PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN–SEVEN DAYS’ BATTLES
No. 263. — Report of Col. B. B. Gayle, Twelfth Alabama Infantry, of the battle of Gaines’ Mill.
HEADQUARTERS TWELFTH ALABAMA REGIMENT.
About 2 o’clock on the morning of June 26 the Twelfth Alabama Regiment, in conjunction with the others of General Rodes’ brigade, left its position on the Williamsburg road and commenced the march in the direction of the Chickahominy, the object being to cross the river and attack the enemy in the rear.
On the night of the 26th the regiment, having crossed the river, remained on the battlefield near Mechanicsville.
At an early hour next morning it resumed the march, and while doing so was fired on by the enemy’s battery, but no damage done. After being detained for some time in the forward movement by blockaded roads the regiment reached the new field of action.
This was about 3 p.m. Friday, the 27th. Here it was exposed to a severe fire of artillery; but the order being given to the men to hold their position, all remained at their posts save two or three. The only damage done at this point was a slight wound inflicted on the person of Lieutenant [E. H.] Jones, Company I. This fire from the battery continued about twenty or thirty minutes, after which the regiment continued to advance, and finally halted under the edge of the woods.
About 4 o’clock in the afternoon the Twelfth Alabama, together with the Fifth and Twenty-sixth, was ordered to cross an open field and penetrate the opposite woods, where firing had commenced. While crossing this field a battery opened on our lines from the left, but did us no harm. It was not long before the regiment had marched through the woods and swamp, all in the brigade having lost distance in executing the difficult maneuver.
Here we remained until half an hour before sunset, our front lines being engaged with the enemy. The charge having now commenced, the Twelfth Alabama was immediately ordered over the fence, and in a few moments joined the enthusiastic throng and was advancing rapidly on the retreating lines of the enemy. While in this charge the regiment was exposed to the fire of the enemy, but only a few were wounded.
