7- QDD2bEDS372 peamalipe© pH8.5 PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES IN THE PENINSULA. GENERAL MVALI7S OFFICIAL REPORTS ■ i; I i \kl.\ Bl HIS DIVISION IN 1 III. BATTLES OF MECHANIOSVILLE, GAINES' MILLS, AND NEWMARKET CROSS ROADS, i: \\n ii STATEMENTS OF GENERALS MEAD AND PORTER, AND COLONELS STONE, FISHER. HAYS. WARNER, TAGGART, ROBERTS, BOLLINGER, AND OTHERS £^13 ' ■ PENNSYLVANIA RESERVES IJS THE PEXIXSULA. SENEGAL M'CALL'S OFFICIAL KEPORTS OP in 01 THE BATTLES OF MECB INICSVILLE, G LINES' MILLS, AND NEW MABKET CROSS ROADS. TOGETHER WITH STATEMENTS OF GENERALS MEAL !lND PORTERj AND COLONELS STONE, FISHER, EATS, WARNER, TAGGART, ROBERTS, BOLLINGER, AND OTHERS. Having observed in the New York World, oi a re- cent date, an extract of so much ot General Mc- Clellan's report of the campaign In the Penin- sula of Virginia as embraces the operations of the Army of the Potomac during the seven days' battles while retiring irom the trout ot Richmond upon James River, we regretted to remark that disparage- ment w as cast on McCall's Division, the Pennsyl- vania Reserves, at the battle of Kelson's Farm (Glendale, or Xew Market Cross Roads, as it has also been stvlcd), lougbt on the 30th of June, 1862. The Pennsylvania Reserves have lought nobly eveiy- wheie during this war, and certainly nowhere more bravely than on the occasion in question, as fully appears from General MoCall'8 reports, and bis testimony before the joint Committee ot Congress on the Couduct of the War, supported by the subordi- nate reports of the officers oi his division, now be- come public property, and which, in vindication of our fellow citizens who have ireely shed their blood in defense of the Union, we publish herewith. In evidence ot the severity of the contest it is only necessary to say that the most desperate fighting on that day was between McCall's Division and A. P. Hill's, and the Rebel graves in front of Met all were ascertained to be two to one in any other part of the field. In this relation it may not be inappro. pi fate to mention that Hill's Division was directly opposed to McCall's at Mechanicsville, at Gaines Mills, and, lastly, intuis battle, and that the Richmond Enquirer, a lew days alter this, while commending their gallantry and the hard work to which they had been put, made this statement : — " Official returns show that A. P. Hill's Division went into the battle at Mechanicsville fourteen thou- sand strong, and after the battle of tho 30th of June were ascertained to be only eight thousand strong. So terrible indeed was Hill's loss that Magru- der, who only arrived on the ground at eleven o'clock that night (30th), was ordered by Lee to relieve Hill, in order that his men might colloct their wounded." The Reserves may well be proud of tho testimony of Longstreet and Pryor, as reported by Surgeon Marsh. GENERAL M'C ALL'S REPORTS. Head-quarters "McCall's Division," Camp near Harrison's Landing, Aug. 16, 1862.— Capt. F. T. Locke, Assistant Adjutant-General— Sir:— I have the honor to submit herewith reports of the operations of my division in the battles before Richmond, on the 26th, 27th ami ;;0ili June last, which have been unavoidably deferred by my capture at the close of the last day's battle and subse quest confinement in Richmond :— Battle of Mechanicsville, June 26. On the afternoon of the 19th June I received through you the orders of General McClellan to move forward with the "greater par '<" of my division to Mechanicsville and relieve Tatloe's Brigade (of Franklin's Corps), then the extreme right of the Army of the Potomac. In accordance with this order I advanced the First and Third Brigades, commanded respectively by Brigadier- Generals Jno. F. Reynolds and T. Seymour, to Beaver Dam Creek, this side of Mechanicsville, and occupied a strong position on its left bank, near its junction with the Chickahomiiiy. From this position I ordered one regi- ment of infantry and a battery to be thrown forward to the heights in front of the village to relieve Taylor, and a strong line of pickets to be e-tablishcd as far forward as Meadow Bridge. I held in reserve the Second Brigade (Meade's) in front of Gaines' Farm, ready to act either in support of the First and Third Brigades, or to oppose the crossing at New Bridge, should it be attempted. The position selected on Beaver Dam Creek was natu" rally a strong one, the left resting on the Chickahoininy and the right extending to dense woods (beyond the upper Mechanicsville road), which were occupied. The passage of the creek was difficult throughout the greater part of my front, and, with the exception of the roads crossing at Ellerson's Mill, near my left, and that near my right, above mentioned, impracticable for artillery. On the right of the last-named road an epaulment calcu- lated for four pieces of field artillery was thrown up, and rifle-pits for a regiment each were constructed in front of each brigade. Cooper's Battery, of six 10-pounder Par- rott guns, on the ligbt^of the upper road (four of tbem be- hind the epaulment), and Smead's (Regular) Battery of four 12 pounder Napoleon guns on the left of the road, commanded that approach. DeIIaet's (Regular) Battery of six 12-pounder Napoleon guns was stationed near the front centre, commanding a more distant view of the same road, and also the lower road direct to the village by Ellerson's Mill. Easton's and Kern's Batteries were with the Second Brigade in reserve. Iu this position I awaited any movement the enemy might initiate. Cobb's Legion, of the Confederate Army, was encamped within view, on the opposite side of the Chickahominy, and A- P. Hill's Division on his right, and about a quarter of a mdc in the rear; detachments from both of which held two redoubts and an extensive line of rifle-pits along the crest of the highlands overlooking the river. At about noon of the Zfith the enemy was discovered to be in motion, and at half-past twelve my pickets, at Meadow Bridge, were driven in, whereupon those along the road were ordered to fall back. Not long afterwards, when the head of his column appeared in front of Me- chanicsville, the infantry and artillery there were with- drawn. In the tncantirao Meade's Brigade had been or- dered forward, and directed to occupy ground in rear of the line, where they would be out of range of musketry 2 and at practicable distance for tho support of any part ot the field. My line or : attic was formed in the follow-in? order, trom right to left :— On the extreme right were seven companies of the Serond Regiment, Lieutenant-Colonel McCandless; then six companies of the First Rifles, Major Stone; the Fifth Regiment, Colonel Simmons; the First Regiment, Colonel Roberts; the Eighth Kcgi- ment, Colonel Hays; the Tenth Eegiment, Colonel KirK ; the Ninth Regiment, Colonel Jacks >x, and the Twelfth Regiment, Colonel Taggaet, which occupied the extreme left. Meade's Brigade, in reserve, con- sisted of the Third Regiment, Colonel Sickle; the Fourth Regiment, Colonel Magilton, and the Seventh Regiment, Colonel Harvey/. Easton's Battery offoar 12-pound r Na ■<•■] on guns, and Ke.^'s Battery of six 12-pounder howitzers, wer ■ also he] 1 in r< a rve. I should here mention that the Sixth Regiment, Lieutenant-Colo- nel McKean, having been detached some days before, was at TunstaU's Railroad Station, while the Eleventh Regiment, Colonel Gallagher, was on picket on the Chickahominy. These two regiments were consequently thrown out of the engagement, except that the Eleventh was brought forward on the morning of the 27th, and was under fire (lo ing one man) fcr a short time before being withdrawn. The Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, Col. Child*, attached to the Pennsylvania Re- serves, was under arms and in readiness for any service that ii Ightbc required cf it, but v\as not called into action. At about three o'clock, P. M., the enemy's lines weie formed in mv front, and their skirmishers were rapidly advanced, delivering then fire as they came forward. They were speedily driven back by a discharge of artil- lery and a rattling reply ot musketry. At this moment I rode along the front of several regiments, and I remarked in the cheerful and animated countenances of the men the pi omise of that brilliant success which they so nobly achieved in the sequel In a short time the enemy, who were commanded by General Robert E. Lee in person, boldly advanced in force undercover of a heavy artillery fire, and attacked any position trom right to left. It was not long, however, before I was satisfied that his main attack was directed upon mv right, and in consequence I ordered Kern's Battery thither, and supported it by advancing from tho reserve the Third Reciment, Colonel Sickel. Here for a long time the battle raged with great fury. The Georgians now rushed headlong against the Second Regi- ment, but only to be mowed down by those gallant lel- lows, whose commander soon sent to the rear some seven or eight prisoners taken in the rencontre. Aftei this the enemy retired for a time from the clos contest on the right, but along the line ftom the right ccntie to the extreme left kept up a heavy general dis- charge of artillery and small arms, which, w ith the rapid reply of the Reserves, wa« at times multiplied to an un- broken roar ot thunder. Somewhat later in the day, a heavy column was launched down the road to Ellerson's Mill, where another most determined attack in force was mad°. I had already s nt Easton's Battery to General Seymour, commanding the le:t wing, and I now des- patched the Seventh Regiment, Colonel Harvey, to the extreme left, apprehending that the enemy might at- tempt to turn that flank, by crossing the creek below the mill. Here again the Reserves maintained their position, aud sus.aincd their character for steadiness in fine style never retiring one foot during a severe struggle with some of the very best troops of the enemy, fighting under the direction of tiieirmost distinguished General. For hour after hour the battle was hotly contested, and the rapid Are of our artillery, dealing dea h to an awful extent, was unlntermltted, while tho greatly superor force of the enemy enabled him to precipitate column after column of fresh truops upon my ncariy exhausted lines. About sunset Griffin 'a Brlga e, i f Uorreix's Divi- sion, arrived on the ground, together with EDWARDS' Battery. I requested the gallant General to move his brigade to the extreme right, that being the weakest point of my position. Some time elapsed before these troops readied t lie ground indicated, and as tho evening was now far advanced, only a portion of his force could be brought into action. A short time, however, before the close of the engagement, the Fourth Michigan, Colonel Woodbury, relieved tho Fifth Re- serves, whos^ ammunition was exhausted, and two com- panies of the Fourteenth New York joined the First Rifles and the, fotnehmeut of the Berdan -harp-shooters. Edwap.us 'Rattery had been left by Griffin in reserve, and late in the evening I tp.rned it over to Gen. Seymour to be put in position on the left. About nine o'clock P. Ii-., this wcl' contested action terminated by the with- drawal of the cne i y with very heavy loss. My attention was now directed to the cleaning of the arms and tho issuing of ammunition to be in readiness for the resumption of the combat in the morning. This con- sumed our time till one o'clock A. M., of the 27th. The troops had but little time ior rest, as before daybreak I received through you General McClellan's order to withdraw my Division and fall back to the rear of Gaines' Mills. 'ibis order, I confess, gave me some concern. Had it reached me at midnight, the movement might have been accomplished without difficulty and without loss; but now it would be daylight betore the movement, which, under fire, is one of the most delicate and difficult in war particularly in presence of a greatly superior rorce" could be commenced. I, nevertheless, went to work witl out a moment's delay. Meade's Brigade was the first to be withdrawn, but before this was accomplished the enemy opened fire upon us. His fire was promptly returned, and soon became general along the line. Under these circumstances great caution and deliberation be- came necessary to screen the movement, and conse- quently tho troops had t.> be withdrawn slowly and at in- tervals. Meade's Brigade, however, retired in excellent order. Griffin's Biigade find Battery I then ordered to withdraw; this was done coohy and successfully. Rey- nolds' Brigade followed, during which movement a scatteing fire was kept up, and this was continued until all the artillery was brought out of action. Lastly, Sey- mour's Brigade was brought out. In fine, our killed had been buried, our wounded had been sent off by 7 o'clock A. M., o:i the 27th, and not a man, nor a gun, nor a mus- ket was left upon the field. Tho regiments filed past as steadily as if marching from the parade ground ; and it must have been some time before the enemy were aware that we were gone, as no attempt was made to follow us immediately. My loss in this battle, as near as I have been able to as- certain, was thirty-three killed, and one hundred and fifty wounded. The loss of tho enemy was heavy beyond precedent in this war, in proportion to the numbers engaged. The strength of my division on the field did not exceed seven thousand, including officers ; that of the enemy was some- where neat twenty thousand. Hill's Division alone was officially reported in the Richmond papers at fourteen thousand in this battle, and was admitted to have been reduced by casulties, after the battle ot New Market Cross Roads, to eiyht thousand. I learned from official authority, while a prisoner in Richmond, that General Lee's loss in killed and wounded at Mechanicsville, did not faU short of two thousand. In the official returns published, it was admitted that the First North Caiolina lost nearly one-half its effective force, and the Forty- fourth Georgia nearly two-thirds. "Stonewall" Jack- son's artillery was in the battle, with himself personally, although his infantry was several miles to the right of my position. Where all so gallantly supported the honor of the flag, it would appear invidious to particularize, but my thanks are particularly due to Generals Reynolds, Mead*, and Seymoir ; to Colonels Simmons and Taggart ; to Lieu- tenant-Colonel McCandless and Major Stone, aU of the Reserves, and who were all zealous and active, as well as gallant, in tho discharge of their arduous duties, throughout this well fought action. The officers of artil- lery especially distinguished themselves, E vston, De- IIart, Smead, Cooper and Kerns. General Meade is entitled to credit for his promptness and zeal in carry- ing out all instructions conveyed to him, though not directly engaged. It U with much pleasure I acknowl- edge my obligation in Briga G 'in, who promptly brought, iila fine brigade to m time v. i rul Mo: ' .nee, and was ready to act, bad aid been re- Ca it il i Q. J a ssistant Ad u and Meconeley, Aids-dc-Camp, as w :i tonair Bea tv. Acting ().• I notice for their otber duties Incident to their offices. Report of the Part Taken by McCall'a Divi- sion (the Pennsyh ania Reserves), in the Baf- ile of-Gaines' lllills, on the '27tb Jnnc, 1S63. 'awn from 1 enemy, on the mi . aoved steadily and in order to e I, in rear o Mills, whi re it arrived at 10 A. U I was notified by General Fobteb, that as my dfvision li :d been en ered from loss of sleep, and had been under fire for some hou-'s in the inoraiii: , it would be held in n serve to-day. ■ different brigades of Porter's C »rps arrived on the groun Ith li the i ol the dens: woods bounding the extensive plain of clear 6 farm lands, strel fling so or fifteen hun- dred yards back to th oops con- stituted the first line, and mj the o icn the re ;r. The occupied Hi' space between the lines. The cavalry of my division, ih ■ Fourth Regime it Pennsylvania, I placed under cov r i f the sIod • In r< a •. At3 ! o clock P. M. the enemy advanced and opened his fire. V ' the action commenced, you ordered me to move forward the Second and Third Bri; my division to support the first line. This was imui di- ately done, and in a style that called forth an esprea ion .These two brigades were soon under fire i incesthe regiments going at once into line where intervals had been left, while in otm rs they halted dir the line already for. nod. In a Sho I time fti Fiist Brigade of my division al o was ordered forward, andsoou i e :am lengageel [nt the batteries of my division,! Coopee's on the right and DeHaei'S E aston 1 in the centre and on the left, were :>Uo a Ivanced an I slieiled th • enemy over the I i t e men in line. The action hal soon bccv.ne general, and the fire in front of my division, which was near the centre of the line of bait above which the artillery fire at tl distingnl hed. T i enemy was apparently drawn up in lour or and on" after another of them was thrust torward on my front as fa as the pi recoiled 1) fore the well directed fire of the Reserve . or at such short intervals tha* the thoroughly beated muskets of my men had not time ticool. In this way, for upwards of three hears, my brave fellows were under fire, the regiments either rclicvin ot or sonic i of another divisi >n whose men had become ox- hansted. About this time, sei ing some com notion on the left of my division, 1 rode rapidly to tb fonnd that the Fourth Re, iment had been drive i In and ,;1 M.E \DE. ie, however, vi tnned. I rode In front, ,i idressed i e mi d briefly, ml they soon resumed their phue in line of battle. thin nowont eleftofmydi Ision was in suc- cessful and satisfactory operation; 1, therefore, rode slowly along t i lor a short time in the con tre and th m proceeding to tb l right. Here I found Gen Reynolds coming from the woods With the I Eighth Regiments of hi- brigade, be having relieved them and brought them out of action, in conse [uence of their ammunition being exhausted, He eijortcJ to mc that Iment had likewise nearly expended all to berclieved. On hearing this] a int Adjutant-General, d the line an I, ■ ; ion, I I I l now di battery in roar of mj l {ht into . to the spot an ! r it, to tlie officer in co ..maud. I niedand at once i to occupy the position. B i r of men . It soon became a] bad met with a reverse there. I ; out In the men and trove vigorously to rallj in liana cavalrv, I ba : the ; r ..in I, in line, n ith orde id to pas? their line. My endeavor ■ that wcio in retreat and brought tliem into battery 1 on the, oppo- • i le; I thus checked tl About ■ • Ith Meagher's id where I w as and I stopped the lire of the two batteries just brought into action m the hill in front. At tin foot oi the bill, however, th y were met byG neral KitzJoux Poster, wh ' baited the column oi our!: andtbcen?ni .. My division In good order and d Hill (in compliance with General Poster's order) I. On Trent's Hill the division lay upon their arms till morning. inly occurr nee of this day's battle that I have cause to regret (except the J i manv brave officers and me.!. sincerely mourn,) is the capture by the enemy of a 1 10I the li ventb Regiment amanding. This rej iment oi Meade's Brigade had, il -of the arternoon, o rth New Jers y i: Colonel Simpson (Major United Statt T i iograi hical En- . the latt r pi im sing t ■ - ip iorl the former ia case ot being hard pressed. In the heat of the action, th Eleventh Rogim ntb coming enveloped in the smoke of battle, continued the light alter the rest of the line had retired, hav.ng been closely engaged with a Rebel Re i- ment in front; and before the Colonel was aware th 1 he i left alone on the field, lie u under ivor ( iment-., one on either flan';, b s des the one in front. Notwithstanding the peril of his position, he ke it up a galling fire on the a Ivaucing foe as lie himself retired in good order on the Fourth New llcre, to crown his ill fortune, he found that he, as we'i son, was completely sureounded, a strong force having' already taken position in his immediate rear. The situation oi tl ese two br v r gim a 9, which had so nobly maintained their ground after all had re" .,,.■, i .i i ss; their retreatwas entirely cut oft by the Increasing lorce of iho enemy, who wcr.: still advancing', and they w^re compelled to surrender, '-o cen. ure can possibly attach to cither Colonel Galla- ■ Colonel Simpson, or the brave men of their re- iccount ofthis ill turn offort me; br.t, on the contrary, they are entitled to the c : having held their groun I until it was tenable n i lon;cr. I have only i i tthisdav the Resen ■> the chara tor they had gained m the battle of Mi • the a ternoon of tb an I tli" morning ofthis day. My thanks are due to Brigadier-Generals Mea.de and Setmoi b tor the aid afforded me in this hard .oujit held. I reeret to have to report the capture ot Brigadier-Gene- 1 it Adjutant-General, Kings" bi RY.whowere ililc returning tothe , ,i the morning of tb To tiio officers ot my personal Staff, and parti sularly to Captain II. J. Uiddle, Assistant Adjutant-General, my Hani and efficient services. The loss f the division to-day was heavy'; it U em braced in the total at the toot ofthis report. aa. New Market Road. bb. Charles City Road. K Kearney's Division. NEW MARKET CROSS ROADS BATTLE GROUND. rc. Turkey Bridge (or Quaker Road). S. Sumner's Corps. M. MeCall's Division. H. Hooker's Division. LL Longstreef s and Hill's Divisions. Battle of New Market Cross Roads, June 30, 186a. On Friday evening, June 2ith, after the battle of Gaines' Mills, my division crossed the Chickahominy to Trent's Hill, where it remained till eigrht o'clock P. M- on the 28th. At that hour I received your orders to move in the direction of White Oak creek, and to take with me Hunt's Reserve Artillery, consisiing of thirteen batte- ries. As this would extend my column many miles in length, and as my flank would constantly be exposed to attack, I placed the whole of the Third Brigade, by regi- ments, between the batteries, to afford them support- This movement, owing to narrow and bad roads, was ne" cessarily slow, and my division, after being all night on the ma' ch, did not reach the crossing of White Oak creek until near noon on the 29th. Having crossed the creek, I was ordered by the General-in-chief to put my division in position to repel any attack by the enemy from the direc- tion of Richmond. This I did, and I remained in position till five o'clock P. M. At that hour the march was re- sumed and continued by my command till I reached the Quaker road crossing of the New Market road, at mid, night. My oiders were to take a position here to repel an attack from Richmond. Havinp selected my position, and established the First and Second Brigales, and sent to the front a regiment of infantry and a battery, and a strong picket in advance of them, I kept the Third Bri- gade in reserve, and awaited the result till near daylight, when I was ordered to return. I marched backdeft in iront and reached the point where the Turkey-bridge road turns off Irom the New Market road, about seven o'clock A. M. on the 30th. Here I was ordered to halt till the whole of the immense supply trains of the. Army of the Potomac, then slowly advancing trom White Oak Creek, had passed towards James River, and to repel any attack that the enemy might make on it. At nine o'clock com- menced the heavy cannonade, caused by the enemy at- tempting to force the passage of the creek, and it con- tinued with little interruption till noon. It was a determined artillery duel, but as I did not ap- prehend their ability to effect a passage, I at once came to the conclusion that any attack on myself must come from the direction of Richmond, on my right flank. I had thrown out a cavalry picket in that direction, and on afterwards detecting indications of an advance of the enemy, moved out a regiment of infantry to strengthen the picket. Having examined the country around me, I made the disposition of my troops, facing to the right flank, as tol - lows :— Meade's Brigade on the right, Seymour's on the leit, and held Reynolds' Brigade, now command d by Colonel seneca G. Simmons, of the Fifth, in reserve. The artillery I established in front of the line, Randall's (regular; Eattcry on jthe right, Cooper and Kern's op- posite the centre, and two German batteries (accidentally with my division,) of four 20-pound Parrott guns each, commanded by Captains Dietrich and Kennerheim, on the left of the infantry line. The Fourth Regiment Pennsylvania Cavalry, Coloael Childs, was drawn up ontheleftand rear, but not being called into action, were subsequently ordered to fall back. The country on my new front was open, embracing a large farm, intersected towards the right by tha New Market road and a small strip of timber parallel to it; the open front was 800 yards, its depth at least 1000 yards. It was a beautiful battle-field, but too large for my force, the lands on either flank being open. My disposition having been made, I calmly awaited the approach of the enemy. About half-past two o'clock, P. M., my pickets, after s kirmisking were driven in by a strong advance, but with- out loss on our side. At three o'clock the enemy sent forward a regiment on my left centre, and immediately afterwards another on my right centre, to feel for a weak point. They were under cover of a shower of shell, and advanced boldly, but were both driven back, the former by the Third Eegiment,Col. Sickel, and the latter by the Seventh iiegiment, Col. Harvey. After this I rode for ward with the First Rifles, and placed them in a narrow skirt of timber, on the left and in front. Soon after this a very heavy column moved io the left of my iine,and threat- ened to take me in flank. I at once changed front on that flank, sending Col. Simmons with two regiments of the First Brigade to reinforce that quarter. This movement was promptly executed, but not a moment too soon, for a furious attack with artillery and infantry was almost immediately made on that flank. I at the same time di- rected Capt. Biddle, Assistant Adjutant-General, to ride to the left, and change the direction of fire of the two German Batteries from the front to the left. This order was gallantly executed, but it is with deep grief that I have to state that this brave and valuable officer fell here mortally wounded. For nearly two hours the battie raged fiercely, the enemy throwing in a perfect storm of shot and shell, and making several attempts to force my position Always checked by the steadiness of my brave Re- serves, he at last retired for a time, driven back by the well directed fire of musketry. During this attack the gallant and lamented Col. Simmons fell, also mortally wounded. Itmustnotbe imagined that the enemy was inactive along the conire ami right of my line doling all this time- Cooper's and Kekx's Batteries, in iront of the centre, were boldly charged upon, each time a regiment dashing up to within fifty or forty yards. They were then hurled back by a storm of cannister and the deliberate Bre 01 the First Regiment, Colonel Roberts, whom I had placed Immediately in rear of Kern's, and the Ninth Regiment, Col. Jackson, in rear of Cooper's. The contest was severe, and put the steadiness ot these regiments to the test; both suffered heavy loss, but particularly the First Regiment, whose gallant Lieutenant-Colonel fMolNTTRE), was severely wounded. Some time alter this, the most determined charge of the day was made upon Randall's Battery, byafull brigade, advancing in wedge shape, without order, but with a wild recklessness that 1 never saw equaled. Somewhat similar charges had, as I have stated, been previously made on Cooper's and on Kern's Batteries by single regiments without success, the Confederates having been driven back with heavy loss. A like result appears to have been anticipated by Randall's company; and the Fourth Regiment (as was subseqelitly re- ported to me), was requested not to advance be- tween the guns as I had ordered, as it inter- fered with the cRnnonieis, but to let the Battery deal with them. Its gallant commander did not doubt, I am satisfied, his ability to repel the attack, and his guns fairly opened lanes in the advancing host. These gaps were, however, immediately closed, and the enemy came on, with arms trailed, at a run, to the very muzzles of his guns, wnero t.ey pistoled or bayoneted the can- noniers. Two guns were limbered, and were in the act of wheeling to the rear when the horses were shot, the guns were both overturned, and presented one confused heap of men, horses and carriage I. Over all these tho men of the Eleventh Alabama Regiment dashed in, a perfect torrent of men, and 1 am sorry to say tho greater part of the Fourth Regiment gave way. The left com- pany (Captain Conrad) of that regiment, however, stood its ground, and with some fifty or eighty men of other companies met the Alabamians I had ridden into the regiment and endeavored to check them ; but, as is seen, with only partial success. It was here, however, my fortune to witness between those of my men who stood their ground and the Rebels who ad- vanced, one of the fiercest bayonet fights that perhaps ever occurred on this continent. Bayonets were crossed and locked in the struggle; bayonet wounds were freely given and received. I saw skulls crushed by the heavy blow of the butt of the musket, and, in short, the despe- rate thrusts and parries of a life and death encounter, proving indeed that Greek had met Greek when the Ala- bama boys fell upon the sons of Pennsylvania. My last reserve regiment I had previously sent to sup- port Cooper, and I had not now a man to bring forward. My men were bodily borne off the ground by superior numbers. A thick wood was immediately in rear, and the Confederates uid not follow my men into the thicket. It was at this moment, on witnessing the scene I have described that I bitterly felt that my division ought to have been reinforced. My force had been reduced, by the battles of the 26th and 27th, to le-s than six thousand, and on this occasion I had to contend with the divisions of Loncstreet and A. P. Hill, estimated among the strongest and best o t the Confederate army, and numbering that day from eighteen to twenty thousand. The centre was at this time still engaged and I could not withdraw any troops from it. The Alabama troops did not attempt to enfilade my line, and leaving the guns on the ground, (the horses hav- ing, during the fight, been either killed or dispersed) they retired to the woods on my right. It was now near sunset and the heat of battle had greatly subsided. I now rode to the rear to rally and collect the stragglers. At a short distance lean two regiments of Kearney's Division. I requested them to move forward, but was iuiormed their orders were to await the arrival of General Kearney. I moved od and set some officers at work to form the stragglers of my own regiments Into line. On my return I round General ftBABNBT. lie pui his regiments In motion and moved to the front and on the rifht of my line. As he rode away lie said to me, "If you can bring for- ward another line in a few minutes we can stop tbem." By this time tho sun had set, and the desultory tiring was confined to the extreme right. ina ahorttJme Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, Third it, came np and reported to mo that he had col- 1 cted aliont SI ii nan, with whom he was then advancing. I rode on I the head of the column in a direc- tion to i ri i thi three np on Kearney's left. On arriving near the ground where i: and all's Battery stood, I halted THOMPSON'S command, wishing to ascer- tain w aether any of my men were still in front of me. I had left Capt. Conrad's company about one hundred yards in advance, but it was now so dark I could scarcely distinguish a man at ten paces. The battle, in fact, was now over; the firing on the left and centre had ceased, and there was only a desultory firing between Ki: I men and the enemy, some distance to my right. I rode forward to look for Conrad, and on the ground where I left him I rude into the enemy's picket, tho Forty seventh Virginia, Colonel Mayo, resting under some trees, and before I knew in whoso presence I was, I was taken pi' fortunately for myself I had no staff officer with me, or I should have sent him forward to examine the ground, instead of ; o ■ but my Adjutant-General, the valiant Captain Henry J. Biddle had been mortally wounded; Lieut. Scheetz had his horse killed, and was injured by the fall; my Chief of Ordnance, the gallant BEATTT, had been severely wounded at my side, and only left me when 1 had insisted on bis doing so ; my excellent Orderly, Sergeant Simeon Dunn, Fourth Pennsylvania Cavalry, was also fatally wounded at my side, and out of my escort of a captain and twenty men of the Fourth Cavalry, but one corporal (the brave King) and one private remained with mo; these two men were made prisoners with myself. About the time I was taken prisoner the desultory firing on my right died away. The conduct of the Pennsylvania Reserves on this hard fought field is worthy of all praise, as is fully attested by their stubborn resistance and their heavy loss in killed and wouuded. Besides the officers I have already named 1 am greatly indebted to the gallant commander of tho Second Brigade, General George G. Meade, who ren- dered me efficient aid until his wounds compelle J him to leave the field. My thanks are likewise due to Colonel Roberts, commanding First Regiment; Col. Sickel, commanding Third Regiment ; Colonel Hays, command, ing Eighth Regiment; Colonel Jackson and Captain Cuthbertson, of Ninth Regiment, and other brave offi- cers not commanding regiments, of whom Lieutcnaut, Colonel McIntire and Major Wollworth are among the many wounded. I must also name as entitled to favor- able notice Acting Division Surgeon Stocker, who ac- companied me in the early part of the day and assisted in communicating my orders until slightly wound. -d in the wrist by the fragment of a shell. Indeed, to all are my best thanks and praises due for bravely contributing to the important result-, namely, the defense of the immense supply train while passing that point and the holding the enemy in check upon the New Market road, where he strove desperately to cut in two the retiring column of the Army of the I'otomac. The trophies of the day were three stands ot colors cap. tured and about two hundred prisoners. The loss oi the divi-ion In killed, wounded and prison ers in the three battles of the 2uth, ^7th and 30th of June was three thousand one hundred and eighty, the killed and wounded amounting to sixteen hundred and fifty, out of about seven thousand w bo went into battle at Me- chauicsville on the 26th of June. I am, very respectfully, your obedient servant. GEORGE A. McOALL, Brig.-Uen. Com'g Division Testimony before the Joint Committee on the Conduct of the War. cenerat Ceorge A. McCall, sworn and examined by Mr. Covode: — Question.— It has been reported that on some one occa- sion during the peninsula campaign the Pennsylvania Keserves, under your command, were "routed." Will you please state whether or not such is the fact, and the particulars, if any, that gave rise to such report? Answei.— The only report in existence, I believe, to which your inquiry can refer, is the report of General Joseph Hooker, United States Volunteers, of the part taken by his division in the battle of June 30th, in front of Richmond called by him the "battle ot Glendale," j published in Wilkes' Spirit of the Times, of November 1, 1862. In this roort that officer states "the whole of McCall's Division was completely routed'' &c. This | sweeping assertion was regarded by every officer and man of my division as exhibiting a misapprehension of facts that was perfectly incomprehensible, aud it caused me to j add to my official reoort of that battle (which I desig- nated "Newmarket Cross Roads") to Ceneral McClel- j LAN a supplemental report refuting this charge and ex- hibiting evidence to show that it was not in accordance with facts. Now, in order, sir, that your question may be compre- hensively answered, I must premise that of the several a:tacks made on the right flank of the Union army while retiring from the front of Richmond, upon James river, one of the most formidable was that commanded by General Robert E. Lee in person, on Monday, the 30th of June, 18G2, The Federal troops, more or less engaged in this battle, were Sumner's Corps, and McCall's, Kearney's and Hooker's Divisions- General McClellan was not present at this point, and the Corns and the Divisions here named manoeuvred and fought independently, except, that the several com- manders were instructed to maintain their positions, and protect the army trains tnen moving on towards James river. To " McCall's Division" was assigned, by order of the General-in-Chief (through General PoRTER),a posi- tion a short distance in front of the point where the line of march turned abruptly from the New Market road towards the river. I accordingly formed my divisions in two lines, crossing at right angles the New Market road, and in front of the Turkey bridge (or Quaker) road lead- ing to the river, and along which the trains were then moving Sumner's position was at some distance to the left of mine, and somewhat retired; Hooker was on Sumner's left, and slightiy advanced; Kearney was on the opposite side of the road, and consequently on my right ; there was more or less interval between each two. The Confederate forces advanced from Richmond down the New Market road, Lee's object being to cut, or break through, the Union army at this point. Had he succeeded in doing so lie could have seized and strongly occupied the only two approaches to James river, and then tfie left wing of our army (Heintzelman's and Franklin's Corps) would inevitably have been cut oft from McClel- lan, and the right wing would have been tauen in rear on its march. That this was Lee's object, as it was his expectation to accomplish it, is established by the de- claration of Gen. Longstreet "that i/McCall's division "had not fought as it did, they would have captured the Federal army " (See burgeon Marsh's testimony here- with.) And from the disposition of Lee's forces, it nece- sarily followed that the brunt of the attack would be on my position. It was so ; and to my division, which had been fighting and marching for four days and nights, without rest for a single night, it was, indeed, a desperate affair. My division, with the exception of an unimpor- tant reinforcement, had fought the battle of Mechanics- ville single handed, on the 26th, and had inflicted on Lee the only defeat the Conledcrates acknowledged thev sus- tained in front of Richmond; their own accounts admit- ting "they were repulsed at every point wtth unparalleled loss." On the 27th my division fought again at Gaines' Mills, and having lost heavily in the last battle, they were now reduced to about six thousand men. On the 30th, at .Sew Marfeot Cross Roads, the attack was made on my division by Longstreet's and A. P. Hill's Divi- sions, crack troops, and about eighteen thousand strong. For some time my division alone v> as engaged ; several attempts having been made to find a weak point in my line. From tie nature of the ground I was ordered to occupy, both my flanks were unavoidably more or less exposed, and about five P. M. my left flank was threat- ened by a heavy body of the enemy. Having detected this at once, I ordered the Fifth and Eighth Regiments from my second line to support the left, and directed a change of front there of both infantry and artillery. This was promptly done, but not a moment too soon. The advance of the enemy under cover of a terrific artillery fire was gallantly met, and his line was broken and com- pletely routed, and over two hundred prisoners taken by the Fifth, Eighth and Tenth Regiments, commanded by Colonels FisnER and Hays, and Lieutenant-Colonel Warner, respectively. (See their reports herewith.) Immediately after this, a still heavieribody of the enemy advanced rapidly. My regiments had inecessarily become somewhat disordered by the very impetuosity of their charge, and were also weakened by tae detach- ments required to conduct their prisoners to the rear. Tlie enemy, greatly superior in numbers, was upon them before they had time to reform, and they in turn were compelled to retire, which they did, directly to the rear At the same time (by this advance of the enemy) the Twelfth Regiment, which had been divided and detached by General Seymour, of the Third Brigade, commanding the left wing of the Division, after it had been established in line by myself, was cut off from the rest of my line and driven to the left and rear. Simultaneously the cannon- iers of a section ofa battery belongingto Porter's Corps, and left that day with me, fled with their horses and limbers on the approach of the enemy, breaking through the four companies of the Twelfth, their support, and trampling the men. This confused mass, together with the other six companies of the Twelfth and the detach- ments of the Fifth, Eighth and Tenth, who, as before stated, were carrying prisoners to the rear, were hurried down a little bye-road between Sumner and Hooker, and in part, possibly upon the latter, closely followed by the enemy. The enemy, suddenly and unexpectedly coming on fresh troops, for Sumner and Hooker had not hitherto been engaged, soon recoiled, and were driven over upon my centre (not on Kearney, as stated by Hooker. See Col. Stone's report) Meantime, the Fifth, Eighth, Tenth and Rifles, who, as already remarked, had retired immediately in rear of their own ground and to the right of Sumner, were railed individually by their Colo- nels, and subsequently came forward under them, the Bri- gade Commander not being present. (Se^ reports of Col. Hays and others.) This teaaporary reverse of Seymour's brigade (one out of three brigades), you perceive, has been magnified int the complete rout of McCall's whole Divi- sion. But to show you, sir, what effect this reverse had on the division, I have it in evidence, by officers at that moment engaged in the centre of the division (see report of Lieutenant-Colonel McIntire and others, herewith), that it was not known or even heard of in their vicinitd I until the next day, or after the battle was over. I was I with the centre at the-time, and it was not known to me I at that time, nor at the time I returned to Harrison's Landing (from Richmond), where my official report of that battle was written; for, as already remarked, the enemy, repulsed by Sumner and Hooker, was thrown on my centre, whence they were finally repulsed by my Di- vision. I have stated that both my flanks were unavoidably more or less exposed ; that on the left I have already described. On the right, more than one hour later in the day, Randall's Battery was charged upon by the enemy in great force, and with a reckless impetuosity I never saw equaled; they advanced over a space of six hundred yards of open ground. The guns of the battery mowed them down at every discharge, yet they never paused. A volley of musketry was poured into them at short dis- tance, by the Fourth Regiment, in support of the battery, but it did not check them for an instant; they dashed on and bayoneted or pistoled the cannoniers at their guns. Part of the Fourth gave way; the remainder, however, with part of the Seventh in their rear (then coming forward.), stood their ground like heroes. I was with the battery at the time, and it was my fortune to wit- ness, in the bayonet fight that there took place, such a dispiay of reckless daring on the part of the Ala- bamians, and of unflinching courage on the part of the Pennsylvanians, as is rarely belield. My men were, how- ever, overpowered by numbers and borne off the ground. The battery was taken, but immediately abandoned by the enemy, who rapidly retired. These reverses on the flanks were the only serious discomfitures during the day. (See report of Assistant-AdjutantrGeneral Clarke, Cap- tain Ccthbeetson, Coldnel Roberts, Lieutenant Wat mough, A. D. C, and others, herewith). Just before sun- set, about 7 o'clock P. M., at least two hours alter Hooker reported my whole Division completely routed, Cooper's Battery, in front of the centre, was, after several charges had been repulsed, flnallv taken by the enemy, but only to be letaken by the Ninth Regiment, in a most glorious charge, (see. Captain Cutiibebtson'8 report), wherein the standard of the Tenth Alabama was captured by private William J. Gallagheii, of company r, who killed the Rebel color bearer and seized the stand- ard, which he presented to me on the ground. I have no desire to treat lightly ihe reverses on both flanks of my Division in this hard fought field; they were the almost inevitable results of greatly superior numbers, impelled on those points with great, impetuosi- ty; but the Pennsylvania Reserves, as a Division, al- though terribly shattered, were never " routed;" they maintained their ground, with these exceptions, for three hours against thrice their numbers, in, I believe, the hardest fought and bloodiest battle in which they ever have been engaged, and m this opinion I am sustained by most of those officers, if not all, with whom I have con- versed on the subject. Had my division been routed, the march of the Federa. army would certainly have been seriously interrupted by Lee forcing his masses into the interval— see General Porter's statement herewith. When I was surrounded and taken prisoner, I was conducted at once to Lee's head-quarters. Here Longstreet told me they had se- venty thousand men bearing on that point, all of whom would arrive before midnight; and had he succeeded in forcing McClellan's column of inarch, they would have been thrust in between the right and left wings of the Federal army. Now, under this very probable contin- gency, AarZ lnot held my position (see General Porter's report herewith) the state of affairs in the left wing of Mc Clellan's army would have been critical Indeed; but Lee teas checked (as Longstreet admitted) by my divi- sion (see Surgeon Marsh's report herewith), and the di- visions in the rear, together with the Pennsylvania Re- serves and others, moved on during the night, and joined McClellan at Malvern Hill before daylight What share my division had in effecting this happy result let the country judge. Individually, I labored under great disadvantages In this battle, having sooner or later In the day lost all my Brigade Commanders, Colonel Simmons, commanding First Brigade (since the capture of General Reynolds, on the 27tli>, having been mortally wounded earlv In the day; General Meade, commanding Second Brigade, wounded and compelled to retire, and General Setmoub commnnding Ihlrd Brigade, bavin; 1 disappeared (see Col BATS' report). In addition to all this, in the course of the day all my staff were killed, wounded, or put hors du combat; my faithful Orderly was mortally wounded at my side, and my peisonal escort, a Captain and twenty men of Fourth Cavalry, killed, wounded or dispersed— two only excepted— having been myself almost all day under the hottest fire I ever experienced, encour- aging my men under all these disadvantages. The trophies I won this day were between two hundred and three hundred prisoners (see reports of Colonels Hays, Warner and Fisher), and three stands of colors. These colors are now (they were a short lime since) in the Adjutant-General's office, Washington, and are duly labeled with the names of the captors. I here insert, from a quantity of testimony in my pos- session, the following extracts from officers of rank :— First— "Washington, October 20, 1862. To General McCall— * * * "Had not McCall held his place on New Market road, June 30, that line of march of the (Federal) army would have been cut by the enemy. "[Signed] F. J. PORTER, "Maj.-Gen. Commanding Fifth Provisional Corps." "Second— Camp near Wakrenton, Va., Nov. 7, 1862. To General McCall— * * * " It was only the stub- born resistance offered by our division ( lhe Pennsylvania Reserves), prolonging the contest till after dark, and checking till that time the advance of the enemy, that enabled the concentration during the night of the whole army on James river, which saved it. "[Signed] GEORGE G. MEADE, Brig.-Gen. Vols." APPENDIX. Testimony of Officers of flic Pennsylvania Re- serves. Colonel Roy Stone, One-hundred-and-forty-ninth Penna Vols., late Major Commanding First Rifles, (Bucktails), to Gen. McCall. [Extract.] "Washington, Nov. 3, 1862. * * * At the battle of New market Gross-roads, June 30, 1862, my Jreviment was not actively engaged until after the brilliant and success- ful haige made by several regiments 01 the left wing. which resulted in driving back the enemy's advanced line and capturing a large number of prisoners.. These regiments, whose ranks were necessarily somewhat broken by the very impetuosity of their charge over broken ground and into timber, but especially by the de- tachments which were required to bring in their prison- ers, were ordered to re-form in front of the farm house and I was sent to the left to cover the formation. The enemy, however, gave our men no time to re-form, but pushed a solid column of overwhelming numbers out 01 the woods on our left and front, compelling our nun In t urn to retreat. This advance of the enemy might have been checked by the Dutch battery belonging to Gen. Porter's Corps, and temporarily with your division that day ; but it was deserted by its gunners on the first appearance of the enemy. Some men on the extreme left of our ad- vanced line above referred to were cut off from their companions by the enemy's rapid advance, and were obliged to retreat to the left. These were probably the men who reached Hooker's first line. Meantime the enemy (recoiling from Scmner and Hooker) turned to the left and was repulsed by your centre. About sunset I was ordered to the light, and went directly to the ground occupied by me when the action commenced, and I can bear witness that the ground held by the centre of your division when the bat- tle opened, was held by your troops in the face of a large force of the enemy long after dark; and so far as my observation extended, the only regiments that broke in the early part of the fight were those that hadbecom disordered by their own charge into the enemy's line. ROY STONE, Colonel U9th P. V., late Major Com'g 1st Rifles. Colonel J. W. Fisher, commanding Fifth Regiment Penn- sylvania Reserves, to General Mc Call. Washington, February, 1863.— * * * At the battle of New Market Cross Roads, June 30, 1862, the Fifth Re- giment, under my command, was ordered to reinforce the Third brigade, General Setmour, on the left of the divi- sion, soon after the action commenced, and took position on the right of the Eighth Regiment. In the charge upon the advancing enemy we captured one hundred and two prisoners, and sent them to the rear. If these regiments had been permitted to retire with their prison- ers, instead of bein? ordered by General Seymour to form under the file of another body of the enemy then advancing, they would not have broken, but would have formed in time to receive the enemy. J,"W. FISHER, Col. Com'g 5th Regiment. Colonel G. S. Hats, Commanding Eighth Regiment Penn- sylvania Reserves, to GeneralMcCxLh. [Extract.] " Washington, Feb. 10, 1862.—* * At the battle of New Market Cross Roads, J une 30, 1862, my regiment was ordered to support the Third Brigade , General Seymour. We soon encountered the enemy, but having tbiee times our number to contend with, we fell back to the woods; as it was, we took eighty-tour prisoners. Some of these, however, got away, owing to the great fatigue of our men. Afterwards I went back, with the intention of re- covering the body of Colonel Simmons, commanding our brigade (the 1st 1 . In crossing a ravine, my horse was struck with a shell. Having reached my colors on foot, I ordered one of my men to find General Seymour, as I wished to be relieved on account of injuries received by the fall of the horse upon me. This he reported at a late hour he could not do, and the report at that time was that you were killed. Not being able to find General Sey- mour, commanding Brigade, I ordered the line to advance and take a position in a field immediately in front of where General Seymour had been In the commencement of the action. We lay there till four o'clocK the next morning, and so near the enemy that we could hear the voices of officers giving orders. We were exceedingly unfortunate in losing our Acting Brigadier, Colonel Sim- mons. He would have been of great service to you. GEO. S. HATS, "Col. Com'g Eighth Reg't Penna. Reserves. Lieutenant- Colonel A. J. Warner, Commanding Tenth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, to General McCall. [Extract.] " Georgetown (Hospital), Jan. 15, 1863.—* * At New Market Cross Roads, June 30, 1862, the regiment kept its position on the left (Seymour's Brigade), where jt was stationed by yourself during the artillery con- test that preceded tne infantry attack. When the enemy made his first advance across the open field in our front, the Tenth Regiment, with others of the Reserves charged upon them, utterlv de- stroying their lines and scattering them in every direc- tion. The regiment took over a hundred prisoners in this charge. The regiment was again ordered in line by Gen- eral Seymour, and sustained a most severe shock in the second attack of the enemy, suffering severely in killed and wounded. Upon being flunked and marly sur- rounded by the Rebels, the rogiment fell back, skirmish- ing through the woods tat our rear. The enemy being checked in these woods, the regiment again formed in line, with others of the Reserves who were rallied at this point, and moved forward to within a hundred yards of the ground it held at the beginning of the battle. Here It remained in line of battle till 11 o'clock at night, when It was ordered to move to Malvern Hill." A. J. WARNER, Lieutenant-Colonel Com.'g Tenth Reg.'t I'a. Reserves. Colonel John H. Taggart, Commanding Twelfth Re - ment Pennsylvania Reserves, to General McCall. [Extract] " Washington, Nov. 8th, 1862.—* * * My regiment, on the 30th June, at New Market Cross Roads, was as- signed a position by yourself on the left of your division. Shortly afterwards General Seymour made a charge, posting six companies in a breastwork of logs hastily constructed, and four companies as a support to two 20-pounder guns of the Dutch Battery. At 5 P. M. a sudden and vigorous attack was made on my left and front. * * * My men opened fire on the advancing foe, out the charge was so irnpetuou? that after a short hand-to-hand struggle, in which many men were killed and wounded, the six companies under my command fell back to the left and rear. Afterwards a new line was formed, and a large number of men fought side by side with a Massachusetts Regiment, belonging, as I understood, to General Hooker's Division. At the time my regiment was torced in, a number of our men, perhaps one hundred and fifty or two hun- dred, passed down the road between Sumner's and Hook- er's lin es. These men werj carrying off a number of prisoners taken by them in front. JOHN H. TAGGART, Late Colonel Twelfth Regt. Pa. Reserves." "Having been present with the Twelfth Regiment on the 30th June, 1862, when diiven in, my Company joined a reyiment of General Hooker's Division, and was ac- tively engaged; and there, indeed, one-fourth of my men were either killed or wounded. CHILL HAZZARD, First Lieut. Twelfth Regt., Commanding Company." Lieutenant and Adjutant Theodore McMurtrie, Twelfth Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, to General McCall. [Extract.] Washington, Nov. 13, 1862.— "On the day of New Mar- ket Cross Roads, June 30th, our regiment (Twelfth) was with the remainder of the Division, ordered into line of battle under your personal supervision. After you had moved to the right of the Division, Brigadier-General Seymour made other disposition of the regiment, where by six companies were detailed to go to the left and front of the original line of battle, behind a barricade of rails After sustaining the enemy's fire for some time, these companies gave way and retired by a left flank move- ment to the rear, under charge of Colonel John H. Tag- gart, commanding. The companies left with me bein;.; unsupported and in danger of being flanked by the enemy, who opened a heavy fire on our left, enfilading us, they broke and retreated directly to the rear, where many of them rallied in the new line there formed through the gallant exertions of Major Stone, First Rifles, and other officers, who, with myself, did their ut- most to rally the men, and succeeded. No part of the meu composing the four companies left with me broke through any of the Divisions on the left of our own line of battle, but rallied a;.ain directly in the rear. THEODORE McMUETRIE, Lieutenant and Adjutant Twelfth Pa. Reserves." Lieutenant-Colonel H. M. McIntire, First Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, to General McCall. [Extract]. "Washington, Jan. 3, 1863.— In the battle of New Mar- ket Cross Roads, the regiment to which I belong occu- pied a central position in the division, and at sun-set (7*15 P. M.), at which time I was wounded and left the field the regiment still held the ground they had from the first, J inew nothirg of the left being driven back, nor was it known in our vicinity. HENBYM. M< INTIRE, "Lieut-Col. First Regt. Pa. Reserves." Captain John Cr/THBERTSON, Ninth Regiment Pennsyl- • i Reserves, to General McC all. [Extract]. "Washington, Nov. 4, 1862.— General :— In answer to questions by yon relative to the conduct of the Ninth Regi- ment at the battle of New Market Cross Roads, June 30th, I would respectfully reply, this regiment at commence- ment of action was placed in support of Coopbb'8 Bat- tery. The enemy consumed a couple of hours in a num- ber of ineffectual attempts to take this battery, several times charging up within a few yards of the guns, but each time driven back with slaughter. About six o'clock this regiment was ordered to the left, the enemy ap- parently making headway in that direction, and moved to the position assigned, leaving other troops to support the battery. When the enemy on the left was repulsed, we v>ere moved ft> the rear of the battery which had just been taken bv the enemy. Th(> regiment was ordered to retake the battery, and the men advanced, cheering lustily, to the attack, although it was in possession of a superior force, and the enemy defended it with groat vigor. A hand to hand struggle ensued, muskets were clubbed and bayonets were used, the enemy were driven from the guns, fleeing in great confusion, our men after them, to the road leading to Richmond. Here our men were with difficulty halted, I having to catch hold of the color-bearer to stop him. The regiment then fell hack. Soon after a body of the enemy, several times our num. ber, came up and were at once engaged, our men behav- ing with a valor and heroism that could not be surpassed. Although not over fifty yards separated us, and officers nnd men lell rapidly under the terrible fire, not a man faltered. In a few minutes a musket ball passed through both my thighs ; it was then nearly dark, and as I was carried off I could see my gallant comrades were still maintaining the unequal contest with a recUessni sss <>t life that astonishes me now, when I calmly reflect on it. As nearly as I can estimate it was near eight o'clock when I was wounded. I was the senior Captain, temporarily in command of the regiment at the time. 27ms regiment, during the bai- tle,was not at any lime in the rear of the line of battle ' adopted by you. JOHN CTJTHBERTSON, Senior Captain Ninth Regiment Penn'a Reserves. Colonel R. Biddle Roberts, Commanding First Regi ment Pennsylvania Reserves, to General McCall. [Extract.] "Harrisbirg, Nov. 7, 1862.— My regiment held a po- sition near the centre of your line, in the battle of New Market Cross Roads, June 30th. You will remember that, soon after the battle commenced, I received a per- sonal order from you to advance the regiment to the sup- port of Keen's Battery, which was at once done. From this position I had a view of portions of the three bri- gades of your division. We received three distinct charges from the enemv, which were repulsed success- fully. We suffered severely, but fought to the close of the day, when we were relieved by fresh troops. R. BIDDLE ROBERTS, Late Colonel First Rrsiment Penna. Reserves. Colonel H. C. Bolinger, Commanding Seventh Regiment Pennsylvania Reserves, to General McCa l. [Extract.] "Washington, Dec. 23, 1862.— At the battle of New Market Cross Roads, Juno 30th", the Seventh Regiment was stationed on the right of the line of battle, in rear of he Fourth Regiment and a battery (Randall's) of ar- tillery, my advanced on the bat tcry they V ro received bv a volley ot mu ketry from the Fourth Regiment, at very short range, but it did not stop t: upon the guns. The battc-y kept up an Incessant Ore, a lath ir r.uiks at every Ore, yet they pressed steadily forward, and when they camo up to the guns it became a hand to hand tight, men freely aslng their bayonets and '-muskets. At this time my hone fell, and when I went down ale made for inc with drawn sword, but was met by one of ley men with bayo md ion the spot. We were overpowered and driven from the guns. We rallied and once more recovered the pieces of artillery, after one of them had been turned upon us and Its contents fired Into our ranks. After wards myself, and snob menus I could muster, charged aoi me field to the front of where we first em as the sun was setting, and when we left the field It was so dark that we could not distinguish fiieud from foe " II. C. BOLINGER, Colonel Comd'g Seventh Rcg't Pa. Reserves. Captain James C. Clark, Assistant Adjutant- General, Setmolr's Brigade, to General McCall. [Extract.] "Washington. Nov. 1, 1S6J.— The attack in the early part of the engagement (New Market Cross Roads, June 30), on the left, was in force and impetuous, not to be withstood. Sonic of the regiments gave way. Had the division been rooted the fight could not have been con- tinued as it was, and the field have been held until sun- down by you. I came to you, as you remember, about seven o'clock In the evening, and asked if you had seen General Seymour recently. I noticed that you were nearly alone and 1 offered my services. As this was at a late hour, and you were then directing the fight, the Divi- sion could uot have been rented. The large number of prisoners brought in by the Reserves and sent to the rear is another evidence that the ground was well contested JAMES C CLARK Ass't Adj't-Gen. Third Brigade." Lieutenant and Aid-de-Cami> AVilliam W. Watmocgh General Meade's Staff. [Extract.] "Washington, Nov. 9, 1862.- * * * I was forced to leave the field (New Market Cross Roads. June 30) about half-pa=t seven P.M. ,by reason of a wound.and at that time everything, I thought, was going on finely. The Division was in possession of the position you first assigned it at the opening of the engagement. I think our conduct on that occasion is well testified by the presence in the Adju- tant-General's Office, Washington, of three Rebel flags, that were taken during the i ngagement by our Division. W. W. WATMOUGH A. D. C,