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

1862 BATTLE OF CHARLES CITY CROSS ROADS. 491
hausted, flanks exposed, and the way of retreat cut off, their position was perilous. Taking advantage of the darkness, and guided by a pocket compass in
the hands of Captain Reid, they finally succeeded in escaping the toils into
which they had fallen. The loss fell heavily upon the Sixty-third. Lieutenants
Henry Hurst, and S. H. Cochran, were among the killed. Lieutenant Colonel
Morgan was severely wounded, and for many months his hurt was regarded as
mortal.
The regiment after the battle remained in position facing the enemy, and
was engaged in occasional skirmishing. On the 21st of June in an affair with
the enemy, Captain John G. M'Gonagle, of company F, was killed. Joining
in the movement to the James, the regiment was again hotly engaged at Charles
City Cross Roads, where the loss was serious, and where, by its gallantry, it
won new laurels. General Kearny, in his report, says, "At four P. M. the
attack commenced on my line with a determination and vigor, and in such
masses as I had never witnessed. Thompson's Battery directed with great
skill, literally swept the slightly falling open space with the completest execution, and mowing them down by ranks, would cause the survivors to come to a
momentary halt. But almost instantly after, increased masses came up and the
wave bore on. These masses coming up with a run, covering the entire breadth
of the open ground, some two hundred paces, would alone be checked in their
career by the gaps of the fallen. Still no retreat, and again a fresh mass would
carry on the approaching line still nearer. If there was one man in this attack,
there must have been ten thousand, and their loss by artillery, although borne
with such fortitude, must have been immense. It was by scores, with irrepressibility of numbers; on they persisted. The artillery, destructive as it was,
ceased to be a calculation. It was then that Colonel Hays, with the Sixty-third
Pennsylvania, and half of the Thirty-seventh New York Volunteers, was moved
forward to the line of the guns. 1 have here to call to the attention of my superior chiefs, this most heroic action on the part of Colonel Hays and his regiment.
The Sixty-third has won for Pennsylvania the laurels of fame. That which
grape and canister failed in effecting, was accomplished by the determined
charge and rapid volleys of this foot. The enemy at the muzzles of our guns,
for the first time, retired fighting. Subsequently ground having been gained,
the Sixty-third was ordered to "lie low," and the battery once more re-opened
its ceaseless work of destruction. This battle saw three renewed onsets with
similar vicissitudes." General Berry, in a note to Colonel Hays, says, "I was
ordered by General Kearny to have myself and command ready at all times
to render aid to the First and Second brigades. This being so, I watched the
movements of the enemy and our own men with the most intense interest.
You, sir, and your brave men were placed near to and ordered to support
Thompson's Battery. Never was task better done or battery better supported,
and it is a great pleasure to me to have to say, and it is also my duty to say it,
that I have not in my career in military life seen better fighting and work better
done. I should fear to try to do better with any troops I have ever seen.'Tis
enough to say, your fight was a perfect success."
On the 1st of July, the army having arrived at Malvern Hill, fought the
last great battle of the campaign. In this the Sixty-third had not so prominent a part to perform. It reached the ground early in the morning and after
resting near Grew's House till nearly noon, it was ordered to the right centre,
and posted in a ravine, some distance in rear of the line of batteries, in readi