The National tribune., 1881-09-17


was not horse nor men enough left to move
them Midway between the timber and the new
line, upon the bank of small rivulet, exposed to
the rays ola burning sun,
SAT A SOLDIER
of the Ninth Massachusetts Irish regiment.
hatless, coatless, and smoking a short-stemmed
black pipe. He was dabbling his feet, which
had been struck by shell and made to resemble
two bloody spOnges, in the water turning it to
bright crimson. AS little group of those who
had stood by the battery passed him, he called
out to one of them, "Arrah, Cap! Did yes iver see
billed Irishman the lOikes NV me?" The squad
of men passed on, leaving one after another dead
or wounded upon the field, until at last, they
reached the new position, but with less than half
the number of those who had started from the
edge of the wood. The day seemed lost alto
gether. Porter had called for additional help
and anxiOusly looked for it, He sent the Count
de Paris to hasten forward the needed succor
The Count rode across the field and down toward
the valley. On the very crest of the hill, where
it was almost certain death to linger he turned
rose in his stirrups,
MADE GRACEFUL SALUTE
to his chief and disappeared About sundown
French and Meagher the former with the Fifty
second, Fifty-seventh, and Sixty-sixth New York,
and Fifty-third Pennsylvania, the latter with the
SiXty-third, Sixty-ninth, and Eighty-eighth New
York Irish BRIGADE arrived.
The appearance of two fresh brigades enabled
the Union commander to reconstruct his line.
which he did by carrying out the formation al
ready begun upon the high ground overlooking
and commanding the bridges. Sykes, whose front
had remained unbroken, was drawn in from Cold
Harbor, and, facing nOrthward, was Joined on his
left by the remnants Of Morells troops, facing
westward. French and Meagher were in the val
ley; Slocum's men wherever their strength was
most required While taking part in the move
ments indicated
THE COLOR SERGEANTS
Of the Thirteenth New York of MOrell's division.
both wounded, became separated from their reg-
ment In attempting to rejoin it they were in
tercepted by body Of rebels coming up the bed
OF deep but narrow ravine They were ordered
to surrender and started first to the rear but were
cut OFT by the enemy rapidly approaching from
that direction Just when it seemed as if them
selves and cOlOrs must become captured prop
erty,' an artilleryman scrambled up the opposite
slope. HellO" shouted one of the sergeants
" where do You belOng?" "Grifins battery came
back the reply. Then take these colors and give
them to the Thirteenth New York or be id to
you" The flags were thrown across, gathered up
and borne to their proper owners, just as the
geants were made prisoners of war. At nine
O'Clock the fighting ceased and found the Union
troops nearly half mile in rear of their position
of the morning and with loss of about 5000
out Of 33 1000 men Including the reinforcements
from over the river engaged.
GOOD GENERALSHIP
and the most desperate fighting alone saved the
Union Army from utter overthrow; for had Per-
ter been driven from his position the troops upon
the opposite bank Of the river would have been
at the mercy of the foe
Both officers and men are deserving of the
greatest praise for the steady courage displayed
throughout the entire day and from among the
former without in the least intending to detract
from the credit due to Others we mention in pass
ing, the names of Tidball, whose battery upon
the extreme right virtually did the duty of brig
ade, and of COlOnels McQuade, TiltOn, Marshall.
Sweitzer, Stockton, Roberts Second Maine). Rob
erts First Michigan), Warren, Simmons, Cass.
Woodbury., Rice, Chlds, Varney Gilbert, Duryea,
Bendix, Campbell, Richardson Kirk, Rowland
Buck, Pratt Jackson Fifth Maine). Gardiner.
Bartlett, Adams Cake, Seavers, Myers. Town.
Stone (Of the Pennsylvania Rifles, Sickell. Gal
lagher, Jackson, McCandless, Magilton, Hays,
Kirk Taggart (Of the Reseryes)-in fact all the
generals and field officers well as their subOr-
dinates, proved themselves gallant soldiers The
regimental commanders handled their men and
the men Obeyed their officers like veterans as they
were. The artillery, too, proved the efficiency of
that arm of the service in every respect: and the
of Tidball, Weed Edwards, Easton,
Kern, Hyde, HeXamer, Voegeleer, Smead, Martin,
Allen, and Cooper cannot be commended too
highly. The final result OF the battle proved
the vaor, discipline, and staying qualities of the
troops. For four hours
THE FIFTH CORPS
had alone withstOod the assaults of Lees 10000
and, aided by Slocum French. and
Meagher, had virtually held at bay Jackson,
Longstreet the two Hills, Whiting Magruder,
Holiness Huger, and Lawton with their veteran
soldiery, until darkness put an end to strife The
enemy suffered terribly, their casualties being
considerably in excess of those upon the Union !.
side but the loss of officers among Porters troops
was fearful, and the list of killed and wounded
shows scores Of other names worthy of mention
for conspicuous gallantry. Among the killed were
CoOnels Black, McLane and GOsline of the Sixty .
second, Eighty third and Ninety y-tifth Pennsyl-