The National tribune., 1901-07-11

oTiust WIS ueSlrOyeu Uy lhe ftiuiltttl
Engineers the afternoon OF June 20. dur
ing the battle of Mechanicsville. Lieut.. 4
Reese, with detachment of Regular En-
gineers was also sent there. but found on
arrival that the bridge had been destroyed. |
This officer with the same detachment,
increased by details from camp, at dusk
destroyed New Bridge and the Lower
Trestle Bridge during that night. The at
tempt was made to float the boats down
the stream, but so many obstacles were
encountered in the way of fallen trees that
they were finally scuttled and sunk. At
daylight, June ~, the men under Reese
returned TO New Bridge and took their
arms, which were stacked there. The
flooring and movable trestles of all these
bridges were burned. This detachment
then returned to camp by Duane's Bridge.
Over this bridge was taken the heavy
siege pieces mounted at HOSan's and
DIR. Gaines's. 1t is stated that these guns
were drawn away by hand, and if a strong
bridge had not been in reaching distance
they would have been captured. Instead,
they were finally put in position on the
south side, and covered Gen. Porter's left
flank during the battle of Gaines's Mill.
The reason for this close work was that
it was not decided for Porter to retire
to this position until nearly 3 Il. III. of the
9th.
Duane's Bridge with the approval of
Gen. Franklin, was destroyed by Col. Il.
s. Alexander the afternoon of the 9th,
an infantry regiment being detailed for the
purpose. | would like to know what regi-
ment this was. When he began to work
he found that it had been commenced by
small detachment but by whose orders
it is not known. This bridge and the
Foot, or Infantry Bridge" were COM
pletely destroyed at sunset. The little
foot bridge was probably unnoticed. Gen.
Slocum's Division, which was sent to re-
port to Gen. Porter early the 9th, prob
ably crossed over Duane's Bridge. They
were soon recalled, but later in the day
they returned, probably by the Woodbury.
or Infantry Bridge, taking position near
the Adams House.
Gen. Mcclellan in his report states that
this division crossed by the Alexander
bridge. 1t is possible that they recrossed
by this bridge. | give this movement
rather in detail to illustrate the confusion
which may easily arise in making such
statements. A number of regiments or
divisions are credited with the destruc-
ton of these bridges and by high authori-
ties, but it is an absolutely safe statement
to make that not one of these bridges was
destroyed except under the direction of q
Regular or Volunteer Engineer officer, and
with n few exceptions by Engineer troops
alone; that is, without aid from infantry
regiments.
The railroad bridge and the two pom
toon bridges at Bottom Bridge were prob
ably destroyed and the boats removed dur
ing the 9th; therefore, at the close of
Gaines's Mill battle the Grapevine Bridge,
and possibly the Woodbury. and Alexan-
der Bridge, alone remained available for
crossing to the south bank. Capt. Duane
had orders to attend to the destruction of
these bridges after Gen. Porter's troops
had crossed. Co. B of the U. S. Engineer
Battalion was sent to the Grapevine
Bridge just after sunset of the 9th, under
command of Lieut.. G. r. Reese. The
Volunteer Engineers were at White Oak
Swamp preparing the crossing there.
About two hours before daylight, the 2Sth.
Gen. Porter came down to the Grapevine
| Bridge and gave orders to Lieut.. Reese,
saying. When this brigade has passed
you will then destroy the bridge" He
then rode across to the south side.
The brigade, a very small one, was soon
| over, and preparations were made for the
immediate destruction of the bridge, but
there was continual stream of squads
and individual stragglers and many
wounded. The latter claimed pity and
favor, so the flooring was left intact ex-
| cept that it was cut free and loosened,
and towards the last when there were
but few coming along it was removed in
places, but had to be relaid a number OF
times when a considerable number would
appear, all at once, having realized in
| some way that the army had crossed. The
stringers were also partially cut and men
with axes stood ready to tumble the whole
| to pieces the moment the word was given.
| This continued until three hours or more
after daylight, when a squad of rebel
cavalry came into sight and began cap
turing prisoners, using them roughly if
they tried to get to the bridge. The axes
| flew to the last cut and the bridge col
lapsed into the stream. Its destruction
| was made so complete that it would have
taken n day of forced work by skilled
troops to have put it into shape again.
At daylight part of Co. G came down tC
assist, under Lieut. Charles Z. Cross, who
| took detachment and went to the Wood
bury and Alexander Bridge to complete
its destruction. On arrival they found
no one crossing, or any troops near it
therefore, Lieut.. Cross ordered squad tC
each side of the bridge as skirmishers
They proceeded in this order, Lieut.
Cross making them keep down ant
sneak while he walked in the roadway
carrying all the pocket-books of the skir
mishers but one. The owner of this on,
was joked by Lieut.. Cross afterward:
when he caught him wringing the water
out OF 1t. y feW feDel cavalry came int
sight and they were opened on, and one
was dropped. After this they did no
show themselves any more. A small party
was noticed working along towards the
skirmishers through the swamp, and they
were in doubt what to do, when it proved
| to be two of Uncle Sans men with {
prisoner. Meantime the stringers were
cut over the main stream and the flooring
torn and cut to pieces. But as recollec
tion serves them this bridge was not other
wise destroyed.
1t is n curious fact that all o.
this detail recorded in their diaries at tn,
destroyed Duanes Bridge. This may b,
accounted for by the fact that none O.
them had ever seen this bridge before
and except for the turn in it, which al
| ways puzzled them, 1t reSembled Duane!
Bridge more than any other on the rive
| These companies finished work withou
further interference in any manner, ant
when they left all was quiet and NJ
pickets were established, but n battery o.
brass pieces was posted in the bottom
covering the head of these bridges. The!
were undoubtedly the last to leave tn,
Chickahominy. 1t was now about 10 a
m., June 2S, and they proceeded to thei
main camp at Savage Station.
On the morning Of the 29th Lee started
Longstreet to the south side by New
Bridge and Jackson by the Grapevine
Bridge, using the local names in his orders
but the latter was so delayed in rebuild
ing the bridge, unopposed and observed
| that bp foiIe1 tO nDnpar in tha b1ttle nj