National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-11-22


the FREQ passage of trains and artillery,
there were evident preparations on the
other side of the Rappahannock, where
che army of Cen. Grant had been quietly
lying during the winter, which indicated
an immediate advance. IL is impossible
for so largo an army TO mako ready for
general movement without the fact being
made apparent to a watchful foo, and
accordingly Gen. Lee was ready for ac-
ton fully as soon as his antagonist, and
the morale of his army had entirely re-
covered from the disappointment caused
by the result of the battle of Gettysburg.
IL was pretty certain that this year, 1864,
was to BIO the tremendous struggle of tho
war, aud practically decisive Of tho con-
test.
Tho men of tho army OF Northern Vir-
pinia were never in better trim, or pre-
sented finer appearance, than when on
that bright spring afternoon they filed,
with firm stop, through the streets Of
Orange Court House, sixty-odd thousand
strong, on the route to the CORY field Of
the Wilderness. During the long rest in
winter quarters the troops had been we'll
fed, and the seasonabe running of tho
blockade by an English steamer or two
had enabled tho ouartermaster to clotho
them tolerably. They looked plump and
hearty, and as they passed through the
streets of tho little town they responded
with vociferous yels to the waving of
handkorchiefs by ladies from the doors
aud windows. They were evidently in
that frame of mind for fighting which
gives satisfaction to their general.
At this period of tho war the writer
was subaltern officer in the LIST Virginia
battalion of infantry known as the Irish
battalion), which was detailed as tho
headquarters provost guard Of the army
1t consisted of five companies, each Of
which was always kept up to the full
standard of 100 men, and its commits
toned officers were appointed at will by
tho governor Of Virginia, approved by
the confederate secretary of war, and not
by promotion from the ranks as in the
volunteer regiments. 1t was, in fact, a
body of confederate regular troops. The
next afternoon the cavalry brought in
Gen. Shaler, of New York; Gen. Thomas
Hamblin, and two or three other
generals and colonies, who had
been captured, and whose names l
forget, to tho provost marshaps Office,
where they were treated with distin-
guished consideration by the provost
marshal (Bridgeford) and his officers, and
were given the best to eat and drink OBJ
tainoblo and perfect freedom on parole.
1t may be stated here that it was after
ward currently reported that Gen. Shaler,
at Charlottesville, in requital ofthc kind
ness, while boing taken to Lynchburg
(the railroad had been cut between Cor
louisville and Richmond), attempted to
make speech from the platform of the
cars, in which ho urged the soldiers as
sembled about the depot to revolt against
their commanders, and, arms in hand,
come back under the folds of the old flag.
The speech was received with jeers and
derisive laughter, but it was rash and
dangerous act on the part of Gen. Shaler
On the morning of the Wilderness:
fight the battalion was transported on
the cars to Gordonsville. 1t having been
learned that the cavalry of the enemy
had seized upon Trevillian station, on the
Richmond and Gordonsville road, and
had burned tho stores and torn up the
track for miles, we were ordered Il
march to that point and take charge O
what could be saved and for observation
of the cavalry. We arrived. in the vicin
ity of the station after nightfall, and Of
the buildings and cars were still brightly
burning, scouting party was sent ahead
and the battalion halted. The enemy
however, had left the spot, but not be,
fore they had made q complete job of the
work Of destruction. The large ware
houses, packed with stores for Lees
army, had been burned, as well as a lonl
train Of cars, fully loaded, which they
had ambuscaded and captured by firing &
twelve-pounder cannon shot through tn,
boiler Of tho engine. The railroad tracks
had been also destroyed for miles.
Al g a1nu hi he,
grown up since the war, or old vet
who have not witnessed it. will try Il
describe the operation of destroying
railroad track. After the rails have beer
cut at ono point 500 or more men rang
themselves on one side of the track, and
with handspikes and crowbars, exertinj
their strength together, tho track Ii
thrown over, bottom upward. Then tn,
nearest fences or other dry wood 4
brought under contribution and piled
thickly upon tho ties of the track and SO
ON fire. When the fire is well under wa,
the rails twist and curl up like serpent
in all kinds of writings, and are rem
dered utterly useless for repairs. Thus
mile or two of track can be destroyed
by couple Of regiments in very brie
space of time.
By way of Interpolation may as vel
might have had serious bearing upor
the struggle then going on. When tn
federal cavalry left Trevillian's, ate
making wreck of it, after u detour
they approached Hanover Junction. Now
at the Junction at this time, | have beef
informed, there was not oven q regiment
of infantry. There was battalion, how
ever, detailed to guard the largo amour
of army stores collected about the June
tion. Besides these, there were two bat
teries of artillery-twelve guns-De
ment's Maryland and the Baltimore ligh
batteries-all under command of Col
Bradley II. johnson. Hearing of tn,
approach of Gen. Sheridan with his larg
army of troopers and artillery, and know
ing that the destruction of tho stores q
the Junction and the bridge over tn
South Anna would be the almost virtua
ruin of the army ofGen. Lee, Col. johnson
determined to sacrifice his command befor
retreating or surrendering. He, there
fore, planted his guns on n hill nea
Taylor's creek, which commanded botl
the Junction and the railroad bridge an,
there awaited the assault Either be
cause he had received false reports rs L
the numbers of the defenders, or becaus
Stuart's troopers were close upon hi
heels, tho federal commander, after tn
exchange of few cannon shots at lon
range, shcered OIL and continued his raid
Had even brigade and a battery of til
tederals made determined assault oil
Johnson he must have succumbed; an'
in that case, with all the stores destroye,
and the bridge behind them burned, il i
not easy to perceive how Gen. Lees arm.
could have made successful retreat /
the lines around Richmond. 1t was
narrow and lucky escape by tho confed
crates from serious consequences.
But TO resume. Orders came for us /
move (never mind the dates as near a
might be, behind tho lines of the army
in order to boat hand to receive prisoner,
protect ammunition trains from scoutin
cavalry, &c. 1t Is very harassing thin
for men anxious for the success of thei
cause, and willing to do their duty in tn
huttln Limo To be nssinnnh M n nrnuns