Year: 1862




pushed on at q rapid pace to White Oak
swamp, which was about FIVE miles distant
The remainder of the regiment soon followed,
snd We done Some tall travelling, as the rest of
the troops were all ahead OF Us, and it was
feared that the Rebels would 6nd ont what
was going on, and come 10 from the front, on
our left, and cut US off, and capture our little
handful of men. Gen. Naglee had stayed with
US until we left the bridge. When an army is fall
ing buck, the rear guard is considered the post
of honor, and Gen. Naglee said he would not
trust his life there with sny other regiment in
the army. He rode on head of US, and when
at last about l l o'clock at night, we came up
to the main army, this side of the swamp
General Naglee rode up and asked what regi-
ment is this? and received the answer the SD
took off his hat and shouted good"


After we bad crossed the corduroy bridge,
across the swamp and came out into field,
we stacked our guns, spread q blanket on the
ground and laid down to rest the remainder of
the night. | forgot to mention that Colonel
DODGE went home sick soon after the battle of
Fair Oaks, and the regiment was commanded
by Lieut.. Col. HoYT, who, by the way, is be-
loved by the whole regiment for his many ex



dier. He had sent his horse oa head, and
shared with the regiment the fatigue OF the
march, on foot. Next morning Monday,
about sunrise we cooked our breakfast and
again took up our line of march, direct towards
James river, across large and beautiful farm,
and the whole brigade drew up 10 line of bat
tie, fronting the swamp, on q ridge a little to
the rear of our artillery, and there stacked
arms, and fell back into the shade of the
woods The weather was then, ard Ia been
for severa! days intensely hot, aud the men had
suffered from the effects of the heat and often
from want of water. We were making our.
selves as comfortable as circumstances would
allow, and most of the men had fallen asleer,
except the oickets Immediately in front. Thus
we were resting from our labors of the prey
Gus day, until about o'clock ir the afternoon.
ALI seemed quiet hardly sound was heard,
when all at once the enemy poured in a volley
OF artillery upon US, from some twenty batter
les Oh the opposite side OF the swamp Ey.
cry man at once sprung to his feet, and rush.
ed to his gun-with the exception Of a few
who thought it safer to rush fran their guns,
toward the river. Our batteries soon opened
lire on them, aud the eaunonading for abou.
five hours was terrific The shot and shell fell
thick aud fast around US, and came many times
so close to our heads that we were compelled
10 lie fiat OH our faces to avoid being struck
by them. Some times We could hear them
cemrg. and could tell about where they were
going torougb, and the men would open ranks
and they would plow through the ground in
close proximity to Us, and the balls would
sometimes strike in front of US, and come
bounding along on the ground aud the boys
would pick them up and put them in piles like
heaps of stone. 1t was evidently the inten-
tion of the rebels, in this engagement, to draw
the attention OF our men mostly to this point,
aud if possible to get US to withdraw q large
portion of our troops from our left, toward
James river, and fronting Richmond, and then
throw their main body against that point, and
if possible break through and cut Of our re-
treat 1t was soon evident tha: this was their
intention, for about o'clock in the afternoon
they came on to that point in great force, aud
made most desperate struggle to break our
lines, but our men were too wary to be caught
10 this trap, and were prepared to meet them.
Sooa the whole liLe. for over two miles, open
ed fire with musketry and artillery, and the
batt!e ragged w,.n fercene5s. On they came,
confident OF success and elated ct the idea Of
making good haul of prisoners, and of de-
stroying the whole army by one grand " coup
de grace" They soon, however, began to re.
coil before the we'll directed vollies Of our
brave men, and to show signs of hesitation and
uneasiuess. TO add to their CONSERVATION, at
this juncture of affairs, our gunboats opened
fire on them, and it was soon plainly to be
seen that they would not stand much longer,
aud Gen. HEINTzLMAN ordered a charge, and
the whole column moved down upon them like
a terrible ayalanch. This was more than they
could stand, and they broke and fed in perfect
confusion. Thus ended the battle Of White
Oak Swamp.


Again DER army commenced moving toward
James River, and we our regiment were q
second time left as rear guard. From the
commencement of the Eight, we had lain in the
held y our guns exposed to the scorching
rays of hot southern sun without water, aud
the men were halt choked for the want of that
cooling fluid, but as all the water to be ob.
tained from where we were was at the t.cnt,
near the swamp, we we're not allowed to 60
there for water, for fear the rebel sharp shooters
might pick US off while at the spring. In this
Ntudtioup We stiyeu LueTe untll nearly 1ll Tue
troops had left, and until near IL o'clock at
night, aud then We started for the river, in the
rear of train OF artillery wagons which NOV
ed very slow, and making /" detour "of some
IA or Is miles, VIC dragged along through the
dust, so nearly worn out and tired, that the
meu seemed to stagger at every step. 1t was
not deemed safe for the men to fall out of the
ranks and lie down, as the rebel cavalry nigh:
pick them up aud take them to Richmond as
prisoners OF war. 1t was hard to hear the poor
fellows beg to stop, only for few moments,
that they might lie down and rest, but it could
not be, for it was necessary to make ell posi-
bic speed, as we had so far to march. The
reason of our taking this route was on accout ol
the main road being SO crowded With teams
and troops that it would have been almost im


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