The National tribune., 1884-05-22
SAVING THE NATION.
IOhnf;rfled faorn 1sf maze

brigade, and all his artillery, and sending in
hot haste for Hood to help him. General
Starke, commanding the Stonowall division, is
killed; also, Colonel Douglas, commanding
Lawton's brigade. Lawton, commanding Ewelrs
division, and Walker, commanding brigade,
are wounded. More than half of Lawton's and
Hays, more than one-third of Trimble's, and
all the regimental commanders In these bri-
gades, except two, are killed or wounded.
On the Union side Ricketts, loses 1853 killed
and S95 wounded. Of Phelps brigade nearly
one-half are killed or wounded.
By 7:30 o'clock the first act of the drama is
over. The musketry dies away, but the can
nonade goes on-battery B, 4th U. S. artillery,
Coopers and Easton's Pennsylvania batteries
and 1st New Hampshire on the ridge by Potfen-
burgers, sending continuous storm of shells
into the woods beyond Nicodemus' house, from
whence came another storm, riddling Poffen-
burgers house and barn, upsetting his bee
hives, blowing the ground in his garden, ex-
ploding in the rail fences. and whirring away
over the heads of the worn and weary men
lying down in rear of the batteries. Rockers
batteries kept up the fire to prevent Jackson
from assuming the offensive, and the Confed-
crate guns replied possibly to prevent re-
newal of the attack, which had all but sue
ceeded
The cannonade dies away and the gunners
throw themselves upon the ground to rest awhile
and 10 kindle their fires and drink cup of
coffee.
THE 18TH CORPS.
General Mansiclds corps (the 12th) had
biyouacked mile in rear of Hooker's, and
did not arrive at the east woods till after the
repulse. 1t was the first great mistake of the
day. 1t ought to have been in line with
Hooker and advanced at the same moment.
Hooker began at 5, but it is o'clock before
Mansfield comes into line.
He is All old man, white haired, but his eye
is keen, and he has q resolute will He deploys
his line from DR.. Miller's house south through
the garden-the cornfield beyond. He has only
two small divisions Crawford's, with Knipe's
and Gordon's brigades, and Greene's division
containing three brigades. He rides along the
line, his long white hair streaming in the
wind. He does not stop to consider that he
is conspicuous object; that Confederate sharp
shooters are crouching in the corn west of the
turnpike; that some are but a few rods dis
tant behind DR.. Ailler's barn. He rides for
ward into the orchard south of the house A
mimic bullet comes from the ccrnfeld and he
falls from his horse mortality wounded. Gen
eral Williams succeeds to the command. Many
of the soldiers of the 18th corps are new and
this is their first battle, but they are brigaded
with veterans who have been through all the
battles of the Peninsula and Bull Run, and
they move resolutely to the attack.
Atthe word of command the line moves down
the gentle slope, past Miller's house. across the
turnpike, into the cornfieid beyond, through the
corn rows TO the west woods. Suddenly they
come upon sharpshooters erouched behind the
trees, who retreat as the line advances On
through the woods moves the line to the western
edge To come upon Hood division posted behind
limestone lodges and rail fence. Again the
uproar begins Sheets of fame burst from the
hill behind Hoods troops, where Stuart's can
non hurl canister upon the men in blue under
Crawford. The Confederates are well pro-
tected, the Union troops wholly exposed.
South, in front of the church, Greene's di-
vision comes upon ID. II. Hills troops. The
advantage is on the side of the Confederates -
the batteries on the hill west of Nicodemas' are
smoking and flaming, cnflading the entire
length Of the 18th corps, making terrible havoc.
HOOKER WOUNDED.
In the thick of the fight General Hooker is
wounded, and the command of the right wing
devolyes upon General Williams. He has no
force in reserve. Rockers corps is too much
broken to come to his support. Hartsuff's and
Gibbons brigades have Joined in the attack,
but there are no other brigades that can be
called upon. When Mansfield moved to the
attack he expected that SedgWick's division oil
Summers corps would attack By the bunker
church, but that division is nearly mile in
the rear, moving slowly. 1t is the second mis-
take of the morning. fit were present, d. H.
Hill would not be rushing from the field south
of the church TO roll back Greenes division
Brayely the new recruits stand their ground
but the Union lines are melting away, and are
gradually forced back over the field, thickly
strewn now with their fallen comrades.
The second act in the terrible drama is over
badly managed on the part of the Union com
manders but admirably by Jackson, who has
shifted his troops to meet the several attacks
He has had all the advantage of position. lie had
nearly, if not fully, as many troops as Hooker
III the first attack, and more than Mansfield in
| the second. General Mcclellan, by sending in
| a corps at a time, fritters away his strength
! All! how different would the story have been
| if Hooker, Mansfield and Sumner had, at q
| given signal, advanced
| Tene'clock. The LIST corps shattered-its com
mander wounded, its aggressive force goue-is
resting behind the ridge III rear of Mr.. Poffen
burgers, while the 18th, also broken, IS resting
1 in the east woods. Long lines Of ambulance
/ are winding down the hillside tothe field north
Of Mr. Hotfmsns house. where the surgeon.
are at work. There is nll in the battle. The
/ lips Of the cannon are cooling after the ho
/ blasts of the morning, to thunder still louder
/ by and by.
do not like TO make break in the story
| but have so much TO tell about this battle-o
! what followed, that it would make this Letter
a great deal too long were to give ii now.
shall 90 on with it next week.
To be continued