The National tribune., 1902-10-02
Ny First Sight of Richmond.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: About
the first of June, 1862, our division. the
PENNSYLVANIA Reserve, was detached from
Gen. McDOwelrs army of occupation
around Fredericksburg, and sent to Join
Mcclellan on the Peninsula.
We landed at the White House. then
marched up the railroad track about 20
miles, and went into camp alongside the
track.
We had been here a few days only
when we were hurried back down the
track again, going nearly to the White
House. Here we found Stuart had been
making raid in rear of our lines and
had captured a sutler and burned some
wagons. We remained here all day, and
put in the time hunting blackberries.
Next day we moved back to our camp up
the railroad.
Our next move was to MechanicSyille a
short days march, and we went into camp
there. One morning few days before
the Seven Days Fight began, my company
was sent out on picket. We took a road
that led into Richmond, and after follow
ing it a mile or more, came to place
that appeared to have been used as q pic
ME ground. There were seats, tables and
swings in small grove. We made this
grove our headquarters.
l was taken by our Second Lieutenant,
John A. Diebold, few hundred yards up
the road where the post was stationed.
The man that | relieved told me that
farther out on this road there was a cav
airy picket, who would let me know in
time if he saw any body of troops coming
My post was just at the foot of a small
hill and the cavalry post was beyond the
hill out of sight.
l had been there about an hour, when
the cavalry picket, one of Rush's Lancers
18th Pa. Cav.), came over the hill at u gal
loo. 4
coming; for me to get out.
These Lancers at that time were armed
with lances and pistols, and were not of
much use to stop anything except strag
glers. We called them the turkey hunt
ers." They were afterwards given car
bines and turned out to be a good regi-
ment.
How many rebels are there?" asked.
"a whole brigade, at least" he replied.
How far away are they!"
"Oh, several miles. l did not wait for
them to come up to me. l was told to
leave as soon as l saw any,"
well, | can't stop whole brigade, but
I'll wait until / see them," I said. "You
stop at our camp down in the grove and
tell the Captain what you saw, will your
He said he would, then left me.
The thought struck me that this was a
poor place for me to see anything. l
should be on top of that hill, since l had
no post outside, SO moved my post to the
top of the hill.
l could then see the country for miles
and off to my left in the direction of Rich
mond, across some open fields that were
next to the road. Here was a fringe of
timber, and behind it 1 thought I could
see clay earthworks, but was not sure.
The Captain, Lieutenant and half our
company now came up the road on the
double-quick and stopped where had first
been posted. / called to them, and on
their coming up told the Captain why
had moved my post. He said 1 had done
right; that here was where l should have
been posted in the first place.
The Captain had field glass, but could
not make out with it whether the object
pointed out to him was an earthwork or
not, and asked if any Of us could climb the
big oak tree that stood beside the fence
at this point. 1 told him could.
"Put your gun down and try" he told
me.
I mounted the top rail Of the fence then
drew myself up into the tree and climbed
I'D near the top of it. 1 could see these
earthworks quite plainly, but there did
not seem to be anyone behind them, but
farther away, I could see large bodies
of troops marching. They were then max
ing their dispositions for the attack at Me-
chanicsville day or two later. =,
Next l looked for Richmond, and could
see the spires of churches and roofs of
houses away beyond these troops; that
was Richmond. l saw it still closer two
years later.
l came down, and the Captain took his
men and went back and in half an hour
l was relieved and stood no more post that
day or the following night. We had only
two posts to cover, and had full company
to do it.
We were relieved the next morning and
went home, and that afternoon the battle
of Mechanicsyille was fought-JOHN A.
BROOKS, Co. c., Sth P. r. v. G., Soldiers
Home, Erie, Pa.