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

1862 PENINSULA CAMPAIGN. 791
rounds of grape and canister, which it hurled into the face of the charging
column, swept everything before it, and kept the enemy at bay. The troops
rested upon their arms on the field. At midnight the enemy made a demonstration on the right. By order of General Burns the Seventy-first was withdrawn from its position at the front, and taken to the menaced ground. A
skirmish line was immediately deployed and the regiment advanced in battle
order; but the enemy finding that dispositions had been made to receive him,
desisted. Early on the following morning it was again in column, and marching in quick time, was deployed in a large grain field, to the right and rear of
Fair Oaks, where the enemy was manoevring for position. Sharp skirmishing
ensued, when the enemy fell back, leaving the regiment to watch his movements, repel his attacks, and answer his occasional volleys. The tall grain
afforded partial cover, and the casualties on this day were few. The loss on
the previous evening was severe. Captain Markoe was wounded.
On the following day the line of the army was advanced, the position of
the regiment falling in an exposed place within short musket range of the enemy, and about five hundred yards from the Fair Oaks field. As soon as the
picket line had been established the men set to work throwing up rude breastworks that should afford some protection from the bullets which were flying
between the picket lines. For four wearisome weeks, in almost constant expectation and dread of battle, it remained in this position, the firing being kept
up night and day, and the casualties on both sides numerous. Here fell Lieutenant Maurine C. Moore. During this period, and for the remainder of the Pen
insula campaign, the regiment was commanded by Lieutenant Colonel William
G. Jones of the regular army.
For the first three of the Seven Days' Battle, while the struggles at Beaver
Dam Creek, Gaines' Mill, and the bridges of the Chickahominy were in progress,
the regiment held its ground, the enemymanifesting more than usual activity on
its front. On the morning of the 29th, after the army had started on the march
to the James, the brigade moved from its encampment, bringing up the rear of
Sumner's Corps, to a position on Allen's Farm, between Peach Orchard and
Savage Station, where the corps was drawn up in line of battle. The enemy not
making his appearance, Sumner ordered Sedgwick to send the California Regiment to re-occupy the picket line at Fair Oaks, which had been abandoned in
the morning. The duty was a delicate one, but its commander, accustomed
to unquestioning obedience, about faced and moved his little column back
through the dreary woods, and over the dismal battle-ground until he reached
the identical spot where the enemy had so often charged on Kirby's Battery.
The pickets and videttes were. posted by Colonel Jones in person, Major Parrish being left in charge of the reserve. Scarcely was the regiment in position,
before the enemy's'skirmishers, the Louisiana Tigers, who had been held in
concealment in the woods and had reserved their fire until the line was within a
few yards of them, opened. The regiment immediately charged and captured
several of their number. The position was now perilous. The enemy readily
yielded in front with the evident purpose of drawing the regiment on. Infantry
and cavalry could be plainly seen in a wood to the left, but whether friend or
foe was uncertain., Adjutant Smith volunteered to ride out at the risk of the
enemy's fire on th way and the chance of capture when there, and ascertain
their true character. The waving of a white handkerchief soon indicated that
they were friends, the Fifth New Hampshire with a squadron of cavalry; but