The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1862-06-16
The Fifth New Hampshire Regiment ~
the Battle 0f Fair Oaks.
10 THE EDITOR or THE HERALD.

UNITED STATES GENERAL HosPrAL,l
PHILADELPHIA, Juno IL, 1852. !
In your paper Of to-day appears h detailed Of
the battles lately fought Richmond including that
OF Sunday June beg permission 70 correct ssve
raj grave Of your correspondent who doubtless
supposed heswas writing facts In place he
Soon Colonel Cross wounded In tho thigh, and Colo
mel Psrkor OF the sixty fourth conducted the
through the remainder OF the fight.
This 10 not correct, AZ will soon show. Farther
down, under tho title Irsh Brigade, the Sixty ninth
has the credit OF driving back the enemy.
This, ALSO is correct, do lbslieve the gallant
officers and mea of that regiment win thank any letter
writer for placing them In such false position. The
facts are IS follows -
My regiment, the Fifth New Hampshire was detached
from Howard's brigade Saturday evening. and on
Sunday morning occupied the extreme right OF the line
formed BY Gen Ere nch, whore skirmished with the
enemy and took quite number OF prisoners. The bat
tie had ragged some time. when orders 60
70 the relief Of portion OF Trsrchs brigade moved
quickly down the railroad track, passed General
French and halted on the track, raco to the
enemy, In Of tho POSITION just occupied by
Sixty fourth New York. Being in command Of the bri
gado sent an order by Adu;ant Gregory Of the Sixty
70. nS Two 10 clear my Iron. as soon =:
once, aud while the movement was going on the irish
brigade did come in rear The Sixty ninth formed
the right OF my line and the Eighty eighth my left
but In rear OF my line, and there they remained The
Fifth New Ham shire then entered the woods, soary
and alone the regiments the right and left remaining
in their places. About two hundred yards from the
track we came upon the dead ard wounded Of the Sixty
first and Sixty fourth and few yards further the
enemy. Twice we drove back their Ito and IL rallied
tho third time 1t broke. Most OF tho firing
took place at twenty yards range, While advancing
voey-0ne Of tho .terrihc volleys' mentioned by
your into tho backs Of my men
hid obliqued my limo to the right prevent being
fanked That voley MORALLY wounded some Of my best
men, fortunately, bcirg tho railroad track the aim
was high. expected the two regiments my TANKS
would enter the woods with but they did not. Why,
have never l.arned.
When the On my ceased firing my regiment broke by
the right Of companies the rear, and fled
railroad Being shot thr ugh tho thigh was carried 10
the track In front OF the regiment. On the track
found tho two regiments and some soldiers CT the
Sixiynnth kindly relieved my men and carried me 70
the The trsh Brigade the track lost four
killed and twenty seven nded. The Fifth New Hanp-
shire regiment lost within fraction Of two hundred
xii cd and wounded, among the latter the Colonel Major
and several other officers yet tho regiment has scarcely
been men ionei az present. and even then grossy mis-
represented.
No oth,f regiment sent into the words. Tho
battle OF Sunday ended. The Fifth played its
humble part in the closing Then, and not till
then, did turn the command OF the First brigade
to Col. Parker OF the Sixty-fourth New York. All
this statement nude In substance to arepOrer for
Boston paper the evening after the battle, at his
quest and would have troubled you, sir. had
not tho worry incorrect report Of your correspondent
and gallant Howard bore the brunt OF Sundays battle
and the Official reports will certainly do tardy justice 70
tho bravo sixty and Sixty fourth regiments, which
left so many men on the battle field, and faced the
simple JUSTICE no fulsome battery no distorted praise
''' EDWARD e. CROSS,
Colonel Fifth New a.mDshire regiment