The National tribune., 1881-09-10

WHcuCe zoe were e& stretched a uelQ O1
WHEAT READY FOR THE HARVEST.
Some of it nearest us had been already cut
Gazing out over the sea of waving grain rip
pling beneath the touch Of each passing breeze
up to the very breast of the high forest wall
whose dark green foliage formed a fitting back
ground to the picture, one could not help being
entrapced. The sky, so high above, and so blue
was lecked with light, ieecy, ,silvery white Clouds
which cast soft shadows upon the scene below,
and the hum of insect life impelled to drowsiness
and called up cherished visions of home-Of the
old farm house. the meadow, the Orchard-where
some of us had been wont to while away the hot,
sultry incoming" time-the fertile fields, the
silent woods filling each heart with tender
thoughts and 1ongngs for the dear ones far way.
At six o'clock the profound stiffness was rudely
brokeM. The enemy opened with all his available
artillery upon the Fifth Corps and COuch's divis-
ion, which latter had been reinforced by Cald-
wells brigade of Richardson's division, ordered
to report to General Porter, and by him sent to
the right.
At about this time an accident occurred which
sent chill of horror through the veins of all who
witnessed it. Weedens Rhode Island battery,
Lieutenant Waterman in command, was posted
upon commanding position across ravine, and
some seventy five or hundred yards to the left
of the Thirteenth New York. When the heavy
siege-guns opened fire from the rear, owing to
either bad range or defective fuses the first two
or three shells burst directly the Union line
| One huge mass of metal struck in the very midst
of the battery mentioned and exploded with ter
rible effect. Two men were killed outright, six
severely wounded and several others slightly in
! iured, and the horses of Lieutenants Waterman
and Hunt disabled The effect was more depress-
ing upon the spectators than would have been the
slaughter of half regiment in open fight with
the enemy.
About half past six o'clock the battle began in
dead earnest. The enemy had determined upon
ATTEMPTING TO CARRY THE HEIGHTS
held by Porter and Couch by storm. Pouring out
of the heavy belt of timber to the westward, under
the covering fire of their artillery, marching en-
masse brigade after brigade pushed over the in
tervening open space in front of our batteries.
Shot and shell greeted them with deadly effect; :;
grape and canister and fearful vOlleys of mus
kerry swept their ranks as they dashed on like
the waves of the sea. Great rents were opened
by the flying missiles hurled at them, and whole
companies seemed to be blotted out of existence
in an instant of time by the huge shells from the
Galena and the Jacob Bell, lying in the James
below the bluff; but with a courage worthy of
better cause they held their way, in some instances
up to within less than fifty yards Of the death
dealing enginery of war There appeared to be
no end to their numbers. Fresh troops were con-
tinually being sent forward, and about seven
o'clock General Porter, finding himself hard
pressed, especially upon his extreme left sent
Smead's and two other batteries below the main
road from Richmond running the southern
edge of the hill with instructions to prevent the
enemy from passing the point at which they were
posted, even though the Union soldiers compelled
to fall back were subjected to their fire. This was
a wise precaution, for had the left been turned
nothing could have saved the Army of the Poto-
mac from utter rout Porter at the same time
dispatched an aide to General Sumner short
distance on the right requesting the loan of two
brigades to strengthen the
RAPIDLY WEAKENING LINES
of Couch and himself The messenger found the
commander Of the Second Corps, with several
other generals, in Of their troops. When he
delivered Porters request, Sumner read it aloud,
and seemed inclined at first to refuse, evidently
doubling the wisdom of so far weakening his own
front even though the situation upon the left
demanded immediate reinfOrcements General
Hentzelman, who was lying upon the grass, when
he caught the drift of things, sprang to his feet,
exclaimiHg, " By Cd If Porter asks for help he
wants it. and Tll send him brigade" and he did
send that of Sickles, which just before dark was
moved into action on Couchs right. Sumner
sent the Irish brigade under Meagher, which was
utilized upon the extreme left General Porter
placed himself at the head of one of Meaghers
regiments and led it forward. Suddenly body
of the enemy appeared not two hundred yards
distant The general and several members of his
staff were between the two lines. The Irshmen
halted delivered two well-directed voleys into
the rebels, who fled and were pursued into the
timber from whence they had issued. As by a
miracle the officers remained unharmed.
The grand charge of the Conederates at NAL
vern is worthy of more than passing notice; it
is worthy, as an exhibition of manly daring, of
Immortality. We have said that in front of the
Union guns between them and the woods for a
portion of the distance from right to left extended
field of growing wheat, and which, beneath the
rays of the declining sun, undulated and shone
like of liquid gold.
We have some grand sights-some glorious
and sublime spectacles in our day, and have ex-
perienced some thrilling mOmentS-but never
have we beheld anythin0 TO cOmDare in Sublimity