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

1862 CHARLES CITY CROSS ROADS. 699
West Point, and thence marched to Tyler's Farm, where it remained in camp
until the 31st, the day of the opening of the battle of Fair Oaks. At two
o'clock in the afternoon, the brigade moved at double quick across the Chickahominy to the support of Casey, who had been heavily engaged and driven
back, and formed line on the right of the First Brigade; but no enemy appearing in front, it moved by the flank, and soon forced him to fall back and develop his position. The fire of the brigade battery proved very annoying to
the enemy. Massing his forces he charged to capture it; but a counter charge
delivered by the Sixty-ninth, by order of General Sumner, soon put him to fight,
by which General Pettigrew, and a considerable number of his command were
captured. The ground was sharply contested until nightfall, and the battle
was renewed on the following morning; but the fighting was principally on
the left, near Seven Pines. The loss was one officer and two enlisted men
wounded.
The line was advanced to a position a little beyond Fair Oaks Station,
which was held and securely fortified. Here it remained for a month with
the enemy in front, the skirmishers and sharp-shooters keeping up an almost constant fusilade, the batteries frequently joining in full chorus. The
loss during the month was three men killed and ten wounded. On the morning after the battle of Gaines' Mill, which occurred on the 28th of June, the
army commenced the memorable change of base, from the Chickahominy to
the James. Remaining in its breast-works until all had passed, Sumner's
Corps slowly withdrew in the face of the enemy. At Peach Orchard fighting
commenced with the head of his column; but leaving a skirmish line to attract
attention, he moved by the flank with the intention of falling upon the command while stretched out upon the march. This manceuvre was frustrated by
the prompt action of the rear guard, and at Savage Station preparations were
made to receive him. At three o'clock in the afternoon he opened with his artillery. The Sixty-ninth went into position on the right of the Vermont Brigade, and advanced till his infantry was uncovered, when it was hotly engaged.
He was soon driven, and to meet his forces that were advancing on our batteries near the railroad, the regiment was moved hastily to their support. Here
he opened upon the line with his artillery, sending shrapnell and canister at a
fearful rate. He was finally forced to retire, and at sundown Sumner had undisputed possession of the field. The loss was two killed, six wounded, and
nine taken prisoners.
During the night the corps moved on to White Oak Swamp, where it rested
until morning, and then resumed the march to Charles City Cross Roads. The
way was impeded by the trains and the progress was slow. After passing the
jtmction of the Charles City with the Quaker Road, the brigade halted and. was
resting by the wayside. It was already past two o'clock in the afternoon,
when suddenly a terrific artillery fire was opened by the enemy on the Pennsylvania Reserve Corps holding the New Market Road, followed by a continuous discharge of infantry, accompanied by the well-known rebel yell. The
enemy had approached under cover of a curtain of timber, and, unheralded, was
making a furious assault. At full speed General Sumner rode towards the
spot where the regiment was resting, and ordered Colonel Owen to lead forward his men at double quick. As they moved over the open field, ploughed
by shot and shell,'General Hooker came on to meet them, crying out, with his
usual enthusiasm in battle, to General Sumner as he approached, "'~MCall