rear to assure the rear of the army of its security, and to bring me back a battery of artillery, of which I was destitute. Captain Frank responded promptly to this call, and soon had four guns in good position in rear on a hill. While he was coming one of my squadrons by a skillful disposition of troopers in sections created a very good semblance of a battery, which moved up under the crest of a hill in front, and went through the motions of going into action front. The enemy withdrew to the woods in their rear, and I held the position until 10 a. m. Parties of the enemy gaining confidence came out without arms and commenced collecting their dead, with which the fields in front were thickly strewn. At 10, hearing that the rear of the army was 2 miles away, I withdrew my artillery to another good position, with the reserve regiment of infantry ; then withdrew the main body of the infantry, and then the line of skirmishers, screening these operations with gal loping skirmishers of cavalry along the line in front. Two guns taken from the enemy the night before had to be spiked and the carriages broken for want of transportation.

I may mention here that I did not observe over a dozen of our dead upon the field and that our wounded were all under shelter.

From an early hour the rain commenced falling, and its increasing heaviness assisted to render my operations obscure to the enemy. AS soon as the artillery and infantry were well upon the road I directed my cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Owen, to withdraw, leaving 12 wagons without mules ready for them to destroy. ‘The march was continued without incident until the rear crossed Turkey Island Bridge, which was destroyed. A mile farther on I found Brigadier-General Wessells in excellent position with his brigade, and a mile farther on Brigadier-General Naglee with a second line. Considering our rear perfectly secure, I passed through their lines with my wearied forces and came to this camp.

I have the honor to call your attention to the inclosed report of casualties during all these operations of the Third Pennsylvania Cavalry.*

very respectfully, your obedient servant,

Colonel, Commanding.
Capt. FRED. T. LOCKE,
Asst. Adjt. Gen., Fifth Provisional Army Corps.
No. 96.
Report of Col. Henry J. Hunt, commanding Artillery Reserve, of operations June 26—July 1.
HDQRS. ARTILLERY RESERVE, ARMY PoTOMAG,
Camp near Westover, Va., July 7, 1862.