The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1898-08-25

in all, and taking 81 prisoners, of whom 10
were wounded.
Directly afterward. Gen. Fitz-John Porter,
commanding the Fifth Corps, on our right,
was ordered by Gen. Mcclellan to advance
from New Bridge via MechanicsvilIe to
Hanover Courthouse, in order to facilitate
and render secure Gen. McDowell's expected
junction from Fredericksburg. Starting at
3 a. M. May q, in a pouring rain, our cav
airy advance, under Gen w. II. Emery, had
reached at noon a point two miles southwark
of she Courthouse, where the road forks 10
Ashland, and where the enemy were found
in position to bar our further progress
The 25th n. Y. and Berdan's Sharpshooters
speedily coming up, they were deployed by
Gen. Emory. with section of Benson's bat
terry, and thus advanced slowly toward the
enemy until reinforced by Gen. ID. c. But
;erfeld, with four regiments Of his brigade
when the enemy was charged and quickly
routed; one of his guns being captured by
Col. Lansing's 18th n. Y.
The cavalry, Benson's battery and Gen.
Morell's infantry and artillery keenly pur
sued the fugitives while Martindale's Bri-
gade, with section of artillery, advanced
on the Ashland road, pushing back the enemy
in his front, until ordered to reform his bri-
gade and move up the railroad to the Court
house.
One regiment having taken that course,
Gen. Martindale was left with but two and
half regiments and one section of Martins
battery, when he was attacked by a superior
force and compelled to maintain the unequal
contest for an hour.
Meantime, Gen. Porter. at the Courthouse,
learning that his rear was thus attacked,
faced his whole column about and moved
IN fha and
18th n. Y, with Griffin's battery, directly to
Martindale's assistance, pushing the 9th
Mass. and cd Pa. through the woods on the
right WEST to take the enemy in flank;
while Butterfeld, with the SD Pa. and 18th
Mich, fastened through the woods still
farther TO the right and completed the rout
of the enemy
The 18th N Y, of Col. G. K Warren's
Brigade, which. having been delayed repair
ing bridges, had not hitherto been in action
now came up on our left, and, the odds being
too palpable, the COnfederates made rapid
retreat. Their loss is stated by Gen. Nc
Clcllan at some 200 killed, 730 prisoners (in-
GLIDING wounded) one 12-pound howitzer,
many small arms two railroad trains, and
their camp at Hanover Courthouse captured
aid destroyed. We lost So killed and 344
waanded. The rebel force thus defeated
of North Carolina and Georgia troops, sup
posed by Gen. Mcclellan to be 5000 strong.
FOURTH CORPS ADVANCES.
The Chickahominy opposite Richmond,
90 OF 30 miles from its mouth, is a sluggish,
oozy mill-stream, three to four rods wide,
often fordable, but traversing swampy,
miry bottom, generally wooded, half mile
to mile wide, bordered by low, irregular
bluffs.
All the bridges by which it was previously
crossed were of course, destroyed in their
retreat by the rebels, but Brig Gen. H. NJ.
Naglee, Of Casey's Division, Keyes's (Fourth)
Corps. leading our advance On the left,
crossed it near Bottoms Bridge, May 90,
without difficulty, wholly unopposed, fol-
lowed by the rest of the corps three DAYS
later the bridge having meantime been re-
built.
During the three following days-May
"a, 25 and 26-Naglee made spirited recon-
neissanee toward Richmond. and 70 within
two miles of the James, on our left; COUGHS
Division took up-May %, by order-a posi-
ton some miles in advance at q place known
rs the Seven Pines, on the direct road from
Bottoms Bridge to Richmond, which he pro-
ceeded hastily to fortify with abatis, rife
pits, etc, and by building and arming
small redoubt
Meantime, the remaining division (Casey's)
Of Keyes's Corps was advanced to and en-
camped about the station known az Fair
Oaks, on the Richmond & York River Rail-
road, to the right and rather in advance of
COUGHS position.
Heintzelman's (Thirdl Corps had crossed
after keyes's, and been stationed in his rear,
but rather TO the left, so as to observe the
roads debouching on that side from White
Oak Swamp, whereby we might be unex-
pectedly assailed in flank. Summers Corps
was still north of the Chickahominy, some
miles higher up, ready TO cross at command
Gen. Mcclellan was with Fitz-John Por-
tiers and Franklin Corps at and near New
Bridge, nearly 10 miles above Bottoms
Bridge. Heintzelman, as senior Major Cen
eral, was in command Oh the left until Sum-
ner appeared.
The enemy being seen In force barely a
mile from our front, Casey's pickets were
posted some half a mile in advance of his
line 1t rained heavily throughout the night
OF May 80, swelling the Chickahominy to
an extraordinary hight, flooding its miry
bottom, and setting afoat several Of our new
made bridges
Gen. Joe Johnston, who commanded the
rebel army, saw his opportunity, and re
eSHNAf~N W PApAb ~ Az. AhC luAuc VI al
that region center en- Richmond, radiatin.
thence lake the folds of fan, and afiording
considerable advantage in manuvering to tn
combatant who holds the city.
JoHNsToS's PREPARATIONS.
Informed by his scouts Of the number
and isolated position of Keyess Corps John
ston resolved to assail and crush it before
could be adequately reinforced To this en
he directed Ma. -Gen. Longstreet, with hi
Own and Gen. ID. Ii. Hills Divisions, tn
latter in advance, TO push out by the VII
iamsburg road and attack our position Il
front, while Gen. Hnger's. on "a right. wa
to move down the Charles City road an
come in on our left flank; and Gen. Gusta
vus w. Smith was to move out on the Me-
Bridge road TO Old Tavern, taking theme
the Nine-mile road to Fair Oaks Station, an
50 come in on our right The entire reb,
army defending Richmond-some 40, 600 {
$4,000 strong-was either engaged in or SUI
porting this movement, with Jefferson Davi
Gen. Lee, and other magnates observing, d
recting, animating, and giving counsel.
The attacking columns were to move
daybreak, May 81, but the tremendor
rains of the preceding afternoon and nigl
had SO flooded the earth as tG render the mo
ing of artillery exceedingly difficult, the il
fattry often wading through mud and wat
two or three feet deep. Huger's flank NOV