Daily national Republican. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1862-1866, 1864-10-03
DEPARTURE OF COLONEL JOHN W
aHAEHER. -


.r sHAFFER.
Col. John ". shaHer, who, alter three years
Of service in the army, len Old Point yesterday
afternoon, for bis home at Freepori, Illinois.
He was accompanied by his interesting family.
His absence from the army Of the James will
be missed. His kindness, his obllgipg dispo-
sItiOn, his eharitable nuture, the mild way In
which he received persons In trouble, his faith
eriyfendcrness towards the younger officers
these tralts and other good traits-his Integrity
and his rare wlsdom-all these elements In his
character rendered him a favorite In the army.
For wear back he has been Gen. Buffers chief
OF STAFF and confidential adviser and friend;
and he was worthy Of the place and the high
honor and distinction which such relation
means with such man as the commander OF
the army OF the James.
It is known that Col. ehaffer has been for
some time In delicate health, and such has
been the nature of his lllness, that he rendered
his resignation more than year ago; but II
was not until the 10Th Of last month, that the
department would consent to part with his
services. He Is now out of the army, accord
ing to "the regulations" but his heart is In II,
and with his chief. large crowd was in at
tendance to see him of In the Baltimore boat,
and Colonel Roberts, the commit andipg officer
at the fortress, ordered out the post band. to
play a farewell. Indeed the whole parting was
uncommonly touching. II Is said to have been
equally keen at the front, where the General
thanked him in words that cannot be recalled
for his fidelity to him. The General charac:
terized him as an officer who had thought OF
his duty to his country fret, his duty TO his
General second, and his duty TO hinSelf last
This was Just complaint.
Col. Shaffer was accompanied by Mrs. Shafier
and their three lovely children. Gen. John W..
Turner, who has been so dangerously Ill, but
who is now out of danger and on the mending
Ipr nd mi haF al ali wi
also Of the party. Gen. Turner goes TO Chicago,
| to his fathers home, In search of rest and
| strength. We trust he will hnd both. We
| shall mics ese old friends but so II is In this
| miserable world-the truest intimacie5 are
earliest interrupted, the best children 60 first,
/ and all the pretty women have the consump-
| ton or bad temper.-Asp Regime, 3Oh.
The Capture of the Rebel Works n,
Chspin's Blur
A distinguished officer engaged In the fghl
on Thursday last at Chapin's Bluff, and wound
ed while at the head of his command, writes al
follows;
BALTIMORE, oo' ober 1, 1864.
Mcsrs Editors Binmore american:
| SIKs Observing some errors In an article
copied by you from the Washington Star, rela
ave to the movements of the army on Thurs
day last, / desire 10 make few corrections.
The corps commanded by Major Gen. Ord Il
the 18th, and with two small divisions h
pushed on towards Richmond, fighting his wa.
and driving in the enemy's front line, until b
, reached Chapin's Bluff, where the rebels hav,
constructed heavy works for several mile
around, with their gunboats and monitors II
) the rear and below them.
. The garrison of the rebel works, at frs
4 small, had been strongly reinforced, and N
engagement Immediately commenced on tn
arrival OF our men In front OF the works, whicl
O.. ~. lE..t.I
s Ord's corps carrying the salient or outer lin
of the main work, and from thence swinginj
around inside Of and in the rear Of the Othe
; portion Of the works, driving the enemy out |,
e confusion.
Before, and while this movement was in pro
gress, heavy reiuforcements had been sent \
A the relief of the enemy from Richmond, bu
they could not withstand the fire of our brav
&c men of the 18th corps, and had to retrace thei
l. steps TO whence they started.
Every brigade commander OF the divisio
which so creditably executed the work aboy
mentioned was placed horS du combat. Gen
y Burnham was killed, and Coils. stevens an
Donohue wounded, though not seriously
{ Some Eve hundred officers and men were kille
and wounded. No men ever behaved MOI
d gallantly.
.e The works taken were the strongest SO Il
ie seen around Richmond, and arc those whiC
,e Mcclellan tried in vain to take during his can
, paign. Our loss shows the hard fighting
the enemy, who made q most stubborn resis
ance. Our success places Gen. Grant in po
session ofa very important stronghold, whic
II will be of great consequence to the success
Ie his operations for the reduction Of the reb
a capital.
N Major General Ord received flesh wound
the right leg while personally superintendil
J.. the movements Of his Corps in the field. 7
" =. him and the gallant men of his command Il
" much praise cannot be accorded for the gu
:. cess of the portion Of the plans entrusted
W. his skill for their execution.
Gu We have secured a strong foothold ne
% Richmond, and General Grant will, there is I
dsubt, be able to keep it. Heavy lighting W
still going on.