340

HANOVER COURT HOUSE AND GAINES’S MILL.

As if for a final effort, as the shades of evening were coming upon us, andthe woods were filled with smoke, limiting the view therein to a few yards,the enemy again massed his fresher and re-formed regiments, and threw themin rapid succession against our thinned and wearied battalions, now almostwithout ammunition, and with guns so foul that they could not be loadedrapidly. In preparation for defeat, should it come, I had posted artillery inlarge force just in rear of our center and left, ready for any emergency— andespecially to be used against a successful foe, even if his destruction in-volved firing upon some of our own retreating troops, as might have beennecessary. The attacks, though coming like a series of apparently irresistibleavalanches, had thus far made no inroads upon our firm and disciplinedranks. Even in this last attack we successfully resisted, driving back ourassailants with immense loss, or holding them beyond our lines, except in oneinstance, near the center of Morell’s line, where by force of numbers and undercover of the smoke of battle our line was penetrated and broken; this at apoint where I least expected it. This was naturally the weakest point of ourline, owing to the closer proximity of the woods held by the enemy. Underhis cover they could form, and with less exposure in time and ground thanelsewhere, and launch their battalions in quick succession upon our men. Ibelieved I had guarded against the danger by strongly and often reenforcingthe troops holding this part of the line. Here the greater part of McCall’s andSlocum’s forces were used. Just preceding this break, to my great surprise, Isaw cavalry, Rush’s Lancers, which I recognized as ours, rushing in numbersthrough our lines on the left, and carrying off with sudden fright the limbersof our artillery, then prepared to pour their irresistible fire into a pursuingfoe. With no infantry to support, and with apparent disaster before them,such of the remainder of these guns as could be moved were carried fromthe field; some deliberately, others in haste, but not in confusion.

In no other place was our line penetrated or shaken. The right, seeing ourdisaster, fell back united and in order, but were compelled to leave behindtwo guns, the horses of which had been killed. The troops on the left andcenter retired, some hastily, but not in confusion, often turning back torepulse and pursue the advancing enemy. \ All soon rallied in rear of theAdams house behind Sykes and the brigades of French and Meagher sentto our aid, and who now, with hearty cheers, greeted our battalions as theyretired and re-formed. We lost in all twenty-two cannon; some of these brokedown while we were withdrawing, and some ran off the bridges at night whilewe were crossing to the south bank of the Chickahominy. The loss of theguns was due to the fact that some of Cooke’s cavalry which had been directed

\ We are informed by Colonel Auchmuty, then Griffin said to Colonel Auchmuty that he regardedassistant adjutant-general of Morell’s division, Gaines’s Mill as the hardest-fought battle in histhat there was no running or panic when the line experience.

broke. The men fell back in small groups, turn- The same officer informs us that after the lineing and firing as they went, and carrying many of of battle had been formed in the morning, andthe wounded with them. On the crest of the hill while the attack was momentarily expected, thein the rear of the line of battle a stand was made, mail arrived from the North, and the newsboysand from that point regimental organizations were went along the line crying the New York andpreserved. Near the close of the war General Philadelphia papers.— Editors.