National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-02-07

of Hills men advancing In line Of battle to
support them, and up to this point Longstreet
had got decidedly tho worst the struggle; in
fact, no was completely iloored Tor the timo
being.
When tho 18th was at last gathered to-
gether In the rear IL was found that only
eighty men wore present out of the 300 that
went into tho 6ght-the remainder were
either Killed, wounded, or captured; among
tho latter were the lieutenant colonel, over
half the captains and lieutenants, and about
ninety men.
AS above indicated, Hill's division, which
was tho strongest in the grand division, camo
up just in tho nick of time to prevent gon-
eral rout and restore the battle, and it Is
doubtful il they could have done this had tho
federal general swiftly followed up in force
the advantage he had gained. Longstreet
had at last found out the position of the
federal line of battle, and the fierce assault
of Hills leading brigades gave him breath
ing spell in which to make new dispositions.
The battle was now renewed with increased
fury, tho artillery having been got
into position for effective service, which
was not the case on tho first as
sault. Tho battery in front of which
Kemper's brigade had received such
an unmerciful pounding was three times
taken and three times recovered, and the in
fantry assailing and the infantry defending
frequently camo to locked bayonots. It was
furious and desperate struggle, and never
| during the war was the unfinching courage OF
/ the American soldier when his blood is up
| better illustrated than in this last assault nj
| White Oak swamp. Tho battle ragged even
after nghtfall, the guns and the field of battle
then remaining in possession of tho confeder.
ates. There was but littlo for the confederate
general to boast of, except the captured guns,
which had been rendered almost useless. Tho
losses on both sides were about the same.
| The retreat of the union troops was but a
part Of the programme of Gen. Mcclellan to
| take position to defend his trains ana fight
by day, and ut night to pursue his retreat
| toward Harrison's landing. At any rate tho
| federal troops after dark fell back and moy ed
| off to take up their ground on Malvern hill
the last oft the Seven days fight" where tho
next afternoon the confederate forces received
a severe punishment without being able to
| infict an adequate return for the same upon
| their opponents.
After the firing had ceased tho squad de-
tailed to bury our dead found that the 18th
had not surrendered tamely. Within q short
compass in the ravine our dead were lying
thickly, as we'll as the more desperately
wounded. The wounded expected to re.
cover had been removed by the enemy. We
| learned that all had been treated with the
greatest kindness and humanity. Around
the battery tho dead were literally lying in
swathes and old soldiers who participated in
those charges and counter charges for the
possession of tho guns have been heard to say
since the war that in no battle of the war il,
the east with the possible exception of Spott-
| sylvania Court House, was there fcrccr OF
more determined fighting or moro mon killed
and wounded within the same space ofgrOund
than in the above stated protracted contest
| for the guns.