The National tribune., 1884-04-10
SAVING THE NATION.
[Confinned from lst paqe.l

ranks aud move towards the rear. There is a
desperate rush from Jaclxsoa's brigades and
the Union line gives way.
If there were fresh division, or brigade
even, at hand, the tide might he stopped; but
meme are near. There are sixty thousand men
upnn The southern bank of the river, but Gen
cral Mcclellan is afraid that Aagrnder VIII
make an attack.
Writings division, which has been held in
reserve by Lee, is ordered up. All of his des-
pcrate charges aud onsets have Jailed Ill
Whiting fails the battle is lost.
The Regulars and Pennsylvania Reserves are
worn OUT Their ammunition rs nearly gone
Porter orders up his last men. They can have
no more support. AT this moment, after they
have held at bay for four hours the great host,
They arc called upon 10 Withstand the last grand
charge of jackson.
Whiting advances; he is received with grape
and canister His line halts, waivers, almost
breaks: but Jackson, Whiting, Hood and Nc
Laws urge the men 10 push on. They leap aero s
the rarinc. halt a moment. sheltered by the
hank above them from the fire of the Union
batteries. and then leap the breastwork and
seize the guns. There is a short struggle. a
fallng back. a retreat, and the battle OF Games
Mills Is lost To General Mcclellan.
Mcagher and French have reached the field,
but siaey are ITO late TO save The day. Twenty
guns have fallen into Lees hands and several
hnnareas prisoners The cavalry in the rear
drawing their slhers. dash upon the exultant foe,
but il is an Intellectual charge. The retreaiing
troops fall in behind French and Meagher,
and form new line nearer the Chickahominy
as the darkness comes on. They have been
driven from their first position, but Lee has
not power. enough to drive them into the
Chickahominy lie decides TO wait tiil morn
ing before renewing the attack.
The morning dawns. and Porter is beyond
his reach across the river with all his siege
guns, ammunition and supplies.
How near Ice came 10 losing the battle may
be seen by the follow ny extract from the
account Of a correspondent of the Richmond
Hhig:
IL was absolutely necessary that we should carry
their line. and do this regiment after regiment
AID brigade afer brigade succcsslyeiy led for
NHrd: still, our repeated charges gallant and
dashing though tey were-iailed to accomplish
the end and Troops still lighting. fell steadily
back. Thus ior more iiaa two mortal hours the
nloinc.ltons issue stood trembling III the balance
The setting far in the west, darkness
would soon be upon u, and tlie point must be
carried. At Tins juncture-i was now o clock
fiIe division OF the gallant Whiting hove in sight.
On reaching. the field their troops rapidly de2ioyed
in line The charge made under the most
CALLING lire ! ever witnessed; shot, shell, grape,
canister and bali swept Through our lines axe
storm Of lcsiden hail. and our noble boys tell thick
and fast; and yet. still with the Irresistible deter
nlinEtion of men who fight for ali that men hold
dear. gallant boys rushed on.
Suddenly a hait was made; there was deep
pause and the line wavered from right to left
We now The character Of the enemy's works
a ray'ine deep and vide yawised before as. while
from tie ether siae of the crest OF the alInS 81 per-
pen6icular bank ilreasi of logs was erected
from behind winch the bastard invaders were
pouring nlurderous volicys upon our troops. The
pause made by our troops WAS but STiel bTe8tb-
ing space. The voice OF McIsaws was heard: For
ward. boys. charge them" and with wild, mad
shout our inspctuons soldiery dashed forward
DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY.
There was not time to take away all the sup
plies which General AIcClellen had accumn-
lated. Through the night teams were in
motion and the trains upon the railroad ran,
carrying sick and wounded men and provisions
TO West Point.
On the morning of the 26th Reyes and Por-
tiers CORPS started across White Oak swamp
followed by trains of WAGONS. artillery-ffty
heavy siege Euns-which Mcclellan had brought
mp from Yorktown. At White House Landing
sleeps. schooners. barges, and steamboats, were
departing Tor York River fastening rapidly
away, for no one knew how soon Jackson
might appear.
At sayage's Station are barrels Of pork, beef,
sugar, coffee, boxes filed with bread, blankets,
boots and shoes. which cannot be removed.
They are set on fire. and the od0r of burning
bacon and leather is waited on the summer air.
A railroad train loaded with cartridges, shot
and shell is standing On the track. Far down
the line black cloud rises hearenward from
the bridge across the Chickahominy, which
-Ias beer set on fire. The soldiers set the ears
on fire. Hhe engineer pulls the throttle The
wheels begin TO turn. He lets on all the
steam and Jumps from the engine which
whirls down the descending grade. 1t is two
miles 10 the bnruing bridge. Faster and faster
flies the train, the flames increasing, dasbing
along the fields. over the meadows, through
the lorest, trail of fire, streaming banner Of
fame and smoke
One hundred thousand cartridges explode II
is s@linked thuRderboIt IL reaches the bridge,
heaps over the abutlncnt like tiger upon its
prey. the engine going down headforemost into
lse winding stream, the flaming cars one
liter another piiing upon il, while from the
burning Inass the exploding shells scatter the
fragments far and wide.
SATURDAY
III is Saturday joyful day In Richmond
for the word runs through the city that Lee
has Won great victory. and that be is about
70 crush Mcclellan aud compel his surrender
The multitude shout and swing their hats
But there are sorrowfGl scenes when the
wounded are brought IN ia long Ines Of anbu.
lances. All the hospitals are filed with the
wounded. Lee has lost more than five thousand
men- Mcclellan has 50 many wounded that be
cannot take them 70 JAMES River His asnbu-
lances are full 1t is sad Tor those who have
fought 50 brayeiy 20 be left behind to become
prisoners 81 war
j. this the reward / deserve for all the sac
rifceS j hare made2" Tears arc upon ths
cheeks Of the soldier who utter the words
Sunday morning dawns The Union troope
rtill hold the brrastWorizs in front Of Richmond
Lee docs not know what is going on in th.
Union Inca
MagrEder sends out small force 30 attach
Sumner * the farm Of Mr. Alien, but Hazard'
and Fcttits batteries with Scdgwiek's division
quickly repuise the attack. Lee is reorganiz
ing bis ranks, and his soldiers are resting afte
the victory. lie does not know how precious
the moments are: he viii learn tomorrow
when il wiz be zoo late TO regain his los
Opportunity.