Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1863-05-23

SINGULAR of the war; At the head of fifteen
hundred horse he attacked some squadrons
that were keeping guard near Hanover Court
House, and, having dispersed them, made
successful dash upon the communications OF
the army. His purpose was TO cut the York
River railroad, under cover Of the night; but
in this he did not succeed. But we had the
curious spectacle Of fight between cavalry
and a train of cars, the train literally charg-
ing on the cavalry and the obstacles pla: :ed
on the track, and escaping with few men
killed and wounded. But if Colonel Lee had
not succeeded in destroying the railroad, he
had made brilliant raid ON the stores of the
army, and had afterwards succeeded in escap-
ing without accident. The misfortune was
that such attempts might constantly be re-
nrwcd, and that we had not men enough to
opposc them everywhere at once.
Although amid all these trials the mora'e"
of the army remained excellent, it was impos
sible to be blind to the fact that it was in n
critical position, which must grow worse. Re-
duced by more than a third since Tie opening
of the campaign. dtcmated by sickness,
threatcaed in the rear, it was in the heart Of
n reb,liious country. in face of forces two or
three times as numerous as its own. 1t WIS
impossible to think of remaining for an ind"f-
mite ncriod in face of the enemy, as had been
done during the winter before Washington,
and more recently at Corinth. General Nc
Clcllan ft this. and resolved to act as soon
ms the bridges were fixed. Tho idea at first
occurred to him Of transporting the entire
army seventeen miles from the position it ihrl.
occrnicd, and of abandoning his line OF COM
munca'ion with York river for Il new base of
operations, with the aid Of the Navy, on
James river. If this movement were sue
cesSfulv madr. the chances of Il great battle,
fouch. beside the river, aud in which The gun
boats world protect one Of the ilNnks Of his
army, would be much improved. But this
movement had It's dangers it WAS not easy
TO be accomplished ia presence of th" Who'll"
force of the enemy, not to spea!; OF the moral
Disadvantage cf seeming to retreat.
Tie l.an WIS therefore renouncrd, or at
least ppslponel With American t'nacity
n quality which cqu,ls American iardnrss,
and to n certain extent balances it, it WINS re-
solved that the army should not ia!l back un-
less forced back. II was desired 10 carry out
the operations already begun but still the
wise prrcauton was taken to send to City
Point, on the James river vessels laden with
supplies, munitions, end provisions Of all
kinds. This done, Genreal Mcclellan tried
to provdiSe general action on the ground be-
tween his army aud Richmond. which he lad
pr ,foundly studied in numerous rcconnois-
sancrs. These "Reminiscences had given
rise to many incidents. On one occasion the
general had climbed, with several officers, to
the top of high tree, and seated there each
on his branch, spy-glass in hand, they held n
sort Of council Of war. This occurred with
in Il hundred PAGES Of the cn"my's pichrT.
who could perceive every movement Of the
observers. We dreaded to hear the report of
the rifles Of some of the famous southern
squirrel shots but they showed their maenq-
nimitv. and the reconnaissance ended wihon.
any mishap On another occasion a conled-
crate and a Federal staff appeared Mt the same
time on the opposite banks of the Chicha-
hominy. At once the former ordered up a
hand Of music, which played Il popular air; ;
but hardly was it ended wh,n the musicians
were replaced by a battery. which came mp at
gallop and opened terrible fire. to which
the F,-lerals promptly replied. These exam
nations generally proved that the enemy was
armed with heavy cannon precisely at the
points where we would least have wished
them.
At last after many trials, the action was
begun. On the 25l of june, Hooker was
ordered to advance mile to large clearing
on the direct road to Richmond. 1t was
calculated that this movement would bring on
n general resistance by the confrdrratcs,
which would renew the battle Of Fair Oaks.
on the same ground, hut with bridges firmly
built, and, consequently. with the co-oprra.
tion of the whole army. If the challenge
were not accepted, still we should have made
a step forward; another would be made the
next day, and 50. by degrees we should reach
Richmond. We trusted to our stars for the
result. Hooker. mounted on white horse.
which in the woods made him visible to all,
and especially to the enemy. advanced gal
lantly. The space of ground which he was
to occupy was taken. retakcn, and finally oc.
cupied by his division, with loss of four or
five hundred men. His two brave brigadiers.
Grover and Sickl,S, gave him the most encr-
getic assistance; but during the fight serious
news had arrived. Deserters. fugitive slaves,
even the'telegraph from Washington, general.
ly so sober in its information. agreed in sta
ting that numerous rc;nfpicpments had Just ar
rived at Richmond. Beauregard, morcov,r
left disengaged by the evacuation of Corinth,
and the suspension of military operations in
the West, had, at the decisive hour. brought
the aid Of his military capacity, and. more
than all. of his prestige, to the cause Of slavery
u will not reckon among the csuses which might
have affected this morale the disagrceae snectacle Of
the midst Of the camp and in which, Specializing both
the losses of the army and on family affection, he
promised to embam the dead and send them home