National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-11-08

Curing the war was that Of Gaines's Mill,
tie second days battle OF the Seven
D,y'a fight before Richmond. In IL the
pick and endurance Of both sides to the
eSntest was as fully brought to the proof
As In any other field, east or west, and
while the federal troops finally gave way,
they had nothing to DO ashamed Of, but
every reason to be proud Of, their achieve
ments on this CORY field.
When on June 49, 1862, Con. A. p.
Hills grand division, aided by portion
Of the army Of Gen. Jackson, struck the
right flank Of Gen. McClellan's army at
Mechanicsville aud forced 1t backward,
the brigade to which the writer's regi-
mont belonged, then commanded by Gen.
Jas. l.. Kemper, was camped four or Ave
miles from Richmond on the Williams
burg road, where the men were dying of
like sheep with the rot from dysentery
and malarial fever5. IL was relief then
whom we were ordered to pack baggage,
strike fonts, and be ready to move
ut moments warning in light
marching order. We had heard the
sound of cannon firing and knew that
battle was in progress somewhere OH our
left. We knew also that the army was as
strong as 1t was ever likely to be, and
therefore looked forward to a fight with
confidence in our ability to win the game.
Early in the afternoon we were on the
march toward the left, and about sum
down arrived at the bridge over the
IChickahominy on the Mechanicsviller road.
Without crossing we lay down to rest in
the road and by tho roadside listening to
the continued picket hiring which was
rattling away on the other side Of the
river.
And hero for the first and only time
during the war ] saw what IL was for a
body Of troops to BIO panic stricken, and,
i may say, experienced the chilly and
gruesome sensation myself In the middle
watches of the night, while tho men were
quietly sleeping, scattered about the road
way, as l have above stated two artillery
horses got loose from their haltsrs and
set out on q tour Of exploration on their
own hook. The night was somewhat
murky from the river mist, and these
equine stragglers, in trotting along the
road, trod upon the arm of one Of the 18th,
breaking II. OF course he started up
with shrill yell Of pain, which
caused the other sleepers to throw
off their blankets and grab their
rifles. The connection frightened the
horses, and they dashed ahead, knocking
men down right and left. Then some
one raised the cry, "The cavalry is upon
usW That added to the confusion. and
the troops sprang over the fences into the
fields on either side of the road and
began an indiscriminato firing at they
knew not what, threatening the destruc-
ton of their own comrades. In vain were
the shouts and entreaties of the officers
to bring matters into order. The men
were for the time being, deaf to all orders
aud remonstrances. blind unreasoning
terror had seized upon them, and you
might as we'll have expostulated with lu-
natics on the Stiffness of their conduct. As
far as my experience went, was fully
conscious l was acting like fool, but for
the life Of me couldn't help it. Finally
the panic cooled down, and then 1t was
ascertained that number of the men
had been hurt but by great good fortune
none MORALLY. -
With the knowledge of the cause Of the
uproar came a revulsion of feeling and
roars of laughter succeeded the tremblings
of fright. We could well understand after
this experience what the panic among the
federals at first Bull Run meant.
With the dawn of the morning We were
awakened by the roar of cannon and the
rattle of musketry across the river occa-
stoned by Hill driving in the outlying
forces of Fitz-John Porter's corps.
1t was as glorious q summer morn
ing as men could wish for the pur-
pose Of killing each other. After eating
our lobscouse and coffee the brigade
crossed the bridge, and, turning to tho
right, across the fields, followed leisurely
at about a mile distance in the wake of
Hills division, who was then driving the
enemy in the direction of Gaines Mill
The enemy fell back sullenly, resisting at
every point where q good defense could
be made, and think it was after midday
before we arrived at Gaines's house and
saw tho long lines of Porter's corps, inter
spersed with batteries browning the crest
of the hills couple Of miles away, in place
for battle.
War is horrible, but it is magnificent
also, and there could be no more heart
stirring spectacle than to witness the ad :
vance of the long line of confederate bril-
gades, as they deployed to the right and
left with flags waving and bayonets
glistening in the bright sunlight, taking
up position opposite the lines of the foe,
who. grim and silent almost, awaited the
onset on the heights. To us who were at
the time looking on in safety 1t was a
sight Of absorbing interest, and we anx-
| iously looked to see the beginning of the
death grappe. Kemper's brigade in the
battles of Williamsburg and the Seve
Pines had lost heavily, and on that ac-
count in this fight Gen. Longstreet placed
us in the rear line of the reserve.
Soon the battle was fully Joined, and the
charging yell of the confederates from
one end of the lines to the other was
plainly audible above the roar Of cannon
and musketry. Longstreet and Hill no
doubt expected to make short work of
Porter, and their attack was general and
savage. But there were two serious OBJ
stacles In the way, apart from the fight
Immediately at the foot of the
long, sloping hill on which
the principal battery of the
federals was planted ran ashallow stream,
with banks sloping like railroad cut,
and along this natural fertilization were
stationed the flower of the regiments OF
tue federal army. Again, nearly the en-
tire right wing of the attacking force was
subjected to the enflading' fire of the
long range of batteries of Gen. Mcclellan
stationed on tho north bank of the Chick
ahominy, and fearful execution was
done by these guns, as their aim
was not discomposed by any return fire
Again and again. with dauutless-nay,
standardization, were the brig
AIDES of Longstreet and Hill hurledagainst
the federal Notifications, but at nearly
every point they were blOodily repused
and oven where foothOld was gained II
was not long held. As the day wore on
we, who were in reserve in piece OF
woods, aud could see but little of tho
scene of battle, grew nervous and anxious
over the prospect, especially as we could
see, from the CIRCUMSTANCES pretty
good guide-of the aids and couriers
riding silently and nervously, that the
day was not going Us we'll for our side as
we would have liked. At last an aid IA
n Georgia general stopped minute
near us to blow his horse, and said
he: Boys these Yankees are fight
ing like HI to-day. / don't see that we
have gained much 80 far" This was not
inspiritinE news. MS mnY be imnpinel,