USA > New York > Services of the Tenth New York Volunteers (National Zouaves,) in the War of the Rebellion > Part 7
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* Davenport ( " 5th New York Volunteers") quotes the following excerpt from the report of the Rebel Gen. A. P. Hill, who commanded twenty-six regiments and
95
THE SEVEN DAYS-GAINES' MILL.
The artillery along Gen. Sykes' position played havoc in the Rebel ranks while the attacks were being made, throwing grape and shrapnel into the advancing lines at short range, and contributing materially to the discom- fiture of the enemy at this point.
The brigade of Warren was at length relieved by that of Gen. Reynolds, of McCall's division, and the Tenth was placed in support of the battery posted just in rear of our first position along the little stream. In spite of the repulse in front of Sykes, the enemy were steadily extending their lines. Our brigade very soon moved again to support another battery, and, as the after- noon wore on, made several stands and advances, suffer- ing an additional loss from the now concentrated Rebel fire, as the numerous and largely reinforced divisions of the enemy gradually closed in around Porter's almost isolated corps and forced it back towards the Chicka- hominy. Battery after battery was compelled to limber up and move rapidly off as the Confederate thousands pressed onward .*
six batteries, distributed in six brigades : " I had delayed the attack until I could hear from Longstreet, and this now occurring, the order was given. This was about half-past two, P. M .; Gregg, then Branch, then Anderson successively became engaged. Branch being hard pressed, Pender was sent to his relief. Field and Ar-
cher were also directed to do their part in this murderous contest. * * *
Gregg having before him (what he pleases to mention as) the vaunted zouaves and Sy kes' regulars. Gen. Maxcy Gregg's brigade in advance made the handsomest charge I have seen during the war."
* Swinton's " Army of the Potomac, " p. 151: "And thus it happened, that while, on the north side of the Chickahominy, thirty thousand Union troops were heing assailed hy seventy thousand Confederates, twenty-five thousand Confede- rates on the south side held in check sixty thousand Union troops ! When there- fore, Lee, with all his division, in hand, made a general .elvance, it was with an ·werw helming weight and pressure. The right held its ground with much stub- comme-s. repaking every atta. k. That wing was held by Sykes division of regu- Lars ind Griffin's brigade, and was subsequently reinforced by Bartlett's brigade. of slocum's division."
Davenport, in his " sth New York Volunteer-," speaking of the action of the
96
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
The sun was setting and still the fires of battle raged on the front and right of Porter, while even on the left the steady nearing of musketry and artillery told that his connections with the bridges across the Chickahominy were being threatened. Slocum's division of Franklin's corps had been promised to Porter by Gen. MeClellan, but it was after four o'clock when these troops crossed the Chiekahominy to the support of the Fifth Corps. Then the New Jersey brigade was moved to the assistance of Sykes, or really to the direct support of the brigades of Reynolds and Seymour, which had taken the place of our own brigade and other regiments of Sykes' divi- sion. Slocum's other troops were assigned to strengthen different portions of the line. But these fresh regi- ments were in their turn overwhelmed and driven back. At about five o'clock the enemy advanced determinedly against the centre and left, and our brigade was hurried forward to assist in repelling the charge, which was this time checked.
The aspect had assumed a formidable and almost des- perate shape to the fagged and jaded veterans of Sykes, when welcome cheers from Northern throats broke upon the air from the left, and were answered in a ringing manner by the men of the Tenth and Fifth. Two bri- gades of Richardson's division had crossed the river, and the hearty shouts of Meagher's Irish regiments, as they charged upon the advancing Rebels, put fresh spirits into the hearts of the troops who had so gallantly resisted overwhelming numbers during the afternoon.
brigade in support of Platt's Pattery, says: "The double-hotted guns of Platt's and Griffin's Batteries were pouring deadly discharges of canister into the masses of the enen.y. The regulars and the 16th New York, of Slocum's divi-ion, were deli- vering terrible volleys to check their onsets, and the remnants of the 5th and Tenth New York added their fire."
I/CAINES'S MILL
JACKSON
NEW COAL HARDOR
-
GAINES'S
--
A'S HLAD Q75.
CHO LINE
& ADAM'S ILE
0
5
BARKER'S MILL
HOSPITAL
CHICKAHOMINY RIVER
MILES
2
ALEXANDER'S
SUMNER'S UPPER BR.
BATTLE OF GAINES VILL.
:
Seymour's
( M. Reynolds'
N. Cavalry.
SO. Robertson's Battery. P.
Tidball's
( K. Meade's Brigade.
Morell's Division < S. Martin dale's
(.A. Butterfeld's Briga!".
(C. Gre It's
( D. G. S. Warren's Brigade.
Sykes' Division E. H. Chapman's
3.Call's Division- !.
\. it-ty Reserve
:
P
ELDER
DUANE'S BET WOODBURY'S BR.
COAL HARBOR .
STREET
LOSSES OF THE TENTH.
The enemy seemed now to perceive that they were being confronted by fresh soldiers, and, after an effort or two more, they halted on the field so difficultly won from our troops .*
Gen. Porter immediately took advantage of the lull in the combat to reconstruet his line, Gen. Sykes' di- vision being drawn entirely in from the right, and joined on the left by the remnant of Morell's brigades. This was on the high ground commanding the bridges. French's and Meagher's brigades were still on the low ground to the left, and Slocum's division was divided along the front.
The National Zouaves numbered about 575 officers and men when the battle commenced. Of this number it is estimated that a few over one hundred were killed, wounded and taken prisoners. The following were killed or died of wounds received:
Company A : Private William A. Williams.
Company B : Corp. Emmett McClenban, Privates John W. Smith and Dwight J. Wheeler.
Company E : Private Thomas Seunion.
Company II : Private Edward Nugent.
* Relating to the action taken by Sykes' division during the latter portion of the day, Compte de Paris says, Vol. II .. p. 100: "At six p. M., Jackson attacked with forty thousand inen. Ewell attacked the regulars, who riade it a point of honor never to yield before volunteers, whatever may be their numbers." Page 102: At- tucked in front and menaced in flank, Sykes' fell back, defending the ground foot by foot : the regulars do not allow Hill to push his success along .he road leading from Cold Harbor to Dispatch Station, by which he could have cut off the retreat of the enemy. Fearfully reduced as they are, they care less for the losses they have sus- tained than for the mortification of yielding to volunteers." Page :53: "Stuart, tear Cold Harbor, does not know how to make his excellent tre .. play the part which aj pertains to cavalry on the eve of viet. ry: he allows him. HE to b hell back by the resolute stand of the regulars and scthe few hundred men hearing the flags of Warren's brigade."
7
98
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
Company 1 : Sergt. Thomas Mccullough; Corp. Wil- liam Marror.
Company K : Private James Mc Vey.
Total, 9.»
The smooth-bore muskets of the regiment did effect- ive service during the action, and although we had so persistently wicked for the Remington rifles with which the right and tef't companies only had been armed while in Fort Monroe, it was now proven that " buck-and-ball" cartridges, though not effective at long range, were reliable and deadly at comparatively close quarters. Within a few months we received the Springfield rifled mnsket in exchange ; but there were regiments in the Army of the Potomac that carried the old smooth-bores until the close of the war, and chose them in preference to the riflo.
The position of Duryee's Zonaves at the commence- ment of the batile was more exposed than that of the Tenth, and that brave command made a splendid ad- vance in the very teeth of the enemy's tire-the showy uniform of red and blue making each man a conspicuous mark. Their loss during the day was 169, in killed, wounded and missing.
Darkness had at length put an end to the conflict, which had raged the entire afternoon, and silence settled upon the scene of bloodshed, broken occasionally by the shots of skiemishors, who diligently guarded the lines of each army. Beat the veil of night could not conceal the dead upon the hillsides and in the glades of the thick forests : not could it case the agonies of the thousand- of woundel men who were lying where they fell or in
* The namars of the missing (not heard from) and an incomplete list of the wounded will be found in the Appendix.
99
THE SEVEN DAYS-GAINES' MILL.
the crowded precincts of the hospitals. Hundreds of the sufferers were being rapidly loaded into ambulances and ammunition wagons and transported towards Woodbury Bridge and across the Chickahominy.
The Fifth Corps had for hours withstood alone the assaults of a force aggregating, towards night, between sixty and seventy thousand men, and, at the close, with the aid of the two supporting divisions, had caused the soldiers of Jackson and Lee to halt. Twenty-two can- non fell into the hands of the enemy, the horses being killed or wounded. Including the reinforcements, the troops under Porter numbered about 33,000.
The following is an extract from Gen. McClellan's dispatch to the Secretary of War, dated at Savage's Station, 12.20, A. M., June 28th.
"I now know the whole history of the day. On this side of the river, the right bank, we repulsed several strong attacks; on the left bank our men did all that soldiers could accomplish : but they were overwhelmed by vastly superior numbers soon after I had brought my last reserves into action. The loss on both sides is terrible: I believe it will prove to be the most desperate battle of the war. The sad remnants of my men behave as men; those battalions who fought most bravely, and suffered most, are still in the best order. My regulars were superb, and I count upon what are left to turn another battle, in company with their gallant comrades of the volunteers. Had I twenty thousand, or even ten thousand fresh troops, to use tomorrow, I could take Richmond: but I have not a man in reserve, and shall be glad to cover my re- treat and save the material and personel of the army. If we have lost the day, we have yet preserved our honor, and no one need blush for the Army of the Potomac."
During the night, Porter's corps, with the troops which had been sent to its assistance, crossed the Chicka- hominy and bivouacked upon the south side. Sykes' division was the last to cross, destroying the bridge.
100
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
REPORT OF COL. G. K. WARREN, *
COMMANDING THIRD BRIGADE, SECOND DIVISION, FIFTHI CORPS, OF THE BATTLE OF GAINES' MILL.
HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE, SYKES' DIVISION, PORTER'S CORPS, July 4th, 1862.
SIR :- I have the honor to report the operations of this brigade from June 26th to July 3d, 1862.
The brigade consisted, on the 26th ultimo, of the 5th New York Volunteers, commanded by Lieut .- Col. Duryea, numbering about four hundred and fifty effective men for duty, and of the Tenth New York Volunteers, commanded by Col. Bendix, numbering about five hundred and seventy-five men for duty. The 1st Con- necticut, Col. Tyler, had been relieved from my command for duty with the heavy artillery.
The conflict having begun on the right of our army, at Me- chanicsville, on the afternoon of the 26th ultimo, we were ordered out with the rest of the division, and remained in line of battle all night. At half-past two, A. M., on the 27th, we marched back, as directed, and took up our line so as to defend the crossing of Gaines' Creek, while the trains and artillery effected a passage. This having been accomplished, we again marched forward to a new position, about half a mile from the last, where it had been determined to prevent the further advance of the enemy.
The line assigned to my brigade, forming the left of the di- vision, had its left resting upon a forest, which, I was informed, was held by Griffin's brigade, and our line of battle was in an open plowed field, along a gentle slope, in a measure hiding us from the observation of the enemy, though affording but little shelter from distant curved firing. In front of us, distant from two hundred to three hundred yards, was a belt of woods, growing in a ravine, through openings of which a view could be had of an extensive. open field beyond. These woods I occupied with a company of the 5th New York Volunteers as skirmishers. From three hun- dred to four hundred yards to the right of my line was another forest bordering the open field, and running nearly in a direction perpendicular to our line. This I guarded by a company of the
* From Davenport's " History of the 5th New York Volunteers."
101
COL. WARREN'S REPORT.
5th New York Volunteers, deployed as skirmishers. Maj. Clitz's battalion of the 12th Regular Infantry was on my right, on a line nearly perpendicular to mine, with a large interval between us. Our artillery was posted to the rear and to the left of my line.
About half-past ten o'clock. A. M., these arrangements were complete, and we waited the approach of the enemy. The weather was very warm.
About half-past twelve, P. M., the enemy forced the passage of Gaines' Creek near the mill, and, cheering as they came, appeared in force at a distance in the open field beyond the wooded ravine in my front.
About one o'clock. P. M., they advanced in several lines, and, at my request, Captain Edwards brought up a section of his battery on my right, and opened on them, and a fierce fire was carried on between them over our heads, in which we suffered considerably. Capt. Edwards steadily kept up his fire, though opposed by seve- ral batteries, till the enemy having driven in our line of skir- mishers, I advised him to retire. The enemy now advanced sharp- shooters to the edge of the woods to pick off our artillerymen, posted behind us, but our riffe-firing compelled them to retire.
One of our batteries having opened with shrapnel, the prema- ture explosion of these shells behind us cansed so much loss that I was compelled to change my line by throwing the right to the rear along the road, and the left more towards the enemy, and along the woods to our left.
The enemy's fire ceasing for a time, our artillery also ceased, and there was a lull, so that we began to think the enemy had re- tired. But under the shelter of the woods he had formed a column to attack the position occupied by Maj. Clitz, to the right of my first position, and as soon as it appeared the rapid firing of our artillery dispersed it in a few moments. Again there was a lull, but this time he had planned his attack on the position occupied by myself, and where our artillery could not be used without en- dangering us.
I should think it was now nearly three o'clock, P. M. Suddenly a regiment burst from the woods with loud yells, advancing at double-quick upon us. The 5th New York Volunteers, which had been drawn back to be out of the fire of our own artillery, rapidly
NEWSLAPY
102
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
reformed to meet them on our first position. The enemy received a portion of the fire of the Tenth New York Volunteers as he came rapidly on, and when he neared the 5th New York Volun- teers we charged back, turning his charge into a flight, killing and wounding nearly all of those who fled. This charge of the enemy had also been accompanied by a vigorous attack on our position in the woods, and as we advanced we received a heavy fire from the enemy stationed in them. Our men, nothing daunted, continued to advance, and drove them from it. The brigade was re-formed (as well as the confusion produced by this charge would allow) in its first position, and again it successfully repulsed the advance of the enemy, driving him back to the woods in front, up to which point the colors of the 5th New York were twice carried. During this part of the fight, the artillery on both sides was silent. The enemy continued to throw forward fresh troops. The gallant and lamented Maj. Clitz engaged them on the right.
The 6th Regular Infantry came to reinforce me, and I placed them in position. General Reynolds also came up now with his brigade, and I withdrew my shattered regiments. Besides the ex- haustion of the men from their efforts, and the bad condition of the arms from the firing we had done, about one hundred and forty of the 5th New York Volunteers, and about fifty of the Tenth New York Volunteers, were killed and wounded.
The battle had now become general all along our lines, and the artillery had resumed its fire. I took up a position supporting a twenty-pounder battery, just to the rear of the first position. and maintained it, though suffering continually from the enemy's fire, which now reached all parts of the field. To our left was the 11th U. S. Infantry, also supporting batteries. Towards evening the enemy succeeded in forcing back the division on our left, when the batteries we supported were withdrawn, we throwing in all the fire our diminished minnbers would permit. We here witnessed the firm stand of the 11th U. S. Infantry on our left, and the charge of the 2d U. S. Infantry on our right. The advance of the enemy on our front was thus effectually checked. We then took up a position supporting one of the batteries under Capt. Platt, which position we maintained till darkness put an end to the firing, and the battery was withdrawn.
103
COL. WARREN'S REPORT.
We were much concerned as to the cause of the cheering which took place in our rear, by the regiments of French's and Meagher's brigades, fearing they were a Rebel force that had suc- ceeded in getting in our rear. From the beginning of the battle, till night brought it to a close, we were almost constantly under fire, of which fact I believe the general was a witness. *
* ** *
Col. Bendix has not furnished any report of those distinguished for meritorious conduct. I have only to say that the colonel him- self behaved in the most cool and efficient manner, always at his post, always ready to execute my orders with promptness, and al- ways with his regiment under fire. I must also mention the gal- lant conduct of Surg. Doolittle, whose horse was killed under him and himself bruised, but who has been constantly with the com- mand to this day.
*
¥ * * *
Very respectfully, your obedient servant,
[Signed,]
G. K. WARREN, Col. 5th N. Y. Vols., com. Third Brigade.
LIECT. SAMUEL A. FOSTER,
Aide-de-camp, and
Act. Ass't. Adjt .- Gen .. Sykes' Division.
Gen. MeClellan's entire army was now south of the Chickahominy, and all communications had been severed with White House Landing, rendering it imperatively necessary that the Army of the Potomae should either attack the enemy who remained in the works before Richmond immediately, or continue on towards the James River and establish a new base of supplies. The latter course had been marked out by MeClellan, and he decided to adhere to it, but his action has been severely criticised.
There were left, probably, nearly if not quite ninety thousand men for duty in the army after the battle of Gaines' Mill, and with that body of troops united south
104
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
of the Chickahominy, and the main portion of the Rebel army on the opposite side, with the bridges destroyed, the eapture of Richmond would seem to have been a more than possible task .*
During the next two days the marehing of Porter's corps was slow but continuous, and illuminated at night with the flames of burning supplies, while the air was resonant with explosions of ammunition, all destroyed to prevent them from falling into the hands of the enemy. At Savage's Station, where there were depots of stores and hospitals filled with the wounded from the battle- field of Gaines' Mill, the scenes were scarcely calculated to cheer our jaded soldiers. The spectaele of mangled men of our own corps prone upon the ground around the hospital tents, and the wearied, haggard and smoke- begrimed faces which looked up to us, formed a sombre coloring to the dreary surroundings of the march ; while the ceaseless hurry and tumult of the wagons and artil- lery trains, all headed towards the James River, added to the fast growing apprehension (springing from rumors and conjectures heretofore unheeded) that the Army of the Potomac was really giving up its blood-bought posi- tion before Richmond, and retreating!
The houses along the route were, as a rule, strictly guarded by order of Gen. MeClellan, possibly to prevent straggling ; but our footsore soldiers generally attributed it to motives of mistaken kindness towards their enemies,
* Confederate Gen. Magruder, in his official report of his participation in the Seven Days struggle, says : "From the time at which the enemy withdrew his forces to this side of the Chickahominy and destroyed the bridges, to the moment of his evacuation-that is, from Friday night until Sunday morning-I considered the situation of our ariny as extremely critical and perilous. The larger portion of it
* was on the opposite side of the Chickahominy, * *
* and there were but twenty-five thousand men between his (McClellan's) army of one hundred thousand and Richmond."
105
THE SEVEN DAYS-WHITE OAK SWAMP.
and they made most uncomplimentary criticisms upon the enforcement of orders which appeared arbitrary enough to those whose business, generally interpreted, was to fight and destroy. The "kid glove policy" was scorchingly inveighed against during the marching and fighting of the famous "Seven Days." It is safe to say that the rank and file never appreciated the policy of wasting forces in protecting the property of those who would be active in hostile opposition immediately upon our disappearance from their neighborhood.
At White Oak Swamp onr regiment, with the 5th, picketed during Sunday night, guarding important cross- roads, while the interminable column of baggage and ammunition wagons, artillery, ambulances and the thou- sands of sick and wounded men able to walk, wound its slow length along the worn and muddy road towards the James. On the afternoon of the 30th (Monday), we reached Malvern Hill.
This was an elevated plateau, about a mile and one- half by three-fourths of a mile in area. well cleared of timber, and with several converging roads running over it. In front were numerous defensible ravines, and the ground sloped gradually towards the north and east to the woodland, giving clear ranges for artillery in those directions. Towards the northwest the platean fell off more abruptly to a ravine extending to James River. The dwelling which crowned the hill was a quaint structure of the last century, built of red brick, and standing about a thousand yards from the river, con- manding a beautiful view of the meanderings of the stream for many miles. The house was standing during the Revolution and was marked upon the map accom- panying the early English edition of " Tarleton's Cam-
106
THE NATIONAL ZOUAVES.
paigns." Now it was immediately occupied as head- quarters of the various corps and divisions rapidly com- ing into position, and the roof became the abode of signal officers, whose parti-colored flags, waving swiftly to and fro, were to-morrow to be the unerring guide for the monster artillery of the gunboats in Turkey Bend.
After assisting to collect the stragglers of the army, of which there were many hundreds, Warren's brigade was ordered into a piece of woods on the left of the position, where line of battle was formed and skirmishers advanced. Here an attack was made soon after by the Confederate Gen. Holmes, who had brought part of a division across from the south side of James River to Richmond, and moved down upon the river road, rein- forced by Gen. Wise with a part of his brigade. He opened a fire of artillery on Warren's two regiments, but was at once astonished by a concentrated fire from several batteries stationed on Malvern Hill, which, with the infantry fire from the brigade, caused him to recoil in haste, abandoning two of his guns .*
About sunset comparative stillness reigned, although the sound of musketry was occasionally heard to the front, as the last divisions of our army gradually re- tired towards the new position. Suddenly there broke from the summit of the hill a stirring strain of music and crash of many drums. Those of our regiment on the picket posts near the road north of the woods looked
* Mcclellan's "Reports and Campaigns," (p. 268) : "At about this time, four, P. M., the enemy began to appear in Gen. Porter's front, and at five o'clock advanced in large force against his left flank-posting artillery under cover of a skirt of timber. with a view to eh,diye voir force on Malvern ilill, while with his infantry and some artillery he attacked Col. Warren's brigade. A concentrated fire of about thirty guns was brought to beair on the enemy, which, with the infantry fire of Col. War- ren's conimand, compelled him to retreat, leaving two gun, in the hands of Col. Warren."
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