The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-01-16

He went to work with great zeal. In
haste he ordered all troops from the inte-
rior to Richmond, among them the corps
of General Stonewall Jackson. All hospi-
tails were cleared of the sick, and prepara-
tions were made for ten thousand wounded
soldiers. Artillery and ammunition trains
passed along the streets in day time and at
night, whilst aids and other officers gal
loped through them in hot haste with their
orders. Troops arrived daily, yea hourly,
but without music and in silence. In So
lemn stiffness these ragged and almost
starved masses went through the streets,
but the fire in their eyes showed that they
meant to defend their liberty or die.
On the 25th of June there was once
more great council of war. Whatever
of great names the confederate army had
were there, almost without exception.
There stood General Lee like q rock, his
glad eyes looked over the assemblage of
his companions, for every one of whom he
had task ready. Thoughtfully his eyes
glanced from one to the other of the Gen
erals, as if he wanted to fix the image of
every one in his memory, fearing that he
should never see again a number of those
assembled before him. Near him rose
the chivalric figure of Colonel Baldwin !;
to his left stood Jackson, always thought
full, the General whom his soldiers adore.
He moved his sword hither and thither as
if the quiet room was too narrow for him,
and as if he was longing to be again at
the head Of his troops. Further on stood
quietly, arm in arm, the two Hills, whilst
old General Wise vehemently gesticulated
before them. Further to the right group
was formed by Generals Huger, Long
street, Anderson, Whiting, Ripley, Branch
and Magruder When all the Generals
were assembled, Lee laid before them the
plans, and in short, determined manner
indicated to every one the part he was
expected to perform. The plan was fine
ly elaborated, energetic action only was
needed to ensure success certain and
splendid. When the council was over,
all shook hands and fastened to their diff
terent corps in order to commence active
operations.
A look at the positions of both armies
would show the advantage to be on the
side of the Southern army, for the hostile
General Mcclellan had his army extended
too far on both sides Of the Chickahomi-
ny, and could only with great difficulty
and loss Of time execute his movements,
on account of the many ravines. His
front extended more than twenty miles,
and reached in semi-circle from James
river to Ashland and Richmond. Whilst
part of his army had crossed the Chick
ahOminy he took position with the main
army on the north side of the Chicka-
hominy from Meadows Bridge to Bot
toms Bridge. The heights on the river
were fortified, SO that his army, notwith-
standing its infinite extension, had fine
line of defence.
On the morning Of the 26th June the
troops took their positions. Jackson has
tened in forced marches to Ashland, in Or
der to commence then the outfanking of
the hostile army. Arrived there, the enc
my's small force retired before his van
guard, and moved without loss of time to
Hanover Court House, where he directed
forward the brigade Of General Branch,
between the Chickahominy and Pamunky
rivers, in order to establishsthe junction
with Gen. Hill, who had to cross the river
near Meadow Bridge. Gen. Hill took the
offensive with much bravery, and COM
menced his operations against the small
village of Mechanicsville. The enemy
posted here offered a courageous resistance
All attacks were made with such vehe-
mence and resisted with such GOODNESS as
to excite admiration. In vain Hill l. sent
his aid to Gen. Branch, who had to sur
mount so many difficulties from the nature
of the ground, that he could reach his po-
sition before Mechanicsville only after
nightfall had made an end to the fight
With the gray of the morning ON the 9th
our artillery opened terrible fire against
the enemys front, so that when he saw al
SO his right wing attacked by the brigade
of Gen. Branch, he gave up his position
before Mechanicsville, and went fighting
down the river into his second defensive
position.
Justat this moment, when we had crossed
the Chickahominy, Gen. Longstreet S splen-
did corps d'a,9uee arrived, veterans of the
army OF the Potomac, and also the divis-
ions of Gen. Hill II. Immediately all the
divisions were ordered to advance. The
divisions of Hill H., Anderson, and Whit
ing formed the center and moved to Cold
Harbor, whilst jackson, Hill l., and Long
street formed the left wing and marched
down the Chickahominy. Magruder, who
commanded the right wing, had orders, on
account of the marshy ground, to remain
on the defensive. Gen. Wise took COM
mand of Fort Darling, on James river.
All these warlike offensive movements,
as well as the two preceding fights, must
necessarily make it clear to Gen. McClel..
Ian that we intended to change the posi-
ton in Richmond, so inconvenient for us,
and to get more range for our operations.
What he then had to do was to order i'm
mediately the corps of Gen. Mcdowell,
which lay inactive before Fredericksburg
during four months, to make demonstra-
ton on the road to Richmond. BY this
event the flank march Of General jackson
would have become impossible. But Gen.
Mcclellan had deceived himself in the
character of Gen. Mcdowell, for in spite
of all information of our combined opera
tons, he remained quiet and impertubra-
bic in his safe position, and exposed Gen
eral McClellan's army, which had suffered
SO much from disease and desertion, to the
heavy blows of orr attac ks.