Action of the 3rd US battery L and M in the Peninsular Campaign.
Notes- This is the only battle report from Captain John Edwards in the OR set.Watch for 2 things. One is that they seem to be running 4-ups(!) and the other is the guns were defended by pistols at one point. Its pure action!
PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN--SEVEN DAYS' BATTLES
Report of Capt. John Edwards, commanding Batteries L and M, Third U.S. Artillery, of the battles of Mechanicsville and Gaines' Mill, engagement at Turkey Bridge, and battle of Malvern Hill.July 5, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of the taken by Batteries L and M, Third Artillery, in the late engagements with the rebels:
On the evening of June 26 I was directed to report with the battery to General McCall. It was about sunset when I reached his position. The battery was here exposed to the enemy's artillery fire. Two men were slightly wounded, two horses placed hors de combat, and two chiefs of pieces disabled by the fall of their horses. The battery was placed in position on the left of the line, where it opened a fire of case-shot and shell on the enemy's artillery and the woods harboring their troops. But a few rounds were fired, as it soon became too dark to fire with accuracy. At early dawn the enemy, concealed in the woods across the creek, opened a lively musketry fire upon our position, without inflicting any serious damage. At the same time I had received orders to withdraw to Gaines' Mill, which order was executed.
In the engagement of the 27th two sections of the battery, Lieutenants Hayden's and Kelly's, were posted on the right of the center in a hollow to the left of the house used as a hospital, from which position a partial view of the plain upon which the enemy debouched was had. Before opening fire here I was ordered to take one section in the field to the front near the wooded ravine that ran parallel to the right of the army. I took Lieutenant Hayden's section to this position. The pieces were no sooner brought into battery than the enemy opened fire upon them from at least six guns. A constant shower of shell and solid shot fell in and around the section. One cannoneer was wounded at the piece. The section opened upon them effectively with case-shot.
I then received notice from Colonel Warren that the enemy were preparing to charge us from the ravine. I threw double rounds of canister into the ravine, and at the same time received orders from General Sykes to retire behind the infantry. I withdrew the section and posted it on the hill behind the infantry. Lieutenant Brownson's section was joined to Lieutenant Kelly's in the position first mentioned, where an effective fire was kept up upon the infantry and artillery of the enemy. These sections remained in this position until the enemy's fire had comparatively ceased and their artillery was seen to withdraw. When the battle was renewed I was directed to detach one of the sections and post it on the high ground 600 or 700 yards to the left. I placed Lieutenant Kelly's section there, but the position was not a good one, as nothing could be seen. His section was afterward moved directly to the front across the road and in the angle of the field formed by the two roads, one coming from the direction of the enemy, the other running along our front. At this time the battery was split up into sections. Lieutenant Hayden's was posted on the hill in front of the hospital, Lieutenant Brownson's 400 or 500 yards to the left of it, Lieutenant Kelly's 600 to 700 yards to the left of the latter. As I could not be in these three positions at the same time, I passed from one section to the other continually, to observe and direct the fire.
About half an hour before oar infantry fell back I withdrew Lieutenant Kelly's section from its exposed position to the height in rear. Shortly afterward, as our troops were breaking and running to the rear, I directed Lieutenant Kelly to limber up and retire. The guns were the last to leave that part of the field. I then rode to Lieutenant Brownson's section. He was already limbering up and in great danger of losing his section, as the rebels had gained the road in front. The two lead-horses of one piece had been killed and the two surviving horses were shot as the piece was being limbered. This gun was drawn to the rear by 2 horses. I started for Lieutenant Hayden's section, but found the grounds in and around the hospital, which was in rear of his position, occupied by the rebels. I kept on to the right of this building and soon met Lieutenant Hayden, who informed me that the enemy advanced upon him in large numbers; that he threw double rounds of canister, when he was struck in the leg by a musket-ball and fell. Upon recovering himself, his cannoneers had left and most of the horses were slain. I get but a confused account of the capture of this section, Lieutenant Hayden having been wounded. I saw nothing of it myself. Lieutenant Brownson's section did a good deal of execution during the action, throwing double rounds of canister at the rebel infantry on two different occasions when they advanced beyond their cover. Eight horses out of sixteen were shot in this section alone. Lieutenant Brownson occupied nearly the same position through the engagement, and held it unflinchingly until the last moment, although the enemy kept up a continuous fire of artillery upon the section. I cannot speak too highly in praise of the lieutenants of the battery--First Lieutenants Hayden and Kelly, who were both wounded, the latter slightly, and Second Lieutenant Brownson. They all behaved with gallantry and coolness.
My guns were advanced nearer to the enemy by 500 yards than any artillery on the field. Had I been able to have reached the section in time I think I could have saved it. In this action 2 lieutenants, I sergeant, and 6 privates were wounded; 1 private missing, known to have been wounded, and 24 horses were shot. My own horse was shot under me.
In the artillery combat of the 30th June the battery was posted on the height occupied by the left of the army. The enemy opened their guns upon us from their concealment in the woods on the other side of the valley. The different batteries as well as my own, posted on this hill, opened fire upon them, and they were soon silenced. The battery suffered no loss here. On the 1st of July, in the afternoon, I was ordered to the front. General Griffin directed me to a position near a small house, about 900 yards from the woods in front, where the enemy had their forces concealed. Their artillery, hidden by the woods, played upon us, but their fire was bad. The battery returned their fire with effect. The enemy's sharpshooters crept along a wooded ravine to the right and on to the left some 250 yards off, from which points they annoyed us a good deal by attempts to pick off the cannoneers. Our own sharpshooters would not advance sufficiently to drive them off, and I was forced to fire canister at them.
After some time a regiment of rebels emerged from the woods waving their flag. The battery plied them with case-shot, and as they approached nearer with double rounds of canister. The Ninth Massachusetts Regiment, which was in rear of my battery, then rose up, gave a cheer, and advanced bravely as far as the rear of my limbers, where they crouched down and opened a fire of musketry in spite of all my efforts to stop them, thereby placing my men and horses in great jeopardy. I continued the fire of canister, and under its effects the rebel ranks were broken and many men ran to the rear. I then urged this regiment forward. They advanced a short distance beyond my guns. I ordered the latter to be limbered up and to withdraw. The rebels had approached so near one of my guns that Corporal Himmer shot one with his revolver. In this engagement Lieutenant Brownson was wounded in the head by a fragment of a shell. I directed him to retire to the rear. One private was killed, 1 corporal and 5 privates wounded, and I private wounded and missing; 5 horses were shot.
I have to report my commendation with regard to the officers, and also state that the greater part of the enlisted men fought nobly. I would mention First Sergeant App, who took charge of the caissons, and Privates Smith, Moffitt, Mallinger, Burke, Emmett, Reed, and others, who proved themselves good soldiers.
JNO. EDWARDS,
Captain, Third Artillery.
