These are the two after action reports of the 16th Michigan from the Official Record War of the Rebellion: Serial 013 Vol. 2 (Page 323) Chapter XXIII. SEVEN-DAY'S BATTLES.
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The first report is from Col. Stockton, who was captured and paroled. The 2nd report is from Lt. Col. Ruehle, who took command during the battle.
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Sixteenth Michigan Infantry, of the battle of Gaines' Mill.
WASHINGTON, D. C., August 18, 1862.
CAPTAIN: In compliance with your communication, dated Headquarters Fifth Army Corps, August 14, 1862, informing me that the commanding general desires to receive a copy of the report of my operations on the 27th June as soon as I shall be able to make it out, I hereby submit the same:
Having returned from Richmond only the day previous to the receipt of your note sick and unfit for duty, and the army being ordered to move on that day, i was unable to comply until my arrival here, and now, having no data as to the exact casualties, report will necessarily be brief, and limited to the operations only of the 27th up to the time I was captured, leaving all omissions to be supplied by the reports of my lieutenant-colonel and General Butterfield, the latter of whom being present knows the part I performed in the bloody battle.
I deem it proper here to state that for some days previous to the 26th of June I was unwell and under medical treatment, so much so that when the order was received for the regiment to march both General Butterfield and my surgeon urged me strongly to go the hospital rather than the field, notwithstanding which I accompanied my regiment to Cold Harbor, where it was first marched, and thence toward Mechanicsville, bivouacking with it, and again on the 27th to the field finally chosen for the battle. Up to this time my lieutenant-colonel had exercised the command, but after that I resumed the command and exercised it all day. I am particular as to this fact, inasmuch as I have seen editorials, which have remained uncontradicted by the major, the he, "led his regiment in all the recent fights, Colonel Stockton having been taken prisoner in the very beginning of the Gaines' Mill battle; "a statement entirely false. My regiment acted as reserve to the brigade, and was posted some 150 or more yards to the rear of the line the open field and on the slope of the hill, resting sometimes in line, sometimes in column, usually lying down, but ready to move at any moment. The slope of the hill partially protected my men from the shot of the enemy, but exposed them much more to the scorching heat of the sun.
My regiment occupied this position until somewhere near 3 o'clock p. m., when the skirmishing being intimated that the enemy was approaching. It grew louder and nearer, and soon the battle began in good earnest along our whole front. The enemy's artillery opened with shot and shell, evidently trying to drive us from the shelter of the woods where our line was posted.
After thus, as it were, feeling of us, the enemy made a strong demonstration to force our lines along the Second Brigade. It was then that General Butterfield order my regiment to move to the support of that point. My regiment was immediately deployed and most gallantly charged, thereby sustaining our line and compelling the enemy to fall back. My regiment immediately returned to its position in rear of the right of the brigade, remaining just in the edge of the woods and nearer to our line. It was whilst here that Captain Carr was killed and some 4 or 5 men mortally wounded. Soon afterward I moved my regiment more to the left and in rear of the Forty-fourth Regiment, the extreme left. General Butterfield usually directed all these movements and changes, being present and actively overseeing every change.
During all his the firing was kept up, at times raging fierce and hot. After in this last position perhaps an hour or more, the firing kept increasing and the enemy evidently concentrating on our center, my regiment was directed to again move to the right, to support, if necessary, any part of the line. It was whilst i was so doing that the enemy forced our line somewhere between the First and Second Brigades. General Butterfield was standing near me when i called his attention to our flying troops. He immediately mounted his horse, the better to enable him to oversee his brigade.
Our lines once broken, the troops kept giving way, thus permitting the enemy to enter and outflank those who stood firm. Perceiving this, I had faced my regiment to the rear for the purpose of falling back more under the hill and save being flanked, when Major Barnum, of the Twelfth New York, and field officer of the day, rode up to me and urged that I would hold on a few minutes longer, as he hoped the enemy would be driven back. I thereupon faced my regiment about again and resumed firing. Immediately afterward Major Welch came to me and stated that if I remained there a minute longer we would be all cut to pieces-that the enemy were close upon us in overwhelming force. i thereupon again faced my regiment to the rear, still intending to fall back fighting, but I had no sooner given the command to march than all started in double-quick, leaving me at once in the rear, and regardless of my command to halt. Most ran off for the bridge over the Chickahominy. Many sought the timber-land along the river. Believing those seeking the bridge would be cut off by the enemy, I with many others, gained the timber, hoping to cross in some way, but after struggling all night through mud and water we were suddenly captured just after daylight on Saturday morning and immediately sent on to Richmond. As soon as I return to my regiment and can procure facts I will further report, in case the details have not already been made.
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Very respectfully,
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T. B. W. STOCKTON,
Colonel Sixteenth Michigan Volunteers.
Captain FRED. T. LOCKE,
Assistant Adjutant-General, Fifth Army Corps.
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Sixteenth Michigan Infantry, of the battle of Gaines' Mill, engagement at Turkey Brigade, and battle of Malvern Hill.
CAMP NEAR HARRISON'S LANDING, JAMES RIVER, VA.,
July 5, 1862.
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GENERAL: In conformity with your instructions, I hereby transmit a report of the movements of the movements of the Sixteenth Michigan Infantry since June 26:
On that day between 2 and 3 o'clock p. m. orders came for the regiment to strike tents and have everything loaded and the wagons sent at once over the Chickahominy to General McClellan's headquarters, and also to form the regiment in line of battle and await orders. The orders soon came to move with the brigade toward Old Church to oppose the enemy, said to be advancing from the northward. Line of battle was formed at Cold Harbor, this regiment forming in rear of the Eighty-third Pennsylvania, but orders soon came to return at once to Gaines' Mill, which was done, and the regiment moved introits old camp near that point and stacked arms, but was soon after ordered to move with the brigade toward Mechanicsville, where a heavy fight was taking place. Here the regiment halted for the night, after moving about half a mile.
At daylight the regiment, with the brigade, moved back toward Gaines house, guarding to that point a battery of 32-pounder guns. Here it turned to the left and formed in line behind Allen's Massachusetts battery, but the position of the brigade was soon after changed by moving to the rear and behind a ravine about 800 yards distant. Here the regiment formed into line rear of the Forty-fourth New york, but was soon moved about 150 yards to the rear and behind the slope of the hill, to shelter it from the enemy's artillery. Its position was in line of battle, which was soon after changed to double column at half distance and changed direction by the right flank, and lay down to await orders. About noon the fire of the skirmishers in front grew louder and near, and continued at intervals until about 2 p. m., when the battle opened directly in front with great fury and soon became general along the whole line. Soon after this the regiment was ordered by the general to change direction by the left flank and deploy and advance to a fence in front and to the right, and immediately after to charge over the hill to the support of the left of the First Brigade (Martindale's) but soon after fell back to its old position, from which it was soon moved up to support the right of the Third Brigade, and two companies (B and F) were moved to the left, and took position on the left of the Forty-fourth in the rifle pits. The regiment then moved to the left, but soon returned and was stationed in the road directly behind the Twelfth and Eighty-third and afterward moved to the left and took position directly behind the Forty-fourth New York. All the movements were executed under the immediate direction of General Butterfield himself, who was present, and at every part of his line, directing and superintending everything under a terrible fire of musketry and artillery.
After remaining here nearly an hour the regiment was ordered to move by the right flank to support the right the right of the brigade, which was severely pressed and exposed to a flank movement of the enemy, who had now broken through the line to the right of our brigade and were driving the regiments on our right in disorder before them. The regiment moved up to the right under a terrible fire from the enemy, who were now pouring over the hill upon us. The regiment was now halted, fronted, and poured its fire into the rebel ranks at close range. It then fell back a short distance, halted, fronted, and firing, and so continued doing across a small ravine and to another about 400 yards from its first position. It was exposed to a tremendous fire of musketry and artillery, pouring in grape, canister, and shell. Here the colors of the regiment were planted on the bank of the ditch by Major Welch, and the regiment rallied around it and fired 12 or 15 rounds, when Major Vegesack of General Butterfield's staff, brought orders to move the regiment back up the hill to its old position. The order was received by Major Welch, who gallantly led back up the hill, where it remained until forced back down the low ground and into the bridge by overwhelming forces. It fell back slowly and in good order, but its loss was very great. Indeed, the greatest loss sustained by the regiment that day was after its second advance. The bridge had already been destroyed, but the regiment crossed the swamps and reached the opposite side shortly after dark that night, when it camped, but separated so that it was not all together again until morning, when it took up its line of march for General McClellan's headquarters and thence to Savage Station. Its loss in killed, wounded, and missing is 220-49 killed, 116 wounded, and 55 missing.* It is more than probable that most of those reported missing were killed or wounded, since only those were reported killed or wounded who were known to be such.
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I am, general, your obedient servant,
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J. V. RUEHLE,
Lieutenant-Colonel, Commanding Regiment.
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Brigadier General D. BUTTERFIELD,
Commanding Third Brigade, Porter's Division.
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