In this installment Private Frank Cobb, separated from his comrades (Company C), returns to the Regiment in time to witness the Battle of Gaines Mill. He falls in with New Hampshire Company E and becomes one of the final lines of resistance to rally the retreating troops. Cobb’s account provides how fluid and disorienting it was for a private soldier caught up in battle.

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I kept along with the 4th until I found the Regiment. Then I fell in with them after we had got across the valley where the fight occurred that day in the which Lieutenant Preston and Smith were wounded. We went a little to the right over the field and unslung our knapsacks in the shade and rested for about an hour. I heard where McCall’s division were so I set out for it, hoping to find the company, but could not as the brigade was not with the division. I went back to the Regiment or where I had left them, but found that they had gone down to where the fight commenced, to act as a kind of picket. I started back with the boys who were left with the SENGAGE I stayed with them most of the day I was there when most of the fighting was going on down over the hill. On top of the hill was posted a line of batteries which kept up an incessant fire most all day.

Page 6&7 missing

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We would not run. They were so mad because they did not have any more ammunition. I can’t describe it so there is no use trying to, you can imagine a little how it was by imagining that you was ready to a-fire when there is about about thousand right with you but a going different ways. Although these were all going the same way with but a few exceptions. Here however company E got up to the top of the hill altogether and in pretty good order. When we got up there. Some big officer came along and said, “for God sake’s rally men rally as we are a ruined army”. Lieutenant said to him that we had no bayonets and no ammunition, which was the case with Company E as they all had targets (rifles). “Never mind that so rally on the top of the hill here” said he presses “all right” said the Lieutenant, so we formed in a line along the hill and everyone that could be got to rally rally and to the both ends of our company. It was not long before there was a long line of men all regiments of called Uncle Sam’s them. There were a great many that would not stop know how (no how) they ‘had not got time’ and they had all kinds of excuses. A little after dark the word came that reinforcements were coming and would be here in a short time if we could only hold out a little longer. Then cheer upon cheer, went from the crowd and all was enthusiasm until the reinforcements came.

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Supposing that the rebels were following us up, we kept a ready to go in at a word to “forward”, but there were troops ahead of us who had not broke ranks or got separated, and all we or I did not know that there was any. However, the Rebs did not advance any further that way. then we unslung our knapsack as first lieutenant goes on that hill where the Lancer‘s made their prince’s “charge” as soon as the reinforcements came came up, they formed in lines of battle at a regimental front. The troops were Sickle’s brigades I believe. at first I saw the green flag of the Irish 69 and saw them go down the hill, and I believe they were in the advance of the reinforcements. Soon after they went down the hill I heard them press “charge” and it was so dusty and smoky that I could not see them although I strained my eyes to see if I could get a sight of them. regiment after regiment went over and down the hill. all was excitement about this time as we could all distinctly hear their charge
(DURF please save these writings if you can, and I will write it off in ink when I get home)

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Shush as the news came back to the regiment that the rebels had fallen back a cross the ravine where the fighting had been all day. this ended the second days fight before Richmond, as far as I saw and heard. After the excitement had subsided the Regiment that had been in the fight and had got separated now began to get together and as soon as that was done as well as could be, they all laid down and slept until the officers came around talking very low in a whisper, almost the men to get up and fall in as soon as possible, which the men done without asking “what is up” and after the regiment had drove the rebels back as far as was the parent’s orders and parentheses a strong Pickett was posted out and brigades for reserve. The rest came back. The night was spent in caring of the wounded. About 3 o’clock it was that the officers came around and got us up for we did not know. But smelt something when we were marching down towards the Chicahominy with our backs to the enemy. Then we thought.

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Or at least I thought that we were whipped and were retreating. I did not know where to, but still had hopes that it was the intentions of the General to make his last great and final struggle as the General had since had a few remarks before in a Special Order to the soldiers of his army, it was a long session that we were in on that long, narrow corduroy road to the other side of the Chicahominy and a silent column to, as no one talked above a whisper. I don’t know how long that line of men had been going across the bridge before we, but at daylight the Saturday morning they had not all got across. About 6 o’clock the bridge was blown up to prevent the rebels from using it to get across on which would’ve been a great help for them. When I laid down the night before on that hill back, I thought that we would have an all night rest. And expected that the battle would commence at early dawn, but the next morning found me across the Chickahominy.

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Well, going across the corduroy Road before getting to the bridge I seen a number of wounded a hobbling along trying to get across, some were crawling, Some had a friend help him and some were not wounded so bad what they could walk. They were notified I presume that the move was by the surgeons all had their wounds dressed for the best that could be. After seeing after getting across, I saw a number that had got crossed, just crossed it was all which I and that was all which had laid down and rest perhaps until they could be carried up to the hospital. Nothing like getting used to the sight of a battlefield. It would be hard on a new recruit, I know well Derf I will stop for present and take up another subject.

It is awful hot down here nowadays especially today. But I presume that we don’t feel the heat anymore than you do at home. I am well. Oh yes, Doc Chamberlain has got back and talks of going home for a little while he was released (from POW) with a lot of wounded fellows he looks pretty hardy. I never felt better in my life than I do nowadays we don’t do anything but lay in the shade most of the time
Ned Smith was sent to the hospital down to the fort (Monroe). I guess someplace north a couple of the company went with him. I hope to get a letter tonight I I want close this until after the mail comes goodbye until then Thursday morning all well no letter or paper last night but will you do (Dr.) Chamberlain goes up to where Colonel Woodbury was killed to get his body today to take (?)*

(Top of page 11) I will write more next time that I write

Frank[/i]

* Dr. Chamberlain was the surgeon of the 4th Michigan Infantry and an acquaintance of Cobb’s and members of the “Hudson Squad”. Col. Woodbury was killed during the fighting at Malvern Hill on July 1st. The 4th held back repeated assaults on the left flank near the Crew House. Out of ammunition, the 4th fixed bayonets when reinforcements arrived in the nick of time, led by the Sharpshooters Lt. Colonel WYW Ripley. Shortly after stabilizing the line, Ripley sustained a disabling thigh wound that removed him from command and the War.

Map of Army of the Potomac encampment along Berkeley Plantation and Westover Landing, Virginia following the Seven Days Campaign: https://www.loc.gov/item/gvhs01.vhs00011/

A letter from Commissary Sergeant Frank Whipple, 1st U.S. Sharpshooters, appeared in the July 29, 1862 edition of the Hillsdale Standard (Michigan) provides more details of the fragile balance threatening the AoP during the closing hours of the Battle of Gaines Mill: https://dan-masters-civil-war.blogspot. ... s.html?m=1