No. 16

Report of Brig. Gen. William H. French, U.S. Army, commanding Third Brigade

Hdqrs. French's Brigade, Richardson's Division

Camp at Fair Oaks, Va., June 3, 1862.

CAPTAIN:  When the heavy firing at about 1 p.m. on the 31st of May was heard in our front, whilst in camp near Cold Harbor, my brigade was at once placed under arms and in readiness to march as soon as orders were received from the general of division.

At about 2 o'clock p.m., after awaiting for the construction of a temporary bridge across a meadow flooded by the swollen Chickahominy, my brigade filed across through the waters in places waist deep.  This delay kept the brigade, which was the advance of the division, from participating in the action of the 31st of May.  It was at 8 p.m. when I crossed the field of battle of that day, and under the immediate directions of the general of division my front was established.  The regiments were permitted to stack arms, and the fatigued soldiers laid down behind them to rest.

At 2 o'clock on the morning of the 1st of June, Colonel Cross, commanding the Fifth New Hampshire (Howard's), who had been thrown out as the division advance guard, awaked me to point out that three regiments of the enemy had, unconscious of our presence, gone into bivouac in the woods about 100 yards on the right of my line.  Communicating at once with the general of division, and receiving authority, I changed front to the right, placing my regiments en echelon until the break of day.  I found that the enemy, under pressure of Dana, whose brigade was on my right, had deserted their position, when the line established the night before was resumed.  As General Richardson had impressed upon me the importance of communicating during the night with Brigadier-General Birney on my left, this was continually done, and he was kept informed of our relative positions.

Having drawn in the Fifty-second New York, which had been placed, so as to detach it, too far from the rest of the brigade, leaving an uncovered space of three-fourths of a mile on my left, at 5 o'clock a.m.  I was authorized by General Richardson to move the length of the front of three regiments to the left.  This movement covered the front of the attack.  In a few moments after the connection of the line had thus been established (with the addition of the Eighty-first Regiment Pennsylvania Volunteers, of Howard's brigade) the enemy made an attack upon my whole front.  My troops (with the exception of the Sixty-sixth New York), to form line of battle, had to cross the railroad through a dense thicket and swamp, which covered the approach of the enemy, who opened his first fire at about 50 yards distance.  Although this attack was bold and sudden the line never swerved.  The fire was returned coolly and deliberately.  The first attack was at once repulsed.

After a few moments' pause the heads of several columns of the enemy threw themselves upon the intervals of the regiments on the right and left of the Fifty-second New York.  For some time the most desperate efforts were made to break our line.  The left of the Fifty-third Pennsylvania, consisting of seven companies, led by the gallant Colonel Brooke, repulsed them again and again.  The dashing Colonel Frank, of the Fifty-second New York, after holding them in his front and finding them turning his left flank, threw back three companies to receive and repulse the attack.

Up to this moment I had been in constant communication with the general of division, who, through his staff, had assured me that re-enforcements were at my disposal whenever called for.  Entirely relieved from anxiety on this account, my battalions continued to hold their positions until their ammunition had to be renewed, when I called on Brigadier-General Howard, who, with the Sixty-first New York, was waiting impatiently on the railroad in rear to pass my lines.  This was done in the most regular manner.  Taking advantage of the temporary cessation of our fire the enemy threw upon the advancing supports all their remaining fresh troops.

At this time my adjutant-general, Fisk, fell wounded at my side.  Both lines, the relieving and relieved, were being shot down.  Joining himself to the Sixty-first New York, Colonel Brooke, of the Fifty-third Pennsylvania, instead of retiring to the second line, continued to charge the enemy.  It was now that the gallant Brigadier-General Howard was twice wounded, and the brave Major Yeager, of the Fifty-third Pennsylvania, was killed, fighting hand-to-hand with the enemy.

Not for one moment in the entire fight during this contest for the mastery did our lines blench.  The enemy threw in fresh troops, regiment after regiment.  The passage of lines, directed with ability and judgement, baffled all their efforts.  About two hours had elapsed, and the second and third lines of the division having interposed in front of my left wing, I moved the right wing, consisting of the Sixty-sixth and Fifty-seventh New York, which had earlier in the action cleared their front of the enemy in a direction at right angles to the first line of battle, to feel the left and rear of the enemy's flank.  After penetrating the swamps and thicket about three-fourths of a mile the skirmishers of the Sixty-sixth encountered the Forty-first Virginia.  A heavy fire being opened upon them, followed by a charge with the bayonet, the enemy broke and precipitately fled, when my brigade, occupying the ground thus conquered notwithstanding its losses in the battle, remained upon the field unbroken and exultant.

Upon the Fifty-second New York, Col. Paul Frank, and the Fifty-third Pennsylvania, Colonel Brooke, devolved the honor of holding that position of my line most seriously attacked, under fearful odds, against the best troops of the enemy, directed by their ablest commanders.  To Colonel Zook, of the Fifty-seventh New York, whose regiment repulsed the attack on my right and by a heavy and continued fire directed it toward the left, and to Colonel Pinckney, of the Sixty-sixth New York, who led the flanking movement around the enemy's left, contributing greatly to cause his retreat, are due whatever success attended the operations of these regiments.  The conduct of the officers and men must be judged by the results of a hard-fought field.  I heartily conuer in the recommendations and praises of the regimental commanders.

Of my own staff, Assistant Adjutant-General Fisk was desperately wounded in the front of fire, displaying the most undaunted courage; Lieutenant and Aide-de-Camp Plume was constantly engaged in communicating with division headquarters and leading in re-enforcements, subjected to great exposure; Aide-de-Camp William H. French, jr., was on duty with the front of the line and shared its dangers; Brigade-Surgeon Grant was in readiness to relieve the wounded and, undeterred by the battle around, performed his duties with coolness and ability.  I respectfully request for them the favorable notice of the general commanding division.  I must not omit noticing the conspicuous conduct of Assistant Surgeon Dean, of the Fifty-seventh New York, who came forward, and receiving the wounded as they fell, operated behind the rank of file-closers unconscious of peril.  The Rev. Mr. Dwight, chaplain of the Sixty-sixth New York was on the field during the action, administering to the wounded and dying.  Captain Kirk, of the Fifty-seventh New York, in charge of the guard which accompanied me during the latter part of the engagement, displayed great coolness under the hottest fire.

I have confined myself to the outlines of the battle and to what came before me personally in reference to the operations of my own brigade.  Although brave troops of the second and third lines of Richardson's division under Howard and Meagher, were near my own, the report of their actions belongs particularly to their immediate commanders; who will permit me, however, to mention the admirable coolness and conduct of Colonel Cross, commanding the Fifth New Hampshire, and Colonel Nugent, commanding Sixty-ninth New York, and their fine regiments, under a most terrible fire and determined assault of the enemy when my brigade was to retire to replace their ammunition.  The battle began at 6 o'clock and ended at about 9.30 a.m.

Very respectfully, your obedient servant,

WM. H. FRENCH

Brigadier-General of Vols. and Major Second U.S. Artillery