The National tribune., 1884-01-24


camp where on the preceding day, he had
first met the fearful onslaught of ID. II. Hill.
Behind Casey's tents the enemy was at the
time in great force. We proceeded up the I'M
even slope TO within some thirty or forty yards
of the edge of this camp. At this epoch, / was
wounded for the second time in the same right
arm, my arm being shattered at the elbow by
a rifle ball. My horse was fatally wounded.
Captain Mcintyre of the 6ist, and a soldier
took me down from the saddle before the gray
horse fell, and tried to put me under shelter,
but. feeling faintness coming on, called Bar
low, who was near at hand, to me-the bullets
were raining upon our mon and they were
firing back rapidly and without finching.
Barlow called out, as / surrendered the demi-
brigade to him, il a clear, cool way: Shall /
take command Of the whole brigade, sirf"
SAID: " No, sir; only of this portion" 1t would
have broken Cross heart TO have forgotten him
at such a time, for he was the senior. Barlow
stood bis ground, and soon Colonel Brooke, to
whom j spoke on my way to the hospital, and,
] understand, other portions of the line, came
up to this advanced position. After little
further conflict the enemy gave way, and the
fight on our division front was ended.
Birney's brigade, after he was temporarily
relieved Of his command by Heintzelman. fell
to Colonel J. Hobart Ward a man with an iron
frame and stout heart, who appeared to be just
made for soldier
When the enemy's main attack upon Brooke,
Paul Frank, aud Miller passed far eastward,
beyond the interval, and even crossing the
railroad with little or no opposition there,
their officers caught sight of Wards men and
opened upon them a fearful fire of musketry.
Ward pnt forward obliquely toward his right
Colonel Staples Sd Maine which had, a year
before, brought from the Kennebec Valley, the
3Sth New York, Wards own sturdy regiment,
and the doth New York, Colonel Egan COM
handing. Having adjusted this line or series
of lines in echelon, he first returned the hos
tile fire by volleys which be could control, and
then ordered charge, about the time that nay
brother and ! were leading forward the last
two regiments of our brigade. Ward says:
" This movement was most brilliantly per-
formed, his regiments driving the terrified
enemy before them" To the right of this
charge were the 4th Maine, Colonel Walker,
and the eth Massachusetts, They from the
railway nearest my left, vigorously put in their
help in time, and that part of the field was
cleared of the troublesome yisitants.
HooKER's DIVISION.
A little farther off to the left of Ward we
find Rockers division. He must, of course,
bear part Hooker always writes with
much grace and ease, and when not ruifled,
with q marked courtesy. Alter meeting a
crowd Of fugitives on the previous evening,
which bothered his advance and delayed him
80 =NttihE " hlAS @s-N4dDiN tDoihANA W
Kearny's side Hooker at last made his camp
near at hand, ready for the morrow. This
was sunday" he SAYS, land its stiffness was
suddenly broken little before O'Clock by an
impulsiTe mRsRetry FIRE of considerable vol
uEne, which az once discovered the position
and designs OF the enemy. They had chosen
TO renew the conflict on the right of where it
had ended the night before, and my command
Immediately advanced in that direction In
column of cOSuDauics =
" apparently the enemy were actively en-
gagged with the troops of Summers corps, and.
In making for the heaviest fire. my object was
10 attack IN rear and TO destroy him. On the
route and near by the enemy passed on my
right brigade of Kearney's division, under
Colonel Ward, standing in line Of battle. The
enemy We're enveioped in dense forest, which
this officer assured me my troops could not
penetrate as a deep swamp extended its entire
length; but as no convenient opportunity pre-
sented itself for turning it, directions were
given for my Ekirmishers 10 advance, and we
Immediately became engaged. They were
closely followed by the 9th and 9Th New
Jersey regiments, the former on the left. The
ID brigade was not yet up. and apprehensive
that the troops engaged might be overcome, all
of my staff officers were dispatched TO find and
press i forward. As there was delay, orders
were given Colonel Ward to support my com
maad, which were promptly responded to by
that gallant officer, and his brigade was
brought iato action on the right Of the New
Jersey regiments"
From the beginning of the action our adj
vance On the rebels along the whole line was
slow, but ] could feel that it was positive and
unyielding. Our lines were well preserved,
the FIRE brisk and unerring and cur troops
reiiant-all ognens of success. After an inter-
change OF mGsketry OF this character for
an hour, directions were given to advance
- Al
thrown into wild confusion, throwing away
their arms, hats and coats, and broke through
the forest in the direction OF Richmond. At
this moment chivalry and rebellion presented
a deplorable picture. Pursuit was hopeless
THE ENEMY u FULL RETREAT.
So by common impulse, caused by severe
and prolonged enemy's attack, with the usual
sIrgings, b2ckings and filings of any we'll
contested field, moving at the sound Of rifles
and cannon, all Of our division and parts of
three others were brought into battle Finally,
from the right Of Richardson to the left of
/ Hooker an inspiring charge was made and the
whole dreadful field Of both days comprised by
our men, And, indeed, whatever he may have
/ recorded, the enemy was in full retreat
need not relate the reasons why this Confed-
crate defeat Of June 1st at Fair Oaks was not
7 followed up. Certainly it might have been
Two full corps were beyond the Chickahominy,
none Oh WAlch ha1 been used IN the battle OF
/ the two bloody days. They, and we on the
| right bank, only needed the order to close in
on Richmond. Weighing carefully the many
sound reasons which our general gave for not
az this time pushing forward lis whole strength,
still, IN the face of them / cannot help saying
that ! think that here just here, he lost the
/ great opportunity Of his life. He and his army
! paid dearly for this waiting when Stuart,
Stonewall Jackson and Lee. replacing john
stOn. few weeks later, daringly took the
offensive and forced him TO cross the muddy.
swampy Chickahominy and fight his way, step
! by step, through White Oak Swamp and NAL
Vern Hill, backwards 20 Harrison's Landing
After / left the front, the brave and gentle
/ Captain William Mcintyre, 61st New York
who declared, as I was put down in sheltered
| place. you shall not be killed." was himself
slain near that spot. Surely. he died that !
might live.
on TIE Way TO THE HOSPITAL.
General Freneh's medical officer, Dr. Grant
operating near large stump, close TO the bri-
! gade, bound up my first wound. 1t was not
4 serere-a mere puncture by small ball
through the wrist, between the two bones OF
the forearm. As / was walking slowly, after
passing Colonel Brook and DR.. Grant, heard a
soldier near me, among many wounded who
were working their way TO the rear, crying
out with pain. He had lost some fingers, and
the wound, though not dangerous, was exceed
ingiy painful. Seeing me, he drew near
doubtless for sympathy. / touched my arm
" You are worse of than / am" he said and
then, putting bis well arm around me, let me