New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-04-10


b.oams troublesome during the excitement Of battle
nd p,acs them carefully in biz pockstj raiss BIZ
u.ctacles from bis oy 90 and res cm upon tho fore
bend that ho might Gee clasrly objects OF distance;
give hs orders to his subordna'eS, and then gallon
hesllorg into ths thick Of tbs ight,
How many soldiers. as they read and tsik OF bis
doa,h in their camps today, recall the erect fotr'
The snowy bsir streaming in the wind, the flank
face Of that wonderful old man, who,
- f~ l"ln wort e1tlems', ~
| .t. And On th. psfiioas edge Of baisle II
When It RACED"
would ride along their front lines, when they were
falling like grass before tho mower. encouraging
the fesrful, aad shontiDg through tho smoke,
"Stcady, men, steady! Don't be excited. When
you have been .odier as long rs |, you will losrn
that this lie nothing. S!and firm and do your duty y
Fo. a man Of Ga. Ills heslth wss marvellous His
long, Temperate life in the pursVair OF the great
plains and the mountainS-s region Of which he was
enthusiastically tond--resined 10 his vigorous frame
tho elasticity ofboyhood. Upon march he usually
quite wore out hin staff with hard riding. Whom
his lsft the field during tho lss. dayS Of January
there were few oficers Of 2s nnblo and agile as
be-; few who Soald spring upon h0fse moro easily,
or ride with more grsce and endurance.
There was no s.,aining for drairatic effect sb0rt
Sumner. lie never advertised bis exploits or 1T
tempted Napoleonic proclamations and reports. He
sometimes displayed heroisn which would illustrate
the brightest pages Of history but he did 1t unos
tentaiiously, uncoDsciously. Il was she act Of q
soldier quietly performing q soldicr'O duty.
At Fair Oaks On Saturday eveuing, aftor Casey
and Heintzsman he'd catered greatly, and been
driven three or four miles, Sunner crossed the
Chickahominy at snuaezpectod point, and attacking
the enemy vigorously in faux and rear, turned the
tide of battle. On Sunday morning tho fight was
renewed; msny gallant officers fell. G'sn. Howard
lost his arm e. The head Of Lis brigade and our tn
dmph Was gsiaed Ut heavy cost; but Sumner held
his advantage. During slull in the battle, hcClel
Ian crossed the river remained long enough TO write
his famous dispatch cersufing Cescys men, snd then
succeeded 10 returning upon log over tho swelling
stream. Our bridges were swept away; COR army
was thus cut tvYaini aud Sumner, with his three
battered corps, vas lc without hope Of rsosforce.
msnts. The weakened half Of our army was Of the
ssrcy Of the elenay's entire force.
On TIA. Sunday night. aftor making bis disposi-
lions to receive IN attack, Sumner sent for Cen
sedswiek, who commanded his Second Division
one Of his special friends and mos; trusiy soldiers.
"sedgwick," said lie, lyon perceive the S'ua,ion.
Tie enemy will probably preeipi!ate himself upon
] us at d. yght Reseforcements are impossibls; be
can oyerwbelm and destroy US. But at ,his mos,
critical period the country canno. afford 10 have Ms
defeated. The enemy may win victory but we
aaast make /. victory that sbsll ruin him. There
" iu.t one thing foE o. TO DO: we mus, stand here
and die ike men, Impress Is upon your olAeers
tLst we must do this to tho last man-.o the last
rnsn! We may NOT moel again. but We viii al
leas, dis ike solciers." ..,.. .
1 And 50 Sumner wrrng The hand Of his lieutenant
snd bade him farewell. Morning cane; the snony,
failing to discover perous condition, did no,
new tho attack; IN q day q two now bridges were
but, and tie sacrifce was averted. Bot Sumner
was the man TO carry ont Ms resolution 70 tho letter
After Fair Oaks, bere.Ained possession Of house
or our Old Line OF battle; aud the headquarters tents
were brought mp and pitched there. They were
within range Of Rebel battery which swoko The
General and his staff every morning, by dropping
shot and shell al sbout them for two three hoArs
Sumner impored porniisA!on TO capture or drive
Gwsy shat battery, bal was refused, on the ground
that il migat bring GA general engagement. lie
chafed and storned 1t ia the most disgrtesful
thing OF ry fs," he said, that this should 10 per.
mited;" butMCCleIlan, who,e prudence never for.
sock lin, was iusxorabls. Samnef was begged 10
remove his headquarters 70 safer position, but be
persisted In staying there for fourteen days, end al
lac; only withdrew upon peremptOry order from
his superior. .r ....a....
The experience OF that fortnight showsho muob
iron and lead may fly about msn's ears witbou.
harning them. Drring the whole bombsrdmenI
only two persons ut the headquarters were Injured.
The surgeon Of aRbode Island battery was sligh!ly
wounded in he mead by piecs Of shell which flew
into hi, tent and a private, who laid down behind
log for protection, was Instantly killed BY she'll
knocking q splinter from the log, which fractured
lis skull. There were many hairbroadth 'scapes;
but not another MN received scratch.
During tho artillery fighting, the day before An
tetam, raw 5umaor lying upon The grass under
the chad, trees, IN front Of tic brick housc which
served 70. General Headquarters. A few yards dis
tan. IN en- open field, party OF staff officers and
civilians were seddsny siarsled by stray she from
the enopy, which dropped about handred feet
from thorA Ii was followed BY another which fell
still nearer, and tho group broke up and scattered
with greet slscriiy. "Wby," remarked Sumner,
with 20 cuar smile, 4" the shells excite good deal
Of conn'otica among those young gentlemen T. The
idea which seemed 70 amuss him wa5 that anybody
should be disconnected by shells.
Astsn Antis.sm came McCleIlanp most costly and
fats, mistake, Of Nc! renewing tho attack ard nj
terry destsoying the enemy. His srer-swifs spoo-
giats explained it by saying that ell hs corps com
handlers protested against new attack, and urged
that their troops unfit to 60 into battle again
Upon hearing this report, asked Gss. samner If
it was truo Of him. lie replied with emphasis;