The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-01-02

the Ch1ckahominy, which amounted 70
about 1000 men, commanded by Gen.
Fitz John Porter. One division of this
force, about 5000 or 1000 strong, under
the command of Gen. j. b. Reynolds,
occupied Mechanicsville at the extreme
right of the Federal position. The
main body, under the immediate COM
mand of Gen. Porter, was posted near
Cold Harbor or Gaines Mill, about six
miles below Mechanicsville, and con-
necting by bridges with the main body OF
the Federal army south of the Chick
ahominy.
Gen. jackson having bivouacked at
Ashton on the night of the 18th, and
his men eing fatigued by previous long
marches, did not reach his designated
position in line of battle until the after
noon of fhe Goth. This delay was very
embarrassing to Gen. Lee, and greatly
increased the difficulty of executing his
plan of operations, as it exposed his de-
sign to the enemy and allowed him time
to prepare for the approaching storm.
Gen. A. P. Hill, on the arrival of Gen.
Jackson-about 4 o'clock crossed the
Chickahominy and made spirited at
tack en- the Federal force at Mechanics
vile, and compelled it to retire to po-
sition which had been previously pre-
pared beyond the Beaver dam, a small
stream about one mile southeast OF the
village. The way being now open the
divisions of Longstreet and ID. ID. Hill
began to cross the Chickahominy. Rip
ley's brigade, which was the first to
cross, was ordered to support A. p. Hill
in his attempt to dislodge the Federals
from their new position. Failing in
their first attempt to dislodge them,
the approach of night prevented
any other being made to carry their
position. Gen. Reynolds, finding
his position would be turned, retired
during the night to Gaines Mill. On
the morning of the 9th Gen. Lee
formed his army into three columns,
the division of A. p. Hill forming the
center, moved by the min road from
Mechanicsville to Gaines Mill; Long
street moved by road b stween this and
the Chickahominy, while Jackson and
ID. II. Hill moved by road to the lief.
which intersected tho Mechanicsville
road mile and half beyond Gaines
Mill, or Cold Harbor. Stuart, with his
cavalry, covered the left flank of the
army as it advanced. The guide, having
received indefinite instructions from
Jackson, led his column by road that
intersected with the Mechanicsville
road before reaching Gaines Mill. This
brought the head of Jackson's
column against Hills troops. Jackson
being obliged to countermarch in order
to gain the right road caused delay of
several hours In the operations of Gen.
Lee and materially affected his plan of
attack. It was his intention that when
Gen. Jackson reached the Mechanics
vile road he should form his troops in
order of battle and attack the Federal
right while A. L. Hill attacked the cen.
ter and Longstreet the left.
The Federal position near Gaines
Mill was plateau, bounded on the
northwest side by bluff eighty or
ninety feet in elevation, which, curving
to the north and east, gradually dimin-
ished into gentle slope. The plateau
was bounded on its north side by a
stream flowing along its base, whose
banks gradually widened and deepened
until, when reaching the bluff, they had
gained the width of eight or ten and
the depth of five or six feet, thus form
ing a natural ditch. Three lines of
breastworks, rising one above the other,
had been constructed upon the base of
the bluff and its crest was crowned with
artillery. Three lines of Federal in
fantry occupied the bluff and one line
extended along the northeast crest for
more than mile, and batteries of srtil-
lery were in position in the rear of the
infantry. The Federal position was
very strong, and to carry it required the
greatest bravery and resolution
on the part of tho assailants. Gen.
Mcclellan, being now fully aware
of Gen. Lees real design, reinforced
Gen. Porter-increasing his force to
between 10000 and $4,000 men. When
the columns of Hill and Longstreet had
arrived in easy attacking distance Gen.
Lee caused them to halt in order to
give Gen. Jackson time to gain his po-
sition. Waiting until l o'clock Gen.
Lee ordered Longstreet and A. p. Hill
to commence the attack. The Confed-
crate skirmishers advanced and drove
in the Federal pickets. While the co.,
umn of Longstreet advanced by the
road to DR.. Gaines house and that of
Hill by the main Mechanicsville road,
the Federal position was hidden from
Hill by the intervening road. Deploy-
ing several regiments to support his
skirmishers, he pushed them through
the woods. Very soon the Federal line
was developed by heavy fire of mus
kerry. Hills column then deployed
and advanced to the attack on the Fed
eral center. When Longstreet arrived
at Gaines house he was in full view of
the Federal left.
Taking. advantage of an intervening
ridge, the crest of which was parallel
with and about 300 yards from the
Federal lines, he deployed his troops
under its cover Hearing Hills attack,
Longstreet approached to gain the
Federal left. His first line on reaching
the crest of the ridge was met by a
storm of shot aud shell; without falter-
ing it swept down the slope toward the
Federal position in the face of terri
BILE fire of artillery and musketry until
arrested by the wide and steep banks
of the stream at the foot. Being una.
BILE to cross it, this line was obliged to
foil hack Tbaae troopa althouoh