The Portland daily press., 1862-07-01


their comrades of the lst Brigade.
Following down the nine mile road after
Dodge was compelled to retreat, about five
hundred yards from the Seven Pines, l found
Col. J. Adams, commanding the 1st Long Isl
and, which was placed across the road, a por-
portion of the right flank being in rear of it,
with the left flank extending to the front and
left. Advising Col. Adams of the rapid ap-
proach of the enemy, of the direction he was
coming, and of the position of the 56th New
York and 18th Maine on his left, he withdrew
the left flank of the Long Island to the rear of
the nine mile road, making a continuous line
with the above, and the men ordered to lie
down, that they should escape the murder
GUS fire that was necessarily pouring in from
the front. Scarcely was this done, before
the s7th New York Regiment, Col. S. K. Dodge,
of Harney's Division, Heintzleman's Corps,
came along the nine mile road with rapid step,
cheering most vociferously-passed the 18th,
104th and Long Island about fifty yards, re-
ceived volley, broke, and passed the whole of
them, running over the backs of those lying
down-the latter remaining undsturbed until
ordered to rise and meet the accumulated force
that was bearing all before it. volley after
voley was given and received. An order was
given 20 charge, but one hundred yards brought
us into such close proximity with the enemy,
''that sheet of fire was blazing in our faces.'
The ranks on both sides were rapidly thinning,
but still the great disparity in our numbers
continued. So close were the contending forces
that our men, in many instances, whilst at a
charge, poured their fire into the breasts of the
enemy within few feet from the point of their
bayonets. This dreadful contest lasted until
nearly dark. My 1lth, 56th and 104th suffered
dreadfully, lost the majority of their officers
and men, and were compelled to give way, car
rying their wounded with them. 1t was then,
in the language of 1st Lieut.. Haney, of the
104th, shat tLieut. Haney) and Lieut.. Ash
enfelden and others led Capt. Corcoran, Capt
Swartzlander, and Lieut.. Hamlin, of the 104th,
off the field. 1t was getting dark-it was prob
ably half an hour before dark We went down
the nine mile road and along the Williamsburg
road. The fighting was nearly over; our
troops were all retiring; we saw the enemy not
over seventy-ive yards in our rear, and no
troops between us and them. AH of our forces
were moving back, little regard being paid to
brigade, regimental or even company organi-
zation. Kearney's troops came, but did not
stay long. Capt. Corcoran continually becom-
ing weaker, we were compelled to carry him."
There was no running, and no panic, but all
moved off crowded together with single pur-
pose, and that one to make stand upon the
line of defences in the rear-the only ones of
sufficient capacity to enable us to defend our
selves against vastly superior numbers until
our reinforcements could be brouget together.
Company l, Capt Merrill, and Company L,
Lieut.. Sabine, of the l1th Maine, were on pick
ct duty along the Garnett field, in front of
which several rebel regiments marched about
dark. Some of the men crawled into the wheat.
and shot three of the field officers as they
marched by. When Sedgwick crossed the
Chckahominy they Immediately communicate
ed with him, remained all night upon their
picket line, with the enemy in their front and
rear, and on Sunday, at A. NJ, came in, bring
ing more prisoners than the entire number of
men in their ranks.
Second Lieut.. Rice, Of the 18th Maine, was
sick in the hospital, where there were a num-
Der of the same regiment. After the fight
grew warm, he exclaimed-"Boys, all who can
hold up your heads, follow mer' More than
score followed him. He shouldered his mus
ket, and all Joined their regiment, and fought
most galantly. Rice, after seventeen rounds,
delivered with deadly effect,-for he was an
excellent shot,-was severely wounded in the
thigh, and was carried from the field.
Company f, 104th Pennsylvania, Capt. Har-
vey, Lieut.. Croll and flfty-eight men, were ex-
tended on picket duty from the railroad to the
corner at the intersection of the nine mile road
with the road TO Garnett's house; when about
p. NJ. the enemy approached, but left them
unmolested, after firing some scattering shots,
during which time they took thirteen prison.
ers. After p. NJ. they again approached in
force along this entire line With the assist
ance of our supports, we held them in check
for nearly an hour, when finding themselves
surrounded and taken prisoners, Capt. Harvey
was placed in charge of an officer with five
men, and was marching off, when a shell strik-
ing and killing the officer the captain took ad-
vantage of the confusion, and made his escape.
Four of the men afterwards came in.
On Saturday, Lieut.. Col. Hoyt, of the SD
Pa, was in charge of the Pioneers of the 1st
brigade, with companies Of the -, build
ing bridge which had directed to be built
across the Chickahominy; remaining upon the
ground and informing himself of the proceed
ings upon the extreme right, he rendered most
valuable services by advising General Sumner,
as soon as he had crossed the swamp, of the
precise position of our forces and those of the
enemy After which, the enemy having pressed
down between the X. r. and General Sumner
Lieut. Col Hoyt, with the above and some of
the Tooth N. Y. that were driven from the
picket line near the Chickahominy, remained
with General Sumner until Sunday, and be-
haved WELL
After leaving the battle field at dark, the
brigade. numbering one thousand, were marched
to the right rifle pits of the new defences--but
vacated them at the request of Gen. Kearney,
and occupied those on the left, with the other
brigades of Casey's Division, where we re-
manned under arms in the rain all night
have shown, in the history of the Battle of
Seven Pines, the conduct of every one of the
regiments Of the 1st Brigade, from the first
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