Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1875-06-30

VOW GENERAL C0NN0R cor H.,
CRL-TCHES.
A STORY OF THE WAX


While visiting the capital Of your State few
weeks ago, saw gentleman toiling along the
street on cratchcs. Seeing him for the first time
since 1864, host Of memories connected with the
last year Of the war revived, and in my imagina-
ton, the battles of the Wilderness Petersburg
campaign were fought over again. l refer TO
Gen. Selden Conner. Do you, Mr.. Editor, and do
YOUR readers know the circumstances attending
the infiction Of that wound? II not, would like
to relate them, though without consulting the
General, for his modesty would forbid such pro-
ceeding. \ 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 enduring record, -that mention of it in your
columns if it has never yet been made, would be
deserved recognition of an instance OF valor OF
as brave and mertolious an officer as ever stood
with his troop in the deadly breach" prompts
these lines.
writer speaks of the "decsive' battles of the
war. The one in the Wilderness does not belong
in the catalogue, yet it mast be rcckoncd as one
of the most bloody and critical. Those who have
read the story of this battle remember that it &C.
Cured 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 (Waren's) while marching from
the Rapidan down the Brock road toward Rich
,nond was at the junction of these roads, attacked
by body of the enemy, that dashed against it
tyom the Plank road on the west. Here the first
blood Of the battle was spilled. The fight was fu
nous, and for time the result seemed doubtful.
l.. -. l. A.,
brigade filed in, and prolonging at either end the
already engaged line, at once closed with the enc
my the roar of musketry was unprecedented in
the history Of the war; so dense was the mass of
small trees that the combatants were generally in
visible to each other; as to seeing much of the en-
emy the conflict might as well have taken place
in the night,-consequeLty the warning lines
were oftentimes very together, and the leaden
rain poured from both sides through the foliage
with awful effect. The dead in some places lay in
line almost as complete as that of a regiment on
parade.
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 onslaughts were over
come, and during the night breastwork was
thrown up along the Brock road, and batteries
planted where the roads meet.
Early the next morning the conflict was re-
newed. The left of our line of battle-squarely
facing the West-was composed of the Second
Corps (llancock's) aided ultimately by the Ninth
(Burnside's). 1t extended along the Brock road,
across the Plank road until it joined Warren's
troops on the right. 1t is with the Second Corps
at the point where it crossed the Plank road, that
this letter has to deal. The incident | recall and
record may at first thought, perhaps, seem trivial
in view of the magnitude of the contest of which
- ,riNo tbap md
vaor no more signally displayed, have decided
the final result Of many battle since history be-
gan.
From the hour the Second Corps reached the
field, Col. Connor's regiment was in the front. In
the morning it was detached from its brigade to
prolong the line of the as5aulting column that
pushed the enemy long way backward. When
the rebound of the enemy which succeeded this
attack was at length stayed, Col. Connors com
mand was again detached,-this time being
signed position north OF the Plank road, close to
and at nearly a right angle with it; it filed gap
between Burnsde's left and the Plank road. In
this position, during the engagement that fol-
lowed, the murderous musketry of the enemy
struck down from its ranks more than one hun
bred and fifty in about as many seconds. At last,
exhausted and out of ammunition, the line at its
right not acting entirely In concert, the regiment
paused in its efforts TO advance, and details were
sent back to fetch cartridges.
1t was now near day; the conflict had been
incessant since day began,-both armies had
surged furously to and fro,-each had been
driven by the other. At this moment the rebels
were at bay all along the line. On the left of the
road the Federal column had for the second or
third time, nearly reached the enemy's works, and
it paused Involuntary for a moment, as If to take
breath and gather strength for final, desperate
attempt to penetrate them.
The pause was fatal to victory that it did not
bring defeat to the [ MON army, let US be thank
full
The enemy, quick to take advantage of weak.
ness, suddenly, in a column, struck obliquely our
left flank, and with musketry poured directly
from their 'front.' threw into CONSERVATION and dis
order the Federal column which comprised nearly
an entire division. The decentralization was com
plete; Lee himself could not have wished it more
so. Six thousand or more panic stricken men en-
deavored to rush back, pell-mell, through the
dense, bulet-scarred forest tn lcket, budding in
great groups like terrified sheep, flags and ban
trailing or abandoned, representatives of fifty
regiments in a single squad, conscious of naught
save utter heplessness, Officers, and many of
them Of rational reputation, in the dehrium of de-
SPAR at the futty OF their efforts to restore order
and power of resistance from chaos
Back, say pell mel as useless for instant
battle as flock of sheep-towards the Brock road
and the open air, through the difficult debris and
bulletlopped trees-iain into the plank road, only
the rebel cannon make that an uncomfortable
bowling ALLEY, just now,-back toward the breast
works got together last night, back toward the
batteries, toward anything or anywhere il so they
can be got ont Of the Pandemonium,-h per-
chance, to the Rapidan! For the rebels are press
ing the bleeding, helpless mob as relcntlessly as
ever maddeded foe pursued its victim. Or, on,
on, steadily with unbroken ranks they come, yells
and jeers and crash of musketry indicating their
progress through the darksome wood; the prize of
perfect victcry seems to them at hand. Confident
ly they press forward thinking to gain the Brock
road with unbroken ranks and unspent ammun-
tion before their foe can possibly rally frcm his
bad condition. 1t was indeed dark moment for
the Stars and Stripes; the tide of battle for ten
minutes or more had been setting most fearfully
against them. What could save the day. Sure
ly, to all human appearances, only something pro-
vdential.
Col. Conuor's remnant of regiment was re-
plenishing itself with ammunition, at the moment
the reverse began. The fact that our main at
lacking column was precpitously retreating, holly
pursued by the enemy, was at once known to the
forces north OF the road, yet to abandon their own
position and 90 to the rescue would invite still
worse, if not universal disaster. The catastrophe
had come so suddenly, and the enemy were adj
vancing SO rapidly that there was little time for
delibeiation. The dispirited column, broken into
fragments, pressing ievershly toward the rear,
presently came dmly in view across the road fol
lowed by the rebel column The Brock road had
been nearly reached by pursued and pursuers In
five minutes more the confederate phalanX would