The Eleventh Alabama retired, as above stated, to the right of the road into the pine woods, and there, together with the Ninth and Tenth Alabama, remained. From this position, the battery on the right of the road was in full view, and not more than one hundred yards distant.
The enemy made no effort to retake this battery, though their infantry continued to fire at long range upon our men then in the pine woods.
The Eighth Alabama, as explained previously, became engaged with the enemy's infantry before reaching the batteries, and, contending against superior forces, maintained its ground until regiments from General Pryor's brigade, and afterward Featherston's, arrived on this part of the field. The severity of the fight at this point of the field is evident from the loss sustained by this regiment.
It was now sunset, and other troops arriving upon the field, my brigade, with ammunition now quite exhausted, was withdrawn for some one hundred and fifty or two hundred yards, and there remained until nine o'clock P. M., when they were withdrawn from the field, other and fresh troops, in sufficient force, having arrived, and the enemy having been driven back from the field far to the rear.
I cannot close this report without assuring the Major-General commanding that, on this occasion, both officers and men of my brigade behaved with remarkable coolness and gallantry; and I beg to call his attention to the fact that two of the enemy's batteries, of six guns each, were taken, and if one of them was retaken, it was only owing to the fact that overwhelming numbers were brought to bear against a solitary regiment, unsupported, and which entered this engagement with three hundred and fifty-seven men, of which number one hundred and eighty-one were killed and wounded. Among whom was the commander of the regiment, Captain Field, who received two wounds, one through the leg, and the other through the arm; and of the ten officers commanding companies, five were killed on the field near the battery, one has since died of his wounds, and two others were severely wounded, and one slightly — there being but one company commander that escaped unhurt. Although this battery was retaken, I have no personal knowledge that the enemy ever again used it against us. The other battery remained in our possession, and the enemy made no effort to retake it.
Of my four regimental commanders, all were wounded. It gives me pleasure to bring to your particular notice the conduct of them all, as deserving high praise. Lieutenant-Colonel Royston, commanding Eighth Alabama, received a severe wound from a fragment of a shell; Major Caldwell, commanding the Tenth Alabama, was also wounded by a piece of shell striking him over the eye; Captain King, commanding Ninth Alabama, is deserving of especial praise for his coolness and bravery, and he, also, received a severe wound in the leg. Other officers and men of the different regiments gave evidence of marked courage in this sanguinary engagement.
A list of the killed and wounded in this battle has been forwarded before this ; it will suffice in this report that I should state that the total loss in killed, wounded, and missing was four hundred and seventy-one, (of which sixteen are missing, and since ascertained to have been taken prisoners,) a loss proportionally greater than in the engagement of the twenty-seventh ultimo.
Of the medical officers attached to the brigade, it gives me pleasure to commend to your favorable notice Surgeon Royston, Eighth Alabama, Surgeon Minor, Ninth Alabama, Surgeon Taylor, Tenth Alabama, and Assistant-Surgeon Saunders, Eleventh Alabama. They have each given abundant evidence of their skill and untiring industry in the treatment and constant care they have bestowed upon the wounded of their respective regiments.
The brigade Quartermaster and Commissary, Majors Pierce and Robertson, were active and efficient in providing, promptly, for the wants of the men in their respective departments.
To my personal staff, Captain W. A. Harris, Assistant Adjutant-General, and Lieutenant Walter E. Winn, Eleventh Alabama, Aid-de-camp, my thanks are due for efficient service cheerfully and promptly rendered at all times.
I beg leave, also, to call to your favorable notice, private James C. Causly, of the Third Virginia cavalry. He was of great service to me in the transmission of orders to various parts of my command, and often under the heaviest fire. Though not wounded, his clothing bears evidence of the dangers through which he has passed, being frequently perforated with minie balls.
I am, sir, very respectfully,
Your obedient servant,
Reports of General Featherston.
About ten o'clock, on the night of the twenty-sixth June, I crossed the Chickahominy with my brigade, near Mechanicsville, halting not far on the other side. Here we remained until about two o'clock on the morning of the twenty-seventh, when I was ordered, with my brigade, to relieve General Ripley and his command as soon as practicable. I immediately marched to General
