The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-06-15
SEVEN PINES.
TIE FIRST BATTLE OF THE CHICKI-
HOMINY.
RecoIlcctions of the Confltct-Conspicu-
ous Heroism of the South Carolin-
ians.
TrRoN An OCCASIONAL CORRESPONDENT
RICHMOND, Va. May H..

Henrico County, o. times eddyins down be-
tween low banks overhung by solemn OLD
trees, and then broadening out into the sum
light over wide intervals of plashy meadows
dingy little stream it is, flowing through
great wilderness of thickets and everglades,
with its deathly silence unbroken save by the
croaking Of innumerable frogs and the rumble
of occasional trains laundering by Its quaking
morasses. Green and stagnant pools breathe
out their poisonous malaria on the murky air;
the gnarled trunks of dead trees lie prone IN
their fetid waters; unclean birds and reptiles
lurk in the depths Of the underbrush. And
yet this gloomy stream has story, before
which the historic rivers of all nations must
lose their charm and do obeisance; for this Is
the one supreme in terrible memories-the
River Chickahomiuy. As the pilgrim plunSes
into the swamps which border it for many
mile-albeit the bright May sunshine was rest
ing on the farms of Mechanicsville- strong
chill came over him as he thought of the thou
sands who had gone into those gloomy depths
in all the pomp and panoply Of embattled lines,
but who never came forth again into the sweet
air of the summer They fell in the Shiny ooze
of the overhowed meadows, and arose no
more.
There is a road running across the edge OF
this wilderness, at some distance from the
river. 1t crosses the railroad track close by
little white house, and intersects the Williams
burg road in clump Of lofty trees. These
trees are the s'Seven Pines" Near the railroad
is the low-lying platform of Fair Oaks Station.
It seems that this crossing road was once
thought to override the swamp, but the invad-
ing waters have lnfringed on Its surface, and
it has compromised by yielding In various
places to their insidious attacks; yet over this
miry way great trains Of wagons once passed,
and heavy batteries cut deep channels with
their fying wheels. Out beyond the Seven
Pines, on May morning, eight years ago, was
beautiful line ofthousands on thousands ofsol-
diers-fve regiments of fPennsylvanians, eight
of New York men, with regiment oil lumber
men from Maine, batteries and baltalons OF
cavalry. Just back of them, in the shadows OF
the pines and beyond. were four more New
York regiments, six of Pennsylvanians, two OF
Massachusetts, and one ofRhode Island, all shell
tered and enwalled by breastworks and ab2t-
tis, with guns in position. and caissons open.
From their distant homes these men had
come, determined to take the recusant city
whose church spires were almost IN slght
over the near forests. Would they meet any
resistance before they entered there Aye,
poor fellows, full we'll they would. thin rib
bon Of skirmishers appeared before their lines;
New York regiment deployed to drive them
back; 1t gave way without halting, for dense
and compact mass of Confederate veterans was
sweeping up the road. Like the foam of
wave that has dashed on cliff, these Federal
skirmishers fell back into the midst of the
army. Like rock that falls in the midst OF
the sea, the gray column struck the main lines
before them BY that terrible conclusion,
great chasm was made in the waves OF blue,
and the spray of defeat flew back away beyond
the river bridges. There was peculiar gran
deur in this attack. from the fact that there were
no flank attacks, no massing of bayonets on
any single point, but along the whole field,
from left to right, the line was struck almost
simultaneously. The flank brigades of Casey's
division fired q few sharp volleys-they had as
we'll have tried to stop the tides of December
| with dyke of peas-the great silent masses
made one long surge, and they were gone.
Hying in wild dismay. There was closer
work in the centre OF the line-it stretched
over yonder quiet fields to the railroad, where
the attacking column was forced to halt before
q powerful redoubt and line of works filled
with men, anu garnished by four field bate
ries. Only for moment, and then, under the
fire OF sheltered thousands, with torn battle
flags slanting forward, and close-clenched
muskets, the line swept on. The Federal can
non changed in rapid succession. Fl ON solid
shot and shell, to case-shot and shrapnel, and
| then to canister. Into the dripping lanes,
which the last round had torn. new men
sprang to face the next one; the flags fiutter-
| inc down from hands relaxing In death were
caught up by other hands and borne forward
| unsteadily, as their bearers fell again and
| again. Regiments shrank into battalions, anu
| then to companies, and then they reached the
abattis. There was crashing among the fallen
trees, as they dashed in; tangled enlacements
of sharp boughs were scaled and threaded,
while grape-shot were splintering them in all
directions. The white smoke Of the cannon
swept around the unwavering forlorn hope,a
the position was carried. 4 wthcring emilia
ding fire on the left silenced the guns with
those who manned them, and the infantry
line was dssipated in an instant and sent
flying across the fields, to take refuge behind
the distant lines Of COUGHS division. The day
was Mon The Federal left was crushed, and
its camps and batteries in the hands of the
Army OF Northern Virginia. In yonder stump
strewn field lit was then fOrcst) Il heavy all
yancng force was beaten back behind Fair
Oaks. Four Federal regiments threw them
selves into the woods across the Williamsburg
road, and got flank fire on the pursuing
lines. They were attacked, fought desperate
ly, and were driven out by crowdng them with
the bayonet. They strcamed away towards
the swamp, and other commands were simi-
lary broken up, until the rcinforccments
hurrying up in the dusk OF evening to
support the Federal positions yet remain
ing, were Obliged to force their way
through this fugitive mass at the point
of the bayonet. The force Of the attack was
now deadened, not by repulse or check, but
by sheer exhaustion and fatigue. a bayonet