Cedar Falls gazette. [volume] (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 1860-1895, 1862-07-11

of operations on the James River, and also a
short account Of the battle Of White oas,
Swamp:
TIVE RETREAT.
From headquarters passed along our lines.
The troops still! stood at the brcnstworks
ready for battle but it was evident they had
begun to inquire into the situation. Some
apprehensiye officer had caught hint of the
mysteries which prevailed. The trains were
ordered to move, troops to hold themselves
in readiness to march at any moment. So
passed that day, dreadful in its monal attrib-
utes as day of pestlencc, aud when night
closed upon the dreary scene, the enterprise
had fully begun. Eadless streams ofartilcry
trains, wagons and funeral ambulances pour
cd down the roads from all the camps, and
pluuging into the narrow funnel which was
our only hope Of escape And now the ex-
qnisite truth flashed upon me. 1t was abso.
lutely necessary, for the salvation of the ar
my and the cause, that our wounded and
mangled braves who lay meaning in physical
agony in our hospitals should be deserted
and left in the hands Of the enemy. Oh /! the
cruel horrors of war. Do you wonder, my
friends, that the failures Of youth wrinkle,
and that the strong mans beard silvcrs soon
amid such scenes? The signature of age in
dicatcs itself soon upon the smoothest face
of warriors and those who witness wars
cruelty. All, well, another night of sorrow
without catastrophe Officers were on horse
back nearly all night, ordering tho great car.
avian and it's escorts. No wink o; sleep again !;
no peace of mind for any who realized the
peril of our country in those blank hours
Ia r n
road. Thousands of cattle. of wagons, and
our immense train of artillery. intcrmingled
with infantry, and great troops Of cavalry
choked up the narrow road already. General
Summers, Heintzelman's and Franklin's
corps, under Summers command, had been
left to guard the rear, with orders to fall back
at daylight, and hold the enemy IN check till
night. A noble army for sacrifice, and some,
oh how many, must fail to save the rest
The very slightest movement from the front
was critical. Il no point along the line.
were we more than three fourths of a mile
from the enemy, and in front of Scdgwick's
line, they were not over 600 yards distant.
The slightest vibration at any point was apt
to thrill the rebel lines from center to wings
But fortunately, by skilful secrecy, column
after column was marched to the rear-Frank-
lin first, Sedgw,ck next, then Richardson,
and Hooker, and lastly tho knightly Kearney.
The advance column and all that mighty
train had now been swallowed i'm the nav of
the drcary forest. tswept onward, onward.
fast and furious like an avalanche Every
hour Of silence behind was omnibus, but
hours were precious to us. Pioneer bands
were rushing along in front, clcaaing and re-
pairing our single road reconnaissance off
Gers were seeking new routes for haven Of
rest and safety. The enemy was in the rear
pressing on with fearful power lie could
press down hankward to our front, cutting
off our retreat. Would such be our fate !:
The vanguard had passed White Oak bridge
and had risen to fine defensive post fankcd
by White Oak swamp, where part of the train,
at least, could rest How sadly the feeble
ones needed it, those who having suspected
their friends were about to abandon them,
trusted rather to the strength Of fear to lead
to safety, than to the fate which might await
them at the hands Of the foe But the march
was orderly as upon any less urgent day, only
switzerland marvellous, too, it seemed, that
such caravans of wagons, artillery, horsemen,
soldiers, camp followers, and all, should press
through that narrow road with so little con-
fusion.
Two miles beyond the bridge the column
suddenly hailed. \ trcinor thrilled along
the line. a moment more and the dull boom
OF cannon and its echoing shell fell grimly
upon our ears. Were we bcleaguered? An
hour later, and there was an ominous roar
behind. The enemy was laundering on our
rear. knew that the moment was painful
to many, but no soldiers heart seemed to
shrink from the desperate shock Back and
forth dashed hot riders. Messengers here,
orders there, composme and decision where
it should be, with determination to wrest
triumph from the jaws of disaster AS yet
everything had prospered. and Mt noon a
brighter ray flashed athwart our drcary ho-
risen. Averil--our dashing "Ashby" -had
moved with the vanguard, met eight compa-
mics of rebel cavalry, charged them, routed
them, pursued them miles hey ond our reach,
and returned in triumph with sixty prisoners
and horses. ...
BATTLE At WHITE OAK SWAMI.
At about ten O'clock, General Mcclellan
pushed to the river, communicating with
Commodore Rodgers. and had the gunboat
fleet posted to aid us against the enemy. The
case was desperate, but it was relief to reach
the river where we could turn at bay with
our rear protected by the James river, and
tanks partially covered by gunboats lid
ings, however, had been received that the
enemy was pushing swiftly upon us in sew
eral columns of immense numbers, apparent
ly determined to crush US, or drive us into
the river that night They opened fiercely
with shell upon Smiths division at White
Oak Bridge. After burning down the house
of good sccessionist and breaking his leg,
the enemy extended his line of fire and soon
engaged our entire rear guard, striking at
S!ocum, who MAS guarding against a flank
movement designed to Gu: our column in
twain.
Long before this, our vanguard had de-
bouched from the road into the field before
Turkey Bend, and our reserve artillery was
powerfully posted on Malvern Hill, mag
nicent bluff covering Iiardin's Landing,
where our gunboats were cruising. Here
was glorious prospect. Though cur gal
liant fellows were bravely holding the fierce
enemy at bay, to cover The swiftly escaping
trains. IL was clear our troubles were no.
cndcd. We had again deceived the enemy
by going TO Turkey Bend. He had imagined
we were marching to Newmarket. destined
to point on Cliff Bottom road near Fort
Daring. 1t was not far away, and the enc