The National tribune., 1884-03-27
SAVING THE NATION.
Continued from Isl paoef

DAf lINU LIE MAI lOlN.
Continued from LIST pa9e1
ceased. There was silence in Yorktown, and
then General Mcclellan discovered that there
was not Confederate soldier in the place-al
had gone.
with five thousand men we had stopped
and held in check over 100000 of the enemy,
said Magruder. He carried of all his light
artillery, but left ffty-two heavy guns in the
intrenchments
WILLIAMSBURG.
Twelve miles from Yorktown is Williams.
burg, one of the oldest towns in the United
states-settled in 1852. 1t was the capital Of
Virginia for many years before the Revolution
1t was there that Patrick Henry made his
speech in which he used the words, Give me
liberty, or give me DEATH"
From Williamsburg, Washington mounted
his horse when he was only twenty-one years
old, for that lonely and adventurous ride over
the Allegheny Mountains, to carry a message
TO the French commander at Fort Duquesne-
now Pittsburg.
Three miles east of the town small stream
runs south, another north, with strip of land
is gateway held by General Longstreet, who
has re-enforced Magruder.
General Stoneman. commanding the cavalry,
with Gibsons battery, comes up the road In
front of Magruder If he had been few min
utes sooner he might have taken it, for Long
street has passed on toward Williamsburg; but.
seeing how strong a place it is, he turns his
troops back to hold it, The 9th United States
cavalry are compelled to fall back before Long
ctr fro
Obliged to move his guns The mud is so deep
that one of the carriages sinks to the axle.
The horses go down in the mire. The Conted-
crates see them sinking, and pour in such a
shower of shells that Gibson is compelled to
leave one gun.
The night sets in dark and rainy. The mud
is so deep that neither wagon nor artillery can
move. The troops in the narrow road, weary
with marching, lie down upon the wet ground.
HoOKER's ATTACK
General Hooker, with eight thousand men,
is in advance. His troops are posted along a
deep ravine Morning dawns and Hook er's
skirlaishers. as soon as they see the Confeder-
ates, dash upon them and drive them across
the rayine. The Confederate cannon in the
fort open fire. bat the skirmishers conceal
themselves in the underbrush. General Gro
ver's brigade consisting of the 1st and 18th
Massachusetts, I'd New Hampshire, and Goth
New York, begins the battle. Webber's bat
terry comes into position, but before it can open
fire two officers and two privates go down be-
fore the storm bursting from Fort Magruder
Bramhalls battery, farther north and less ex-
posed, opens, and before 8 o'clock the guns in
Magrnder are silenced.
In front of the fort the trees have been felied.
There are ploughed fields and woods. Hooker's
men make their way mp TO the abatis, and q
rafting fire goes on.
THE CoNFEDERATEs
Most Of the Confederate army are at Williams
burg Johnston has had no intention of fight
ing battle at Fort Magruder, but only TO have
the rear-guard hold IT till the army is well on
its way TO Richmond, but it is a place where
he can easily hold the Union troops in check,
and A. p. Hill is sent back 10 take part in re-
pulsing the attack. The sound of thecannon-
ade inspirits the Confederate soldiers. Before
noon Longstreet is pushing out his lines upon
Grover and Sickles' brigades. rushing upon the
batteries and capturing four cannon. The
contest is in the edge Of the forest amid fallen
trees. Ii is dark, cloudy, rainy day; the
ground miry; the men weary and worn.
Rockers men are ont of ammunition.
want re-enforcements is Hooker's word
to Summer, but no re-enforcements reach him,
and he is forced back inch by inch From
carly morning till 4 o'clock he carries on the
contest slone-6,o00 confronting $4,000 Con.
federates.
CONFUSION.
General Mcclellan is nine miles away al
Yorktown, and does not know that battle is
going on The roads are blocked with teams
troops batteries, ambulances, wagons. Gen
erai Sumner is trying to clear the road. but
with little success. General Kearney hears the
roar of battle. He is an old soldier. He was
at the storming of Chepultepec in Mexico. and
was with Louis Napoleon in the battle Of
Solferino in Italy. He loves the excitement OF
battle. His troops catch bis enthusiasm.
Clear the road" 1t is an order from one In
authority, and the teams turn aside.
KEARSEy's ATTACK
Berry's brigade is in the advance. 1t emerges
/ from the wooos,--comes into line in rear o.
Hooker. They have come at the right moment
for Longstreet is advancing. Rockers troop.
| file to the rear the Confederates following with
victorious cheer; but suddenly pitiless storm
bursts upon them from Berry's line.
Give them the bayonet!"
The order runs along the line Kearney':
men rush forward with cheer, driving ths
Confederates back to the fort.
HAECocR's MOVEMENTS.
Remember that there are two streams-ont
running north, the other southland that the
1 battle is on the ridge between them
You can get across the creek down there,
said negro to Captain Stewart. There is
dam, and Vie road crosses it and goes on tx
williamsburg"
General Smith sent Captain Stewart with
/ four companies TO see about il.
Infantry and artillery can cross" was the
word sent back by Stewart, and General Hancock
with his brigade moves up the road three miles
crosses the dam, and takes possession of the de
serted intrenchments on the west side. He ha.
the 9Th Maine, 9Th Wisconsin, 18th Pennsyl-
wanna, Add New York, and Wheeler's battery
He can see Fort Magruder across the plar
/ to the south smoking and flaming He is al
most in J0hnstons rear.
can go TO Fort Magruder if well support
ed is his message 10 General Smith, his divis
1 ion commander. He is in a field near a farm
house. From the farmhouse westward is 8
rail fence. Wheeler's battery comes into posi-
ton on a knoll close by the house The 5tf
Wisconsin and ADD New York are behind tn.
fence; the 49th Pennsylvania behind the house
1 the 9th Maine are behind the battery to sup
port it. Out from piece of woods come tW,
| brigadcs Of Hills division. Wheelers gun.
fame. Hancock sees that the force In front o.
1 him is greatly superior TO his own. He is too
1 far out and retreats towards the dam, to bet
ter position on the east Of a hill, all the troops
! in line.
On sweep the Confederates with exultan
cheers; but the cheering suddenly ceases, for
terrible fire bursts upon them. They come to :
standstill. Hancock sees his opportunity.
Forward
Down the slope moves the Union line. AMI