O.R.-- SERIES I--VOLUME XI/2
PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN--SEVEN DAYS' BATTLES
No. 279 -- Reports of Col. George T. Anderson, Eleventh Georgia
Infantry, commanding Third Brigade, of the action at Garnett's and Golding's
Farms, engagement at Peach Orchard, or Allen's Farm; and battle of Malvern
Hill.
HDQRS. THIRD BRIG., FIRST DIV., ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
In the Field, July 8, 1862.
SIR: I have the honor to forward the following report
of the action of my brigade in the affair near Garnett's house on Saturday,
June 28:
The disposition of the regiments was as follows:
The Seventh and Eighth Georgia near the overseer's house; the Eleventh
on picket near New Bridge, and the First Georgia Regulars and Ninth Georgia
on duty at Mrs. Price's house. It was determined that morning by
Brig. Gen. D. R. Jones, commanding division, to place some heavy guns in
position on the New Bridge road and drive the enemy from their works near
the river if possible, and Brigadier-General Jones was directed to attack
the enemy if, in his discretion, it could be done without too serious loss
to ourselves, and I was to support him, if necessary, with my brigade.
The enemy was driven from the works by our batteries on the New Bridge
road and by Captain Brown's (Wise Artillery) and Captain Moody's batteries
near Garnett's house; and Captain Thurston, of General Jones' staff, was
sent to General Toombs to notify him of the fact. From some cause, not
understood by me, General Toombs sent Captain Thurston to me to make the
attack, and as Captain Thurston was on General Jones' staff I supposed
the order had been changed, and, expecting to be supported, ordered the
Eighth and Seventh Georgia to advance, which they did in most beautiful
order and with their usual gallantry, driving the enemy before them over
and beyond their works, all the time exposed to a galling fire from artillery
and musketry. Satisfied that these two small regiments could not
cope successfully with the enemy, I asked General Toombs two or three times
to send forward men to support me in the attack; but before this
was done an order came from General Magruder to cease the attack, and I
recalled the troops.
I cannot express too highly my appreciation of the gallantry
and good conduct of all the officers and men of both regiments in this
action, in which our loss was very severe, as the list of casualties will
show.
The Eighth Georgia led the attack under command of the
heroic [L. M.] Lamar and suffered severely. Colonel Lamar was wounded and
taken by the enemy, but has been recovered from them; Lieutenant-Colonel
[John R.] Towers and Lieutenant Harper taken prisoners; Major [E. J.] Magruder
seriously wounded; Captain Butler, Lieutenants Montgomery, Williamson,
and Blackwell also wounded, and 13 men killed, 63 wounded, 6 missing, and
15 prisoners.
The Seventh Georgia supported the Eighth. The casualties
are--Lieut. Col. W. W. White, commanding regiment, seriously wounded; Captain
Hicks wounded, and 7 men killed, 60 wounded, and 8 missing.
I am satisfied that if I had been able to bring my whole
brigade into action or been properly supported the whole of that part of
the enemy's works would have been taken and held. A prisoner taken
next morning reports the enemy's loss to have been about equal to ours.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. T. ANDERSON,
Colonel, Commanding Briqade.
Capt. A. COWARD,
Assistant Adjutant-General.
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HDQRs. THIRD BRIG., FIRST DIV., ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,
Camp near Richmond, Va., July 14, 1862.
SIR. I have the honor to forward the report of the action
of my brigade in the series of battles from June 29 to July 1, inclusive,
the report of the action of the Seventh and Eighth Georgia on the 29th
having been already forwarded:
Early on Sunday morning I was ordered to march in pursuit
of the retreating enemy, and having soon formed my brigade, moved through
the deserted camps and works of the enemy near Garnett's farm.
The First Georgia Regulars, Col. W. J. Magill commanding, were deployed
as skirmishers, and the Seventh Georgia Regiment, Maj. E. W. Hoyle commanding,
in support. The Eighth Georgia, Capt. George O. Dawson; Ninth Georgia,
Col. R. A. Turnipseed, and Eleventh Georgia, Lieut. Col. William Luffman
commanding, were formed in line of battle, and in this order we set out
in search of the enemy. After marching some distance the First Georgia
came up with the foe and opened fire upon them, receiving in return a heavy
fire from artillery and musketry, losing several men killed and wounded;
but officers and men, I am proud to say, behaved in the most gallant manner
and drove the enemy before them, inflicting severe loss upon him.
After marching in line of battle all day through woods, swamps, and open
field we did not participate in the fight late in the day, our direction
bringing us considerably to our left of the enemy. We reached our
bivouac that night, or morning rather, about 1 o'clock, having been exposed
to a severe rain for over an hour.
The next morning, June 30, we marched to join Major-General
Longstreet, and reached him, after being on the march eighteen hours, at
2 a.m. July 1, and rested until daylight, and again set out in search of
the enemy. Marched across the battle-field of the day previous some
1 ½ miles; was ordered by Major-General Magruder to march back to
the Darby road; marched some 5 miles and was ordered back, moving by the
left flank. Was next ordered by Major-General Magruder to shelter
my men under a hill to protect them from the fire of the enemy, as our
batteries were ordered to open upon them. From this position was
ordered to take position recently occupied by General Cobb in my front;
was about getting into position and was ordered to move some quarter of
a mile to the right, and before I could get my line dressed was again ordered
to move to the right of every brigade in the line and take position.
Had, as I supposed, nearly reached this last point, when I was again ordered
by General Magruder to move back rapidly by the left flank to support General
Cobb; all of which orders were executed promptly by my command over swamps,
dense undergrowth, ravines, and hills. At about 4.30 p.m. I received
orders to advance to attack a battery of the enemy, and moving rapidly
to the front through the dense woods, the left of my line, reaching the
open field first, gained so much ground to the front and in the advance
of the right that I ordered a halt to re-establish a correct line on the
open field.
In the mean time the enemy were firing on us from two
batteries and their infantry. Before I succeeded in rectifying my
line other troops were hurried on to the attack, and then of my right.
The First Georgia Regulars and Seventh and Eighth Georgia Regiments, supposing
that I had given command to advance, became separated from the command.
But I am proud to be able to say that every officer and man behaved himself
with coolness and gallantry and aided materially in the final results of
the day. The Ninth and Eleventh Georgia were more immediately under
my own observation, and the conduct of the officers and men of both regiments
under a most severe fire was all that I desired, each man standing to his
post willingly and cheerfully until long after dark, when I withdrew them
from the field, my other regiments having passed a few moments before.
Colonel Magill mentions in terms of strong commendation
the names of Sergt. W. J. Garrett, Company M; Corpl. J. C. Camp, and Private
W..L. Morehead, First Georgia Regulars. Captain Carmical reports very favorably
of the conduct of Sergeant Aderhold, Company I, Seventh Georgia.
Other commanders report that all acted well and bravely.
The casualties in the brigade are as follows:
Command.
Killed. Wounded. Missing.
Total.
1st Georgia Regulars:
Officers
....
6
....
6
Privates
4
38
15 57
Total
4
44
15 63
7th Georgia Regiment:
Officers
1
6
....
7
Privates
13
101
5 119
Total
14
107
5 126
8th Georgia Regiment:
Officers
....
....
....
....
Privates
4
8
....
12
Total
4
8
....
12
9th Georgia Regiment:
Officers
....
2
....
2
Privates
3
28
....
31
Total
3
30
....
33
11th Georgia Regiment:
Officers
....
3
....
3
Privates
6
50
16
72
Total
6
53
16
75
RECAPITULATION.
Officers
1
17
....
18
Privates
30
225
36 291
Total
31
242
36 309
It is due the men to state that they had been without rest
almost entirely since the night of the 27th, and marched in line of battle
all day Sunday, 29th,and for eighteen hours June 30, and were marched and
counter-marched the day of battle from daylight until about 4 p.m., and
many of the men fell out from exhaustion and have since rejoined.
I bear willing testimony to the gallantry of the whole
command, officers and soldiers, and feel proud of having the honor of commanding
such brave and determined men. I am under many obligations to Lieut.
C. C. Hardwick, Eighth Georgia Volunteers, acting assistant adjutant-general,
for his bravery and gallantry, executing promptly every order intrusted
to him; also to Capts. T. G. Jackson, of Virginia, and Charles Daniel,
of Georgia, volunteer aides, for gallantry and distinguished services on
all occasions. I cannot refrain from mentioning Private D. E. Humphreys,
Company C, Eleventh Georgia Volunteers, my orderly, for his gallantry and
good conduct.
I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant,
GEO. T. ANDERSON,
Colonel Eleventh Georgia Volunteers, Commanding Brigade.
Capt. A. COWARD,
Assistant Adjutant-General.