The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-09

which, with the backUatcr OF thet
ponds, formed a part OF our defenslv
lines. occupying distance Of about tw
miles. South Of Lees mill the Wnrwicl
River developed into n stream Of abo,i
one hundred and City feet In width ant
from five to ten feet in depth The de
Tense of Yorktown consisted OF bas
toned carthworks about one mile II
length, envcloping the village. These
works were connected with two strong
earth rcdoubts, constructed on tho high
ground comma nding the south approach
to Yorktown and the headwatcrs OF tho
Warwick River, and line of rifle pits
was constructed along the west bank OF
this little stream from Yorktown to
Lees mill. Two dams located between
Lees and Wynns mills we're thrown
across tho stream, flooding the lowlands
for n depth of from two to five feet.
Earthworks for artillery and Infantry
we're constructed at the two dams and
ut Wynn's and Lees mills. The Army
Of the Peninsula occupied this line. some
times with long intervals between men.
In rear of and parallel to the line Of de-
Tense. there had been constructed q
military road. affordinE quick communi-
cation between all parts of the line The
weak points in the defense line Of the
Peninsula were the York and James
Rivers on both TANKS. The York River
was defended by tho guns at Yorktown
| ana SlputGStel pillt anu was NVi'o''
cred reasonably secure. Tho James River
was unprotected save by the armored
vessel, 1.-THE Virginia. which, after its
great battle with the United States ships
"Cumberand' and Congress" both Of
which 1t destroyed. and the drawn bat
! tie with the Monitor" and "Minne-
sofa" occupied a position at the mouth
of the Elizabeth River. commanding the
approach to Norfolk, Portsmouth and the
navy-yard. leaving practically the James
River omen to the enemy's fleet.
! For three long weeks. without receiv
| Ing reinforcements. the Army OF the Pc
ninsua held the lines AT Gloucester
Point and Yorktown, and stretching
! fourteen miles across the Peninsula to
Mulberry Island on the James River.
met the enemy with undaunted front at
every point. never yielding a foot Nc,
| Clellan felt our strength by attacks made
at various points along the line. At
| dam No l. defended by a small force of
| infantry and artillery. a fierce attack
| was made one afternoon; the enemy was
met with great gallantry. defeated and
driven bnck with considerable loss. In
! this attack Colonel NIcKenny of the
| Fifteenth Nortl, Carolina Infantry was
killed The lines of the two armies were
SO closely drawn at this point and the
| firing 80 constant, both night and day
| that the cnemy's dead many OF whom
OF rifle pits. could not be collected for
burial and remained exposed for several
days after the battle. Finally the com
manding officer of the Federal forces
under flag OF truce, asked for a ccssn-
| ton of hostilities and permission to
gather mp and bury their dead, which
was granted.
JoHNsToN'S MEN COME.
/. After making attacks at several points
| q long 1ra nd boin Of
point Mcclellan. with his grand army
sat down In front OF this little army. and
| by regular approaches began his prep
aratlons for the second siege of York
town. At the end Of three weeks REIN
forcements from General Joseph e. John
ston's army, under G. w. Smith. Long
street. Early, Ewell, whiting, Rodes and
others. began to arrive, and General
Johnston moved down and established
] his headquarters at Lees house, about
seven miles south of Yorktown, and as
sumed the command of the united forces.
The relief afforded by the reinforce
ments to the army Of the Peninsula, al
most worn out by three long, weary
weeks of constant watching and fighting,
came at a most acceptable time. and was
greatly needed With our reinforce
ments we became very "cocky," belicv-
ing that If Mcclellan would. then attack,
we could do more than act on tile de-
fonsivc, and visions OF possibly a. great
victory filled the hearts of the men of the
Army of the Peninsula. The possibility
of retreating without giving battle had
never been thought OF by this army
Time went on, each army watching the
other and skirinlsh lng daily, until one
morning tho writer, who was the engineer
officer OF the Army OF the Peninsula, was
summoned 70 the quarters of his COM
mander and told that General Johnston
had decided to abandon the Peninsula.
ana That preparations for the movement
should be made, Worn out by the anN-
iety and activity OF campaign, which.
for skill and courage, has rarely been
equaled to abandon the Peninsula, was
a great disappointment 10 General Ma
Erhder. lie considered our line. even with
its exposed right flank a strong one
and was anxious to fight on that line.
There were DINER points on the Peninsula
favorable 10 defense by an Inferior force,
especially at Williamsburg, where twi
creeks, tributaries OF the James and York
Rivers, approach each other so closely
as to leave less than two miles of line
to DO defended.