On Tuesday, at Malvern hill, you were again under a terrible fire, which you had no opportunity to return.
Though rarely able to turn out 3,000 men for duty, you have, in six pitched battles and several skirmishes, lost 1,250 in killed and wounded.
Of five Colonels, two have been killed in battle, two wounded, and one taken prisoner by an overwhelming force.
While making this bloody but brilliant record for your brigade, you have been, as soldiers of freedom should always be, modest, uncomplaining, and regardful of what is due to others.
Your ranks have been thinned by the casualties of war, but be not discouraged. In a few days they will be filled by recruits, and yours will be the proud task of teaching them to maintain the reputation you have achieved.
The regiments of the brigade are respectively entitled to have inscribed on their flags as follows:
The Seventh regiment—"Newberne, Slash Church, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Frazier's Farm, Malvern Hill." The same inscription is to be inscribed on the flags of the Twenty-eighth, Thirty-seventh and Thirty-third regiments.
The Eighteenth regiment—"Slash Church, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mill, Frazier's Farm, Malvern Hill."
Branch's attillery (Captain Latham)—"Newberne" and "Slash Church."
The Quartermaster of the brigade will furnish flags inscribed as above.
Brigadier-General Commanding.
