[from the diary of Samuel Johnson, 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]
June 27th
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.
[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 8493