Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1886-05-15
PIcnIRg OF THE LATE WAR.
n cOLoNE4 A. WILSON NORRIS.

| PIeH RS OF The LATE WAR
cOLoNEL A. WILSON NORRIS.
The flower OF the Mortified Army in tn
late waIwas with Mcclellan when befor
Richlaoid. His was prideful army--fu
of confidence in its prowess, and havin
unbouul1ed love and respect for it's chief.
had shlerfully withst ood the assault 9
| heat, hfgue and disease in the forests an,
marshes that abounded in that fateflil bel
OF land an which their disastrous ca mpaig
was conlucted. It had battled night an,
day with the fever cohorts that swarme,
out a Che malarious swemps. With
spirit 0f devotion to country that enable,
it to c0mbat with every form OF distress. i
awaited with restless but hopeful patienc
the happy hour when Richmond, the goa
ofits endeavors, would fall and list iumph
ant Iegfons would tread it's rebellion
streets. There we're points in the Fedora
lines from which the spires OF the city wer
plainly visible, and our proud army dali.
grew more fr. tful and diseontented, as tn
cautious policy OF its great leader dali,
put a'tighter curb upon it's impatience. L
was soon, hover, to try it's mettle to tn
utmost, aud to meet in the clash OF {
seven days fight the fierce and continuouI
blows ed the splendid army OF the Con
fetleract, who were there mustered uade
it's most trusted leaders b. fore the vers
gates of it's capital.
20 SEVEN DAYS CONTEST.
Few OF the young men and women :, I to
day can have any realization of the terri
bic anxiety that prevaded the North during
the critical period OF the seven days con
tests: Our people had just commenced te
appreciate the trying vicissitudes and thu
HORRORS of war. They were beginning to ap
prehsFd that the ARMY with whom we were
cOntending was fighting foe with extraor
binary skill among it's leaders and superior
courage in it's ranks. 1t was seen that the
South was outstanding her resources, and
to make provision for q protracted and
deadly struggle. Upon the result OF these
contests in Virginia or the Peninsula
therefore, largely depended the uture course
OF the North, and every eye scanned the in
telligelce from the front with an cage. ness
that bordered on anguish. An,lswhen the
tidiues came that day after day for seven
weary days our bra e troops were co, tend.
ing against their equally brave foe; that
every thicket copse and clearing along the
army's track from the Upper hickaho niny
to Malvern Hill was red with the gore and
streWn with the mangled remains OF the
dead and dying; that the broken and ex-
hausted columns of our magnificent army.
begrimmed vii smoke a d dust and blood
efesslowly but defiantly retreating; that
it turned again and again with fury and
splendid valor upon the exultant foe who
hung on it's heels, but each time the blow
grew fainter and weaker as it waged this
unequal contest with the enemy on it trail
and with the hunger, thirst, heat and ia
tigne that were overpowering and corsum-
ing it; when on the edge OF the river it hud-
died beneath the cover of our guns, ard
stood upon the very brink OF despair,
when these sickening and narrowing de-
/ tails flashed through the land. it is not
strange that the shadows darkened over
every hearthstone in the loyal No tn, aud
that a cry OF cruel and bitter disaptoint
ment went up from every loyal heart The
pride of the North was humbled, but it was
wiser, and the preparations it made for the
the magnitude of the struggle in which it
saw itself involved.
THE BATTLE OF OAK GROVE.
There ere often during the war prelimi-
nary engagements which were the mere pre-
ludes to great battles, but which entaiIed
upon those who participated therein greater
sacrifices and 50 of life than was incurred
by those who shared in the more ext, nded
conflicts which they had inaugurated. Tht
battle OF Oak Grove in the Peninsular ca M
pa :gn was one of those movements hich.
though Of 20 signalimportanes ITSELF lsrpke
up the long period OF inaction in McCeI-
lan's army, and brought on that series
of desperate battles which resulted in the
withdrawal OF his army from before Rich
mond. To secure the approach to the
plateau of what was called the Old Tavern
Mcclellan, following the policy OF overcau-
tion which SO distinguished and marred his
whole carer, began to maneuvre as if in
the conduct OF a siege ond extended his left
wing by sending Hooker with his division
along the road from Williamsburg to Ri h.
mond. Hooker, with his accust omed valor,
dislodged tn. Confederate forces from a
small wood called Oak Grove, but, miscon-
STRUNG an order sent him. withdrew and
abanIoned the advantage he had gained.
The error was discovere by Mcclellan and
Kearney's and Couch's divisions were sent
to Hooker's support. Kearney had at
this early date distinguished himself at
Williamsburg, and his followers knew tn v
were led by soldier OF experience and
great gallantry, whose fame was already
well esta blished in both hemispberes. and
they devotedly went wherever his sabre
pointed the way.
The battle of Oak Grove was fought on
June 25, 1862, and has received but little
notice from historians by reason of the
greater struggle of the seven following days.
The part that the Twentieth Regiment. OF
indiana Volunteers, under the command OF
Colonel William Brown, took in this fight
was conspicuous, and deserves more than
passing mention. Attached to Robirson's g
Brigade of Kea1ney's division. it was one
of the few regiments from it's State in the
Army OF the Potomac, called into line early
in the morning of June 25, it at once
moved forward with the brigade across a
half mile of slashed timber in front Of the
Federal works south OF the williamsburg
road. Passing throu h deep swamp, OBJ
structed with fallen timber, the regiment
formed line of battle on the Richmond side
OF the swamp, and advanced mile towards
the rebel capital, through thick woods,
where the enemy's pickets were met and
driven ia. Pushing on, the command
reached an extensive clearing within three
and hall miles, and in view OF the spires
of Richmond. At this juncture the enemy s
sharpshooters, and a well sustained fire
from his artillery admonished the regiment
that hot and serious work was at hand,
ing and opened fire. An irregular fusilad
was continued, with intervals of short du-
ration, until 2 p. m. The regiment was
then ordered to lie down to await the pro-
gress OF Hooker's division on the right,
which was then advancing on the Williams
burg road, and having some severe fighting.
After remaining in this position for An hour
under fire OF battery on the opposite side
of the clearing, the regiment, numbering
500 men, was ordered to make II dash
across the open field in front, dislodse the
rebel infantry and establish line still
nearer the Confederate capital.
GALLANT CHARGE.
This movement was put into execution
under the eye OF the gallant Kearney him.
self who had before used the Twentieth
Indiana in an exceptionally haza rdous
service and knew OF what heroic stuff it was
made. The space over which the charge
was to be made hal been a conrfield, and
extended in width about 200 yards, and
was bordeIed on both sides by Fl ont for a
distance of $50 yards to rail fence. be-
hind which the enemy "ere lying down. A
large force OF Confederate infantry was con-
cealed in the woods on either side OF the
field, which fact was unknown to the Gen
eral, or the order would never have been