The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1862-11-29

the possession Of Richmond certain! Alas !
this effort was not made. cannot recall
those fatal moments without real sinking
of the heart Seated in an orchard in the
biveuac of Porter, amid the joyous excite
ment which follows a successful combat
saw the Fifth Cavalry bring in whole com
panies of Confederate prisoners, with arms
and baggage, their officers at their herd
But neither the glad confidence of the
Federals nor the encouragement of their
enemies deceived me, and asked myself
how many Of these gallant young men
who surround me, relating their exploits
OF the day before, would pay with their
lives for the fatal error which Mas on the
point OF being committed. Not only did
not the two armies unite, but the order
came from Washington to burn the bridges
which had been seized. This was the
clearest way of saying to the Army Of the
Potomac and to its chief that in no case
could they count on the support of the
armies OF Upper Virginia The
reason Of this unfortunate measure was
the successful dash of Jackson He had
driven Banks beyond the Potomac and
created such a confusion that he was sup
posed to be on the point of entering Wash
ton. With over A., 600 men to defend the
city, the line of the Potomac so easy to
hold, and the vast entrenced camp around
the capital, it was not thought TO be safe
jackson had gained his point
Henceiorth the Army of the Potomac
must count upon itself alone"
The Prince next discusses the reasons of
the long delay in attacking Richmond
lie attributes this IN part to the eXtraor-
dinary difficulties caused BY the unprecc
dented rains in respect to the roads and
TO the bridging of the streams, rills to day
to become torrents o-mOrrow-aud in part
10 the very constitution of the army, in
whiah, as he strikingly observes, the play
of individurl wills makes concentration
and rapid;ty Of general executive action
extremely difficult of attainment GA the
3lst OF May the Confederates took the
initiative, and the battle Of Fair Oaks was
fought. OF this battle he remarks:
" Evidently Johnston had tiattered hin
self that by throwing all his forces upon
the left wing of the Federals he would
crush them before they could be supported
from the main body on the lef bank Of
ChickahomIny.
:" la this expectation he was deceivded
through the energetic resistance OF the
tour divisions assaulted, and through the
furious and unforeseen attack OF the troop,
OF summer. The capacious stream also on
whose swelling food he had counted dis
appointed his hopes. The effect Of the
deluge ofrain was not immediate. Twenty
four hours passed before il was fully felt
Some persons thought then and
think still that If instead OF throwing
Sumner with 1900 men on Johnston
flank, 5000 had deem throwing, the order
could have been executed. Summers
bridge would not have sutiiced for their
passage At midnightthe rear of Summers
column was still upon this rude structure
struggling slowly across The
battle was renewed by the Con:cderates
the next day, coming ei, mEsss without
order or method; and when at
noon the firing ceased the Confederates
weary with the long struggle. and no longer
conm1nded, We're, we we're told (iOr in
the midst OF these huge forests one sees
nothing and must divine everythin-), in
state of inextricable confusioe What
might have happened if at this moment
the 5000 fresh troops left on the other
side Of the river had appeared on the fl, nix
OF this disordered mass, after passing the
bridge in safety The battle
had been bloody. the Felerals losing 5000
men and the Confederates 5000, but the
reSults were negative. In TACT
both sides had failed for want OF organ
;zation, and hierarchy, for want OF that
bond which binds the soul of the chief TO
the great body called an army. Never
theiess although the enemy had lost more
than the Federais. the latter had lost an
unique opportunity FOX striking decisive
blow