Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-05-16

OF getting them to do what IS desired OF them.
Individual wills, which are as capricious as
popular majorities, play too great part
among them. The leader is obliged to turn
and see whether be il followed; he has no as
surance that his subordinate are bound to
him by the tie of discipline and duty. Hence
hesitaiion and condition of things unfavora-
bic fat = dash. "lf W. could bs attacked and
fight on the defensive" have often heard it
said, TINT would be half the battle" They
got what they wanted. The enemy made the
first attack. On the 31st Of May, he put an
end to all uncertainties and speculations as to
the best way of getting at him. by throwing
himself boldly with all his forces on the army
of the Potomac. The bloody fight which
took place on the evening Of that day and the
morning Of the next day is called the battle
of Fair Oaks.
At the time when it was thus attacked, the
Federal army occupied position in the form
of the letter v. The base of the V was at
Bottom bridge. where the railroad crosses the
Chickahoriny. Its left arm extended to-
ward Richmond on the railroad and the Will.
liamsburg road. Here was the left wing,
formed of four divisions arranged en- echelon,
one behind the other, between Fair Oaks and
Savages station, and encamped in the woods
on both sides of the road. The right arm of
the v followed the left bank of the river. and
formed The right wing. composed Of four di.
visions and the reserve. The distance be-.
tween the extremities Of these two wings, by
way Of Bottom bridge. was twelve or fifteen
miles; rs the crow flies, the distance was
very short, but between the two arms Of the
V flowed the Chickahominy. TO unite these
two arms three or four bridges had been com.
memced. only one of which was available on
thu 3lst Vt May. 1t had been built by Cen
bridge and the most advanced point Of the
Federal lines. This is what saved the army
on that day from disaster. The other bridges
were ready, bur could not bs thrown over the
river ut the decisive moment, and that is what
saved the confrderates.
! The whole effort Of the enemy was directed
against the left wing Of the army, which had
it's advanced guard at Fair Oaks station, on
the York River railroad, and at place called
Seven Pines. on the Williamsburg road.
Here the Fedsrals had thrown up redoubt
in a clearing where there were few houses,
and had made abattis to widen the sweep the
of their guns. The rest Of the country was
| entirely covered with woods. The day be-
fore there had been tremendous storm. with
torrents of rain. The roads were frightfnl.
Suddenly. about one o'clock in tho after.
noon. the weather being gray and dull. sharp
firing was heard. The pickcts und the ad-
vance, were rapidly driven in; the woods
around Fair Oaks and Seven Pines swarmel
with the enemy's sharpshoOters. The troops
ran to arms and fought desperately; but the
forces of their adversaries continued to in.
crease, and their losses did not check them.
The redoubt Of Seven Pines was surrounded,
aud it's defenders fell fighting bravely. Colo
ncl Bailey. among others, here met glorious
death on one Of lis guns. When the rcdoubt
was taken, the northern troops fell into some
disorder. In vain did Generals Keyes and
Naglce make a thousand efforts to rally their
soldiers; they were not regarded. At that
moment. they perceived small French bat
TALON, known as the In Fayette Guards.
which had remained in good order. They
rushed to them. put themselves at their head.
charged the enemy. and retook battery.
| The battalion lost fourth of their number in
this charge; but, like true .Frenchmrn. the
same everywhere. they cried out: "They are
welcome to call us the Lafonrchette Guards"
now I" aiuding to taunting nickname that
had been given them.
But Hrintxelman comes to the rescue will,
his two divisions As At Williamsburg. kear.
news division arrives at the fight moment ia
restore the battle. Berry's brigade. Of this
division. composed Of Michigan regiments, and
Of an Irish battalion. advances. firm as wall
amid the dsorderly crowd wavering on the
battle field. and by its example does more
than the strongest reinforcements. We had
lost about mile Of ground, fifteen guns. and
tho cnmp Of the advanced division, that Of
General Casey; but now we held firm. A
sort Of line Of battle was formed. extending
through tho woods, perpendicular to the road
and the railway, and there W. resisted tho re-
pented assaults Of the masses Of the enemy
Our left. protected by White Oak swamp. an
impassabls marsh. was in danger Of being
turned. but our right might be surrounded
At that very time, in fact, strong confeder'
ate column was moving on that side. If Il
could succeed in getting between Bottom
bridge and the Federal troops fighting in the
advance at Savage's station, the entire left
wing would b+ lost. 1t would have no way
Of retreat. and would b. obliged to yield to
overpowering numbers; but just At that mo-
ment. at six o'clock in the evening. new actors
came upon the stage. General Sumner. who
had succeeded in crossing the Chickahominy
with Sedgwick's division. on the bridge built
by his troops, and who. like brave soldier
marched straight through the woods toward
the sound Of the cannon, suddenly arrived on
the left flank of the column with which the
enemy was trying to cut of Heintsslman and
Ksyes. H. planted in = clearing battery
which he had succeeded in bringing with him