The National tribune., 1884-05-29

from Us toward Spottsylvania. Then, inter
secting road running northwest, the column
turned up that one aud kept on TO the plank
and beyond, even To the old turnpike and be-
yoad, and massed under the cover of the thick
forest. This march took nearly all day What
were our people doing2 Why, General Lee. as
he knew how to do, with McLaws and Anderson,
kept Meade, Couch and Sl0cum busy and
buster still as soon as Jacksons guns were
heard. first at the Furnace and afterward on
my extreme right.
There was point at the Furnace clearing
where the moving troops of Jackson were seen
by some of Sickles' skirmishers This WAS re-
ported to Sckles, and by him to General
Hooker. A reconnaissance was ordered. Clark
battery, well supported, was pat in position.
and fred upon the Confederate column. This
firing forced the enemy to abandon the road,
and The whole force at first appeared 10 retire
rapidly toward Spottsyiyania.
The 23d Georgia regiment, left behind, de-
ployed toward Siekles TO hold that corner W here
the road changed direction. This resistance
caused Sickles, with Hooker's consent, to use
Birneys entire division, supporting it by other
troops. This command worked along slowly
through the woods bridging streams. sending
out Berdan's sharpshooters as skirmishers and
pressing forward. Considerable resistance was
encountered, but the 23d Georgia was, after 3
while, captured by the sharpshooters-
a NATURAL tONCLbSlDN+
In brief the circumstances seemed to war
rant the conclusion that Lee was moving OIL
probably 20 Orange -house-in retreat.
Assuming this to be the case, Siocum was di-
rected to support Sickles on his left, and
/ was ordered by Captain Moore, of Hookers
staff, to support him on the right with my re-
serve troops while he vigorously attacked the
flank or rear of these Confederates.
as an attack in that direction was to be made
-, I = : H..
general reserve was taken TO support it, I
deemed it of sufficient Importance to 90 myself
| and see what further should be done General
Steinwehr accompanied me. We saw our men
in position on the right Of Birney over two
miles south of US by the way we We're guided,
but not finding the engagement very active in
that quarter re fastened back to Dowdalrs
clearing.
JACKsoNs ATTACK.
We were at the tavern. Our horses had
been unsaddled for their evening feed. There
was no news for me, except what the scents
brought and what General Deyens had fre-
| quently reported, and that was that Lees
| column had been crossing the plank road
/ obliquely between two and three miles ahead,
| and apparently aiming toward Orange Court
| house. Had l then been as familiar with the
/ routes as / am now, might have thought
differently. Still. the probabilities were all in
/ General Hooker said Lee was retreating. He
/ so telegraphed to Sedgwiclz about the time
| of Sickles' attack. He ordered out Sickles'
| and part of Slocum's corps, PleasontOn with
| cavalry and artillery, and all my. general
reserve under that earnest conviction. ]
1 had the same belief. And, further, it was
| already o'clock in the afternoon. With
little more than 200 men at hand, with no
! other troops now nearer than Charlottesville,
| the 18th corps heard the first murmurings OF
| the coming storIn-a little quick firing on the
| picket-line, the wild rushing of wild game into
| their very camps, and almost sooner than it
can be told, the bursting of thousands of men
/ through the almost impenetrabIe thiekets OF
i the WiIderness-and then the wilder. noisieT
/ conflict which ensued. It was terrific gale
/ The rush, the rattle, the quick lightning from
| a thousand points at once; the roar, redOubled
by echoes through the forest; the panic, the dead
and dying, the wounded struggling according
to disability; the frantic efforts of the brave
and patriotic to stay the angry storm One
| may live through asd remember items of those
fatal moments, but no pen or picture can catch
and give the whole.
! For little space the enemies Of Columbia
/ were Unrestrained; they had high hopes; the
| prayers Of StOnewal Jackson, like the evening
| sky, exhibiting a golden cloud Of extraordinary
| brilliancy, were answered in a sudden bright
| flush Of glory just before the darkness of hi;
/ last fatal night.
ITO Be constauedl