1862 June 30

At 9. A. M we harnessed up again, and
continued our retreat. At one P. M. we
formed a line of battle in prolongation of
Kearney’s Div. at Glendale; our right resting
on the Charles City cross roads. At ½ past
two P. M. Longstreets div. was discovered
advancing to attack our lines; at three
he opened a brisk fire on us from a 6 pdr
battery. Battery D. 2nd U. S. and our battery
immediately opened fire on his lines, and

for three hours poured in upon him a most
deadly and distructive fire. So accurate was
our fire, that one battery which was in
position in our immediate front, was entirely
demolished, and two others which were trying
to gain a position, were so completely
disabled, that they become perfectly useless:
not however until we had one man
instantly killed, and another mortal^ ‘l’y woun-
-ded. About six P. M. the vents being
blown out of our guns, and the guns being
so much heated as to render them unfit
for service, we were releived by a R. I.
battery. We then retired about one mile
to the rear: all in our immediate front,
had now become very quiet: the rebs
having been repulsed in all their attempts
to dislodge us. On our left however things
wore a much different aspect. Heintzelmans
corps greatly outnumbered by the rebs, was
being severely pressed, and slowly but
surely driven, though they disputed every
inch of the ground with a terrible[ ‘stuborn’ lined through]
stubbornness, which cost the rebel army a
large amount of valuable lives. Every
thing on that part of the line began to
wear a most serious face, and for a short
time the capture of our entire army
seemed very probable. Fortunately Mc Call’s

Division of the 5th Corps, and the 1st N. J.
brigade of the 1st Div. of the 6th Corps, [‘cor’ lined through]
came up at this critical moment, and
were sent to the immediate front. and
the tide of battle soon changed: the
rebs were repulsed. and driven back in
confusion. all the lost ground was
regained, and we remained, undisputed
victors on that part of the line also,
At 8. P. M. we were sent to the front
again, and just as we were going into
position, a brigade of the rebs was discov-
-ered crawling on their hands and knees
up the hill to charge on our line of
batteries. Battery D. 2nd U. S. immediately
opened on them a double shotted fire of
canister, driving them back in confusion,
killing and wounding one half their
number. After this all became very quiet;
we remained in our position until mid-
night. when we limbered up our guns
and fell back. We lost also one man
taken prisoner. Warm and quite
pleasant.

Today in his diary Johnson describes the 6th day of the 7 Days Battle outside Richmond, known as the battle of Glendale or Charles City Crossroads.

For a Confederate soldier's view of the Seven Days Battle see the letters of William H. Perry, Jr.

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1862 June 29

To day the army continued its retreat. A
great quantity of all kinds of military
stores are being destroyed, so that our
progress shall not be retarded. At six
P. M. we halted, and encamped for the
night. Gen Sumners Corps engaged the rebs
at Allens farm and after a severe struggle
forced the John Henry’s to retire. Smith’s
div. of the 6th Corps, engaged a portion of
the Rebel Army at Savage Station, and
although they repulsed the rebs. still owing
to a misunderstanding between Gen’s
Sumner and Heintzelman, they barely
escaped capture. Pleasant and very warm.

Battle of Savage's Station and Allen's Farm. Johnson notes the "misunderstanding" between Union General Samuel Peter Heintzelman, 1805-1880, a Mexican War veteran in command of the III Corps who was supposed to block the Williamsburg Road but instead withdrew without notifying General Edward Vose Sumner who had command of the II Corps. William Farrar "Baldy" Smith, 1824-1903, commanded a division of VI Corps in the Peninsula campaign, was probably most noted for constant criticism his superior officers. The Federals safely withdrew but left 2500 sick and wounded behind.

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1862 June 28

Were turned out at three. A. M and marched
to the banks of the river, to protect the right
flank of the army. the army is compelled to
fall back from before Richmond. not being
strong enough to hold our position against
the reinforcements the rebs have received
from the South. (For all this we can thank
that poor, weak minded thing, that is styled
President Lincoln,) All day long a steady
[The parentheses are in pencil and also in pencil,
in the margin is written, “ You don’t mean that.”]
column of sick, and wounded troops, trains,
and other material of war, was passing
by us. At four P. M. our div was sent to
the front with orders to hold our position
at all haz [second ‘z’ lined through]ards until midnight. we are
to be left as the rear guard to cover the
retreat. Remained in position until mid-
-night, when we limbered up, and fell back
after the remainder of the army. As far as I
can under stand the proceedings, the authorities
at Washington have done the best they could
to sacrifise this army, and if we ever
reach the James River it will be wholly
to the credit of Gen Mc Clellan and to
him will this country’s thanks be due.
Warm and pleasant.

1862 June 27

At seven A. M, we harnessed up, and
proceeded to the front, and went into
position, expecting an engagement.
Gen Porter having fallen back to
Gaines Mills, burning his commissary
and quarter-master’s stores. there he
formed a new line of battle in a
strong position. Remained in
position until noon, when all being
quiet we returned to camp and
unharnessed. Early in the afternoon
the rebs opened on our lines with
their Artillery. and drove Bartlett’s
and Newton’s brigades. D. battery 2nd
U. S. and our battery, from our camps.
At two P. M. Porter who was severly
pressed at Gaines Mills, sent in for
reinforcements., Our div.( Slocum’s)

was ordered to march to his assistance.
Crossed the river at Woodbury bridge, and
by ½ past three, we had arrived on the
field. Our div. was sent to different parts
of the line where they were most needed,
Bartlett’s brigade, and a Penn. battery. of
McCalls div; at five P. M. French’s and
Meagher’s (Irish) brigades were sent to reinfor-
-ce us. At six the rebs attacked us in great
force, but were repulsed, after a most
desperate struggle; our position was a
most critical one. The rebs next opened,
on us a cross fire, which they kept
up for nearly an hour, and a most
terrible fire it was; the air over, around,
and even the ground beneath us, was
full of shot shell and musket balls;
during this storm of iron hail, we
changed our position a little to the
left, and it was a perfect miracle
that half of the battery was not
killed, while we were changing our
position, At seven, they again attack-
-ed our lines, with still greater fury,
and finaly gained the woods on
our left, this reverse, aided by the
confusion which followed an


unsuccessful charge by five compa-
nies of the 5th U. S. Cavalry, caused
us to fall back to a hill, overlooking
Woodbury bridge, French’s and Meaghers
brigade’s now appeared, driving before them
the stragglers, who were crowding for the
bridge. These brigades advanced steadily to
the front, and by their example
reanimated our retreating columns, and
warned the rebels that reinforc ^ ‘e’ments
had arrived. It was now nearly dark,
and the rebs who had been repulsed
several times with great loss, hearing
the shouts of these fresh troops, failed
to follow up their advantage; this gave
us time to rally our columns, and behind
our reinforcements, advanced again ready
to repulse another attack. Night ended
the fighting: during the night our forces were
with drawn to the left bank of the
river, and the bridges were blown up.
We lost some twenty two pieces of Artillery,
and although were finaly compelled to
retire from the field, we gained the
object which we fought for. The entire
4th N. J. regt was captured. which fate for
a few moments appeared to be ours.
we had one man wounded. We had
but 30,00 men engaged, while the force of
the rebs exceeded 80,000. Pleasant and warm.

Battle of Gaine's Mills. For a Confederate soldiers view see the letter of William H. Perry.

Irish born Thomas Francis Meagher, 1823-1867, was banished to Tasmania for participation in various revolutionary Irish groups. He escaped to the U.S. and New York where he organized a Zouave Company in 1861 which became part of the 59th New York. After 1st Bull Run/Manassas he organized the Irish Brigade in New York City and served as its Brigadier. The brigades hopeless charge of Marye's Heights in the battle of Fredericksburg, December 1862 was depicted in the movie Gods and Generals.

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1862 June 26

Skirmishing very heavily on our left all
day. During the afternoon, our advance on
the left after a brisk and decisive fight,
succeeded in capturing redoubt No. 4 of
the defenses of Richmond. At noon the
rebs on our right advanced, and crossed
the Chickahominy at Meadow bridge,
attacked, and drove in our pickets at
Mechanicsville. Morrells. Div. and two
brigades of Mc Call’s div. were deployed
in line of battle. Meade’s brigade being
held as a reserve, At three P. M the
rebs rapidly advanced and attacked
our whole line, making a determined
attempt to drive back Reynold’s
brigade, but after a severe struggle
they were forced to retire with a heavy
loss. A rapid Artillery fire was kept
up along the entire line. at five P. M
the rebs made another desperate assault
on our right, and were again repulsed
by Gen Seymore with a heavy loss,
Night coming on, the conflict ended,
Pleasant and very warm

Battle of Mechanicsville or Beaver Dam Creek

George W. Morell, 1815-1883, led a division of the 5th Corps during the Peninsula Campaign. His close association with Brig. Gen. Fitz John Porter, his corps commander, led him to testify on the latter's behalf when Porter was unjustly court-martialed for dereliction in the Second Battle of Bull Run. Morell's military career was ruined and he had no more field service after the Battle of Antietam.

George A. McCall, 1802-1868, a veteran of both the Seminole and Mexican Wars, and one of the oldest generals in the war, led the division known as the Pennsylvania Reserves. He was captured in June of 1862 and sent to Libby Prison in Richmond until exchanged for Confederate General Simon Bolivar Buckner. His health broken by imprisonment he retired to his West Chester, Pennsylvania, estate. He was a relative of the noted novelist Edith Wharton.

John F. Reynolds, 1820-1863, was also a veteran of the Mexican War where he develped the famous friendship with fellow officers Winfield Scott Hancock and Lewis A. Armistead that was depicted in Killer Angels and Gettysburg. His brigade in the Pennsylvania Reserves was hit hard by the Confederate attack described by Johnson above but his defensive line held and Reynolds later received a letter of commendation from his division commander, George A. McCall

Truman Seymour, 1824-1891, another veteran of the Mexican War, commanded the left wing of the Federal Reserves at Mechanicsville on June 26, Gaines' Mill on June 27, and Glendale on June 30 and then led the division at Malvern Hill on July 1 after McCall was wounded and captured. He was later sent to the Dept. of the South where he commanded the Union troops at the Battle of Olustee, the largest Civil War battle fought in Florida.

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1862 June 25

To day Gen Hookers div was advanced to
the front, and fought the battle of Oak Grove,
in which our forces gained one mile of
ground. In the evening the rebs made a
demonstration on our entire line, but were
repulsed at every point. Gen Mc Clellan
and staff passed through our camp to day.
Warm and quite pleasant.

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1862 June 24

Were turned out at three A. M as the
rebs have kept up a brisk musketry
fire all night on our picket line,
which led us to beleive that we would
be attacked at day light. Remained
in harness until 9 A. M when all being
very quiet, we unharnessed. During the
evening had another severe thunder
shower. The day was pleasant and
very warm.

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1862 June 23

Yesterday and to day have been so
remarkably quiet, that the report that the
rebs had, or were evacuating Richmond,
was greatly beleived by the troops.
This morning a reconnoisance was made,
and a short but obstinate skirmish ensued,
but as neither party could gain any advan-
tage, both sides with drew, as if by mutual
consent. In the evening, had a severe thunder
shower. During the day it was excessively
warm.

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1862 June 21

Early this morning the rebs were discovered
drawn up in line of battle, but for some
reason they retired. During the afternoon they
attempted to drive in the pickets of
Gen Sickle’s brigade, but the Excelsior
boys could not see it in such a light, so
the John Henry’s gave it up as [ ‘a’ lined through] decidedly a
bad job. Early in the evening they made
another attack on our piquet line, and
were again repulsed. A heavy musketry fire
was kept up all night long.
Warm and pleasant.
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1862 June 20

Yesterday moved camp a short distance. the
Johnnies have kept up a pretty brisk fire upon
our lines to day, but as usual no material
injury has been done by them. Pleasant and
extremely warm.

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1862 June 18

Were turned out early as usual, packed
and harnessed up, and at noon we were
releived by D. Battery 5th U S. Arty’
of Porters 15th Corps. Left our position at
Mechanicsville, and were soon on the
tramp again. At seven P. M halted and
encamped at Fair Oaks, crossing the
Chickahominy river, at Woodbury bridge,
This bridge a mile long (that is corduroying
and trussle work) was built by the U. S.
Engineer brigade in nine days. We are
now but four miles from Richmond.
Pleasant during the day, cloudy and at
times rained hard during the night.

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1862 June 16

As usual all is very very quiet, both armies
are closely watching each other, there will
be a break some where soon. The rebs are
throwing all their reserves on to their right,
During the night the rebs threw up an
immense rifle pit, also mounted several
field batteries in their breast works,
Very warm and pleasant.

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1862 June 15

Every thing still remains very quiet. About
noon a flag of truce accompanied by Gen
Franklin, passed out to the rebel lines, to
effect a change of prisoners. Our whole line
is under arms. During the afternoon had a
severe thunder shower.

William Buel Franklin, 1823-1903, performed well in the Peninsular Campaign, and at Antietam but was accused by Ambrose Burnside of disobeying orders at Fredericksburg and so being partly responsible for the Union defeat. Lincoln refused to remove him from command but he was posted to the western theatre where he was wounded. After the war he had a varied and successful career managing of Colt's Firearms, supervising the construction of the Connecticut state capitol, serving as a presidential elector in 1876, and acting as commissioner general for the United States at the Paris Exposition in 1888.

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1862 June 14

Every thing to day is full as quiet as was yesterday,
although we are in expectation every
moment, of making, or being attacked. The rebs
are very uneasy. two deserters swam the river
and came into our lines last night.
Warm and pleasant.

1862 June 13

All very quiet to day, we were in harness all
day expecting to move at every moment.
The balloon is up to day. quite warm and
pleasant.

1862 June 12

Were turned out at four A.M. harnessed
and packed up, and by seven were on the
road for M. at which place we arrived
at 9 A.M., and went immediately into
position. At six P.M. the rebs opened on us with
a thirty two pdr. and an old fashion eighteen
pdr. to get the range, and exact distance
between the lines. they having just completed
mounting these guns in some heavy fortifica
-tions, just in front of us. They kept up a
pretty brisk fire for about 1/2 hour, when
we opened on them, and in one half hour
more had silenced them, dismounting one
of their guns. Warm and pleasant.

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1862 June 11

The past six days have been very quiet, and
monotonous. Have had an inspection by
Capt Platt, Chief of Arti. 1st Div 6th Corps.
Most every day there has been more
or less fireing between the pickets, but no
material injury has been inflicted on either
side. With the exception of the 10th (on that
day rained very hard) the weather has been
mild and quite pleasant. To day we
received orders to relieve the 1st N.J. Battery
F, who were on picket at Mechanicsville
at Meadow bridge.

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1862 June 5

Yesterday was also very quiet. Smith's Div. of
the 6th Corps, (Franklin's) crossed the Chickahom-
iny at New bridge, in face of a galling fire from
five points, but the rebs were obliged to fall
back. We were paid off in the evening. Mild
and pleasant.

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1862 June 3

Yesterday and to day have been the two
most quiet day's we have had for a long
while, A. twenty pdr parrott battery has been
busy shelling the rebel piquet line all day,
to which the rebs would occasionally
reply. Mild and pleasant.

1861 June 1

Early this morning the battle which was in
progress yesterday on our left, was recommenced
The fireing continued very heavy until 10 A.M,
when it became more distant and less
severe, by noon it had ceased entirely.
The battle of yesterday and to day, was
fought at Fair Oak's some four miles
from Richmond. the rebs taking advantage
of a terrible storm which had flooded the
valley of the Chickahominy, and had left a
portion of our troops in an exposed
position, attacked them suddenly, (our troops
comprised the corps of Sumner. Heintzel-
man, and Key's) and after a severe and
desperate conflict, Gen Casey's Div. which
comprised the first line of battle fell.
back in disorder upon the second line,
thus causing a temporary panic. but
Heintzelman and Kearny rapidly advanced
their columns, and checked the rebs, who
were pouring down in immense force,
Night ended the battle for the day. the
rebs fell back a short distance to a strong
position, our troops formed new lines,
and placed the Artillery in strong positions
This morning the rebels again attacked
our lines, and although our Artillery
mowed them down by scores, the gaps
were immediately filled with fresh troops:
both sides fought with determination
and gallantry, but the rebs were at last
obliged to retreat in confusion. Their loss
is enormous. ours is about 7000 in all.
Jo. Johnston, the rebel Gen in chief, was
wounded in the foot. Warm and pleasant.

For a Confederate view of the battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines see the blogged letters if William H. Perry

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