History of Pennsylvania volunteers, 1861-5; prepared in compliance with acts of the legislature, by Samuel P. Bates.

18G2 BATTLE OF GAINES' MILL. 1251
the batteries above it, checked him for an instant; but, closing up the gaping
rents in his line, he rallied and pressed forward. His color-bearer in front was
repeatedly shot down; but the standard was as often caught up, and bravely
did his line struggle to push on. But vain were the attempts to face the
fiery tempest, and it fell back in confusion. Rallying with fresh troops, he
again advanced, and was again repulsed. In desperation, for a third time he
pushed forward to the attack, but was driven in rout, not again to appear
over the brow of that fatal hill.
Further to the right, he succeeded in breaking through, and advanced in
full force; but, the movement being screened by a wood, was not observed
until he began to gain upon the flank and rear of a part of the brigade, and
separated it from the brigade commander. Quickly changing front, it faced
to the north, at right angles to the first line of battle, to meet the threatened
danger. It was hardly in position before it was attacked. In the previous encounter, protected by breast-works, its loss had been trifling, while the enemy's lines had been terribly shattered. But now, forced into line in the open
field, while the enemy was sheltered by the wood, it in turn was subjected to
the fiery ordeal. Nevertheless, it stood firm. Here Colonel M'Lane fell dead,
pierced by a bullet. In a moment more Major Naghel fell, struck by the fragment of a shell, receiving a mortal wound, expiring on the following day.
In the absence of Lieutenant Colonel Vincent, prostrated by fever, the command devolved on Captain Campbell. Though exposed to a fearful musketry
fire, the line did not waver, and the enemy was driven from its front. It was
soon evident, however, that he was pushing past, and gaining its rear. The
regiment again changed front, marching by the right flank, and forming on a
line parallel to that held in the morning, but facing in the opposite direction,
and to the east. Troops were soon discovered advancing, but whether Union
or rebel, was uncertain. Their true character was soon discovered, and firing
at once opened. It was now evident that three regiments of the brigade, the
Forty-fourth New York, the Sixteenth Michigan, and the Eighty-third, were
entirely cut off from the main body of the army, and surrounded on all sides,
except the passage towards the river. To retreat in column, would be madness. The word was accordingly given to break, and seek the river. The
open flats of the Chickahominy, which intervened, were raked by a heavy artillery fire, and many were struck down in attempting to reach the stream. The
bridge had already been partially destroyed, and- in attempting to cross upon
the sleepers, the men were exposed to a concentrated fire of artillery. The
regiment went into action five hundred and fifty strong. Of these two hundred and sixty-five were either killed, wounded, or taken prisoners.
In the retreat to the James, Porter's Corps had the advance. Moving by
devious ways through the dismal White Oak Swamp, encouraged by the belief that a fine strategic movement was being made, the regiment at length
arrived at the river, where lay the gunboats. On the afternoon of Monday,
June 30th, that portion of the army which had arrived, was reviewed by General M'Clellan. While returning from the review, the enemy attacked with artillery. Griffin replied, to whom the Eighty-third was assigned as a support.
The enemy's guns were silenced and driven away. During the night the
regiment was posted on the picket line, where, on the following day, was fought
the battle of Malvern Hill. From four to six o'clock in the afternoon of July
1st, it was under a heavy artillery fire, after which it was hurried to the front,