The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1884-05-15
GLENDALE.
Kearny's Report of That Desperate Battle-6enersl
RobinsoR's Gallantry.

Kearny's Report of That Desperate Battle-6eneral
RobnsoRs Gallantry.
AT the instance of a subscriber, who thinks
that Kearny's division and particularly Gen.
eral John c. Robinson's brigade, did not receive
credit in our columns for the gallant part they
bore in the battle OF Glendale, June 80, 1862,
we print the following official report by Gen.
Kearny on that engagement:
HEADQUARTERS. Sd DIVISION, Sd CoRPs,
HARRIsoN's LANDING July 6, 1852
SIR: have the honor to report as follows the
moves and battle OF the last week:
On the 2sti of June at midnight, I received
orders 10 prepare to retire from Fair Oaks This
executed at a M, regularly aud without
Doyance. the enemy appearing with distrust as we
lefi. without pressure. My division then took up
its position IN tire very strongly fortified camp
savage's- In the afternoon we received orders
again TO retire across the White Oak Swamp. his
executed by the back (the MILD road. Some artil-
lery and my 10th Indiana MarksInen held this
place for several hours, after the retreat COM
meDcea. and manned the works on the right Of the
road, for the purpose OF preventing the enemy
from hurrying Colonel Brown. 10Th Indiana
volunteers. greatly distinguished himself His
regiment lost some killed and wounded, the
enemy sheiled the works toward the last and par
ties Of his advance and our rear-guard became
engaged.
Fearing lest the roads to the White Oak Swamp
bridge and Brgcketts Ford might be unduly cogged
with troops. proposed crossing at Jordan's Ford
three miles below my camp had reconDoliered
in the morning. and found that the enemy in
force the Central road. but not the Charles
City road and did then seem be on the look
out General Robinson TO my reireat
and WAS cautioned against the eneny's troops
irving from across the Williamsburg road. Cen
eFaI Birney- with his brigade, WAS to lead the
march. General Berry to follow.
IL WIS found, after crossing the double of
the swamp az Jordan, that our moves had been
expected, and IL being predetermined whether the
relative position OF the Zines of retreat justified
fun engagement. after successful =kirnish of the
advanced picke.s and on learning that the road
the
and proceeded by that ford General BeFFy's
brigade, however. finding Fishers Ford unob-
stFucIed. passed by that route.
This same night. by 10 D. M. the whole division
was encanlped on and near the Charles City road
al point subsequently during the battle occupied
! In the morning Of the seth June drew up in
very strong position the Charles City road.
Subsequently. was assigned 70 guard the New
Market road and country thence 10 the Charles
City road space Of near two aud half miles
In taking up my line OF battle, General Robin
son. with the LIST brigade, posted the left;
+ his left the New Market road supporting Thomp-
sons battery. General Birney divided the distance
with him TO the Charles City road. General Berry
was in reserve. General Slocnm was to the right
OF my line OF battle; General Mccall 10 its left
The enefny's attack commenced on General
Mccall at about D. Erl-; al about % m ii seemed
I il did not seem 10 TO be unduly threatening,
( further than from the shape Of his line-its LEFT
4 greatly refased-it had disadvantages for myself.
although advantages for those to whom the enemy
must present lis flank IN making attack on him.
THE ATTACK ON REARNY.
At p. m the attack commenced on my line.
I Wits determination and rigor, and in such
MASSES rs / had never witnessed. Thompson's
battery directed with great skill. literally swept
the slightly falling open spsce with the peiest
: execution. and moving them down by ranks,
would cause the survivors ponentslry halt bat al
most instantly after increased masses up and
the wave bore on These masses coming up with a
rapid run covering the entire breadth of the open
ground. some two hundred PAGES. would alone be
checked in their career by the gaps of the fallen.
still no retreat; and again fresh mass would
carry on the approaching line still nearer. II there
was ia this attack. there must have been
ten thousand; and their loss by arNlery although
borne with such lortude, must have been unusual.
il by scores With the irrepTessbiity of num-
beers. they persisted. The artillery, destructive
- If was ceased to be a calculation. II was then
teaf Colonel Hays, with the SD Pennsylvania
and half the 9Th New York volunteers, was moved
forward 10 the line Of tlle guns
have here 10 cali the attention of my superior
chiefs 10 this most heroic action on the part Of Col
Hays aud his regiment. The cd has for Penn
sviyania the laufeis Of fame. That which grape
aud canister failed IN efTecting was now accom-
plisbed 10y the determined charge and rapid vol
ieys Of this foot The enemy, at the muzzles Of our
gums, for the Grs, time suikily retired. fighting.
Subsequently. ground having been gained, the 63d
PENNSYLVANIA was ordered 10 " lie low and the
battery once more reopened Its ceaseiess work OF
, destruction.
This battle saw renewed three onsets as above,
with similar vicssitudes, when finally the enemy
beokened his efforts "a passed. by converting his
4 charges into an ordinary line Eight Of musketry
embracing the whole front of the brigade, for. by
this period, he enabled To do SO, from Thomp-
sons pieces having left the field af1er expendinq
their grape and becoming tired of the futlty o.
/ Tound-hDt.
II may have been then 7.so p m; full daylight
/ remained and anticipating that the enemy, foiled
ia the attempt 10 carry the New Market road and
adlaceat open ground would next hazard an attack
toward the Charles City road. intermediate
woods, that my attention called there. there
fore lsit everything progressing steadily The
left and visited the entire line To the right not
avitlIsianding That the line was long and that no
reserves excepting the weak 81 Michigan existed
, The cheerful manner and solid look Of Biruey's
brigade gave aSSurancc Of their readiness 10 bs
measured with the Soc and they met my warning
Of the coming Storm with loud cheers of egultiiion
H38 an hour OF forty minutes may have beer
thus passed. then returned 10 the extreme lett o
s8y lAne Arriving there, found that Colonel Hay
had been relieved by Colonel Barlow of tlse 6ls
New York volunteers the head OF Genesai Cald
wei brigade. sent 10 from Summers corps
aud which had reported to General Robinson.
Almost ~ the commencement of the action
within the first half honr, had plainly foreseel
and warned my superior. General Heintze man
and General humphreys, Engineers, who mos
kindly had gone over my position with ms. ever,
mao WAS engaged. or n position, IA close sup
port. The oTth New York volunteers had beer
ordered by General Heintzenan TO Braeiett'
Ford aud the Ist New York volunteers was di
ver1ea from me bs q misrepresentation Of Golone
Dvckfnan. This fact announced 10 Genera
Z Heintzeiman. without asking re-enf0Tcements
since did not conceive them necessary, nor won
I they have been but for the diverting Of my Is
/ New York volunteers, very strong regiment, 3
General Mccall
SAVING MccALLe POSITION,
The eIst New York volunteers under its mos
intrepid leader Colonel Barlow bad Wed with tn
! brave regiment he had relieved, and charging tn
8 enemy, borne off "a trophy one Of his coiors.
had subsequently taken up Ito position 10 the LEI