from right to left: On the extreme right was the seven companies of the Second regiment, Lieutenant-colonel McCandless; then six companies of the "Bucktails," Major Stone with four guns of Cooper's battery in the epaulement; the Fifth regiment, Colonel Simmons in the rifle-pits on the left of the road; the First regiment, Colonel Roberts; the Eighth regiment, Colonel Hays; the Tenth regiment, Colonel Kirk; the Ninth regiment, Colonel Jackson; and the Twelfth regiment, Colonel Taggart, which occupied the extreme left. General Mcade's brigade, which was in reserve, consisted of the Third regiment, Colonel Sickel; the Fourth regiment, Colonel Magilton; and the Seventh regiment, Colonel larvey. Easton's battery of four twelve-pound Napoleon guns, and Kern's battery of six twelve pound howitzers, were also held in reserve. It should here be mentioned that the Sixth regiment, Lieutenant-colonel McKean, was detached at Tunstall's Station, and the Eleventh regiment, Colonel Gallagher, was on picket on the Chickahominy.

The position of the Second regiment, as before noticed, was on the extreme right, with a heavy wood in frent and a ford near the right of it. Companies K and II, Captain Smith and Lieutenant Kennedy were detached under Major Woodward with orders to hold this ford at all hazards; and Company C, Captain Byrnes, was posted on the left in a dry swamp between us and the "Bucktails."

About three o'clock the enemy's lines were formed on the opposite side of the swamp and their skirmishers rapidly advanced, delivering their fire as they came forward. They were speedily driven back by the artillery and a rattling reply of musketry. In a short time the main body, who were commanded by General Robert E. Lee, in person, boldly advanced in force under cover of a heavy artillery fire, and attacked the whole front. It soon became apparent that the main point of their attack was the extreme right, upon which they opened a heavy fire of round shot and shell, and precipitated column after column of Georgian and Louisiana troops, who waded to their middle through the water, and boldly advanced up through the woods. They were received by the Second on their knees, with a withering fire, - which they maintained without a moment's cessation for over three hours. During this time, assault after assault was made on the position, and upon three separate occasions the enemy succeeded in forcing themselves between us and the "Bucktails," and gaining the clear ground, but they were each time driven back at the point of the bayonet by charges led in person by Colonel McCandless.

At one time they charged the left and centre at the same time, boldly pressing on their flags until they nearly met ours, when the fighting became of the most desperate character, the flags rising and falling as they were surged to and fro by the contending parties, each struggling to defend its own, and capture its opponents'. Our left was driven back, the enemy at that point having passed the woods, bending our line into a convexed circle. But never for a moment were we broken. McCandless placing himself in front of the left, led it valiantly to the charge, hurling the brave Georgia boys back, and almost taking their flag. While this was going on in our front Major Woodward with his two companies was hotly engaged at the ford, the men delivering, from behind trees, a slow but destructive fire, or pouring in rapid volleys when hard pressed.

General Reynolds, whose ever-watchful eye was upon the regiments of his brigade, several times rode down to our position, at one time exclaiming, as he pointed with his sword, "Look at them, boys, in the swamp there, they are as thick as flies on a ginger bread; fire low, fire low." Just before dark, when we had driven back their last charge, knowing we had expended nearly all our ammunition, he ordered up the First Reserve, Colonel Roberts, who, in line of battle on our left and rear, opened fir

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but soon after forming in column of division and advancing deployed and opened again on the retreating masses. At the same time Kern's battery of six twelvepounder howitzers supported by the Third Reserve, Colonel Sickel, took position some three hundred yards to our right, and we moved to the right to give play to the guns, which opened a most terrible fire of shell upon the confused and broken masses of the enemy on the opposite side of the swamp. Colonel McCandless here offered to storm a battery posted opposite to us across the swamp, if support was given to him, which being promised, we moved down the road on our right to the ford held by Major Woodward, but the promised support luckily failing to come, the attempt was abandoned, and the regiment was deployed on the edge of the swamp and again opened fire. The musketry soon after ceased, but the artillery fire was continued until nine o'clock at night when the battle ceased, and the Reserves slept on the field of victory. Griffin's brigade and Edward's battery were also sent to the right to our support, but they with the Third regiment did not become engaged.

About five o'clock a most determined attempt was made by the enemy to force the left at Ellerson's Mill, but they were gallantly repulsed by General Seymour, who drove back column after column that was hurled against him..

The prisoners taken by our regiment, mostly by companies H and K, numbered fifteen, and were utterly surprised at the smallness of the force that was opposed to them, and expressed their full confidence, if permitted to rejoin their comrades, that they could return and drive us from our position.

It was here that the most desperate fighting was done, our regiment which numbered but three hundred and seventy-one, officers and men, losing nearly one-half of the number killed, and one-fourth of the killed and wounded of the whole division, which numbered about seven thousand, including officers. The enemy acknow

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ledged the loss of over five hundred men at this point, and General McCall puts down their whole strength as twenty thousand, and states, in his report, that he "learned from official authority, while a prisoner in Richmond, that General Lee's loss, in killed and wounded, did not fall short of two thousand; and that the Forty-fourth Georgia lost nearly two-thirds." The loss of the division is officially reported at thirty-three killed and one hundred and fifty wounded. The great disproportion in the losses must be attributed to the. nature of the ground.

But while we rejoiced at the laurels entwined around our banners, our hearts were saddened at the fall of our comrades whose life blood gushed out upon the field of victory.*

General McCall, in his official report, honorably mentions the conduct of Lieutenant-colonel McCandless and the regiment during the battle.

During the night ammunition was sent for and distributed to the men. Companies H, and K, remained at the ford; B, Lieutenant Jack, was thrown out on picket to the right, and the rest slept on the field all night. All was the stillness of death, not a voice being heard save the moaning of the enemy's wounded that came up out of the swamp and woods beyond.

The next morning, long before daybreak; we were in line, and the enemy during the night having received heavy reinforcements, the attack was again commenced, but principally upon the left. The position of Beaver Dam Creek, although so successfully defended, had its extreme right flank too much exposed, and was too far from the main army to make it available to retain it longer, therefore, just before daybreak orders were received from General McClellan for us to fall back to the rear of Gaines' Mills. To withdraw a large force in broad daylight, while under fire, is one of the most delicate and difficult movements in war, particularly in presence of a greatly superior force. It, nevertheless, was most successfully accomplished, great caution and deliberation being used to screen the movement, and the troops being withdrawn slowly and at intervals. Meade's brigade was the first to move; then came Griffin's brigade and battery, next Reynold's under cover of the Bucktails and Cooper's guns, and last Seymour's.

During these movements a scattering fire of artillery and musketry was kept up and continued until all was brought out. So coolly and deliberately was the movement accomplished that the regiments as they filed past, marched as steadily as if coming from the parade ground, we burying all our killed and sending off our wounded, not leaving a man, gun or musket on the field.

The retrograde movement at this time was not comprehended by us, and we slowly fell back in good order, "but in any thing but a good humor, to the point designated in rear of Gaines' Mills, where we arrived at ten o'clock in the forenoon. On our route we met Cooper's battery which we saved the day before from being flanked, and the men freely distributed coffee, bread and tobacco to our hungry boys who had fasted for twentyfour hours.

THE BATTLE OF GAINES' MILLS, JUNE 27TH. It having been ascertained on the preceding night that the enemy was approaching in full force with the intention of cutting off our communication with the White House, General McClellan determined to carry out his intentions of changing his base from the Pamunkey to the James Rivers, for which purpose he withdrew the troops on the left bank of the Chickahominy to a position around the bridge heads where its flanks were reasonably secure, and it was within supporting distance of the main army. This movement secured the withdrawal of all the heavy guns, wagons and stores to the right bank of the river, and afforded time to perfect arrangements to secure the adoption of the new base. To General Fitz John Porter