Gen. Slocum, who commanded the left and centre ot the division, generously furnished me with all the assistance I required. Among the troops engaged on our side were three companies of the Twenty-seventh New York. All the troops engaged behaved with great steadiness. Our loss in the action was over 200, in killed, wounded and missing. I regret to add a long list of killed and wounded among the officers engaged. Capt. Hess, of the Thirty-first New York, with a single company in front of a regiment of the enemy, was killed, and his two lieutenants were wounded-one mortally, and the other severely. Of this one company all the non-commissioned officers, save one, were killed, and forty privates killed and wounded,―evincing a degree of heroism which is worthy of all praise. All the troops engaged behaved with great steadiness, and there were many other instances of heroism among the officers and men brought to my notice, but they are too numerous to be included in a report. The enemy committed inhuman barbarities upon some of the wounded. One was found with his throat cut, and another bore the marks of eight bayonet stabs in his body. I have no means of ascertaining correctly the force of the enemy. We know, however, that it was at least Gen. Whiting's division, including the Hampton Legion. Besides this large body of the enemy, a reserve at least 20,000 strong was supporting the attacking force. The attack which they made was evidently with a view to prevent the division molesting their line of retreat, and to drive us into the river, if they obtained the advantage. The gunboats rendered efficient service by throwing shells into the enemy, at a distance of two miles. At the end of the day we occupied a position in advance of that held at the commencement of the action. I am, very respectfully, Your obedient servant, JOHN NEWTON, Commanding Right Wing General Franklin's Division. ROSTER OF SIXTH ARMY CORPS. MAJOR-GEN. WM. B. FRANKLIN, COMMANDING. IN THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN, 1862. FIRST DIVISION. Major-General H. W. SLOCUM, Commanding. First Brigade.-Col. A. T. A. TORBERT.—1st, 2d, 3d and 4th New Jersey Volunteers. Second Brigade.—Col. J. J. BARTLETT.—16th and 27th New York, 5th Maine and 96th Pennsylvania. Third Brigade.-Brigadier-Gen. JOHN NEWTON.—18th, 31st and 32d New York Volunteers, and 95th Pennsylvania (Gosline Zouaves.) ARTILLERY. Platt's Battery D, 2d United States-Six Napoleon guns. Porter's A, Massachusetts-Four 10-pound Parrott guns; two 12-pound howitzers. Hexamer's A, New Jersey-Four 10-pound Parrott guns; two 12-pound howitzers. Wilson's F, New York-Four 3-inch Ordnance guns. SECOND DIVISION. Major-Gen. WILLIAM F. SMITH, Commanding. First Brigade.- Brigadier-Gen. W. S. HANCOCK.-- 5th Wisconsin, 49th Pennsylvania, 43d New York, 6th Maine. Second Brigade.—Brigadier-Gen. W. H. BROOKS.—2d, 3d, 4th, 5th and 6th Vermont Volunteers. Third Brigade.- Brigadier-Gen. DAVIDSON.-33d, 77th, 49th New York Volunteers, and 7th Maine Volunteers. ARTILLERY. Ayres's F, 5th United States-Four 10-pound Parrotts and two Napoleons. Mott's 3d New York Battery-Four 10-pound Parrotts and two Napoleons. Wheeler's E, 1st New York-Four 3-inch Ordnance guns. Kennedy's 1st New York Battery-Six 3-inch Ordnance guns. The next morning after the battle a detail from our regiment accompanied Gen. Slocum beyond our lines, to ascertain the position and numbers of the enemy. Marching through the woods, evidences of the conflict of the previous day were noticeable on all sides. Large trees were splintered by the gunboat shells, dead soldiers were strewn here and there, and the ambulance force was busy gathering the bodies for burial. As the escort was moving leisurely along, they met two colored men coming in from the enemy's lines. They were carefully questioned by the General, as to the location and numbers of the enemy. One of the colored men replied: "Dar's heaps ob dem out in de field. Dis poor uneducated nigger can't count 'em, but dey's like the locusts of Egypt, and dat's as near as I can cipher it, Massa." The escort, did not advance further, but soon after returned to camp. Two days the regiment lay in camp three miles from the battle-field, at Brick House Point, and on the 11th moved to Eltham. While here Gen. McClellan rode through our camp, and the same day it was announced that the enemy had evacuated Norfolk. We then began to move up the peninsula, in the rear of the rebel army, which was gradually drawing closer to Richmond. A LOYAL SECESSION SONG. 43 As we advanced, in a deserted rebel encampment we found numerous loyal secession songs, which their soldiers were encouraged to sing. The following is a sample: Come, all ye sons of freedom, and join our Southern band; CHORUS-Wait for the wagon, The dissolution wagon; And we'll all take a ride. Secession is our password, and our rights we'll all demand, CHORUS. Our wagon's plenty large enough, our running-gear is good, South Carolina is the driver, with Georgia by her side, Virginia will hold our flag up, and we'll all take a ride. CHORUS. There's Tennessee and Texas also in the ring; They wouldn't have a government where Cotton isn't king; CHORUS. Kentucky and Maryland are slow; They must join ere long, or where will they go? CHORUS. Our cause is just and holy, our men are brave and true; CHORUS-Wait for the wagon, The dissolution wagon; E On the 13th started at 3 A. M., and after a ten-mile march in the scorching sun, we reached the sandy plain of Cumberland. Here we formed a junction with our main army, that had come up from Yorktown by way of Williamsburg. Soon after getting into camp, the enemy made a dash on our wagon train, which created some alarm. We were called into line, but the excitement was soon over. Cumberland was made a base of supplies for the Army of the Potomac; and while here Gen. McClellan organized two additional army corps: the Fifth Corps to be commanded by Fitz John Porter, and the Sixth Corps to be commanded by Franklin. By this change, Franklin's division and W. F. Smith's division constituted the Sixth Corps, and Gen. Slocum assumed command of the First Division. Col. Bartlett was put in command of Slocum's brigade, and the 27th Regiment was commanded by Lieut.-Col. Adams. May 15th, broke camp at daylight, and marched to White House (about eight miles), on the Pamunky River, -a place where it is said Gen. Washington first met the widow Custis, who afterwards became his wife. Rained hard all day; the roads muddy, and baggage delayed. All agreed that it was one of the most fatiguing marches the regiment had ever made. We were not allowed to take the fence rails for fires, and we passed a cheerless, tedious night. May 20th, marched to Tunstall's Station. Here the mileposts on the railroad read: "To Richmond 18 miles." Towards evening, advanced three miles, and bivouacked after dark. The next day we moved on to Cold Harbor, on the Chickahominy River; and on the morning of the 22d, in company with the 16th New York, a section of artillery, and two companies of the First New York Cavalry, we were sent on a reconnoissance towards Mechanicsville, under command of Col. Bartlett, and advanced about six miles, close up to the enemy's lines. After ascertaining the position of the enemy, we returned to camp, where we arrived about II P. M., having lost only two cavalrymenone of whom was killed, and the other captured. Col. Bartlett was complimented in flattering terms by his |