Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1862-07-10
The Battle on James island.
After the battle on james Island, Gre
Stevens issued the following order:

After the battle on James lsland, zen.
Stevens issued the following order:9 II
HEApoRs SECOND DIVISION,
NoRIHERN DISTRICT, DEPToF SoUTu,
JAMES ISLAND, s. g., June Is, 1862,
GENERAL ORDER, No. 26.-IIhe Briga
dler General commanding the Second Di.
vision, in communicating to his command
the thanks Of. the Commanding General for
the good conduct of the troops in the action
of the l6thinst., desires toexpress his own
profound sense Of their valor, conduct and
heroisin. ---.-------
|. Men Of the Second Division You
displayed in the attack on the fortified posi-
tion OF the enemy at Seoessionville, on the
10th instant, the highest qualities of veteran
troops. You formed in silenoo and secrecy,
in the darkness OF the night. You moved
forward in perfect order at the earliest dawn,
and surprised and captured the encmy's
pickets. You were ordered not to fire, but
to push forward aud use the bayonet. You
obeyed the order. You formed in line Of
battle under murderous fire Of grape, cam
ster and musketry You pushed to the
ditch and abattis Of the work from right to
left. 4, #H w, lsT W. y
Parties from the leading regiments OF your
two brigades, the Eighth Michigan and the
Seventy.ninth Highlandcrs, mounted and
were shot down on the parapet, officers and
men. Those two regiments especially COW
cred themselves with glory, and their fear
ful casualties show the hot work in which
you were engaged. Two ffths Of the Eighth
Michigan aud nearly one-quarter of the
Seventy ninth Highlanders were struck
down: either killed or wounded and nearly
all the remaining. regiments-cOne Hun
dredth Pennsylvania, Seventh Connecticut,
Forty sixth New York, and Twenty Eighth
Massachusctts--h large number Of cas-
ualtes.
H. Notwithstanding these fearful losses
you were not discouraged. Some of you
were temporarily withdrawn from the mur.
derous gre OF the enemy You retired in
order Of battle, and YOU returned to the
attack in order OF battle. Some held through
out the action the advanced position at the
abattis and ditch OF the work. This position
was held by you unainchingly aud confident
ly. And at this very hedge the light bat
terry OF Rockwell threw its effective fire up
on tho enemy. SgF 10 'i'S
Ill, In obedienceto orders from superior
authority you all finally returned in good
order and in line of battle, and the enemy
did not venture to interrupt YOU.
| Nv. Mon OF the Second Division you
covered yourselves with glory on that CORY
field. Your intrepid and able brigade com {.
manders, Lasure and Fenton, in the hottest
OF the thick fight; your regimontal COM
manders, like the heroic Morrison, who,
shot through the head on the parapet, again
led his men to the assault eager to avenge
his wouHdsr t,all poiats-rallying and cheer
ing on their men !; and officers and men alike
4 gave signal proof of their devotion IN dufv
and their country. In congratulating his
comrades on their heroic valor and constancy
on that terrible field, tho Comma manding GEM
eral OF the division has not words 10 express
his and and your grief at the sacrifices that
have been made, -
Our best and truest men now sleep the
sleep that knows no waking. Their dead
bodleslay on the enemy 8 parapct. Church,
Pratt, Cottrell, Guild, y Morrow, Horton,
Hitchcock, many other gallant and noble
men We shall SEQ no more. 20 seSs s,s
Honor, therefore, all honor to you, men
Of the Second Division. You have shown
! what .you will do whom you shall have the
proper opportunity. You did not seize ths
fort, because 1t was simply impossible, and
known now 10 be impossible by the recnn.
noissance referred to In thu orderso thanks
Of the Commanding General BY order Of
r,.sf,sscs.. Brig. GEN SrEvESs.
| HAZARD SrEvENS Capt and Assistant
Adjutapt General. q 4. ~ ~
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