The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1885-11-05

| put i'll battery or used to any advantage. Her
Hanscom put alp his artillery. At 23O he re
ceived orders too attack Hitler at once in con
junction with Geddisi which he did, Thi
compelled Hanscom TO move two of his divis
ions in support of Geld!s, Burns and Motley
The two lines haa both approached until they
were exceedingly closd together.
The battle noW commenced in great earnes
on both sides, and was of a most destructiv,
and deadly character The musketry firing
was continuous along the whole line. The
remainder of Hanscohs Corps was ordered
up and went into battle, having no time ol
protecting themselves. Several desperate as
sauts were made by Hanscom and Geddis, but
the enemy, having the cover of the chaparral
were able to intict great damage on our forces
Silent, learning that our forces could not
dlsiodge the enemy, sent force from Warner:
lett to relieve the troops who were so hOtly
engaged. Accordingly one division under Gen
Walworth and one brigade under Roberts
were sent through the woods to the sound oi
battle. But they could not see 80 yards before
them on account of the underbrush. The roar
of the battle was like a continuous peal oil
thunder. Gen. Walworth tried to penetrate
the thick woods to relieve his comrades, but
did not arrive until nightfal.
"Sedgewear had now taken position on the
right OF Warner, and both of their corps had
been engaged during the afternoon. Sherlin
had struck the rebel cavalry near Fords House
and driven them back. He now held the
country to the left of Hanscom on the road to
SPcttsylvania. The night had closed in and
the two armies rested facing each other The
killed, wounded and dying were strewn be-
tween the lines like leaves
| Gen. MeadOr and others came to Sient's
| Headquarters that night. One corps in each
army had not been engaged during the day,
and so the battle had but fairly commenced.
Silent gave orders to assault the enemy the next
| 81 n 7 fbac do nc
the enemy, who had not been engaged during
the day, was moving that night to the support
OF Hitler, evidently intending to crush our left.
| GeddlS was ordered to remain with Hanscom
Walworth was to assault Killers left, while
| Hanscom made a front attack at the same time.
| Br0omfeld was to move to the gap between
| Walworth and Warmers left. But Laws was
preparing also for an attack, and made his
assault on our right little before Hanscom
made the attack contemplated by Silent.
The battle commenced by Eweiing assail-
ing Wight The fighting became furious
along Sedgewears entire front and over
and along Warmers line Burns and Mot
| ley, OF Hanscom's Corps, advanced upon the
enemy and assaulted him with very great en-
| ergy. Walworth now assaulted where he was
| directed. The contest was a desperate one
| The smoke rose through the woods like dense
cloud. The artillery was brought to where it
| could be used, and from both sides it beched
Il
was breaking into thousand fragments. Tho
musketry ratified and showered the leaden mis-
slles OF death in every direction. The yells and
shrieks OF the wounded were enough to strike
terror to the souls Of the strongest during the
| whole time of this great battle of blood and
death.
The enemy were driven at every point, and
retreated in great confusion. Our troops un-
dertook to pursue them through the thick
woods and became broken up and confused.
Sherlin was now engaged with Stewards cav
airy near the Todd House. in a terrible con-
test. The firing and shouting could be heard
by Hanscom's troops. Sherlin was victorious
and Seward retreated,.
up to this time Longpath had not taken
the position assigned him, but now moved rap
idly against Hanscom's left. The contest was
renewed. Silent, and Meador rode out to the
front and looked oyer the ground. Silent
never lost confidence, in the result for mo-
ment.
"Longpath now assaulted with great ve-
hemence; our advance brigade was swept like
chaf before the wind. The density of the
brush was such that Hanscom could not make
his proper formation, and therefore had to fall
back to his position held early in the day.
Walworth was driven back and in trying to
rally his men was shot through the head and
instantly killed. Sedgewear's right was as
sailed and turned, he losing many prisoners.
back again. Longpath being now severely
wounded, Laws led his corps in person.
simultaneous attack was now made by our
forces Broomfield assaulted for the first time
during the day, and the enemy were forced back.
In this assault my son Jackson, leading his
brigade, was wounded and taken to the
rear. This was late in the afternoon. The
woods had been on fire several times during
the day, but at this time the breastwOrks of
some of our men having been constructed of
wood were fired by the musketry and blazed up,
catching the timber and leaves with which the
ground was covered. The fire became general
and drove men in every direction, both Union
and rebel. The shrieks and screams of the poor
wounded men who could not escape the flames
were heartrending.
Darkness came on and the contest ceased
During the night Laws withdrew the rebel
army to his old line OF works and gave up the
idea of driving Silent lack across the Rapid
Ann. Gen. Silent repaired to his headquarters, |
where he received the reports of the command |
ing officers. Some were sure that Laws would |
attack again the next morning. Some thought |
that we had better retire across the Rapid Ann. !
AT this Silent said not word, but smiled. lie |
finally gave orders to be ready to meet the |
enemy the next morning, and to attack him if |
he had not withdrawn. When he spoke of the |
enemy withdrawing look of surprise was on |
the faces of many.
"After they had all repaired to their re-
spective quarters he went out to look around, |
and while listening under tree in order to |
hear any movements that might be making in |
the enemys lines he was again startled by the |
appearance of the same spectral form that had |
appeared to him twice before. 1t pointed in
the direction of Richmond and spoke these
words, Move on tomorrow and disappeared.
He was strangely affected by this, and became
quite nervous for man of his stoicism
"He returned to his tent and inquired for
his Adjutant General. When he reported be
asked if any further reports had come in, and
was told that messenger had just arrived with
dispatches announcing that Boutler had moved
on City Point, capturing it, that Sherwood
expected to attack Jones at Rocky Head on
that day. Silent then went to bed and slept
THE next morning there was no enemy in
sight. Gen. Silent advanced his troops well to
the front until satisfied that Laws had with
drawn. He gave orders for taking care of the
wounded and burying the dead. The wounded
of both armies were thickly strewn all over
the battlefield. Many had perished from the
smoke and fire in the woods 1t was sight |
do not wish to describe if could.
"That day Silent issued his orders for the
army to make Alright march by the left flank
in the direction of Spottsylvania. He and
Meador started, with the cavalry in ad vance,
late in the afternoon, hnd as they passed along
tho line going in that direction the boys under
stood it and cried out,' Good good No going
back this time; we are going to Richmond
a ma they made the woods reSou nd with shoutS