The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-05-31
THB BATTLE OF SEVEN PINES.
YEanG-Kinth Anniversary Of the Memo
rablc Conflict.
"REMINISCENCES OF A PARTICIPANT.
graphic Description Of the Tight--A Scene OF
Death and interesting Incl
dcnts-ACter the Battle.


with the advent Of the Slst of May, 1891.
memory goes back 20 the battle of Seven
Pines. that bloody precursor Of the seven
DAVIS 6cht around Richmond. To an old sol
der these anniversaries are an awakening of
III, rast. he leaves for the moment the peace
fllpaths Of his now uncventful life and dwells
mon the days when tho long roll beat ITO
arms" thrilling his soul and nerving his body
f9- the conflict it portendod. He hears again
ID imagination the dropping shots. the deep
booming Of artillery, then the crashing sound
Of continuous musketry The rapid march,
tac hasty formation of the line of battle. the
rushing charges with the maddening excite
tnent and then over all the wild ringing wells
ten the after hush that falls. when the bat
t.e A. over and nought remains but wounds.
death and sad regrets for the good and the
brave who that day have passed into the
shadows of the unseen. but not to the un-
known world, thank God Now for you boy,
WHO we're there all that day / am writing
YOU young fellows with the grey hair and the
cr7sly beard. yet with EYES that still brighten
and whose faces Stll beam a welcome upon an
oh comrade whose hands, now hardened by
toll (that used the musket WELD. it has been
sr honor for your writer TO grasp at a reunion
v ken Of not long since.
liAN WANAN WtN AlAO 4ANlOtnA0s NRiHb VlN
Cmbler viii say that We're promised. and
WY this long DEPRESSION, Twas 90 get you
WITH me. 10 strike the right chord of comrade-
slip and get shoulder 10 shoulder with you
once more as in Aud Lang Syne."
NIGHT BEFORE THE BATTLE.
Do You recollect the night before the battle
in our camps when lightning, fierce, vivid
almost binding followed by thunder crash
lns and reverberating ,ushered in torrent Of
run. that IT 1t did not sweep all the tents
away 10 swept under and around them, per-
msating everything and everybody. How in
that black darkness the men who walked with
81 cutter undermining them stood up but 10
have a smaller current rushing down their
,ertebra. IL was a wild night and much Ian
Cuage unparliamentary | am afraid was used
before the dawn was ushered in and the long
roll reused our camps. And fall in men,
changed the currene of our thoughts.
BRIGHT MAY MORNING.
On the roads over which the troops are
marching on that bright May morning rain
drops sparkle on every leaf. The sweetbrer
Wild rose and flowers innumerable exhale
their sweetness on the morning air. and hun
dreds Of Old Virginia s0ng-birds unite IN one
glad TIE Deum as we passed along between
the hedge rows all unconscious of that days
coming tragedy After wading swollen
streams. plunging through mud and mlre, the
column strikes the old Williamsburg road.
down which we continue our march, mighty
tired, q little soied and damp, and fighting
mad. Why could not odd Joe' (of blessed
memory have picked out better day: SAID
some but they were silenced by our regI-
mental strategist.who had received dispatch
by the grapevine telegraph that Little
Mac was crossing the Ohckahominy IN ferry
boats: and 50 we wondered and stumbled on.
ECHOES or THE FIRST GUSs.
About 1 o'clock the sound of the first guns
OF the battle were borne TO our ears. and
our command moved 10 the right of the road
in an open field, stacked arms opened hayer-
sacks. cut our teeth on some hard tack, and
listened % the music in our front, which ran
the gamut from the dull booming of artillery
10 the saving rafting sound of small arms.
This was not calculated 10 brace us up. but
We were coIlforted by the assurance OF our
strategist that we were TO be held in reserve
This delusion was sharply ended about four
O'Clock by the command Fall in men I" and
again We moved back upon the Williamsburg
road. the head of the column turning in the
direction OF the firing and We feel our time
has come.
FORWARD: DOUBLE QUIcK"
About this time q handsome. dashing young
staff officer, we'll mounted, rides up TO our
colonel touches his hat, speaks a few words,
and the command Forward. double quick.
march" rings out The men swing out in a
run: the young officer. Lawrence Maem rides
Oh 10 his death. We follow, and into the Jaws
Of death rush the six hundred" Every step
brings TO our view the marks of where the
battle Opened-dead men. dead horses, oyer
turned timbers, by StrIblings battery stuck
fast in the mud. but whose officers and men
We're struggling herOically and under a heavy
ire TO bring their guns into action, through
streams of wounded men and straggers fall
nag back. the latter a type of all such, with
the old story OF their commands having been
lr~ iaff ff fall the l4r
rowing story.
N THE FURY OF BATTLE.
Now we strike the hail of shot and shell
plunging around. shell with fuses well cut
burst over our column as it PUSHES on, wide
APPS are made as men are struck down and
cut. the command CLOSE up mem" rises out
and over the noise of the battle as left i'm
front we 60. Wheeling 20 the right at Caseys
camp OF Bankers house we halt for q mo-
ment to close up and for BREATH the enemy,
as yet unseen. pour III an lncessant ire which
sweeps the plateau as we emerge from be
ilud "a wood pile for the charge. Now amid
tle roar and tumut of the battle the shouts
o. the captains the dull thud of the bullets
us they strike home are heard and men fall
around is autumn leaves. Down 90 our
rO.0rs. only to be snatched from the |
leryeess hand 10 be waved aloft. to fall |
again, till passing through three gallant
hands, We fall back by command still under
f- folds % the reverse side of the enemys !
works. Here we return their fire as best we |
may and hold the enemy in check. New |
troops are rushed in with the same result. TO |
help us 10 hold the works carried by our |
troops.
NARROW ESCAPE.
Early-in the day came among them Colonel |
Moore with his regiment of Alabamians. The |
winter and several Others begged him 10 dis |
mount and walk under cover of the earth
works; he promptly refused and had only |
gone a few yards when he was Knocked from |
as horse and we ran to help him. IT'S no
l.e boys, am gone" he said. Where are
.ou struck, Colonel and he replied by put
ing bis hand 10 his side We took off his
word belt opened his coat and found a mimic
ball had struck in the centre OF his watch
md buried itself there but had not entered |
-is body. We righted him up, babe him god
peed and saw him start for his position on
.Ur right Before going far we saw him fall
lgsin with what result we never knew. as our
lsuds were toofull in keeping back the enemy
10 our front They advanced Their colors
several times 20 form a line fora charge. when
D. turn thalr c0lors fell under our fire and
they could aot form their line of battle.
A BRAVE BATTLE.
General Hammer called for volunteer 10 |