The National tribune., 1900-03-15
id peninSu1ur'
ADdys~
rhe Pursuit and the Fair Oaks Fight.
By ]. A. WRIGHT, lst MINI.

scholarly Chaplain, Rev. e. D. Neil, as the
place where Washington was married.
From this camp we marched to point near
the Chickahominy River, about May %.
1t will lie remembered that it was the treach,
erous mud of the Chickahominy that held
Capt. John Smith fast when he was cap
turcd by the followers Of Powhatan.
While in front of Yorktown our regiment
had been on duty part of the time rs
pioneers" After reaching the Chicka-
hominy our first work was 10 bridge its
t;Irbid waters and build roads across its
muddy bottoms. On our left Heintzclman
and Keycs had already crossed their di-
visions to the south side of the river, and
Po-tcr's troops had extended from our
right toward Hanover Court House.
Several bridges We're built across the
Chckahominy as soon as the left wing
had established itself OH the south side of
the river. for the express purpose of rein
forcing the portion of the army on that
side if necessary. But these bridges were
not built with a clear conception Of possible
rises, anu when the emergency came all
but one. / think, were found to be useless.
This one was the bridge built by the Second
Division, and was known as Grapevine
Bridge, also Summers Bridge.
II was the happy though of someone TO
utilize the many vines ciinging 10 the 'ees
cut TO mike this bridge more secure by
winding them around the joints of the ties;
and cribbing and weaving them into the
ends of the flooring. The bridge was
made by building cribs for piers across the
stream, connecting them with stringerS and
flooring with small logs split i'll half. The
N iterial for the bridge was cut along the
stream. notched. pinned. joined together,
but no nails or bolts were used. 50 far as |
know. | am not positive as to the exact
date when the regim mt was detailed for
work on this bridge, but think it was just
before or just after Porter's movem mt
toward Hanover Court House.
Conl AIDES who were there know that
from Inc time Il portion Of the army Was
placed Oh the south side of the Chick l.
hom;uy there Was considerable talk about
the dangers CT being attacked while ouc
forct3 We're divided. / rem 2mber this to
have been the case when we were at work Oh
the bridge. and that we felt the situation
was greatly in lcOYed when We had Cu-
bridge completed. | do not nov recall
what other ragi:I Eats were Oh the bridge
building detaii
1t was late a. night when the work was
finished, and raining as usual. 1t fained
nearly all the tiInG III Apr'i and May. 1852.
| think the bridge was com 1ieted May %.
| recall the heavy rains of May 80 and
general discomfortS along the banks Of the
river. The rain fell in torrents. flooded
our camps OIL the bottom; and made life iii
oar pu2-tents only Il miserable existence.
Il y L \
May 81. 1862, IS STAMPED upon nay
~ IN ;ry by two event; which left strong
iIaGressions. ! The first and IN )st pleasing
of these was the reading of congratulatory
orders infJrlning us that cur reputation as
soldiers had already crossed the ocean:
that Gen. H. 5. Sanford. L. ;. Minister al
Brussels. with the compliments Of the
King of Be;eiui had presented to our
regiment battery OF three light steel guns,
with equipments and harnesses complete.
1t was inscribed To the First Minnesota
Regiment Volunteers. Tribute TO Patri
otism and Valor. Brussels, 1861" This
was in recognition Of our services at the
first battle of Bull Run. This was highly
flattering TO our regimental and State
pride. and although most unexpected was
none the less gratifying on that account.
We acknowledged the generous gift from
our royal patron beyond the sea with three
cheers and tiger" I'VE always ended our
with a "tiger') and abruptly
broke ranks to avoid sudden shower.
The second event was the crossing the
river and participation in the bloody drama
at Fair Oaks.
To make my points clear. ] will say that
made my debut on the field of Fair Oaks
with the troops who came to the support Of
the right or the line under Gen. ID. y. Couch
on the Richmond side Of the Chickahominy.
May 81. 1852. The troops who advanced
to the assistance of their comrades over the
river were those composing the First and
Second Divisions of the Second CorpS-all
there was Of that corps on the Peninsula.
The Second Division moved first, and ]
think was the only ones reaching the field