1st Lt. James Hamilton Kuhn

Died at New Market Crossroads, Richmond, Virginia at the Battle of White Oak Swamp
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Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania July 15, 1862, page 3: [COMMUNICATED.]

         Lieutenant J. Hamilton Kuhn.

       "DEAD ON THE FIELD OF HONOR."

Among the slain in the bloody conflict before Richmond, we are compelled, after that "hope deferred which maketh the heart sick," to number the brave solider and chivalric gentleman whose name heads this article. The son of one of our late most estimable citizens (who, as Captain of the volunteer company of State Fencibles, exhibited his patriotism in the war of 1812), born to affluence, and with all to lure him to a life of ease and comfort, like that father he, too, obeyed the call of his counry in the hour of her peril. Leaving family and friends, and the enjoyment of the most polished circles of society, he repaired to the battlefield, and there gloriously yielded up his young life in the very dawn of its manhood. The laurels wich he lived to win, but not to wear, will be watered and kept green by the tears of the many who "knew him well and loved him;" and when his name shall be spoken at the fireside of home, or uttered in the gatherings of those companions who mourn his loss, and who "ne'er will look upon his like again," their hearts will respond for him, as did the faithful soliders of the brave La Tour D'Auvergne; at the call of the muster-roll - "Dead on the field of honor!" E.S.
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The New York Times THE BATTLE OF WHITE OAK SWAMP. Published: July 7, 1862

A correspondent of the Philadelphia Inquirer gives these interesting particulars of the battle of White Oak Swamp:

Having crossed the bridge over "White Oak" Swamp, it was blown up, thus checking the advance of the enemy. On Monday morning the enemy began the attack on our rear, having rebuilt the bridge. They came on in immense force, following the road we had come.

It soon became apparent that the enemy intended to precipitate themselves upon us with all his force. In view of this SEDGWICK was stationed on the left of the road, just below the bridge, and FRANKLIN's Division, with a portion of SMITH's Division, on the right. KEARNEY's Division was thrown across the New-Market road. HOOKER's Division across the Central road, and RICHARDSON's Division across the Charles City road, all three leading down from Richmond.

About 2 o'clock the enemy was discovered advancing along all these roads in immense force, the clouds of dust along the line of approach being distinctly visible. At this time the firing was terrific, coming from every quarter of the compass, the effort of the enemy evidently being to surround us, and either cut us to pieces or drive us into the river. All this was the result of their delusion with regard to our movement; they persisting in believing it was a retreat, while, in fact, it was a deliberate and successful strategic movement.

The rebels fought with desperation, hoping to detach our divisions and crush them in detail. Gen. MCCLELLAN was everywhere through the fight, directing reinforcements to be sent wherever the front seemed weakest. Gen. MCCALL, with the Pennsylvania Reserves, was stationed in the rear of the several points held by the commanders named, and within supporting distance of them all.

At 4 o'clock in the afternoon dispatches were received at headquarters that the enemy were being successfully repulsed at all points, with the exception of Gen. KEARNEY's, who reported that the enemy were too strong for him, and were forcing him from his position.

Word was immediately sent to Gen. MCCALL to advance to his relief, which his men did on the double-quick, notwithstanding their previous fatigue and exhaustion. They were soon engaged in the thickest of the fight, which grew hotter, as every moment brought fresh troops from Richmond to replace those whom our brave Reserves were leveling with terible rapidity.

The tide of battle ebbed and flowed over the plain for nearly an hour with uncertain result. At this time Gen. MCCALL and his staff galloped toward the front to incite his brave troops to stronger exertions, when he was seen to fall from his horse, mortally wounded in the breast.

His staff gathered around him, and begged to be allowed to bear his body to a place of quiet and safety."No," said he, "let me die on the field." and in the momentary confusion which the fall of their beloved leader made, his division was slowly driven back. Almost at the same time, Capt. H.J. BIDDLE, Aid to Gen. MCCALL, was mortally wounded.

Still the contest raged more madly, the efforts of his men to reach him being almost frantic. In this desperate charge the loss of life on both sides exceeded anything that had occurred since the contest commenced. The dead lay in piles as high as tents. Among the slain were Lieuts. J.H. KUHN and W.M. WATMOUGH. Gen. MEADE was severely wounded in the abdomen, and Gen. REYNOLDS was taken prisoner. It is since ascertained that he is unhurt in Richmond.

At this juncture word was dispatched to Gen. SUMNER that assistance was required by Gen. KEARNEY, and his men immediately advanced to the critical position on the double quick, with their bayonets fixed at the charge. As they came up our tired troops fell back, and the avalanche of bristling steel was upon the rebels, who fairly reeled with the shock as our men shook off their pierced bodies like clods from their keen lances. This broke the rebel advance, and they fell back into confusion and retreated.

At this time the rebels had brought up a battery between the river and New-Market road, with the design of shelling our position. The gunboats Galena and Aroostook, which had been lying quiet, but keen spectators of the battle, unable to fire for fear of injuring our men, were at length signaled from a station on shore as to the direction in which they might send their fearful missiles.

This they did with unerring aim, and the effect was prodigious. The retreat of the rebels increased to a run, and the run enlarged to a skedaddle of the most approved stampede, and our brave but exhausted troops arranged themselves for the night as best they could after the trying scenes through which they had passed.

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Philadelphia Inquirer Philadelphia, Pennsylvania August 11, 1862, page 5 OBITUARY

  Amid the din and shock of battle, when the overpowering numbers of the enemy seem about to hurl our thinned lines into disasterous retreat, gallantly exposing himself to rallying and urging forward a regiment of Pennsylvania Reserves, fell, mortally wounded, on the afternoon of June 30th, at Gaines' Hill, Lieutenant JAMES HAMILTON KUHN, aid-de-camp to Brigadier-General George C. Meade.

  Lieutenant Kuhn was a son of the late Hartman Kuhn, of this city.  Possessed of an ample fortune, of fine talents and excellent education, with a remarkable amiable disposition, Lieutenant Kuhn was the beloved of all who knew him.  When the first blow of treason was struck at his country's flag, at summer, Lieutenant Kuhn, from a sense of duty, nobly came forward and enrolled himself as a private in the First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, and served with marked distinction during the three months' campaign.

  His high sense of duty to his country, however could not be satisfied  with the few months of exposure, privation and danger, he had in his country's direct need given her.  He could not quietly hold back and lead a life of ease and luxury (one to which his fortune would naturally seem to beck on him) when so many of his friends and countrymen were manfully struggling to uphold the supremacy of the Constitution.

  On his return from the three months' service, he was offered a position as aid to General Meade, which position he accepted, and at once set to work with his characteristic zeal and energy to procure a commission, which it was necessary for him to have before being able to perform his duties.  He finally succeeded in accomplishing it, not, however, until he had exhausted nearly two months in his endeavors and visited Harrisbury and Washington many times.  He joined General Meade about the beginning or middle of October, and served with him from that time until the fatal bullet tore him forever from his family and friends.

  That he would distinguish himself, all who knew him felt convinced and we have the evidence of his General that he bore himself with distinguised gallantry during those two days of terrible fighting which took place on the 26th and 27th of June, and lost his life, as we have already stated, in his efforts to stem the tide of battle, which, owing to the faded condition of our troops and the overwhelming numbers of our adversary; seemed about to be turned against ________(rest of sentence unreadable).

  The writer of these few lines was not an intimate friend of Lieut. Kuhn, but he had known him from his childhood, and had admired and esteemed him for his many manly and winning qualities.  He has anxiously, but in vain, sought for some slight tribute to his worth, in the daily prints of this his native city, from the pen of some one of his intimate friends.  He is aware that there is an impression abroad that such notices were distasteful to Lieut. Kuhn, and for this reason he concludes those who would have felt disposed to write, and could have done him more justice, had they done so, than the present writer, have been deterred from it.

  But time has rolled on; a month has passed since our gallant young friend was shrouded in a solider's grave, with no stone to mark his resting place, and yet none has come forward to pay his worth that tribute to which it is well entitled.

  In the dawn of manhood, so strong, so hopefull, and full of life, but yesterday the admiration of his family and friends, he now silently sleeps in the silent grave.  With all the bright allurements of this world stretched at his feet, with everything to live for, he has sacrificed all and yielded up his life in the defence of his country's flag.  Shall such a one perish in vain, or shall not his memory rather be enshrined in the hearts of his fellow-citizens, a bright example to emulate.      

  August 9, 1862                                                     F.M.B.* Reference: [https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/167660600/james-hamilton-kuhn Find A Grave Memorial] - [https://www.geni.com/projects/SmartCopy/18783 SmartCopy]: ''Jun 19 2019, 6:20:28 UTC''