The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-01-10
GEN. 0. 0. HOVARD'S "REMINISCENCES.
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the rain fell in torrents, but about noon the
clouds broke away, and during the remainder
sf the day the heat was oppressive"
PoRTER's ADVANCE.
III was indeed s wonderful rain, which was
not yet over. Our own camps were almost
submerged, and it win be noticed that all the
tributaries to the Pamunkey and the Chicka-
hominy between whose banks the greater por
fion Of the army rested, were greatly swollen.
But. notwithstanding this fearful weather aud
hardest marching, still Porter set forth toward
the north from New Bridge, with General
Emory and his cavalry ahead. Heeasily drove
before him all Confederate guards and pickets,
capturing some Our comrades can see the
soldiers through their own experience trudg-
inc along with the rubber blankets wet and
shiny around their necks
Iseraans sharpshooters followed the cavalry
or Bensan's horse artillery; then in order We're
the lsf 81 aud Cd brieades Of Morel, each
briaaae cseor1ing a battery Of artillery; The
active column pursued by q line Of ammunition
wagons. half mile long, wei guarded by
prop1r detail.
y hen General Emory begins 70 have serious
resistance, General Porter sends him Colonel
JohnsoM's 25ih New York. This regiment
appears 70 have kept up with the fresh cav
alry's brisk walk and wideaed the interval be-
tween the advance and the main column.
As soon as the cavalry came near the cross
roads q iit;le 10 the east OF teakes Station,
heavy skiriDishing in front began. From Dr.
Klnneys house, probably little TO the night
OF the r0a6 on which they were moving. a part
OF Branch's insurgent force. probably a regi-
ment, was concealed. A terrible FIRE seems to
have caught the 25ih New ork after the cav
airy had passed 10y, and quick charge from
the vicinity Of this house cut of TWO companies
OF the 18th. and they acre hurried away as
prisoners.
These right-hapd fragments Of the Cenfed-
craze Branch. which were giving Emory
and Colonel johnson 50 much trouble, General
Porter quickly encountered, sending against
them, besides the persistent Esaery and Ben
sons horse artillery. Bultef.iei&'s tired brigade
Gad Bcsd sn's men. They worked around left
ward under The cover Of some trees aud then
ckarzed northward across a wheat-ield III
rapid, excited style forgetting for the time, as
men and children do, al their WEAKNESS.
CD.onol Lansing with the 18th New York,
followed up the charge and captured d twelve
ponder howitzer near Dr. Ainney's house.
Now, Is the enemy, probably an advanced
guard, were evidently making for Hanover
Court House. SO lar as Porter o. Morell could
divine, Porter hurried on his whole force in
pursuit, hoping that with Warren coming 10
Hanover straight from the cast he might there
destroy or capture Branch's main body.
MARTISDALE IN TIGHT PLACE.
srartinGale, meanwhile, with two regiments
and some cavalry, having followed a retiring
skirmish toward the left and beyond the Viz
ginia Central Railroad, was suspicious that
there was something In that region besides
slzirmisbels. Being in charge of the rear
guard and following Porter's lead, he delayed
8 little al the junction Of the wagon roads.
with only the % Maine al hand, while the I'D
Massachusetts swept around TO the railroad
and passed of noTthward toward Hanover
Court House.
Whilst alone with this small regiment he
ascertainea that the rebels whom he had pre-
wionsly driven TO the woods were approaching
from the direction Of Peakes Station" He at
once brought back the remnant Of the 25th
New York, not yet far on the way, and for
tunately was able to stop the 44th New York
and Martins battery, which had been left
back some miles to guard cr0ss-road, but now
in the nick OF time had arrived.
AS the enemy in force drew nearer TO Mar
tindale, coming from below from the south
west vidctte and a cavalry officer came TO
him hurriediy and reported large force APP
preaching rapidly. The I'd Maine changed
front handsomely and at once 10 face the new
danger, marched across the New Bridge road
I'm line OF hattle, and instantly covered its
frant with tie proper skirnlish line.
The 18th New York was sent into a ravine
further to the Jeff, deployed, and ia like man
ner pei in readiness, and Martins battery, ar
hanged ready to fire, between them, nearer the
I'd Maine.
AS these Union warriors looked straight to
their front they saw a clearing, a house. an
0ut-baiiding. door-yard and garden" West Of
the garden and yard was swampy piece OF
ground; beyond and behind the whole were
railroad.
TEE SCENE OF TIE FIGHT.
The moving confederates soon came out in
plain view III front OF the dOor-yard and gar
den and "depI0yed IN line Of battle" They
approached nearer and nearer, 10 within some
Eve hundred yards, and as individuals Of the
2d Maine began TO skirmish briskly, while
their main line fixed their bayonets, and Mar
tins battery opened q rapid FIRE, the enemy
halted and began TO fire voileys by battalion.
These were almost harmless. FOR Roberts men
were down on their faces The strong re-
Spouse, brisk and prompt, from our front
caused an instant retreat Of this rebel force,
and vigorous attempt TO gain ground to our
left, and 10. as the Gath New York opened on
this party hot fire. another force was seen by
Eartindaie of TO his right, working around
nnder cover Of the enciTcling forest. Martin
dale's aid. Lieutenant Davis, did what few
doing: he gathered large number OF strag-
Rlers and guards Of ambnlances. He found
among them men from the 9Th and POD Massa.
chuseSts and the zth Michigan He organized
them at once and with them for time quite
efectnally protected this little rear-guard Of
General Martindale against this threatened
Eank movement. Soon the 18th New York
only half mile away, were returned, tool
the place Of the I'd Maine, which was nov
marched Off not 10 rest, but TO support the
busy "stragglers" of Lieut. Davis and Their.
resist gradually accommodating force of tb'
enemy. Roberts says about this: "And 1--WE
had just time to get outside hedge-fence OF
fhis side Of the woods, when, through tn,
fence muzzle met mEzzle the fighting waxin,
warn. In this position I remained ono full
hour, holding the enemy in check" The 25tl
New York being now SO small. and its coione
being disabled by wound, and being ex
posed 70 sharp flank FIRE, was obliged to retir
10 get some slight cover, and the cannonecr
were forced 10 leave their guns. Still tn
enemy did not succeed in capturing them
The Oath New York calamity kept their "a
vine on the left, and the I'd Maine the wood
and fence on the right, bat the center wa
broken