The National tribune., 1900-07-26

HE ASKED ME TO
he could not question Brigadier as to
his right to the streets of Washington
But it was not the end. The Captain was
tried for something more serious than de.
tanning the general officer and dismissed
from the service.
Here it was, in the early FALL that the
noble hearted and chivalrous Capt. n. II.
Davis left Co. G, % U. S., in order to ac-
cept the Colonelcy of the 7th Mass, but
he soon resigned and was appointed to the
Inspector General Department of the
Regular service. He was one of the best
officers we ever knew. During the Win
ter of 1861, go the Regulars were COM
fortably quartered in large houses in the
city. Early in March, 1862, the army,
anticipating a move, all Regulars were Or
dered to the vicinity Of Alexandria, Va,
where they became part and parcel Of the
Army Of the Potomac.
GALLANT SYKES.
The infantry formed two brigades Of a
division, commanded by Brig.-Gen. Geo.
Sykes No braver officer unsheathed
sword in war for the Union. Chivalrous,
valiant and enthusiastic on all occasions
was patriotic George Sykes, of Delaware;
always on the keen lookout for the well
fare of his men. both In camp and on the
march; but strict disciplinarian in all
things military.
The Army Of the Potomac having been
concentrated in the neighborhood Of Alex
andria with a view to moving against the
Confederate army of Northern Virginia,
commanded by Joseph Il. Johnston, by
way of Warrenton and Culpeper, was
ballied in that line, SO that McClellan's 8
original ard fayorite plan Of moving on
acccded to by the War Department, and
the army soon after embarked on trans
ports for Fort Monroe. Early in April,
1862, the Army Of the Potomac, the finest
in the world, was camped in front of
Yorktown, the right resting on the York
and the left on the James. Yorktown was
defended by not more than 5000 men, un-
der Magruder, but they had already
thrown up very heavy earthworks and
planted in front of these works two lines
of torpedocs, to which wires were at
tached from one to another, SO that line
of infantry marching over them to the
attack of the works would be at a great
disadvantage once the shells began to eY-
plode, beside being at the mercy Of the
enemy behind his works.
Parallel lines were thrown up by Nc
CleIlan, but when they were about COM
pleted Magruder evacuated Yorktown, fol-
lowed by Sumner and the Second Corps
Magruder made a stand at Williamsburg,
10 miles away, and invited battle, which
was accepted by Bull in the Woods"
Sumner.
Here it was that the intrepid Hancock
was pronounced superb for the gallant
manner in which he handled his command
in capturing the works and putting the
rebels to rout.
LITTLE OR NOTHING GAINED.
About May 20 the army found Itself
in the vicinity of Richmond, pitching its
CAMPS at Gaines's MILL Tunstal Station,
Mechanicsville, Cold Harbor and other
places Of vantage, where good water was
an object in view. Gradually the several
corps moved across the hickahominy un-
til nothing was left on the east side Of
that stream but the Fifth, under Fitzjohn
Porter. Toward the end Of May q move
ment Of the Fifth Corps was made to-
ward Hanover Court House, in order to
discern JacEson's movements to intercept
Mcdowell, who was to join Mcclellan
from Culpeper, but the movement had lit
tie or no effect, a cavalry brush with q
small party OF the rebels at Hanover, be-
ing the only result of the expedition.
Fair Oaks was brought on In the two
latter days Of May through the culpable
negligence of Casey, who was entirely too
old man TO have command in the field
However. tho Confederate army, CON.
manded In person by Johnston, was
beaten bacl; and its commander wounded
An incident of this battle was the can
ture of Lieut.-Col. Long, who, when
brought over to our side oe the Chicka-
hominy and visited by his brother, Lieut.
Long. Of the ID U. S., would not recoe.
nize the Lieutenant in any way, shape or
manner. This Lieutenant Colonel wos
also of tho Regular Army previous to the
war.
On June % an attack was made on
the outposts at Mechanicsville, and
on the following day general bat
tie was fought at .Gaines's Mill
between the combined forces Of Jack
the Fifth Corps. under Fitzjohn Porter
NtO) strong. History tells us that The
Union forces, though far inferior in mum
bers, fought the day gallantly and brave
ly, disputin2 the field inch by inch till
long after sundown, when it retreated in