The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-06-04

at Gainess Mill June II, 1862.
COLONEL -ALLEN'S REP ORT.
In the report OF Colonel Allen of the
action OF HIS regiment on the occasion
referfcd to, he says
about +. NJ. / was directed 10 sta
ton my regiment at the edge OF pine
thickat to- support the battery iininedi-
ately on my right with orders to fire
when the enemy appeared IN sight over
the hill then to charge and drive them
back with the bayonet In this position
my men lay somewhat under the cover
or the hill for more than an hour and {,
half. during all of which time they were
exposed TO the effects of shell and shot
advanced under cover OF the hills, to my
left flank. Many of my men and officers
were wounded by explosions that
took place Immediately In their
midst; yet they stood their ground,
fantry.. Colonel Cummings, on my left.
met them, cndeavorlns to turn their
flank. Altar advancing, two OF his conf
panies fell back through my left, which
was kept In position by the GOODNESS OF
cd his position, though EXPOSED to a front
fire of grape and shell, and a flank fire
from the enomy's musketry. At this
jl,ncture was Informed by Major Bolts
II rallyinr the men deserves special mem
tiom that my left was turned Not see
ing the enemy in front. directed that
the three left companies be drawn back
TO meet them. This order was partially
misunderstood by the centre companies
for n general direction to fall back, and
all the line turned. / ut once gave the
order to charge. but the thicket was so
close and impenetratla that only a part
Of the right wing. under Lientcnant-Col-
onel Lakeland. could be rallied about thir-
&ty yards in rear of the original position,
the cnamy having advanced to the posi-
tion originally held by the left Of the
regm!ent Judging by their fire, for it
SPECIALLY MENTIONED.
At this moment Colonel Preston. who
was on my right, and in rear Of the
battery, advanced. and Lleutenant-Col-
Of my right, charged on the onemy's bat
terry. drove them from their pieces, and
took position immediatelysin front Of the
guns, shelterlnE themselves MS much as
possible by them. Wishing to secure one
of the rifle cannon, he ordered five or six
men to take it to the rear, but had not
proceeded more than fifty yards when the
enemy opened on his right, which was
unsupported and he was compelled to
retire with the few men under his com
nand. having lost nine killed and thirty
four wounded in the charge. The line
did not retire 's'til after o'1r battery was vas
"The list of killed and wounded having
been. nit!ufu III II rs. EuilleCeSst! "
peat it. cannot, however. close this
report without again making honora Bile
mention of Captain Nelson. who gallant
~ fell Mt his post, supposed to be NOR
tally wounded. and to the gallantry of
lLieutenant-C Colonel Lakeland. who. with
but Il handful Of men. charged on the
ene,ny's battery and actually brought one
of their rihed guns to the rear, with but
four men"
Colonel Aliens reference to the appear
/ ance. of Colonel Preston. who was OF,
the right and in rear of the battery,
denotes the, time when ,Jackson's right
centre advanced under his immediate Il
rection. This was the third and eff
fectual movement which carried the po-
sition defended by Grifin's ana Ricketts,
one OF twelve grins0 (which were posted
near the Henry House, some Of them
being turned on the front of the Second
and Thrty-third Regiments, and the
most Of them on the batteries of PEN
dleton to- the right of these regiments,
| and on the front of the other three
regiments Of the brigade: |. e., the
Fourth, Twenty-seventh and Fifth. When
Colonel James +. Preston went forward
with the Fourth, the Twenty ul,-
der Licutenant-Colonel John Echols, NOV
ed simultaneously. and the two reg-
ments commingled at the captured guns
each losing heavily in the charge
From the material collected in the con,
.trIbutions to The ,Tmes-Dispatch, the
historian with the mid OF the War Rec
ords. can now compute the complete
| story of the Stonewall Brigade at First
Manassas. JNO. w DANIEL.