The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1890-06-25
War "REMINISCENCES.
"REB" REvIs1Ts THE SEAT OF WAR AF-
TER TWENTY-EIGHT YEARS.

Familiar Sights and Scenes in and
Around the BattIenelds OF Gaines
Mill, ChickahOminy, EllisOn's
Mills. MechanIcsville and AdjOin.
ing Places.
On May 30, $780, In company with ]. F. Lati-
mer, d. D.. OF Virginia, Gen. r. r. Hemphill
of Abheyille, and Messrs. w. r. Dunn and
of the historic battle fields around Richmond
After some trouble and delay In getting O
suitable conveyance, we left Richmond about
10 o'clock A. NJ, reaching the Chickahominy
very much changed since last we saw it. The
low fiat swaInpy lands along the Chickahom.
lny have not changed so much. The swamps
are used for pasture lands. We saw very lit
Richmond and the Chickahominy and be.
yond the swamps have changed so that 1t is
| very difficult TO locate with any certainty the
camping grounds of the armies.
We arrived at the Gaines farm about IL
o'clock. We halted for a short while ut the
residence of Mr.. William Gaines, who showed
us many attentions. We saw the blood-stain'
ed floor OF Mr.. Gaines house. He Is living In
the same house he occupied before the FEEDER.
ais taken possession, and used 1t for hos
pltal. The hallway was where the surgeons
amputated the limbs OF the Federal soldiers
wounded at the battle Of McChanicsville
house also for hospital after the battle o.
| Gaines Mill. The floor Is Il dark color, caused
by hood stains. Securing will not take 1t up
paint Will not hide 1t either.
In the grove around the house signs o.
where tents were pitched twenty-eight years
ago can be seen. The bitches that were cut 70
keep out water can be seen. Some Of the
camps are now In high state Of cultivation
The most OF the land is planted in cabbage
potatoes, tomatoes and strawberries, and
some clover fields.
MIR. Gaines kindly consented to show us the
important points OF the battle ground o.
Gaines Mill. After resting our team about
thirty minutes we froye on In the direction
Of the Mill. About four hundred yards from
the Gaines mansion we came to the road lead
ing to Gaiues Mill. We then followed the
same road that Greggs Brigade followed In
1862 A drive Of one mile brought US TO the
ola mil sight The old brick house ,naoS %as de-
is used now. Some Of the old walls are still
standing Part of our company secured some
of the brick out OF the wall and brought
home with them as memento.
We offered TO buy bushel OF meal ground
on the mill to send home, but failed to get
any. Some Of us imagined that cake ol
corn bread ground at Gaines Mill would be
something extra.
The hills around the mill have changed
very little since we last saw them. On the
hill west of the Powhitc creek where so many
suller and commissary stores were destroyed
After leaving the mill we followed the road
leading direct to- that part OF the battlefield
where Gregg's Brigade attacked the enemy
June q, 1862. The field opposite the mill and
since the war, and partly cleared again. We
followed the direct road TO the field where
Crensbaw's Battery was planted and shelled
the 50 fSrousy DR. Gnkscaes af ,6S
battery. III this field was the writer's first
view Of the enemy in line OF battle. Co. G
lost two men up to this point, Samuel Reid
on the Goth, DR.. Clinkscales on 9th, both kill
Through the same field the Confederates
built q line Of heavy earthworks in 1864. The
line run at right angles with the line of battle
in 1862. Near this point was where the FEEDER
al lines made such desperate efforts In 1854 to
break through the Confederate lines and were
SO badly handled. There is large Federal
cemetery near by, where thousands are bur
led. Owing to the thick underground we
Brigade just before the battle was opened
We followed the road leading beyond the
branch. After crossing the branch we were
on that part Of the battlefield where Orr,t
Regiment Of Rides were 50 roughly handles
| we Qcated the ravine where the command
were erdered TO lie down and rest. The
ground dlaA--9hich Orrs Rifles charged have
changed 20 that weeauld scarcely realize ina, s1
pines: some of them almost as Large as q
mans body. Part OF the field has been clear
ed again and in cultivation. Two negrocao
lns stand in the clearing on the ground owe
which the charge was made. The piece o
wood land in which the enemy were posted \
now cleared land, but not in cultivation thi
year.
on in the direction Of the McGee house, fol
! lowing the line Of works occupied by the enc
my. The earth works are still there, ant
were very strong. After seeing how well they
were fortified and the shape Of the line
battle we could see the trap that we run into
The line was in such shape that our troop
would be exposed to a flank fire either way
they could go. We also visited that part Q
them and turned their flank.
From this part Of the line we turned ant
visited the Parsons and Watt house farms
where Longstreets corps and other com com
there now Of the conflict. From the Wat
house we had fair view of the Chickahomi
ny swamps and bottoms. MIR. Gaines pointed
out to US where McClelland's military roat
was built.
From this point we drove up to Ellison
Mill on Beaver Dam creek, where part Of tht
troops engaged the enemy in the battle o
around the mill appears very much the same
it was twenty-eight years ago: Just abov'
the mill the enemy were strongly entrenchet
on hillside north OF the stream: A body o
|
but tailed to dlslodge them. The charge wa!
made direct In their front, across piece o
lowand on the creek. The loss was very
heavy along this line, the enemy being postee
on the hillside, with two or three lines O.
earth works. The lines above could fire over
the heads OF the troops posted nearer the base
OF the hill, which give them every advantage
On this piece Of ground was where we mrs
saw the realities of war. When we passed
there the next morning the dead were scat
| tered oil over the field.
| The enemy evacuated their works on the
night OF the 2Gth. Jackson's troops was on
| their right flank, causing them TO change
their base to another point, (Gaines Mid
The open fields between Ellison's Mill and
MeChanicsville have changed very little. Ihe
same can be said Of the country between NC
Chanicsville and the Chickahominy The
country Is open, and appears just as II did IN
We stopped few minutes at the village o.
McChanicsville to look around the nlstoric
place. We passed near there twenty-eigh,
Years ago, but did not have the time or oppor
tunity TO take notice OF the village. Ihe same
old homestead Is still standing with some al
dltional buildings since: There IS one store
there now that Is occupied; another one that
was closed the day we were there.
From this place we travelled the turnpike IN
the direction OF Richmond: Crossing the
Chickahominy we noticed the lowlands on
each side OF the stream were used principally
for pasture lands. Large droves Of cattle were
TO be seen grazing over the marshy PLAIN
Tie lunU IL 80 IaL dlu UO6S IuAt fSlJ hSttS vi
il is cultivated. Being so near the city sup
pose the present business is more profitable
than farming.
on the south side Of the Chickahominy the
old forts and carthworks are still standlng,
nearly as complete as when McClelland was
in front of Richmond with Ills mighty most
Tho most of the earthworks near the CITY
have been lcvelcd down since the war. Iime
Is gradually obliteratins Tie traces ol Inc iate
unpleasantness.
In another generation or two the heroes OF
the mighty conflict will be almost forgotten
by the masses. At another time we may give
You some or our observations around Peters
burg, and the battle grounds OF Seven Pines. Pin
nrAnu 1upKs IN THE WELL