Battle of Mechanicsville.
The 26th of June, found the command on the Picket line, from which we
were hurriedly recalled, only to find our camp had disappeared and our
private property gone "where the woodbine twineth," but in time to
take our place in line with other troops, who were ready to meet the
confederates, who were reported as advancing in our immediate front.
We were ordered by special detail with our Regiment, to support
Cooper's battery. I need not write up this battle in full detail, for
those _who were there_, remember well, the onward rush of the enemy,
how two whole divisions under Gen'l Lee, (a fact developed more
recently,) at 3 p. m. threw themselves upon our line, only to be
hurled back amid great slaughter, how amid the shriek of shell and
flashing musketry they still advanced, how our 58 caliber elongated
balls now for the first time were sent on missions of death, and with
what execution, how Craig Wisotskey fell, and in few moments expired,
one limb being literally torn from the body, when Hamilton and
Siplinger were wounded and assisted from the field, how at length the
shades of night fell, putting an end to the conflict.
There was no movement of troops in the Union lines, the men stood in
their places and poured an uninterrupted fire upon the enemy, while
the artillery, fifty pieces, rained solid shot, shells, canister and
sharpnell, producing great slaughter. The total Union loss in this
battle was eighty killed and two hundred wounded, while the Rebel loss
was three thousand.
We slept on our arms that night, and at the early dawn we were
withdrawn, contrary to the wishes of the Reserves who had held the
ground against five times their number, but we did not then know that
Jackson had come from the Shenandoah with 40,000 men, and was in our
rear.
The forces north of the Chickahominy took up a new position at Gaines'
mill, sometimes called Gaines' hill, and by the rebels, Coal Harbor.
Gen'l Porter is in command with 40,000 men while Gen'l Lee is coming
on with 70,000, he intends to make a grand onset and sweep Porter into
the Chickahominy. Three o'clock of the 27th, has come and the attack
is made, amid cannonry and the angry flashes of musketry, while the
battle cloud becomes thick and heavy. It would take many pages to make
a full record of the terrible battle.
At 4 o'clock we were ordered to the support of the Duryea Zouaves,
which regiment had been almost annihilated. We checked the enemy and
held the line until every cartridge is gone, when we were relieved.
Just behind the front line we halted, when a charge by the enemy broke
the Union line, and a mass of disorganized troops came rushing back.
It was at this juncture Gen'l Porter said, "Col. Roberts, can't you
form a line and stop those flying troops?" to which our brave Colonel
responded, "I can Gen'l, but send me ammunition to stop the enemy."
Steadily as if on dress parade, the regiment faced fleeing friends,
halted the disorganized mass, rallied them under its colors, and then
with fixed bayonet awaited the onset. But cheers are heard coming from
our rear, the tramp of some body of troops hurrying forward, and the
famous Irish Brigade push onward with long and steady step, they check
the enemy and drive him back, the day is won, and quiet is restored
again.
We crossed to the south side of the Chickahominy during the night, and
joined the general retreat toward the James river, the Division having
charge of all the ammunition and other trains. This consumed our time
till the evening of the 29th, when the command is sent out on the road
leading from Charles' city to Richmond, west of our line of retreat,
this being the most dangerous line of approach from the confederate
side. All remember that terrible night while on picket duty, for it
was soon discovered that a large force of the enemy were quietly
concentrating in our front. At day light we fell back to the line of
battle composed of the division of Penn'a Reserves, who were in
advance of all other troops, and awaited the onset.
Half-past two o'clock came, and then Hill with six brigades of his own
and six of Longstreets command, hurled the whole force upon our front.
Brigade after brigade advanced, but recoiled under the direct fire of
the batteries, sustained by the infantry.
"Volley after volley streamed across our front and in such quick
succession that it seemed impossible for any human being to live under
it," writes a Rebel officer. "Use the bayonet only," is our standing
order, as counter-charges are directed against the enemy, and thus for
three hours the battle rages, sustained wholly by McCall's division of
less than six thousand men, and Hill has not driven him an inch.
It was then that J. Finley Bailey our brave Captain was last seen, and
strange as it may seem, no has ever been found who knew aught of his
fate. Lieut. Stewart was wounded while acting adjutant of the
regiment, while nine men were wounded and eight taken prisoner. The
Irish brigade again came to the rescue, at about sunset, and under
cover of the night, we fell back to the James river at Malvern Hill,
in a state of complete exhaustion and despondency.
At the battle of Malvern hill, our command took no active part, but
were held in reserve, the only time in our recollection that we held
such a position.
It may be said here, and the statistics proves the fact, that the
Penn'a Reserves sustained a loss during the seven days battles, of
one-fifth of the total loss, while our strength was only one-fifteenth
of the total strength, and this fact does not find a parallel, in any
campaign or any battle, of any division of the federal army, east or
west.