The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1891-05-28

that the enemy's left flank was impregnable
10 direct attack, IN consequence Of tie IN
equa.itiey OF the ground and the fact that
the front Of his works was in most places
covered by timber Of considerable growth,
much Of which had been slashed downs it
was not possible for our troops to avoid
falling into disorder in attempting 10 pass
through these slashings, so that, If they did
get up TO the onemy's works, they were IN
no condition To make massive rush upon
them. The enemy
HAD TAKEN FULL ADVANTAGE
of the natural facilities of the ground and
received the attacks with exultant courage,
his troops frequently poking their heads up
over their bTeastWOrls and inviting the as
sailauts to come on.n
While these operations were In progress,
Gen. Wright had bsea urging q column OF
the Sixth Corps 10 assault the works on our
lofl (casi side OF the Brock road. This
column consisted OF Upton's lSec5ndi Bri-
gade and Eusiis's Third Brigade of the
First Division, and Neill's (Thirdl Brigade
OF The Second Division, in the order named,
and supported by Grants Vermont Brigade
the whole under the leadership of Upton.
Gen. Motifs Division, of the Second Corps
had been placed under Wrghts command 10
cooperate in this attack, and was formed on
the left rear of Upton, with instructions 10
follow closely, and either assault the line TO
the left Of Uptons point Of contact or act IN
immediate support Of the latter, as occasion
might require. A grove Of pines enabled
Upton TO form his column under cover with
in less than a thousand feet Of the enemys
works, but Mott was compelled 10 form in
the open ground Of the shelton farm, where
Ie soon attracted the attention Of tie rebel
artillery. Much time was consumed m max
ing these dispositions. The intention was TO
make this attack in conjunction with those
Of Warren and GibbOn, already described.
But those attacks had failed before > p. m,
aid this one did not begin until g o'clock, or
alter
When all was at last in readiness, Nc
Kuight'sand McCartney's batteries NJ, 9th
u. =, and the 1st Mass were sent down the
road past the right Of Upton's column. They
fired some dozen rounds per gun, and when
they ceased
UPTON MOVED FORWARD.
The first line. consisting of the 9th Me-,
l2lst n. Y, 9Gth and 18Th Pa, got across
the 300 yards Of open ground between the
woods and the works in a few minutes, and
with loud cheers climbed upon the enemy's
paIapet. During the rush across the field
they had been subjected 10 a close and
deadly FIRE both from the works in their
front and from the angle on their left. They
lost heavily, but maintained their formation.
The enemy made a brief effort TO defend his
line, but was speedily hurled out Of il, sew
oral bayonet wounds being inflicted in the
melee. The other regiments of UptOn's
column were promptly in their places, the
I whole command entered the encmy's works
and swept forward toward the Courthouse.
A short dislancc-say, 60 rods-lr0m the
/ first line Of works was a house tHarTisOn's), /,
I and about 80 rods back OF that was Trigg's
/ house, where Lees headquarters temporarily
were This house was on the main road
/ leading 10 the Courthouse, about a mile
I away Between HarrisUn's and TTigg's was
a second lire Of works with artillery. Up
! toms column took this line also with II
I guns. This was the real crisis Of the day.
4 Upton had broken the center of the enemy Is
/ line and had penetrated his second line OF
4 works. Had he been closely followed and
supported 10y one good, steady division, it is
! highly improbable that the enemy could
/ have mustered force enough TO TeiaEe bis
works, particularly rs Li- artillery was lost.
4 Butno support came. Motifs Division made
no effort beyond a slight advance OF Neal
4 listers Brigade, which recoiled faom the
enemy's artillery fire before getting half
way across Shelton's field. The rebels
WERE ACTIVE ENoUGH.
/ The fogce holding the first line was part ol
Hgdess Division lDales's and Daniels Bri-
gades This force was nearly annihilatod
/ th0se who ESCAPED death or capture in the
4 lIst attack beng dispersed. Gen. Upton
however, bad 10 halt lis own column 10 re-
store order, the impetus Of the charge and
the excitement Of forcing two lines ol
works ia rapid succession having neces.
saIily thrown the troops into mole Oh les;
confusion.
Gordon now appeared with his own di.
vision and two or three bngades from Other
comuands-a force vastly greater than Up
;On--and assajled the latter in front and
on both ilanks
il was now halcpast seven o'clock and
growing dusk. Upton had sent all th'
cJuricgs be had back TO report his progress
and 10 say that he could hold what he hal
gained until dark. Gen. Russell, command
ing the First Division, now joined Upton il
the works and informed him that, owing Il
the latencss Of the hour, the fiilure Of Mot
20 support as designed, and the repulse o
Wauen's and Gibbons attacks, il WaE de
c.ded 10 withdraw. Accordingly lie hel,
ONTO the outer line Of works till about 5 ,
m and then retired under cover Of Tia
darkness
} This, beyond doubt, was one Of the mos
brilliant exploits Of its kind in military an
nails. Its failure was due 10 the lack Of con
cert, or even oI cohegeEcy, which had chaIac
tcgzed every operation thus far on that III
omeHcd field. Bat 10 at least showed tha
/ there were places where the rebel line coul,
be broken.
The In of May WAS consumed in dem
, onsiTating on our right, TeconnoiteTiDg ant
sharpshOoting. There was considerable al
tilIery fire all day, particularly on the front
Of the Second and Sixth Corps, and some O.
that Of tie Ninth. 1T was mainly done {
: suppress the eHcmy's sharpshooters n
! event Of Importance occurred during th
} day, baJ the brains Of the armyn al head
? quarters were busy planning for big wOr
J on the morrow. 10 the troops my recolle,
fion is that the lth Of May was the me;
restfal day We saw during the month.
TO be c0atiHuedl