No. 21.
Report of Brig. Gen.
John Sedgwick, U. S. Army, commanding Second Division.
HDQRS. SEDGWICK'S
DIVISION, SUMNER'S ARMY CORPS,
Bivouac near Fair
Oaks Station, Va., June 4, 1862.
CAPTAIN: I have the honor to submit the following report of
the operations of my division during the engagements of May 31 and June 1, near
Fair Oaks Station, on the Richmond and York River Railroad:
Under the orders of the general commanding the corps we left
our camp near Tyler's house about 2 o'clock p.m. on Saturday, the 31st, in the
following order: First, German's brigade, followed by Kirby's battery; Burns'
and Dana's brigades, followed by Tompkins', Bartlett's, and Owen's batteries.
The crossing of the stream of the Chickahominy and the contiguous swamp was
exceedingly difficult and occasioned much delay, but we pushed forward in the
direction of Fair Oaks Station, the point near which it was understood that
Heintzelman's and Keyes' corps were then engaged. Upon debouching into the open
field near Adams' house we found Abercrombie's brigade, of Couch's division,
sustaining a severe attack and hard pushed by the enemy.
The First Minnesota, Colonel Sully, the leading regiment,
was, by request of General Couch, approved by General Sumner, promptly formed
into line of battle under a very sharp fire, and posted on the right of
Abercrombie's brigade. Colonel Sully's disposition of his regiment, which
covered two sides of Courtney's house, a point at which there was much danger
that the enemy would outflank us before the supports ordered to his assistance
could be brought up, was marked by admirable coolness and judgment. The
remainder of German's brigade, led by him in person, and composed of the Thirty-fourth
and Eighty-second New York, supported by the Fifteenth Massachusetts, formed on
the left of Abercrombie's brigade, where they became almost instantly and hotly
engaged., and after sustaining, without wavering, repeated and furious charges
of the enemy, finally charged him in turn with the bayonet with such
impetuosity as to rout and drive him from his position, I would here mention
with pride that shortly previous to this charge Lieutenant Kirby brought his
battery into action in a most gallant and spirited manner. His pieces, in
charge of Lieutenants Woodruff and French, were run up and unlimbered under a
very galling discharge of musketry within less than 100 yards of the enemy, and
opened a terrific fire with canister and spherical case, which contributed in a
very high degree to break and finally scatter his forces. Generals Burns and
Dana were promptly on hand – the former with his whole brigade, the latter with
two of his regiments, the Twentieth Massachusetts and Seventh Michigan, the
other two, the Nineteenth Massachusetts and the Forty-second New York, having
been left behind, the one on picket and the other to protect the crossing and
assist the passage of the artillery. General Dana, with the two regiments first
mentioned, was ordered to form in column of attack to the rear and left of
Kirby's battery, but before the order could be executed it became necessary to
push him to the front, where he went immediately into action on the left of
Gorman's brigade, sustaining a strong attack and participating in the brilliant
and decisive charge of the Thirty-fourth and Eighty-second New York, above
referred to, and driving the enemy from point to point for a very considerable
distance. General Burns with two regiments took post on the right of Colonel
Sully, holding his other two in reserve. It was not the fortune of any of the
regiments in this brigade to meet the enemy at close quarters, but all gave
unmistakable evidence of being ready if ordered forward to rush to the support
of their comrades with alacrity and unshrinking firmness. The One hundred and
sixth Pennsylvania, Colonel Morehead, and the Seventy-second Pennsylvania
(Baxter's Zouaves), held in reserve, were several times moved from their
positions to different portions of the field at double-quick, evincing their
eagerness to become engaged. The Sixty-ninth Pennsylvania, Colonel Owen, was
thrown to the right toward evening, and held that position during the night and
following morning.
Before the result of the contest in the vicinity of Adams'
house had been determined I was directed by the general commanding the corps to
proceed to the right and take command of that flank, where I found Colonel
Sully's regiment so well posted and so judiciously supported by General Burns
that little remained for me to do. As the conduct of Gorman's and Dana's troops
was more immediately under the personal observation of the corps commander, it
becomes unnecessary for me to enter into further details concerning their
operations.
On the following (Sunday) morning the enemy renewed the
attack with great fury immediately on my left and in front of General
Richardson's line. Parts of German's and Dana's brigades and one section of
Bartlett's battery were engaged with determined bravery. This action being also
under the immediate eye of the corps commander, I forbear to call attention to
particulars.
After the close of the engagement on Saturday evening, the
enemy having been driven from his position and the firing having ceased,
General Burns was ordered to proceed with the Seventy-first Pennsylvania to
unite with the Nineteenth Massachusetts and Forty-second New York Regiments and
the Sixty-third New York (the last of Richardson's division) to protect our
right and rear, in accomplishing which purpose his arrangements were eminently
judicious and effective.
Col. C. H. Tompkins, First Rhode Island Artillery,
commanding the artillery of the division, was indefatigable in bringing up his
batteries. To Capt. F. N. Clarke, chief of artillery of the corps, great praise
is due for his untiring energy and zeal in using all the men, is at his command
in hastening forward the various batteries of my division as well as of
Richardson's. Captains Tompkins and Bartlett after great exertions arrived upon
the field with their guns between 7 and 8 p.m. Captain Owen (to whom as well as
to the artillery of Richardson's division, Major Bowe, Forty-second New York,
with a portion of that regiment rendered most valuable assistance) arrived at
daybreak on Sunday. The zeal and energy of these officers are worthy of the
highest praise, it being a matter of such exceeding difficulty to bring
artillery across the Chickahominy, which was greatly swollen by recent heavy
rains, to such an extent, indeed, that the bridges previously built by us had
been in great part carried away, that, as I have learned from prisoners taken
during the fight, the enemy had declared it to be impossible for us to bring
over a single gun.
I commend to the general commanding the corps the gallantry
with which the brigadiers led their troops into action, and refer him to their
reports regarding the handsome conduct of their staffs and troops, which I
fully indorse.
Captain Johnson, commanding a detached company of the Sixth
New York Cavalry, though not immediately engaged, rendered valuable services in
various ways.
The medical officers of the division, brigade surgeons,
surgeons, and assistant surgeons performed their duties with skill and untiring
devotion, disregarding the great personal danger to which they were frequently
exposed.
My personal staff, Capt. William D. Sedgwick, assistant
adjutant-general; Capt. Joseph S. Smith, commissary of subsistence, and Lieut.
Church Howe, Fifteenth Massachusetts, aide-de-camp, carried my orders from time
to time to various portions of the field under the hottest fire with an
alacrity and coolness highly commendable.
Capt. R. N. Batchelder, division quartermaster, was, much to
his own regret, ordered to remain with the train, but his services were
invaluable in pushing forward the ammunition and supplies under great
difficulties so rapidly that they arrived before the least want of them had
been experienced.
I have the honor to be, captain, with much respect, your
obedient servant,
JOHN SEDGWICK,
Brigadier-General Volunteers, Commanding
Division.
Capt. J. H. TAYLOR,
Chief of Staff and Acting Asst. Adjt. Gen., Sumner's
Corps.
SOURCE: George William Curtis, Correspondence of
John Sedgwick, Major-General, Volume 2, p. 51-7; The War of the
Rebellion: A Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate
Armies, Series I, Volume 11, Part 1 (Serial No. 12), p. 791-3
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