546 NortH CaroLina Troops, 1861-’65.

tions around Richmond, but General Branch “stood in the
way for an adversary against him,” and the Federal cone
mander resolved to crush him at a single blow. On the 27th
General Fitz John Porter moved against the Confederate
force with his right wing, numbering about 12,000 men,
while Branch had about 4,000. But never did troops behave
better. Branch’s resistance was so obstinate and his move-
ments so masterly that we are not surprised at the statement
of General Porter, made the day after the battle, that
“Branch’s force comprised about 8,000 men”—nor at the be-
wilderment of General Webb, who, writing as late as 1881,
says: ‘‘Branch’s command must have been about 10,000
strong.” In his congratulatory address to his brigade, Gen-
eral Branch says: “At Slash Church you encountered the
division of General Porter and a part of the division of Gen-
eral Sedgwick. You repulsed the enemy’s attack, and boldly
advancing attacked him with such vigor that after six hours
combat you withdrew in perfect order to prevent being sur-
rounded in the night—the enemy not daring to follow you be-
nd the field of battle.”
pchiodi Lee wrote to General Branch: “The report of
your recent engagement with the enemy at Slash Church has
been forwarded by Major-General Hill. I take great pleas-
ure in expressing my approval of the manner in which you
have discharged the duties of the position in which you were
placed, and of the gallant manner your troops opposed a be
superior force of the enemy. I beg you will signify to t .
troops of your command which were engaged on that occa

£ ?
sion my hearty approval of their conduct.
The brigade lost in killed and wounded 243, officers and

men. © After the battle of Slash Church, the regiment went
into camp on the right bank of the Chickahominy, some dis-
tance above Seven Pines, on the Brook turnpike, about three
miles from Richmond, and did picket duty until the begin-
ning of the seven days’ fights around Richmond. About on
time Branch’s Brigade was*assigned to General A. PB 8
Division, and thus became a part of the justly famed “Light
Division” of Stonewall Jackson’s. Corps. 25 June me
regiment was ordered to be ready to move, with three days

 

Turrty-Turrp REGIMENT. 547

rations, at 5 p.m. Five companies which were doing picket
duty at Crenshaw Bridge, were under the command of Lieu-
tenant-Colonel Hoke; the remaining five were in charge of
Major Cowan, and marched with the brigade, which was
ordered to cross the river at the Telegraph bridge. On Thurs-
day, 26 June, General Branch, having deceived the enemy as

to his purpose, by masking his troops in the woods, crossed
the Chickahominy at 11 a. m.—the first brigade to cross—

and moved down the river to drive the enemy from his works,
so as to allow the remainder of the division to cross. We
had some brisk skirmishing with the enemy, but not much
hard fighting. We found overcoats, blankets, cooking uten-
sils, etc., scattered promiscuously along the route. Lieuten-
ant-Colonel Hoke, with his five companies, joined us about 1
p. m. We marched to Mechanicsville, reaching that point
about an hour before dark, under a most galling fire of shot
and shell. About 10 p. m. the firing ceased, and the regi-
ment rested upon its arms. Early the next morning (the
27th) the fight was resumed. General D. H. Hill flanked
the Federals and they fled, leaving everything behind them—
shoes, hats, canteens, haversacks, ete. About 12 m. we were
ordered to march in the direction of Gaines’ Mill, on the
Chickahominy. We reached Gaines’ Mill about 4 p- m.,
during the progress of a severe engagement, and were imme-
diately ordered to the front, where we remained four hours,
driving the enemy a distance of two miles. This fight was
hotly contested, and the Thirty-third deserves high praise for
the vigor and firmness with which it attacked the enemy and
dislodged him from his intrenchments.

Here Colonel Campbell, of the Seventh, was killed, while
proudly leading his men into action with the regimental
colors in his hands. General Branch says of him: “He
might justly be classed among the ‘bravest of the brave.’
* *. * Honorable as a man and skillful as an officer, his
loss to the brigade is irreparable.”

During the hottest part of the fight at Cold Harbor an
amusing incident occurred. Colonel Lane, of the Twenty-
eighth (afterwards General Lane) was struck on the head by
a minie ball. Coolly stopping, he turned to Sergeant Mil-