The National tribune., 1884-04-03
SAVING THE NATION.
[ oontinued from LIST page.l
GENERAL SUMNER.


the railroad to join Longstreet and Hill, and
by one last charge the two corps south of the
Chickahominy viii be driven into that stream.
But now another actor comes upon the scene.
Johnston thought that the bridges were all
destroyed, but when the water began to rise,
General Sumner sent out men with ropes TO
make one of them secure. 1t was / o'clock
when he ordered his troops under arms. They
have been all the afternoon getting across the
river, the troops wading up to their waists to
get TO the bridge lie had hard work to get
Kirbyis battery across, but here he is, with
Sedgwick's division in advance. Germans
brigade leads, composed of the 1st Minnesota,
18th Massachusetts, I'd and saith New York.
Dana's brigade foiiows-the 10Th and Goth Mas
sachusetts, eth Michigan and AID New York.
Sumner forms his line facing south towards
Fair Oaks, which compels Smith TO change
front. Smith advances across a field to drive
their new force back into the river The sun
has gone down. Twilight is stealing on when
the first lines of flame burst forth.
Give them canister is Kirby's order to
his gunners, and the six Napoleon guns send
havoc into the advancing Confederate line.
The battle cloud grows. thick and heavy.
Quick flashes light up the darkness. Brady S
battery crosses the river and comes into posi-
tion and opens fire.
Advance and charge bayonetsi" Sumner
gives tie order, and the Saith and ADD New
York, 18th and 18th Massachusetts, and 9TH
Michigan move forward. There are two fences
in front Of them, and behind the fartherest
stand the Confederates. With a hurrah the
soldiers rush forward, dash the first fence to
the ground and charge upon the second. A
volley, tramping of feet, and the Confederates
are swept back in utter confusion.
JOHNSTON WoTTNDFD
Johnston is trying to rally his fleeing men,
when he is struck by piece of shell. He is
borne from the field, and Smith succeeds to the
command. 1t is 8 o'clock, and the battle for
the day is over.
Jefferson Davis and Mr. Mallory, secretary
of the Confederate navy, have been upon the
field all the afternoon. The Confederates have
won thus far victory, but the Union army
has not been swept into the Chiekahominy.
Jefferson Davis is disappointed. Huger has
not performed the part assigned him.
AS | rode down through the field" says a
rebel officer, met Franks, one Of Long
streets aids looking as blue as indigo. What
is the matter; are You not satisfied with what
we have done?"
Satisfied be hanged, Old JEFF Mallory,
Longstreet. and all the rest of them are as
mad as thunder. Huger's slowness has spoiled
everything He had positive orders to begin
the fight IN the morning and he hasn't fired a
gun to-day"
Huger was not an officer of much energy,
but he had been making long, hard march
through the mud and his men were tired out.
Had he been in position and attacked vigor-
ously things might have gone badly for the
Union army.
SUNDAY MORNING.
At daybreak on Sunday morning an orderly
belonging TO the rebel army rode out of the
woods into the Union lines.
Where is General Anderson" he asked.
He is here. What do you want Of him ? u
said colonel
Il have dispatch for him from General
Pryor"
Il VIII take it. Soldiers, guard this man
You are my prisoner"
The orderly was much astonished to find
1 himself prisoner. The dispatch gave infor-
nation Of the disposition of the Confederate
! forces for the battle soon to recolnmence.
During the night the balance Of Summers
corps had crossed the Chickahominy, and al
daybreak the troops thus strengthened were
able 10 renew the battle SedgYiek remained
where he fought on Saturday. Richardson's
1 division was next on his right He formed in
two lines, with French's brigade IN front or
the railroad and Howard and AIeagher in the
second line IN his rear. Kearney, Couch and
! Hooker, with the remnants of Casey's division
were in the vicinity Of Seven Pines.
1t would require many pages TO give in
detail the fight Of Sunday morning. 1t mus
be given as picture.
1t began at o'clock At that hour The
Confederates are discovered south of the rail
road in the woods in front of Richardson
Petittis battery opens with shells and the still
ness Of the Sabbath is broken by deep reyer
berations rolling along the Chickahominy
There Is gap between Richardson and Kear
ney. Richardson moves toward Seven Pine
10 close 1t. From the woods where Petit drop
his shells there comes q yolley--another-a
other-and the men drop from Richardson
ranks. The Confederates advance and attacl
Frenchs brigade ar short range For an hou
the men stand in their places and deliver thei
fire upon the columns hieh are pushed agains
them. Re-enforcements come up from Long
streets reserves. Howard is brought up from
the second line 80 meet them. His horse i
shot, he wounded In the right arm, and j
forced TO leave the field. The bone is shattered
and the surgeon says il must come off,
But the onset of his brigade is magnificent
The Confederate line is broken by the resistles
charge. Hooker comes up the railroad anS
falls like a thunderbolt upon the enemy il
front, breaking, dividing and scattering them
They fee in confusion. Sickles is advancing
along the Williamsburg road. Berry AM
jameson are moving over the ground of Satur
day between the Seven Pines and White Gal
motion. From Fair Oaks to the swamp soutl
Of Seven Pines the Union line advances owe
the bloody field. 1t is like the swinging of
wide gate, with its hinges near Fair Oaks, an
reaching past Seven Pines to the swamp.
1t is a triumphant march. The Confederate
have failed in what they attempted and ar
fleeing with broken, demoralized ranks t
Richmond. Hats, caps, blankets, knapsack.
guns-all are thrown aside. The road is file
with the fleeing fugitiyes. Hcintzelman an
Sumner press on within four miles Of the city
No troops oppose them.
AN OPPORTUNITY LOST.
II have no doubt but we might have gon
right into Richmond" says General Heintze
man.
"a / think that if the army had pressed aftc
the enemy with great vigor we should hay
gone TO Richmond" is the opinion of Genera
Keyes.
"They (the Federals) missed an opportunit
Of striking a decisive blow. These oppo
. tunities never return" writes Prince de JOIN
vile, of France.
/, General Mcclellan recalled the troops frol
! their pursuit and established his lines as the
We're on the morning of Saturday.
, The loss on the Union side was 5,737. TIL
i Confederate loss, as reported in Smiths, Lon,
! streets and Hills divisions was 6,7S3. Viii
! ings division also suffered severely, so that Il
! entire Confederate loss was nearly 5000.
I IN RICHMOND
E There was CONSERVATION in Richmond. II
!, city was full Of strsgglers. Long lines of ambr
d lances came in filled with wounded. Poop