, 1861-08-15
COL. eHERMAN'S OFFICIAL REPORT.
HEADQUARTERS THIRD BRIGADE.
FIRST DIvl9IuN, FoHT CnRcoRAN.

July Is, 1851.
report OF the operations Of my brigade durinr
the action Of the 2lst inst. The Brigade Wa
composed Of the 18th n 7. volunteers. Chi
Quimby; seth New York, Col. Corcoran: 79th
New York, Col. Cameron; 81 Wisconsin.
Lieutenant Col Peck; and company E, Sd
Artillery, araaI =, under command Of Capt. B. B.
Advancing slowly and continuously with
tne memo OF the column, to give time for the
regiments In succession to close M Their
ranks, We frst encountered party OF the ene.
my retTeating along cluster Of pines. Lfeut.-
Col: Haggerty Of the 69th Regiment, without
1taels, Iooe over and endeavored to intercept
tne1f retreat. One Of the enemy, in full view
and short range, shot Haggerty, and he fell
dead from his horse. The 69th opened fire
On luis party, which was returned; but, deter.
mnea I9'1 70 effect our Junction with Hunters
DIVISION, l ordered this fire to cease, and We
Ploceeaed With caution toward the field, when
re then plainly saW our forces engaged. Dis
Playing our colorB couspicuous1y at the head
Of our column, we succeeded in attracting the
attention OF our friends, and soon formed tha
brigade IN the rear Of Col Porter's,
aere learned that Col Hunter was disabled
was on the field. I sought him out and re-.
celyed his orders to join in the pursuit Of the
enemy, who we're falling back to the LETT Of
the roao BY which the army had approached
from sudley Springs. Placing Col. q uimby's
regiment Of Rifles in front, Ii column by di-
vision, directed the other regiments to fol-
lev IN line Of battle, in the order Of the wis.
consul I'd, New York 10Th and New York d.
Quimby's regiment advanced steadily DOWN
the hill and mp the ridge, from which he open
Cd IRE upon the enemy, who had n7de another
stand On ground very favorable to him, and
enemy gave way I'LL the head Of the column
reached the point near which RIckett's battery
was 60 severely cut up. The other regiments
descended the hill ii line Of battle, Hnder
severe cannonading, and the ground affofding
comparative shelter against the enemy'e artif.
flank and followed the road before mentioned.
AZ the point where this road crossed the
bridge to our left point the ground Haa swept
by most severe fire Of artillery. rita
ano mnsketIy, and We SAW in succession
several regiments driven from it, among
them the louaVea and battalionB of marines.
Before reaching the crest Of the AIN the
road"ay Was WON deep enough to aff,rd
shelter, and kept the several regiments in Il
as long as possible but when the Wlsconsin
Second Was abreast of the enemy, BY order Of
Major Wadaworth, of Gen. McDo Te','a staff,
dank and to attack the enemy. This reei-
ment aacerded to the brow of the hill stead
ily, received the severe fire Of the enemy, re-
turned it with spirit, and advanced delivering
Us ire IhlB regiment is uniformed in pfn7
cloth, almost Identical Nth that Of the great
bulk Of the secession army, and When the
regiment lied IN confusion and retKeated to-
ward the road there was q universal cry that
they were being fired upon BY our own men.
The regiment rallied aggain, passed the brow
Of the nil second time, and va, a9ain re-.
pulsed IN dieorder. BIZ. this tine he
New York 69th had closed 10, aud in Ike
manner It Was ordered to cross the brow
OF the hill and Dive the enemy from cover.
It was Impossible to get good view
Of the ground. In 1t there Was one battery
Of artillery, which poured an ineessant lie
upon our advancing column, and the ground
Was irregular, with small clusters Of pines,
Attending shelter, Of which the enemy took
advantage. The fire Of rifles and muaketry
{Cameron) charged across the hill, and for a
eho!t time the contest Was severe. They
fa11ied several times under fire. but finsIiv
oroke and gained the cover Of the hill This
left the field open to the New York Ssh. Coi.
Corco!an, who, In his turn, led his regiment
over the crest, and had in full .open view the
ground eo severely contested. The, firing MAS
Ve5y ssvese, and tae roar Of cannon, muskety
and rif1ea inceasant. It was. manifest the
enemy wzs here In great force, far s1perior to
us at that point. The 69th held the eround
Tor come time, bat finally fell back in df5ordsr-:
After pnfting IN motion the irregular squsre.
pushed forward to find Capt. Ayfes' Battery.
occupied chiefly a: the point where RlcEettss
6atteTy was destroyed. Lieut. Col HagKertv
Mas k1l1ed about noon, before we effected q
Junction with Col Hunters Division. Colo
nei cameron VA nortal2y wounded leading
MS regiment In the charge, aud Colonel Cor
coran has been missing since Inc cavairv
charge near the bai1ding used as 8 hosnitai.
Killed. Wounded Niss{n0 Tsot.1