Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 08.djvu/83

Rh ) fittest monument is the tattered flag which drooped above our glorious dead when this fearful conflict was over.

I have the honor to report that, on the 25th of June, 1862, after orders were received from you, we proceeded, together with the rest of your brigade, from our camp on the Brooke turnpike up the Telegraph road towards the Chickahominy river.

On the following morning, at half-past three (3) A. M., after bivouacking the night previous, in pursuance of orders received from you, we were in readiness to move, but did not change our position until 10 o'clock A. M., in consequence, as I was informed, of the want of information as to the position of Major-General Jackson. At this hour we were put in motion, the Seventh regiment being in front of your brigade. We soon reached the Chickahominy, upon the crossing of which I was immediately thrown forward with three companies—to wit: Companies C, F and A of the regiment—about one-quarter of a mile in front of the head of our column, for the purpose of dislodging the enemy's pickets between us and the Meadow bridge. After marching a few miles I encountered about two hundred of the enemy, whom we immediately attacked, and, after a short conflict, drove them from their position. We succeeded in capturing their flag and several of their company books and memoranda, with a slight loss of wounded and none killed on my part. The loss of the enemy we had no means of ascertaining. The next point at which we encountered the enemy was a few hundred yards beyond Atlee's station, on the Virginia Central Railroad. Here we had another severe skirmish, Colonel Campbell of the Seventh regiment, immediately ordered forward Company B. During the skirmish, one of the last named company was mortally wounded, and a few soldiers of the other companies were seriously wounded. It is a palpable duty, General, that I should express my high appreciation of the gallant conduct of the three companies that were more immediately under my command. Captain J. McLeod Turner, of Company F, had assigned him the perilous duty of covering my front, and skirmishing through woods, open fields and swamps, for the purpose of discovering the enemy's pickets. Whenever he became engaged he was promptly and fearlessly sustained by Captains R. B. McRae and J. G. Knox, of Companies C and A, under my command. Captain McRae succeeded in bringing away the enemy's flag from the first skirmish, near Crenshaw's, and Captain Knox did his best in effecting the dislodgment of the enemy. After this second