It was then that J. Finley Bailey our brave Captain was last seen, and strange as it may seem, no has ever been found who knew aught of his fate. Lieut. Stewart was wounded while acting adjutant of the regiment, while nine men were wounded and eight taken prisoner. The Irish brigade again came to the rescue, at about sunset, and under cover of the night, we fell back to the James river at Malvern Hill, in a state of complete exhaustion and despondency.
At the battle of Malvern hill, our command took no active part, but were held in reserve, the only time in our recollection that we held such a position.
It may be said here, and the statistics proves the fact, that the Penn'a Reserves sustained a loss during the seven days battles, of one-fifth of the total loss, while our strength was only one-fifteenth of the total strength, and this fact does not find a parallel, in any campaign or any battle, of any division of the federal army, east or west.
CHAPTER VI.
At Harrison's Landing.
But the campaign is ended, and on July 3rd, we go into camp at Harrison's landing, six miles down the James river.
Here we suffer many hardships on account of inferior rations and unwholesome water, producing malarious and chronic diseases, and this we endured for forty-two days.
A regular promotion of company officers took place here, as follows:—W. W. Stewart to be Captain, J. D. Sadler, 1st Lieut. and H. N. Minnigh, 2nd Lieut. Sadler was in command Stewart being absent wounded.
August the 15th, we took the lead in the evacuation of the Peninsula, and embarked on the steamer Rob't Morrison, for the avowed purpose of joining Pope's army before Washington. We landed at Aquia creek, on the 19th, and proceeding thence by way of Fredericksburg, and at Warrenton junction, we fell in with Pope's forces, hurrying back toward the National capitol, with the rebel horde at his heels.
We reached Bull Run on the 29th, and found that a portion of the rebel army had beat us in the race, but by a flank movement we passed them, took up a position on the old battle ground, skirmished back and forth one whole day, and waited eagerly the coming of McClellan's army.