Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-06-13

While visiting the capital of vonr State a
few weeks ago, l saw q gentleman toiling
along the street upon crutches. Seeing him
for the first time since 1864, host of memo
ries connected with the last year of the war
revived, and, in my Imagination, the battles
Of the WILDERNESS Peter sburg campaign.
were fought over again. refer to Gen.
Sclden Connor. Do you, Mr. Editor, and do
your readers know the circumstances attend
ing the infliction of that wound? If not,
would like TO relate them, though with
out consulting the General, for his modestv
would forbid such proceeding. \ conviction
that the part he took in the engagement in
which he received the wound that bears so
heavily upon him, should be placed on en-
during record,-that mention of it in your
columns, fit has never yet been made
would be deserved recognition of an in
stance Of valor OF as brave and meritorious
an officer as ever stood with his troop in the
deadly breach prompts these lines.
\ writer speaks of the "decisive" battles OF
the war. The one in the Wilderness does no,
belong in the catalogue, yet it must be reckon
ed as one OF the most bloody and critical
Those wE0 have Rad the story OF this battle
remember that it occurred at and adjacent to
place where Two roads cross-the Plank
road, running east and west and the Brock
road running north and south. One of our
army corps (Warren's) while marching from
the Rapidaa down the Brock road toward
Richmond, was at the Junction of these roads,
attacked by body of the enemy. that dashed
against it from the Plank road on the west.
Here the first blood of the battle was spilled
The fight was furious and for time the re-
suit seemed doubtful. This was the nucleus
OF the battle; brigade after brigade filed in,
and prolonging at either end the already en-
gagged line at once closed with the enemy
the roar of musketrv was unprecedented in
the history of the war; so dense was the mass
OF small trees that the combatants were gen
orally invisible to each other; as to seeing
much Of the enemy, the conflict might as we'll
/ have taken place in the night.
! the warning lines were ottentimes verv near
/ together, and the leaden rain poured from
! both sides through the foliage with awful eff
/ ieet. The dead in sonie places lay in line
almost as complete rs that Of regiment on
! parade.
i 1t was for The Brock road that the rebels
were struggling; had they obtained it the
history Of the campaign would have been
widely different from what it is. But their
/ Onsiaughts were overcome, and during the
night breastwork was thrown up along the
Brock road, and batteries planted where the
roads met.
Early the next morning the conflict was re-
newed The left of onr Gna of fhat,la--so,aro.
" facing the West-was comnosp1 of tha Soc.
ond Corns (IIancock'.1 aid.d nl,;matolv hy
,h. Ninth lPnrnsida,E u ev,.nlnJ a,or1
the Brock road. across the PLANK rnad nn,il
it joincd Warren's troops on the right. l. is
with the Second Corps at the noint where il
crossed the Plank road. that his lettnr b,.
to deal. The incident recall and record NAV
! at first thoucht, perhaps. seem trivial in view
| of the magnitude of the contest Of which !,
was a part, but trfes no greater than ,h;s
and valor no mere signally displaved. have
| decided the Anal result of many y b,ttIe sircn
| history began.
! From the hour the Second Corps reached
the field. Col. Connors regiment was in the
front. In the morning it was detached from
/ its brigade to plolong the line Of the assault
ing column that pushed the enemy long way
backward When the rebound OF the enemy
which succeeded this attack was at length
STAYED, Col Connor's command was again de.
| tached this time being assigned position
north OF the Plank road, close to and at near
ly alright angle with it it filed gap betw cen
Burnsdes left and the Plank road. In this