A few items on the 14 GA re Seven Pines. The unit was actually engaged at Fair Oaks, north of the railroad and east of the Nine Mile Road.

“ [p. 520] Camp on Chickahominy June 5th 1862
My Dear Family

….. … [p. 521] [W]e actually had the pleasure of participating in a severe fight last Saturday May 31st. Thanks be to Heaven I escaped unhurt though the back of my right hand was slightly blistered by a ball and my coat sleeve on the right arm cut about two inches below the elbow. I can assure you we were exposed for a short time to as terrible a shower of balls musket, Rifle, grape and Canister as would satisfy the desire of the most ambitious seeker of danger. ….. Our company did itself … [text missing] actually halted at the command … [text missing] stood and contested the field in …. [text missing] superior and concealed for had … [text missing] on the left and right. But as the right and left continued to fall back and we were unsupported and in the face of a deadly fire, we likewise retired. We … [charged] twice and approached the battery but it was so … [text missing] ascertained that we did not have a sufficient force … Charge after charge was made and continued until darkness closed the fight. We remained on the field until near day break when we were relieved by the arrival of fresh Regiments and retired to another position which we maintained all day Sunday. We had but little to eat and no Sleep from Saturday morning until Monday. ….. we are still on the line and as soon as the weather will permit the contest must be renewed. …..

J. B. Patterson

Source: Josiah Blair Patterson to Family, 5 Jun 62, in Blanch Bagley McMullen and Marie Bagley Roper, History of Forsyth County, Georgia, Vol. I. Easley, S. C.: Southern Historical Press, 1985, 921 pp. Patterson was a lieutenant in E/14 GA, one of the regiments of Hampton’s brigade. This and his other letters are posted on the Internet at
www.rootsweb.com/~gaforsyt/records/pattersonletters/jbpletters_page2.html.

“CASUALTIES IN THE SECOND BRIGADE, COLONEL WADE HAMPTON

COMMANDING.

Killed Wounded Missing Total
Hampton’s Legion 21 118 15 154
14th Georgia Regiment 12 35 5 52
16th N.C. Regiment 9 96 15 120
19th Georgia Regiment 4 25 7 36

Total 46 274 42 362

Colonel Hampton may be found at Mrs. Bidgood’s Seventh and Main streets.”

Source: Daily Richmond Examiner, 4 Jun 62, p. 2, c. 6. A casualty report of the 19 GA printed in the Augusta Chronicle. 9 Jun 62, p. 1, c. 2, gives the loss of the 19 GA as 4 KIA, 25 WIA, and 6 POW, for a total of 35.

“Camp on Chickahominy 13th June
My Dear Family

….. We had been doing constant picket duty at the very point where the battle commenced for some ten days and nights previous to its commencement and have been similarly employed at the late battle ground until yesterday morning when we were sent to the rear to refresh our wasted energies. The weather has been unusually cold and wet We have no shelter save what we could lug on our shoulder, no bedding except what we transported in the same manner. Our rest has been short and frequently disturbed our meals scant irregular and badly cooked as we were allowed but little fire … When standing we were in a bog of mud, when lying down to refresh ourselves in sleep we were in a pool of water. ….. I suppose you have seen a list of the casualties in the 14th Regt Geo Vols as it was published in the Examiner. It is not re3corded that the Staff Officers of our Regt behaved very gallantly on that occasion or that their acts of daring heroism was at all complimentary to themselves or evidenced any remarkable skill or Judgement [sic] as commanding Officers. But truth and justice will sustain the declaration that the Subordinate Officers and privates exhibited as much calmness self-possession and daring as was ever exhibited buy veterans in the face of a concealed foe and in the immediate range of so startling and terrific a fire. With an impetuous and daring leader in whom the Regt had implicit confidence I believe we would have been in possession of that battery in ten minutes. But the order to fall down and fire was given instead of forward double Quick Charge Our troops calculated the danger and faltered But it s certain that the battery was not taken although charged by troops from every State in the Confederacy. I never spent a more miserable night in my life We had double quicked three miles to participate in the fight so our underclothes were complete [sic] saturated with water. We had to wade a large pond of water to reach the enemy this pond was filled with fallen timber logs tree tops bushes &c the water was up to the hips Darkness closed the fight Said to be the severest of this revolution. The enemy retired to his camp and we bivouacked on the battle field. The cries and moanings of the wounded were heard long after night fall. Our company was scattered here and there but a small fraction of the Regt could be paraded Rumor said we were cut to pieces. Cold wet Languid Mourning my missing comrades uncertain of their fate I spent that night after … battle of the Seven pines May God preserve me form another fight like that. …..

J. B. Patterson

J. B. Patterson to My Dear Family 13 Jun 62, in Carroll Ruffin Patterson, Comp., “The Incomplete Corr5espondence of Lieut. Josiah Blair Patterson, 14th Regiment Georgia Volunteer Infantry A. P. Hill’s Light Division,” posted on the Internet at
www.rootsweb.com/~gaforsyt/records/pattersonletters/jbpletters_page2.html.
For some reason this letter does not appear in the Forsyth County History.

[Summary]

[Clipping from an unidentified Newspaper called the Telegraph, no date given: Letter from “Camp of the 14th Ga. Regiment, Near Seven Pines, June 8, 1862; Hampton’s Brigade had just arrived on the field after a double quick march of nearly three miles, and was immediately ordered to charge a battery. The Legion and 14th GA formed line, supported by the 19 GA and 16 N.C. Charged over a marsh and into the woods where the battery was. Enemy opened a “most destructive” fire at 40 yards. The enemy was behind piled up logs. We discontinued the bayonet charge and opened fire. After 10 minutes, we fell back 50 yards, reformed, and charged again. We fell back to a fence 50 yards in the rear, reformed and advanced a third time at double quick. After 15 minutes of struggle, we withdrew in favor of Hatton’s Brigade. Our whole force retired about 400 yards to where we spent the night.

We were drawn up under arms Sunday, but not engaged. Our regiment has now been transferred to Archer (formerly Hatton’s) Brigade. We have had a great deal of severe outpost duty since the battle. Our batteries this morning under command of LCOL Stephen D. Lee of the Legion, shelled the Yankees out of their camps.]

Source: Letter from Camp of the 14th Ga. Regiment, Near Seven Pines, June 8, 1862, Unidentified Newspaper Clipping from the [Macon [?] Telegraph, M. J. Solomon’s Scrapbook, Special Collections, Perkins Library, Duke University.