The National tribune., 1886-04-29

hstfery. in rear of the woods behind the
yheatfeld. by order of Gen. Banks, through
a staff officer. The other three regiments
are in line in the woods overlooking the
wheatfield; the 10th Pa. on the right 2Sth
n. Y. in the center, and 9th Conn. on the
left. Six companies of the Sd Wis, under
Col Ruger are in the woods near Crawford.
The latter wishes them to form on his right,
but Ruger declines to do this without or
ders from Gen. Gordon. On receiving posi-
tive order from Capt. Wilkins, of Gen. Will
liams's staff, the command is given.
Crawford sends staff officer to Gen.
Banks TO have the artillery fire stopped over
tie field he was ordered to cross. Taking
Of his coat and sword
HE CRAwLs THROUGH THE WOODS
to the edge of the whestfeld and reeonnoi-
tiers. He says in his report:
found the opposite woods filed with the ene-
plys infantry in my front, well as two acres OF
clinkapin bushes directly on my right. We were
so close that the enemy had discovered our move
ments, and awaiting US, prepared Before
me from the skirt of the woods. stretched wheat
field, with the wheat in shocks q distsnce of $50
yards to the opposite woods. 1t was down a gen.
tie slope TO small nlarshy run that skirted the
opposite woods. At the point OF the woods on the
main Fuad the battery of the enemy. sent
back Gen. Banks for section OF brass guns l2-
pounccrsl- in order that might shell the opposite
woods and shake the enemy's infantry. he sent
me back word that IL was the decisive movement
of the day, and that must move st once.
Crawford returns to his brigade. Capt
Bush and Adi't Sprout, of the 2Sth n. Y,
also so TO the front, and peering through the
bushes see the wood on the right Of the field
filled with rebel skirmishers, not hundred
yards away, and they return TO their COM
mand.
Meantime Col. Ruger takes his six COM
panies of the Sd Wis. (267 officers and men
to the right of Crawford's position, and for
some unknown reason, misconstruction of
orders, or delay on the part of Crawford,
these six companies, led by Col. Ruger,
Lieut.-Col Crane and Mai. Scott, push on,
gain the edge of the woods overlooking the
wheatfield, push over and climb the rail
fence in their front, and are in the fatal
wheatfield alone. Their line is across the
field facing the road, and the rebel battery in
the road is nearly in their front. Without
orders the men rush for the battery, but
when some so or 60 yards from the fence
they receive so destructive fire from the
front and right flank, that they are COM
pelled to halt and return. The right COM
pany was but few rods from the chinkapin
bushes. which are filled with rebel skirmish-
ers. The first volley kills LieutCol. Crane,
wounds Maj. Scott in the shoulder, kills
Capt. Hawley, who commanded the right
company, and kills or wounds one-third of
his men. In very few moments Col. Ruger,
finding that he is unsupported, gives the
order to fall back into the woods and reform,
which is done, with loss Of so killed and
wounded. including every field officer.
Meantime Crawford has got on his coat
and sword and formed his line ready for the
charge. He says: 81 formed my command
and moved forward to the fence, which had
to take down in full view of the enemy"
"FIX BAYoNETs! CHARGED"
and into that fatal field across the stubble,
down the slope, across the run upthe rise to
the fence in the edge of the woods go 300
as brave men as ever loaded musket or
handled saber, led by Col. Dudley Donnelly,
of the 2Sth y. Y, a fit leader for brave men.
From tie time they enter the wheatfeld the
storm RACES. The pitiless leaden hail comes
frcHl the front and right flank, but on they
sweep with resistless force until the fence
Is reached. Then there is a first halt for
breath, and the men begin firing through
the fence. The fence is mounted by Serg't
Barrett, Co. III, 46tb Pa, who looks along the
line, and at first sees no one on it; bat in a
few seconds the saber bayonets of the 2Sth
n. 7. and 9Th Conn. are mounting it, and he
sings ont TO his men to stop firing, and not
let the 2Sth and 9th boys get ahead of them.
The Ist Va. Tor Irish battalion fires three
rounds, is struck by the 26th n. Y, and breaks
not again 20 be rallied. About half of the 46th
Pa. get over the fence and find no enemy in their
front. The right wing is engaged for short
time with the 10th Va, Maj. Stover,) which for
few moments arrests its progress; but Maj.
Slower finds that the Irish battalion has fallen
back and that the 18th boys are swarming on
h 1saFff f.F,,. ,rf,eA nd haf fa1lc hoo
The 5th Conn. goes for the AID Va. Lieut.
Col. Gar8ett, seeing that there is disorder and
rout On the left Of his line, orders Maj. Lane,
commanding the 42d Va, to change front I"
to meet the iaak attack, but Lane is killed be-
fore he can give the order, and the example of
the Irish battalion, aided by the impetus of the
charge OF the gallant 9Th Conn.,, led by COL
Chapman, quickly sends the 42d Va. in disorder
and confusion to the rear.
0urmen rush on. There is no regular order, n o
formal lire; all that has been lost in the hurly-
burly Of the charge across the field and the
driving the enemy from their position in the
woods. But they all know that the battery in
the road is :
THEIR OBJECTIVE POINT,
ard away they go, bearing toward it! They
leave the 4osh Va. to their left and rear, and
approach unseen within 20 or 30 PAGES of the
21st Va. The 21st and 45th Va. are busily
engaged with Geary's Ohoans on the other
side OF the road. The first SalutatlOn the 21st
gets is nGrderous fire poured into them from
the rear. Lieut.-Col. Cunningham is in COM
mand, aud is on the left, near the 18th. He
gives command which cannot be understood
on the right and is soon mortally wounded, and
the command falls on Capt. Witcher. The
Adjaiait is captured; coior-bearer after color
bearer is shot down; hand-t9-band fight
takes place, and the regiment is finally driven
intiisoideT from the field. The 4Sth Va. finds
itself nearly surrounded. Its supports on right
apa lcft are driven away, and it retires from
its position ia confusion.
Crawierd's three regiments have driven Gar
nett's force in disorder from its line and have
reached their objective point-the battery in the
road. Adj Sprout, OF the 18th n. Y, is killed
by the side of one of the guns. But the organ
izatfon of the brigade is gone. Knpe and
Selfridgc Colonel and Lieutenant Colonel of
the 45th Pa are wounded in the wheatfeld !;
many OF the line officers are killed or wounded.
The excitement is intense, and after the fleeing
rebels 20 the men of Crawford's command, re-
gardless OF battery or order. Portions of them
cross the road into the field In front Of the bat
terry and ia rear of Taliaferro's Brigade and
their fire in rear; with the stampede of Gar
nett's Brigade, sets Taliaferro in motion to his
TisJlt and rear. The panic spreads to Early's
troops, who, seeing the confusion and retreat
on their left, added to the fire of Geary's force
IN front, share in the Decentralization, and half
of them leave their position and go TO the rear.
The 46th Va, in attempting TO reach the rear,
passes through scattered groups of our First