Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1862-08-27
EVACUATION OF THE PEr,N,ULa

from correspondent Of the New York papers
the following description Of the start and cress-
Ing OF the Chickahominy is gathered:
THE START.
On friday morning, day began to dawn all
was buste and activity. Che wagons began 10
move, and regiment after regiment formed In line
awaiting the final orders. Heiatzelman waa TO
ke tue road nearest the rebel line, and In case
OF attack would have TO stand the brunt of action
As there seemed probability Of trouble, went
with his corps, which 10 formed Of Kearnsy's and
Hooker's divisions, Al half past five O'Clock the
line was In motion, and by six O'Clock 1t had
passed outside the camp, and taken up the march
upon Toed leading 10 the New Kent turnpike.
Iois road was run In the center Of a field, about
haIf a mile from the James river, where lay two
funboats, ready for action IN case CT movement
by the enemy.
Miles Of wagons, batteries of artillery, and
thousands Of troops were in full sight, and slow
~ passing like panorama, before the gaze
Hefe, kearney was obliged 10 delay until o'clk,
In srder to allow our immense train to move
ahead. Once OF, the line moved at an easy gait,
stopping every hour or so, for a few paefnents'
rest. This part Of the country 10 called the
a. Flower Garden OF Virginia." i; 10 In full cul-
tivstion, and the hand Of vandalism has not
touched It. The eye coult see no limit to corn
and wheat and clover fields, which, bordered
with magnificent forests and murmuring brooks,
made the entire place seem perfect Eden. So
II was all along The route through Charles City
County, distance OF line miles. There were
many fne residences, particularly Of the old
fashioned style, but Of white men I saw but
three. The rest were doubtless in the rebel ar
my. There was not large display Of negro faces
either. The females predominaied, and most Of
the males were old-many supeIannuated.
At dunk, Kearney reached the Chckahominy
the
anywhere, and desirous Of giving them an op-
Portunity, II was determined to bisouac before
crossing the river. In fact, the pOntoon bridge
have been forded without much trouble. The
teams and artillery belonging to Porter's Dlvi-
sion, had already crossed and were quite ad-
vsnced On the way. The night was an extreme
ly quiet one. There wss no disposition to hide
cur location, for the camp fres burned with their
accustomed brilliancy and Hooker's regiment
beat TATTOO, as II at Harrison's Landing. But the
men were tired, Notwithstanding they had not
been hard pressed, besides having had cool
day for travelling.
cRossiNs TIE cHIcxAHonINY.
At the point where we crossed the Chicka-
hominy is but 20 feet wide and from to S feet In
depth. The trains fofded the river, and for an
hour or two the scene was quite enlivening.
Sometimes the mules would go through very
well, but again they would get stubborn and lie
down. Then the steamsters shouted, used their
whips, swore, yelled, and made every possible
demonstration, but with little success. 1t was
often necessary to hitch a rope to the wagon
tongues and put q hundred men or 30 at work,
In order to pull both mules and wagons out
suffers and others, riding In low, light wagons,
found themselves almost submerged, and dis
played great degree OF nervousness, the crowd
all the while exhibiting their delight in innu-
merable ways, and making matters laughably
worse. The military crossed without difficulty.
Their powerful horses dragged the cannon and
cajssons through the food quite easily, but some
fear was expressed that the ammunition would
get wet, and thus be made useless.
The cavalry, Of course, had no trouble, and reg
1ment after regiment crossed with the same ease
almost as IL the stream were but puddle. About
noon, however, the pontoon bridge was furnished
and then Jordan was no longer hard road to
travel. But cannot help thinking that the air
near that particular spot on the Chfckabominy 10
yet redolent with the curses Of Thousands Of team
sters and dozens of suffers. Teamsteu, In my
Judgment, are the hardest class Of men In the ser
vice. They are not only profane In the extreme
but often brutal in their treatment Of the Door
beasts unfortunately committed to their keeping.
There are exceptions, Of course, but have seen
30 Euch unnecessary brutality practised by them
that the very name Of teamsser seems q synonym
OF cruelty.
On Saturday night, Heintzieman bivouacked
without crossing. II was a damp evening, and
the dew seemed to fall like rain. Large nres
were built, and crowds Of men gathered arousd
them, shlvering, al II attacked with the agpe.
At midnight the order came, to move at four
O'Clock, and half the corps were obliged to start
again In the tramp, but partially rested, though
eager for quick work. All the teams had crossed
on Saturday, and were waiting for us on the
other side to escort them on the way. -