The National tribune., 1901-05-23
GRAPEVINE BRIDGE.
Unique Structure That Enabled Summers
Corps to cross the Chickahominy at Crit
ical Moment.

| Ohlquc oVl Audb LudulCu ouluuSi .
Corps to cross the Chickahominy at Crit
ical Moment.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: In a re-
cent issue L read with much interest an
article from Comrade John Mccormick,
| Co. Il, 9Th q. S. Cav, entitled "On the
| Peninsula" and as the comrade did not
enter into details. but merely mentioned
the circumstances which induced Gen.
Joseph T.. Johnston, commanding the
Army of Northern Virginia. to attack
| Gen. CaSey's troops at Fair Oaks Tor
Seven Pines, as the Confederates call it,,
they being the only troops If the Army
of the Potomac across the Chickahominy
River at this time, and were perhaps
placed in rather critical position by the
sudden attack of Gen. Johnston, now al
low an infantryman to here come to the
support of the cavalry and endeayor to
state as accurately as possible what Oc>
Cured at the battle of Fair Oaks
The night of May 30 1862 the Second
Corps encamped in the vicinity of the Ty
Ter House. Our division tSedgwick'sD was
Immediately pushed forward to a point
on the Richmond & York Railroad near
Bottoms Bridge, all the bridges over the
Chickahominy River having been de-
stroyed by the enemy.
Gen. Casey's Division. of Gen. Keyes
Corps, were ordered to ford the river and
take position on the high ground on the
south side. 1t being now considered very
important that our troops should gain a
more solid footing on the south side of the
ChickahOminy River. the engineers were
Immediately set to work repairing the old
and building new bridges. The regiment
to which | belonged i42d N. " was de-
tailed from the brigade Gen. DanasJ and
sent down to the river for the purpose OF
building a new bridge and the approach
thereto. While this was going on a ter
r1ble rain storm set in, lasting over 40
hours, swelling the river and for a time
stopping work on the bridge. This was
Gen. Johnston's opportunity. Being well
aware of the critical position in which
the elements had placed the Army of the
Potomac, he was not slow in taking ad-
vantage of il, by at once attacking the
isolated division of Gen. Casey. AL
though attacked by much larger force
and also taken at a disadvantage Gen.
Casey stoutly defended his position. and
when forced to give way by the pressure
of vastly superior numbers he fell back
slowly, gallantly cOntesting every inch of
ground.
The boys of the 42d \. Y. were being
employed as amateur engineers. one wing
of the regiment working alternately in
the river, the men up to their armpits
stout logs. and placing them in position,
lashing them together with rope. and
falling short of the latter, using the long
lengths of wild grape-vines, which abound
ed in the vicinity. From this fact the
bridge, when finished, was known as
Gen. Summers grapevine bridge. 1t rem
dered good service in the time of need.
When other bridges failed to accomplish
the object in view grapevine bridge
proved equal to the task, and although
intended only for the crossing of Gen
Sedgwick's D.E:a.G--, u Summers Corps,
the entire corps subsequently crossed over
this bridge to repel and hurl back III dis
order the desperate attack of the Army
Of Northern Virginia upon our flank
The night Of May 30 there was another
heavy rain storm, which again filed the
river to its banks, but our division tSedg-
wicks) had little difficulty in crossing.
The 42d n. Y, after crossing with its
brigade Gen. Dana's), upon arrival on
the south side on the morning Of MAY 81,
was again detailed, and after being or
dered to stack arms was set to work in
getting the artillery safely across the
swollen river. About this time the gal
liant Lieut.. Kerby, with his battery of
12-pound Napoleons, made his appearance
at the entrance to the bridge, and imme-
diately began crossing. determined that
he should not be left behind. while his
division was about to go into action After
crossing the river and while going up the
incline from the river bank. the gun car
riages sank over their aXles in the
marshy ground, and all the artillerymen
could not eStricate them. Our boys took
hold of the guns, and carried them back
some distance to more solid ground, where
the artillerymen again limbered up. and
as the first rattle of musketry was heard,
indicating the opening of the battle the
drivers whipped up their horses and gal
loped off to hold themselves in readiness
for the coming fray, in which the gallant
Kerby's Battery rendered such valuable
service.
The 42d n. Y. was kept busy working
on the bridge and in the river all through
the day and night of the 31st of May get
ting the artillery safely across the Chick
ahOminy and assisting the men in getting
their guns out of the mud on the south
side of the river. Owing to this fact the
regiment was not engaged in the first
days battle of Fair Oaks.
Early on the following morning. June
/, with our clothing and shoes soaking
wet, we received orders to join our bri-
gade at Fair Oaks Station as quickly as
possible. Tired out as our boys were this
was indeed good news, we being heartily
sick of our new occupation. Getting in
line and taking our arms, with a cheer
We were quickly in marching column, and
going at double-quick to join our COM
rades of the brigade at Fair Oaks. It
was now about 5 o'clock in the morning
June u, and our boys were marching
along with the water dripping from wet
clothing at every step, when we suddenly
heard the rattle of heavy infantry firing
from the enemy. Our boys now changed
the double-quick to a run, and in very
short time we were with our brigade in
line of battle Immediately on the right
of Fair Oaks Station. The enemy was
repulsed about o'clock a. IN. and driven
back in confusion. At the same time our
entire division was ordered forward, our
boys forcing the Confederates still far
ther back, thereby gaining considerable
ground on the right and in front of Fair
Oaks Station.
In a short time, however, the rebels
again made their appearance in much
larger force on our right flank. Coming
out of the woods in good order, and at
double-quich, they made a vigorous attack
along the entire line of our division This
attack was stubbornly met by the bri-
gades of Gems. German, Burns and
Dana, of Gen. Sedgwick's old division.
Son.e desperate fighting took place. The
troops on each side stood firm. Neither
side seemed willing to give way one inch
Just at this moment Kerby's Battery
made Its appearance at the angle of the
woods on our right, and opened heavy
and destructive fire Of grape and canister
along the snemy's line. They now broke