The National tribune., 1901-11-21
THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN.
Recollections of Col. Belknap, Comma nding
the 85th N. Y.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: COmrade
VIM. Il. Chicks, of Co. |, S5th Pa, WeS-
sells Brigade, Casey's Division. gives his
rccollections of the part that brigade took
in the crossing of the Chickahominy at
Bottoms Bridge, and states that the Gen
eral in command was III. w. Nagiee. !
was there with my regiment. the S5th
y. Y. Palmer's Brigade of Casey's Divi-
sion Fourth Brigade, Fourth Division,
Fourth Corps. | am over so years old,
and my memory of dates being so poor
that ! do not think | should doubt any
Of the younger soldiers statements; but
have no recollection Of fording the
stream at Bottoms Bridge. According to
Comradc Chicks statement, his regiment
must have fordcd the stream and made
a reconnaissance the 10Th or Dist, going
within two miles of James River. He is
right according 10 entry made in my diary
at the time, which is as follows: Moth
ing of Importance occurred except daily
duty and marches, until the 23d of May,
when the SJth \. Y, 9Sth n. Y, S5th
Pa, 18th Pa, 10th Mass. Sth Pa. Cav.
and 1St \. Y. Art. were ordered to report
at s o'clock a. IN. to Gen. Naglee for an
advance. We started, and after advanc-
ing about two miles met the rebel pickets
and drove them in. We found them sup
ported by five regiments of infantry, one
regiment cavalry and the Washington Ar
tillery, from New Orleans. composed of
hours and drove them within seven miles
Of Richmond, and now hold the ground,
and at this date are encamped at place
called the Seven Pines, seven miles from
Richmond
Then my diary continues as follows:
This 26th day of May the 9Sth \. Y.
lost one man killed, none wounded; tie
10ith Pa. lost one killed and three wound
cd; the artillery lost one wounded; the
10th Mass, S5th y. Y. and Sjth Pa. came
out without a scratch. | do not know
how the rebs Jared; some say they lost
81 killed, but | saw none, and do not be-
licve they lost so many. ! saw no signs
Of such loss. They were not in much OF
a hurry to leave, and had plenty OF time
to take off their dead and wounded. This
was on the Williamsburg and Richmond
stage road near Savage Station.
in the fight Mt Fair Oaks. the SJth Pa.
occupied riflc-pit on left of Williamsburg
road, their TcdOut of three guns, their
three guns in open field. then S5th Ny.
and 92d n. Y. supporting the artillery
101st and 103d Pa. as our supports
! think my diary should say the 10Th
Pa. instead of the Nth Pa. was in that
reconnaissance.
| take solid comfort in reading the ac-
counts of the different writers for your
very interesting and entertaining paper.
and hope more will tell their experiences
in Casey's old Division. They did good
service, and after the battle of Malvern
Hill. Gen. Mcclellan ordered Gen. Keys.
commanding the Fourth Corps, TO select
rear-guard from his corps. Gen. Keys
was mad because the retreat was ordered.
/ was sitting on my horse with several
other officers, in company with Gen. Keys
and Gen. Vessels, when the order was
delivered to Gen. Keyes. He turned to
Gen. Vessels. who was then in command
of Palmer's Brigade, and said he would
give the rebs but one regiment, and told
the General TO select one of his regiments
for rear-grard for the Army Of the Po-
tomac. Gen. Vessels ordered me to take
that position and save all | could.
The S5th Pa. had fight at Hill Carriers
next day, with a section of Maj. Grigg's
Battery, supported by about 500 infantry
and a cavalry regiment. We kept them
back until everything was out OF the way.
There We're less than 400 of us-J. 5.
BELKNAP, Colonel, S5th n. Y, Westons
Mills, ~