John Hancock belonged to Co. "A", 14^th South Carolina Regiment, the "Lynch Creek Guards". Copies of his military service file can be ordered here.

In addition, here's part of Col. McGowan's report for the Battle of Gaines Mill, Va., June 27, 1862 (Official Records, series I, vol. XI, part 2, pp. 868-871.

HDQRS. FOURTEENTH REGT. SOUTH CAROLINA VOLS.,
Near Richmond, Va., July 10, 1862.

CAPTAIN: I have the honor to make the following report of the operations of the Fourteenth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers, under my command, in the late battles around Richmond:

On Wednesday, June 25, the brigade was encamped at Smith's farm, on the Chickahominy, and my regiment went on picket duty that morning. During that day all the brigade, except my regiment, was ordered to move up the river toward Meadow Bridge. I was informed that other troops would relieve me on picket during Wednesday night, and in that case I was to follow and join the brigade. It turned out, however, that we were not relieved; the regiment remained on picket all the night, next day, and the next night, being two days and nights, without rest or sleep. About 10 a.m. on Friday we could discover from our picket post on the hills that the enemy was retreating and our friends pursuing them down the opposite bank of the Chickahominy. As soon as the enemy had cleared our front I sent two companies (Captains Wood and Taggart) down to the river, to communicate, if possible, with General Gregg. They there found Captain Harry Hammond, of the general's staff, who, not being able to get his horse across the river, came on foot to the regiment, delivered an order for us to join the brigade, and guided us on the march. We had great difficulty in crossing the river, as the enemy had torn up and burned the bridge--the upper new bridge--the night before. We succeeded, however, in repairing it, so that the regiment crossed and moved on, under a constant fire of shells from one of the enemy's batteries. The ambulance and surgeon's wagon had, however, to make the circuit by Mechanicsville, and arrived about the time the battle began. The day was intensely hot, and the regiment being much fatigued, Captain Hammond led us to a point near where the brigade was engaged, on the extreme right of the enemy, and halted us to rest for a few moments while he went forward to see the general.

At this moment the battle opened with great fury and, exhausted as we were, we were at once ordered forward. By the direction of the general and under his own eye I formed line of battle in rear of Crenshaw's battery (which ceased firing for a moment to allow us to pass), and charged at the double-quick between the guns, down the hill, straight toward the heavy firing in the front. I was informed by the General that I would find the regiments of Colonels Edwards and Barnes in the skirt of woods bordering the field occupied by the enemy; as soon, therefore, as we had crossed the boggy ravine in the woods and commenced to ascend the hill beyond I halted the regiment and sent out in every direction to find the regiments indicated. The thicket was very dense, and for fear of firing into friends I went forward myself to the edge of the field held by the enemy, calling aloud for our friends, who were supposed to be there. I soon found that no friends were in front of us, for the enemy had retaken possession of the field and were in the act of establishing a battery at the edge of the woods near where my regiment stood. Seeing the enemy in front and hearing nothing of our friends, I ordered the Fourteenth to advance alone through the woods to the fence to drive the enemy back and hold that position, which was promptly and gallantly done. For a long time we held this position without any assistance whatever.

During this period the enemy once made an effort to turn our left flank, but was repulsed by the left companies, under Lieut. Col. W. D. Simpson. The left wing of the regiment was then advanced over the fence and through the pine thicket, making nearly a right angle with the right wing, but it was soon drawn back to its original position. At length a North Carolina regiment came up on our right and a Georgia regiment on our left. Endeavoring to act in concert with these we made a charge upon the batteries in front of us, but finding the distance so much greater than was expected, in an open field, under a terrific cross-fire of musketry, grape shot, and canister, the men, after having gone over half the distance, were compelled to lie down, and soon after were ordered to retire and occupy their former position. In this charge I received a severe bruise on my right side from a grape shot, which for a short time disabled me. We never yielded for one instant our original position; we held it, except when charging, all the afternoon. We held it at the time the batteries were finally carried, late in the evening, and after the struggle was over fell upon the ground entirely exhausted, and slept there surrounded by the dead and dying.

I grieve to have to state that the list of killed and wounded in this battle is large. Lieutenant Plunkett, Company H, was shot twice, and gloriously died upon the field. Maj. W. J. Carter, Captains Brown, Taggart, and Croft, Lieutenants Brunson. O. W. Allen, Stevens, McCarley, Dorroh, and Carter were wounded, besides many others were killed and wounded, a list of whom is hereto attached; some have since died.

The whole regiment acted in the most satisfactory manner, and where all did their duty it is impossible to discriminate without injustice. Lieutenant-Colonel Simpson and Major Carter were always active in preserving order and in encouraging the men. Adjutant Ready was also active until he was wounded and left the field. William F. Nance, Esq., of Newberry, happened to be with the regiment when it left the picket station Friday at noon, and being unwilling to remain a mere spectator at such a time he voluntarily accompanied us, and made the charge of that evening with the regiment. Capt. C. H. Suber, assistant quartermaster, as directed, remained with the train at our camp upon Smith's farm.

As my adjutant and both orderlies were shot down in the first action (Orderly White was killed and Orderly Harrison seriously, if not mortally, wounded), I am unable to give the exact number that went into the different combats. I know that several fainted and many broke down on the march. I judge that about 500 went into the fight of Friday and about 200 into that of Monday evening. It will be seen that our loss is more than half the number engaged. We lost on Friday 18 killed and 197 wounded and missing, and on Monday 11 killed and 65 wounded and missing; total, 291. Some of those reported as wounded have since died. I have heard of the death of Captain Owens, Sergeant Franks, and Albert Boyce, and I greatly fear that others have, and that many will still die.

The honored and lamented dead have laid down their lives in a just cause, defending their country from invasion and their homes from pollution. They died gallantly. Their names will be embalmed in history as martyrs of liberty and added to the long roll of Carolina's departed heroes.
I have been greatly indebted to Surgeon Huot and Assistant Surgeon Youngblood and their assistants for their indefatigable attention to the numerous wounded.

Hoping that the general is satisfied with the conduct of the regiment, I have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obedient servant,

S. McGOWAN, Colonel Fourteenth Regiment South Carolina Volunteers