Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/81

Rh a brigadier-general unknown to me, who had ordered the left of my regiment to march to the left. I remained with a portion of my men on the field until dark, and reported to you in an old field, at which place you were encamped.

On the 1st July we were quiet until six o'clock in the evening, at which time we were ordered in to support D. H. Hill's division. In this fight I was not engaged, but was under a heavy fire of shot and shell.

On the 2d and 3d of July we were marching after the enemy; but their retreat was too speedy to be overtaken. We then bivouacked for several days, invited the enemy to battle, which was not accepted. We then marched to this point, arriving here on the 9th instant.

My loss was very heavy for a small command. The report of casualties has been sent in, as well as that of the action of the officers and men, which need no correction.

I am happy to say that, with a few exceptions, I am truly proud of the officers and men of my command. I cannot well make distinction among those officers and men who so nobly did their duty, but ask that credit may be given them to whom it is due, and action taken against those who deserve it.

Casualties—Killed, 8; wounded, 52; missing, 15. Total, 75.

, Lieutenant-Colonel Commanding.

, July 13, 1862.

General—The Thirty-seventh regiment left its camp on the 25th June, pursuant to orders, with the other regiments composing your brigade, and on the 26th crossed the Chickahominy. On the evening of the 26th my command reached Mechanicsville, and was exposed to a severe artillery fire, which wounded severely several men and two officers, but the regiment was not otherwise engaged.

On the evening of the 27th we reached Cold Harbor, and my command was ordered into action. Not knowing the position of the enemy, we moved up the road some two hundred yards, when the enemy opened a deadly fire upon us, killing several and wounding a large number. The swamp and undergrowth rendered it