MAP: Grant’s Operations on the James River: Scene of Engagement near Deep Bottom, July 27 (NP: Philadelphia Inquirer)

Brett,

Nice. And I like the Bryce Suderow map which shows in closer detail where the 7th was positioned on July 27th, 1864. It helps me picture what Henry Jeffers, of the 7th SCC, described to his father (letter of July 31, 1864):

“On Monday [July 25, 1864] we were quiet – scouts and piquets beginning to report that the enemy have been heavily reinforced on this side. Tuesday morning [July 26, 1864] we start at day light – go down to the Point where the Willis Church Road runs into the River Road, stay there all day. At sundown the Regt goes into camp at our old Camp near Malvern Hill, our Squadron detailed to remain on picket. I am now informed by Genl Gary that I must keep piquets on the alert and hold that point, as we were putting Artillery in position on my right and I was to protect the left flank, that we were fixing to fight the enemy the next day. We slept on our arms with our bridle reins in hand…

Next morning [July 27, 1864] we moved down the River Road to the right. The Hampton Legion, on the right, and Col Robin’s Regt (3rd Regt of the Brigade) on their right, and immediately on the left of the Infantry. It must be remembered we are now down on the River Bank, a dense forest in our rear, the farm on Curls Neck in front, the enemys camp plainly seen a little to our right, about Tilmans Farm.

[Skipping over the paragraph about the Parrott Rifles and the infantry who fled – because I’ve posted it previously. Picking up afterwards, late on the 27th :] …We were now ordered to mount quickly. We had to walk about three miles, as our horses had to be carried out of reach of the shelling. At night we slept as the night before, a little rain falling.”

Lisa