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

was sent tc the support OF Longstreet.
Gen. jackson led in person the re-
mainder of his troops against the Fed
eral right. The battle had ragged with
great fury for more than two hours, and
the Federal lines seemed as mistaken
as when it first began. The Confeder-
ates had been repulsed in several at
tempts to force the Federal lines. The
day was now drawing to close and
Gen. Lee decided to end the conflict
by charge of the whole line. The
word "charge," as it passed along the
line, was responded to by wild shout
and an irresistible rush on the
Federal position. The Texas brigade,
led by the gallant Hood, was the first
to penetrate the Federal works. They
were Immediately followed by other
troops, and in few minutes the whole
position was carried and the plateau
was covered with mass of fugitives.
The Federals were in full fight, pur-
sued by the Confederates, who delivered
deadly volleys at every step.
While Gen. Lee was attacking Por-
ter's position at Gaines Mill, Gen. Ma
gruder made a spirited demonstration
against that of Mcclellan, ON the south
side of the Chickahominy. This double
attack served to bewilder Mcclellan,
and caused him to withhold reinforce
ments that would otherwise have been
sent to Porter. This battle is consid-
cred by many as the most stuLbornly
contested battle of the war. 1t is true
that the troops on both sides displayed
great valor and determination, and
proved themselves worthy of the great
nation to which they belonged. Gen.
Porter deserves great credit for the
skillful selection of his position and the
gallant manner in which he defended
it. The victory was complete. When
night closed the Confederates were in
undisputed possession of the field.
The next morning Gen. Lee directed
Gen. Stuart. with his cavalry, supported
by Ewells division of infantry, to seize
the York River abroad. Gen. Nc
Clellan was thus cut off from his base
Of supplies and reduced to the necessity
of retreating by one of two routes-the
one by the Peninsula, the other by the
James river, under the cover of the gun
boats. He chose the latter as the short
est and easiest.
Gen. Lee remained on the 28th on
the north side of the Chickahominy In
observation of Gen. McClellan's move
ments. Instructions were sent at the
same time to Magruder to keep a vigil
ant watch on the Federals and report
any movement that might be discovered
without delay. These instructions were
not as faithfully executed as they should
have been, for the retreat of the FEEDER
ais had commenced on the morning of
the 28th, and was not discovered until
the morning of the 29th, when the Fed
eral lines wore found to be abandoned
by two of Gen. Lees engineer officers,
Capts. Meade and Johnston, although
the Confederate pickets were in many
places less than half mile from the
Federal lines.
Gen. Magruder on this occasion lost
his usual audacity, and with vision of
Austerlitz before him was in constant
expectation of beholding Napoleon
bursting his thin lines and forcing a
passage to Richmond. The safe retreat
of Mcclellan to the James is mainly
due to the advantage thus gained
When Gen. Lee on the morning of the
Goth found that the Federal army
was in retreat he ordered an immediate
pursuit. All of the troops on the north
of the Chickahominy, with the exception
of the divisions of Ewell and Jackson
and Stuart's cavalry, which were to
remain in observation, lest the Federals
might change their line of retreat, were
ordered to recross that stream with the
view of overtaking the retreating col
umns. Gen. Lee, on recrossing the
Chickahominy, found Ma9ruder, Huger
and Holmes preparing to pursue the
retreating Federal army. At II o'clock
the pursuit was commenced, and about
|3 Magruder came upon Summers
corps, which was in position near Saw
ages station. Gen. Heintzelman hav-
ing retired, Summers and Franklin's
corps had to receive Magruder's attack
unsupported. Gen. Sumner held his
position with great obstinacv until
night ended the conflict. This de-
termined stand of Gen. Summers en-
abled the Federal army to make a safe
passage of the White Oak swamp. In
the afternoon of the Goth, Gen. Jackson
was directed to cross the Chickahominy
and relieve Magruder In the pursuit.
Gen. Lee directed the other divisions
OF his army to march by several roads
leading in the direction of Gen. Nc
Clellan's line of retreat, with the view
of striking his column in the flank while
Jackson pressed him in the rear. About
3 O'Clock on the Both, Gen. Lee, with
the divisions of Longstreet and A. p.
Hill, struck the Federal column at
Frazier's farm, and fierce combat en-
sued, which was closely contested IN
til night. Contrary to his expectations,
he was not supported in this attack by
Gems. Jackson and Huger, consequent
ly Gen. Mcclellan again escaped, and
continued his retreat, during the night,
to Malvern hill.
The delay on the part of Gen. Jack
son was very unusual. The explanation
of this delay on this occasion was that,
being greatly exhausted by long marches
and battles for more than a week, he
sought short repose. His staff, out of
mistaken regard for their General. al
lowed him to sleep far beyond the time
he had allowed himself. When he
awoke he was greatly chagrined at the