PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN–SEVEN DAYS’ BATTLES
No. 227. — Report of Maj. Gen. Thomas J. Jackson, C. S. Army, commanding Second Corps, of the battle of Gaines’ Mill, engagement at White Oak Swamp Bridge, and battle of Malvern Hill.
Extract
The four brigades of Jackson’s division did not act together during the engagement, but were called to separate fields of service. In pursuance of the order to charge the enemy’s front, the First Virginia Brigade, commanded by General C. S. Winder, moved forward through the swamp, and upon emerging into the open field its ranks, broken by the obstacles encountered, were reformed. Meeting at that point with the Hampton Legion, First Maryland, Twelfth Alabama, Fifty-second Virginia, and Thirty-eighth Georgia, they were formed upon his line. Thus formed, they moved forward under the lead of that gallant officer, whose conduct here was marked by the coolness and courage which distinguished him on the battle-fields of the valley. The enemy met this advance with spirit and firmness. His well-directed artillery and heavy musketry played with destructive effect upon our advancing line. Nothing daunted by the fall of officers and men, thinning their ranks at every step, these brave men moved steadily forward, driving the enemy from point to point, until he was finally driven from his last position, some 300 yards beyond McGehee’s house, when night prevented further pursuit.
PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN–SEVEN DAYS’ BATTLES
No. 257. — Report of Col. Bradley T. Johnson, First Maryland Infantry (Confederate), commanding Maryland Line, of the skirmishes at Hundley’s Corner, battles of Gaines’ Mill and Malvern Hill, and skirmish at Westover.
Extract
Arriving on the plateau in front of Gaines’ house I found it occupied by the enemy, and behind them a short distance a battery, which poured a continual and rapid fire into our troops in front of it. Their infantry held a strong position behind the bank of the road in front of Gaines’ house. I found to my horror regiment after regiment rushing back in utter disorder. The Fifth Alabama I tried in vain to rally with my sword and the rifles of my men. The Twelfth Alabama reformed readily on my right, and the North Carolina regiments of Colonel McRae’s command, at my appeal, rallied strongly on my left. Thus re-enforced, my men moved forward at a right-shoulder-shift, taking the touch of elbows and dressing on the alignment with the precision of a parade. Not a man was missing. Marching straight on, when a comrade fell not a man left the ranks, but the surgeons’ detail carried him off.
We gained the road and the house, when Brigadier-General Winder brought the First Brigade into line on my right and ordered me to put some Georgia regiments of Brigadier-General Lawton’s command on my left, to take command of the whole, and charge the battery. This was done. The whole line swept forward, but when close to the battery it limbered up and fled. Two of its pieces were found next morning in the road a mile from the position we charged.
The conduct of my men and officers is beyond praise. They marched, each one in his place, with a precision and firmness which can never be surpasse
