side of the Chickahominy, and had erected formidable lines of breastworks along Beaver Dam Creek, already strong and unapproachable from its natural formations.  Jackson was to have encountered Porter on the extreme right flank of the Union Army at an early hour in the day, and as soon as A.P.  Hill heard the sound of his guns, he was to cross over on our left at Meadow Bridge and sweep down the river on Jackson’s right.  But after waiting for the opening of Jackson’s guns until after 3 o’clock, without any information that he was on the field, Hill crossed over the river and attacked Porter in his strong position at Mechanicsville.  His task was to beat back the enemy until the bridges below were uncovered, allowing re-enforcement to reach him.  Jackson being unavoidably delayed, A.P.  Hill assailed the whole right wing of the Federal Army, single-handed and alone, he only having five brigades, one being left some miles above on the river, but the brigade that was left was making rapid strides to join the fighting column.  The strong earthworks, filled with fighting infantry and heavy field artillery in the forts, were too much for this light column, but undaunted by the weight of numbers and strength of arms, Hill threw himself headlong upon the entrenched positions with rare courage and determination.  There were South Carolinians with him who were now engaging in their maiden effort, and were winning imperishable fame by their deeds of valor.  Gregg, with the old First South Carolina Regiment of Veterans, with four new organizations, the Twelfth, Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Orr’s Rifles, went recklessly into the fray, and struck right and left with the courage and confidence of veteran troops.  D.H.  Hill, late in the evening, crossed over and placed himself on the right of those already engaged.  The battle of Games’ Mill was one continual slaughter on the side of the Confederates.  The enemy being behind their protections, their loss was comparatively slight.  The fight was kept up till 9 o’clock at night, with little material advantage to either, with his own and only a portion of Jackson’s troops up.  But the desperate onslaught of the day convinced Porter that he could not hold his ground against another such assault, so he fell back to a much stronger position around Gaines’ Mill.

The next day, the 27th, will be remembered as long as history records the events of our Civil War as one of the most bloody and determined of any of the great battles of the war for the men engaged.  For desperate and reckless charges, for brave and steady resistance, it stands second to none.  Jackson, Ewell, Whiting, and D.H.  Hill moved their divisions by daylight, aroused the enemy’s right, intending to reach his rear, but at Cold Harbor they met the enemy in strong force.  D.H.  Hill attacked immediately, while A.P.  Hill, who had been left in Porter’s front, marched through the deserted camp, over his fortifications, and at Gaines’ Mill, he met Porter posted on an eminence