The National tribune., 1901-07-11
WORK OF u. S. ENGINEERS.
Military Bridges of the Army Of the Potomac
on the Chickahominy, 1862.

bridge across tne CnichauohIIy HlNel'
Such articles are valuable contributions
to history.
There were number of bridges and
crossings of the Chickahominy which
were DESTROYED upon the approach of Gen.
Mcclellan, May, 1862. Some of these
date back to the American Revolution,
and as u number of military bridges were
built at the time these were rebuilt, con
siderable confusion followed in their desig-
nations and which appears in official re-
ports and maps. | have had occasion to
unrayel some puzzles i'll which these cross
ings were involved, and will offer an ac-
count of them which l trust will be of
interest.
l will begin with the one at the cross
ing OF the Williamsburg stage road to
Richmond, about one mile below the rail-
road bridge of the Richmond " York
River KaIlway, which is always given as
Bottom Bridge" getting its name most
probably from the bOttom-lands which are
characteristic of this stream.
The division of Gen. Casey reached this
place May 20, and crossed to the other
side by fording the next day without meet
ing any opposition. The Volunteer
Engineers put this bridge in order Tor
crossing as well as the railroad bridge,
over which a locomotive crossed the 2ith
at D. III. Forty Government bridge
builders assisted i'll this work. About two
miles above the railroad bridge another
crossing was prepared. This was desig-
mated as Summers Lower Bridge"
About one and a quarter miles above
was constructed the bridge mentioned by
Comrade Sullivan on the old style OF
Grapevine Bridge" and also designated
as Summers Upper Bridge" These were
first built by Summers troops. This was
destined to be the historic bridge of the
Army of the Potomac. l know OF nothing
more heroic or thrilling In the varied
record of that army than when Gen. Sum
ners men at time of the floods and the
battle of Fair Oaks, ahead of orders,
marched so closely over this bridge as to
hold the flooring down by their weight
and when the last man had crossed the
bridge foated away.
The railroad bridge for several days
was the only means OF communication be
tween the main body of the army and its
left wing during the flood.
These bridges were afterwards rebuilt,
with the exception of Summers Lower
Bridge.
The character of the bottom-lands along
the ChickahOminy River necessitated the
construction of long approaches of cordu-
roy, some of which was raised above the
general level upon the stringers. AT Sum-
ners Upper Bridge the solid ground came
comparatively close to the stream. Al
though there were stronger and better
bridges afterwards built, which | shall
mention, this bridge was the only one
available for the crossing of Gen. Porter $
command to the south side of the rlver
after the battle of Gaines's Mill, June q.
Yet it was stated in reports that two
bridges were used. If this was so, the
second bridge was the one known as the
Woodbury. and Alexander Bridge,
situated about one-quarter of Il
mile upstream from the former. There
fore, upon some maps and in some state
ments it is given the single name of Alex
ander," or Woodbury." but more fire.
quently the former. 1t was named for
Brig ID. Z. Woodbury. and Lieut.
Col Il. 5. Alexander, of the Corps of En-
gineers, who selected its site. But the
name Woodbury. was applied only to two
different bridges.
The Woodbury. and Alexander bridge
was a fine structure, and was built by
the Volunteer Engineers with working
parties from the 9th and 22d Mass. and
I'd Vt. 1t was finished June II. 1t
crossed the stream at right angles, then
| made turn upstream along the northern
bank. Its total length was 1880 feet, and
it was constructed entirely upon cribs and
stringers, so that it would be above high
| water mark and withstand any danger
| by floods.
About two miles above was small
| bridge, suitable only for infantry, known
as the Woodbury. Bridge" or Infantry
Bridge" This was built by the Volunteer
| Engineers, and was situated southwest
from the Adams House.
A short distance above this was the
Duane Bridge" constructed by the U. S
Engineer Battalion, under command OF
! Capt. j. g. Duane, assisted by details
from Gen. Porters and Gen. w. f
Smiths commands. This was a first-class
structure in all respects, and about zoo
feet in length. While it was being built
the water had not entirely subsided, anC
the heavy stringers could be foated tc
their places. This bridge was nearly
straight, and was the main line of trave
from the vicinity of DIR. Gaines's house t.
| the south bank. 1t was finished June II
and On the 18th General Headquarters
moved across it and established Camp Lin
coin near the house of DIR. Trent. JUS
above Duane's Bridge the Regular En-
| gineers made a crossing known as the
Foot Bridge" over what looked like al
old beaver dam. Infantry in single file
only could cross it. The preceding bridge.
which | have mentioned were the only
communication across the Chickahominy
| by the Army of the Potomac.
At eight miles above Bottom Bridge
where the main road crossed the Chick
ahominy from Cold Harbor to Richmond
was New Bridge" The original struc
ture was built upon piles and destroyed
when the advance reached there, May %
The Volunteer Engineers took possession
of DIR. Gaincs's Saw Mill, and got ou
sawn timber and framed it for a bridge t.
replace the old bridge. The new structur,
| was to have been la feet long, but thi.
material was never used. Afterward.
| the Regular Engineers built corduroy ap
proaches and put in two pontoon bridges
The material that had been collected fol
bridges in this vicinity was swept away
by the foods of May 81, but by heroi,
work New Bridge was available for cross
ing by all arms of the service at SIS n
m., June /. This was more easily ac
complished at this point than elsewhere
from the fact that the original approache.
were by way of raised earth causeway
Gen. j. 9. Bernard had Lieut.. Orvill,
e. Babcock with n squad of Regular En-
| gineers cross to the south side to eX
anime the rOadbed. After proceedin:
about 200 yards they were fired upon
and b. Il. Austin was shot through tn,
lungs. Lieut.. Babcock assisted him q.
they retired. Austin is at date Superin
tendent of Lincoln Park, Washington
d.. G.
A little over a mile below was bull
a corduroy bridge with couple Ofpontoon
in the stream. This was known as tn,
Lower Trestle Bridge" and at about tn,
same distance above New Bridge wa.
huiIt tho aITnnar VrnStIa Rridya Tb;,