Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-07-23


We fought and held the enemy in check fol
half an hour till the fresh troops could re lieve
us, and were then ordered to fall back five
miles to Gaines Hill on the banks of the
Chickahiminy. We fell back in order, pro.
tecting both the trains OF Porter and Mccall.
destroying all government property we could
not remove-consisting principally of COM
missary and quarter masters stores. Porter
held the enemy in check till the trains were
secure, and then fell back towards Mccall,
skirmishing all the way, till within a mile OF
us, at Gaines mill, which point he reached
about III O'Clock. He was there reinforced
| by Gen. Sykes division, (Regulars) and his
| exhausted troops had short respite. Scarce
had Porter tell back till skirmishing com
menced afresh on our right, which lasted
| about two hours when all was quiet. But,
when less than hour had interviewed, the
! fight was renewed-this time in the most de-
termined manner. The troops were formed
Rapidly in line Porter and Sykes on the
! right and centre, Mccall on the left. The
command of the field now fell upon General
| Porter as senior officer. Our force was posted
in an open space directly in front of woods
and not more than gunshot from it. Why this
| was done | am unable to say. One thing |
know, it gave the enemy the advantage of the
! timber, while the difficulty of dislodgng him
! from his retreat devolved. upon our forces.
we had scarcely formed in line when the
| crashing sound of the discharge of Gre-arm
| broke upon the ear, resembling the deep and
| cracking intonation of falling timber more
| than anything else ] can think Of Soon a
| dark and sulphurous cloud of smoke rose from
! the scene, and stredching itself far out over
the work Of death and destruction, seemed to
look on in silent wonder. We were success
ful in driving the enemy back upon his re-
serve, when we in turn, had 10 fall back fIom
the fresh and superior numbers that were pit
ted against u.s. Again our men were replaced
10y fresh troops, and again did they enter that
dismal looking timber in pursuit OF the foe
and second time did they drive him back.
The battle now ragged with furious intensity.
cannot convey to you any adequate idea of
the scene. The incessent roar of musketry
and artillery rs they sent their messengers
thick and fast into each others ranks, brggars
all description. Add to this the moaning of
the wounded and dying, as they were being
borne from the field, and the sight Of ghastly
wounds and shattered limbs and you can form
some idea Of the terrible and awful realities
attending sanguinary conflict, where the
chances OF life disappear like the morning
mist.
Up to this time had been a silent specta-
tor Of the bloody conflict, but now, about L.
NJ. Our division was ordered to the support
of the right where the fight had been terribly
animated. Battery A was also ordered 10 the
right. We had scarcely reached our new po-
sition, and had not got time TO form in bat
terry, when our move was quickly anticipated
Never was there IA more fatal error committed.
This transfer of the almost entire force OF the
left gave the enemy the most decided advan-
tage, which he was not slow to avail himself
of. Our troops were Immediately ordered
back to the LETT, but not, however, till the en-
emy had almost emerged from the woods and
commenced IA flank movement on our left.
In the meantime, our artillery had commenced
shelling them at a fearful rate, fairly piling
them in winrows, but on they came. They
emerged from the woods under the most gal
ling cross fire of our brave Reserve CORPS as
they passed aloug the line from the right to
left. The 9th is on the left OF battery A, but
not in supporting distance. Our guns are
now worked necessarily with double shotted
canister at short range, which opens chasms
in the rebel ranks, but such is the perfeCtnesS
of their drill that they are almost as quickly
hlled up and they again present solid front.
They push on, apparently aiming for the bat
terIes which are making such havoc among
them. Battery A occupies position in the
centre immed lately on the crest of a bluff
bank. Battery q on the lett, battery and
G (Regulars) on the right. The rebels have
now reached a large level plain our left
front and are rushing on with hideons yells |
such as demons only can give. The inces |
SAINT and unabated stream of canSter-the |
whizzing of buletS-tbe roar of cannon and |
musketry-the almost suffocating clouds of
to make up the tumultuous scene. At this |
critic Al moment the ammunition Of our brave |
boys expended, and they fall back from |
sheer exhaustion. A Regular Battery OF light |
mounted artillery wheels into action, fires two /
or three rounds, limbers up ard is off without |
a scratch. The enemy is within rs yards
OF us. Our battery is not supported by a man |
of the infantry. Four squadrons of cavalry |
draw up in line our left and prepare to
charge the enemy In support of our battery. |
They draw their sabres. The men in front |
begin to topple out of their saddles. Their |
courage fails them. They wheel to the rear
running over some of our men and are off.
We still continue to work our guns. Some
one suggests to the CAPTAIN the propriety of
He says, emo! stand by your guns
boys, and if they are taken it will be my
Frustrated body!" Brave man! but few mo-
ments after and he was shot dead from his horse.
The rebels with awful oaths and imprecations
are upon us. One brave fellow draws the last
lanyard, they receive the contents of the gun,
he is shot dead. Each one of us then looks
out for himself. rush to my horse, mount
him, and away. Some of our boys, who have
not had the means of getting away quick,
see the enemy wave the black flag of disunion
over our heated Napoieons. They are lost to
US, and our army has now fallen back quar-
ter of mile, and is forming again an line.
have just crossed the Chicka-
hominy to our relief. Among them is Meag-
hers Irish Brigade. They are stripped to
the shirt. Some Of them with hats of: and
their brave commander tells them to go in and
win or die. They depend on the bayonet.
They charge up the hill to the left of the line,
to the position of our battery, and drive the
enemy back under cover of tho woods. They
the guns that were lost viz: four
from Go. "A, three from G, and two from q.
Having no means of bringing them off the
field, they disabled them-renderiDg them