Voice from Casey’s Division: The 85th New York and the Opening of the Battle of Seven Pines

As part of General Silas Casey's division of the IV Corps, the 85th New York took part in the opening actions of the Battle of Seven Pines on May 31, 1862. Corporal Ellicott R. Stillman of that regiment provides an eyewitness view to the hard fighting his division made that afternoon which was included in Wilbur Hinman’s Camp and Field: Sketches of Army Life Written by Those Who Followed the Flag, ’61-’65 published in 1892.

 

Corporal Ellicott Roger Stillman, Co. B, 85th N.Y. 

The 85th N.Y. regiment was encamped on the left of the Williamsburg Road and about 100 yards to the left and rear of the redoubt and was the support of a battery of Napoleon guns, three of which were in the redoubt and three at the left a few rods in rear of our rifle pits and were attached to Palmer’s brigade, Casey’s division.

          We had nearly completed a line of rifle pits from the redoubt at the left of sufficient length to cover the regiment. Front of our works and for about 400 yards was a level field covered with green wheat; then came a rail fence and one-fourth of a mile of slashed timber and then the woods in which our pickets were posted.

About noon on the 31st of May, three cannons were fired by the Rebels, the shots falling a short distance in the rear of our camp. We fell in and advanced to the rifle pits. Picket firing soon commenced and the 103rd Pennsylvania was sent out on the Williamsburg Road to support the pickets; then the 92nd New York was posted along the fence next to the slashing in our front.

          In a short time, a heavy volley of musketry was heard where the 103rd Pennsylvania had gone and in a few minutes the Pennsylvanians and pickets came pouring back in a perfect panic. I don’t think they stopped till well to the rear of Couch’s division three quarters of a mile in the rear, no doubt giving rise to the rumor that Casey’s men had been “surprised and retreated in disorder.”

          We could see the Rebel battle flags above the slashing the Rebel troops advanced. The battery near the redoubt opened on them but without effect. They fired wildly, throwing some of their shells into the ranks of the 92nd New York, causing their retreat. There was no forces between us and the Confederates, a brigade strong, who dressed their lines at the edge of the wheat field and recommenced their advance. Our battery fired one or two rounds of canister and then the men stood not on the order of going but went as fast as their legs could carry them, leaving cannons, ammunition, horses, and all, leaving the 85th N.Y. to hold the position unaided.


          We had taken position in the rifle pits, standing in water from ankle- to knee-deep. The Johnnies were in good shape, the field officers mounted, following close in rear of their line of battle. Our colonel and major had disappeared; our lieutenant colonel was wounded, leaving the command to Captain W.W. Clarke of Co. B who, cool as a cucumber and brave as a lion, ordered us to fire low and take good aim.

          The Rebels advanced slowly, loading and firing as they came, and on the green field in our front presented a splendid mark. In a short time, our fire dismounted their officers and was having a terrible effect on their ranks. They began to find it very difficult to carry their colors and when within about 100 yards of us they began to break up and lie down. In firing at a rest over the wet, soft bank of our pits, our guns had cut a channel that bore directly on the Rebels and with little pain we could make every shot tell. They were in fine range and not firing at us, for it was too hot for human endurance. They soon commenced running back and pluckily tried to take their colors and battle flags, but it was sure death to touch a staff and they gave it up- leaving every flag on the field and seemingly two-thirds of their number.

“Those in front came running back beyond us and the obnoxious Rebel flag was seen bearing down upon us through the slashing when the Colonel said, “Take good aim boys, and let them have it,” and for the first time we drawed a bead on the Rebs and then they were more than 50 rods [275 yards] off, but they felt it. We loaded and fired as fast as possible and the canister shot was poured into them from the cannon but they still bore down upon us until within about 20 rods [100 yards] when what there was left of them turned and went back.” ~Corporal Henry Bancroft, Co. B, 85th New York

 

          We remained there over two hours and no other force appeared in our front while we stayed in the rifle pits. But we could see a heavy Rebel column just out of range on our left, marching with arms at right shoulder shift, to take us and our forces in flank. We expected reinforcements from Couch’s division to hold our lines, but none came, and we were ordered out and retreated as far as our camps and were then ordered back to the rifle pits again.

By this time, all the battery horses had been shot down as they stood hitched to the limbers; the Rebels had broken our lines to our right and were some distance to the rear and right of us. At the same time, there appeared to be no end of the Johnnies flanking on our left, the head of the column being far to the rear of our line. No reinforcements coming, we were again ordered to the rear, every man for himself, and that ended the organized fighting of the 85th New York for that day. We got back to Couch’s line as best we could but saw no fighting there except at extremely long range. The writer was near the right of the 10th Massachusetts when they received the heavy fire in flank from the troops that had flanked us out of our position.


Sources:

Corporal Ellicott R. Stillman, Co. B, 85th New York Volunteer Infantry, from Wilbur F. Hinman’s Camp and Field: Sketches of Army Life Written by Those Who Followed the Flag, ’61-’65. Cleveland: N.G. Hamilton Publishing Co., 1892, pgs. 92-94

Letter of Corporal Henry Bancroft, Co. B, 85th New York Volunteer Infantry, courtesy of Spared & Shared

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