The National tribune., 1881-09-17
AT GAINES'S MILL.
SCENES AND INCIDENTS OF THE BATTLE.

J. 5 Slater in National Republican
At the commencement of the Seven Days Fight
upon the Peninsula in June, 1862, the right wing
of the Union Army, consisting of the Fifth Corps
and Pennsylvania Reserves, under command of
General T. J. Porter. lay upon the left or north
bank of the Chickahominy. extending from the
vicinity of Gaines's westward to Mechanesville
or a little beyond. During the progress of the
battle of Mechancsville fought mainly by the
Pennsylvania Reserves on the 26th Of June, the
men of the Fifth corps were busily engaged in
preparing for the heavy work which all seemed
TO instinctively feel was impending and when
late at night the order to fall back from Mechan-
icsville behind the GaineS's Mill stream was re-
ceived by General Porter, the efforts TO dispose of
all impediments TO his movements, by sending the
trains material, sick and wounded Of the corps
10 the south bank Of the ChickahOminy, in the
direction OF SavageS Station, and which had been
begun in anticipation OF possible contingencies
some hours earlier, were redOubled: but daylight
on the 9th found some of the heavy siege pieces
vet mounted in the vicinity of Gaines's and Ho-
gan's plantations, and these being no longer of
use in their then localities. owing to change in
the Union front were eventually dragged off by
having them in charge Meantime, General Bar
nard, of the engineers, whom Mcclellan had left
for that purpose when he returned to his head
quarters from before Mechanicsville accompanied
General Porter to Gaines's, and pointed out, in a
general way. positions for portion of the troops
principally upon the left, near the river. Before
separating, Porter requested him to send over
Immediately detachment Of the engineer bat
talon with axes to fell trees for breastworkS and
TO obstruct the advance Of the enemy, explaining
that, except those with the batteries there were
few axes III the corps. General Barnard left quite
early, agreeing to send the needed assistance and
also to remind Mcclellan of his promise to Porter
of the night before that he would send
sLOCUM's DIVISION
of Franklin's corps to his support On his way
over, however, he met some of Slocum's troops
on their way to the north bank. and supposing
Mcclellan had complied with his promise to
strengthen Porter, and finding the former asleep
on reaching his tent, went to bed without dis
turbing him As a result Slocums promised
movement and which had been entered upon.
was countermanded by some one, so that instead
of reaching the field in the morning, as had been
contemplated he did not arrive until after three
O'Clock D. M and. then only in response to re-
peated and urgent calls from the commander Of
the Fifth Corps. Nor did the axes reach Porter,
through some misunderstanding, until nearly
sundOwn; and then they were without handles,
and some of the Pennsylvania Reserves were de-
tailed to helye them, Porter hoping he might be
able during the night to render his position inn
pregnable to any force the rebels could hurl
against ii. After General Barnard's departure
Porter began Withdrawing from Beaver Dam
creek, and before ten o'clock the corps had Occu
pled the ground previously selected upon which
STAND was to be made. Like that at Mechanics
vile, the new line was formed upon the east side
OF small water-course (Gancss Mill Creek