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5.

the last of which was within twenty yards of our levelled muskets, they thought to surprise us, but we turned the tables on them. At the favorable moment the order was given "fire" and "charge" and never was an order more promptly or thoroughly obeyed. The three left companies of our regiment being opposed to an entire Battalion (8th Alabama), who were all either killed, wounded, or made prisoners. We drove the enemy, (they madly contesting every foot of ground) through a heavy growth of wood, a swamp, and over a plain, where the 4th Maine Regiment finished the mornings work. The brilliant charge made by the Regiments of the Brigade was the theme of universal praise, and Gen. Kearney said, our "Brigade had gallantly won the honors of the day." Our loss was, in killed and wounded, nearly one third of the regiment, principally from the "left wing," Co's B, F, G, & K.

The Brigade held its position for three days after the battle, when we were withdrawn and encamped on the ground we fought, and also interred our deceased comrades on. The duty in the trenches was here very trying, as it was almost continual battle from day to day. We remained in the advance line of the Army until June 25th when we were again engaged in the Battle of "White Oak Swamp," where, by having a good position, the regiment was enabled to do excellent service, with very slight loss. On the 29th of June, we were withdrawn from the advance line of fortifications, before Richmond, at early morning, Maj. Burt. Commanding, and crossed White Oak Swamp at Jordan's Ford at dusk in the evening, covered by the left flank company as skirmishers, under command of Lieut. Warren Cox, who after an advance of nearly two miles in the direction of Charles City Crossroads, came upon the rebels in considerable force, with whom they opened a bush skirmish, but in consequence of the desparity in force they retired, slowly, and in good order, with a loss of one man killed, and one made prisoner.