davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1904-06-09

co. From officers of Ewell's Corps en-
gagged in this action, l learn the following
particulars
When the frst onset was made by the
Fifth Corps, Johnson's Division alone held
the position. Joness Brigade, formed
across the turnpike, was swept back by the
force of the assault, and his troops fell
diately replaced by Stewards Brigade, and
almost simultaneously with the first signs
Of weakness in Johnson's line, Rodes's
Division arrived, took position on its right,
and, by firm -counter-attack, drove the
Union troops back. 1t is very clear from
the confession of the disorder resulting
from the first attack of the Union force
that, had adequate preparations been made
Ewelps Corps might have been over
whelmed. l may remark that Gen. War
rem urged just view of the situation-set-
ting forth that If, as was believed at head
quarters, there was but rear-guard in
his front, the attack could but little affect
the great campaign on which the army was
entering; but il the Confederates were
present in force, time should be allowed
to form really weigbty attack. But i'm
mediate action, with such means as were
at hand, had been determined upon.
1OO *Aioyed at noon with Ayres's Regu-
lars on the right. Attacked the enemy on
my front and drove him. The Regulars
gave way, which exposed our right flank,
and rendered retreat necessary by the bri-
gade. This could not be effected across
the ground by which we advanced, and
brought out the command by detour
through the woods to the left, in rear of
the enemy. my."-Bartlett: Notes on the Bat
tie of the Wilderness.
1O1. Meade: Report of the battle of the
Wilderness.
1O2 The cause of Waasworth's repulse
affords a curious illustration Of the diff
culties that beset the movement of troops
in such a region as the Wilderness. Gen.
Warren gave Wadsworth his direction by
n point of the compass, there being no
other guide In such a thicket. His course
was to be due west from the Lacy House,
which would have brought him to the left
Of Griffin and on Drolongation of his
line. But Wadsworth started facing north
west, instead of going due west. Now
turnpike, so that by the time Nadsworth's
line Of battle passed the Higerson House
(see map it had come almost to face the
turnpike directly, and the frst fire of the
enemy came square upon its flank. The
thick woods prevented any change on the
spot, and by running back, the men did
about the best thing they could.
lO3. AT q. m, on the 9th May, the
Second Corps moved towards its designated
position at Shady Grove Church, taking
the road by the Furnace and Tedd's Tav-
ern. My advance wAs about two miles be-
yond Todd's Tavern, when, at 8 a. M,
received dispntch from the Major General
commanding the Army Of the Potomac to
halt at the tavern, as the enemy had been
discovered in some force on the Wilderness
pike Two hours later was directed to
move my command up on the Brock road
TO its Intersection with the Orange plank
road.-Hancock: Report Of The Battle Of
,Jhs Wilderness.
The National tribune., 1904-06-09

| umn of the enemy was pressing forward
| on the plankroad also. (07) 1t will be
sufficiently clear what this force was when
| it is remembered that Lee had dispatched
Hills Corps on this road, and the enemy
encountered by Griffin was the van of
Ewell's column, which, as already seen, had
bivouacked the night before within three
| miles of Wilderness Tavern. These devel-
opments, of course. necessitated cessa-
| tion in the prescribed movement OF Gen.
Warren, who found himself called upon to
| meet an immediate and pressing emergency.
| BOTH GRANT AND MEADE MISTAKEN.
| Such was the situation of affairs when,
on the morning of Thursday. May 5. Gems.
Grant and Meade reached Old Wilderness
Tavern. Neither of these commanders,
| however, believed that aught but a small
| force was in front of Warren to mask the
Confederate retreat, as it was not deemed
possible that Lee, after his defensive line
/ had been turned, could have acted with such
| boldness as to lanch forward his army in
an offensive sally. 1t was, therefore, at
once resolved to brush away or capture
this force; but as this determination was
| formed under a very erroneous apprehen-
| sion of the actual situation, the means
| employed were inadequate to the task. (0S)
/ The main development of opposition
| having come from the force that showed
| itself against Griffin on the turnpike, an
attack was ordered at that point-Wads-
worth Division (also of Warren's Corps)
| being disposed in line on the left of Grif-
| fin, and the division of Robinson in sup
port. Crawfords movement towards Park
er's Store, which had already been arrest
ed by the enemy. was now formally sus-
pended. One of its brigades (that of Nc
Candless) was sent to act on the left of
Wadsworth's command, and the remainder
of the division was afterward withdrawn
the enemy following up and firing into the
rear of the column.
The National tribune., 1904-06-09

each other and form a continuous front.
1t was appointed that Longstreet on his
arrival should come upon the right flank of
Hills Corps.
AN IMPRAcTIcARIE TuEArER OF BATTLE.
The field where the first encounter of the
armies had taken place, and where it was
now decreed the battle should be fought,
was that region known as The Wilder
ness. have already touched on some Of
the Characteristic features of this region
i'll the recital of the action of the 9Th ; but
1t is necessary that these should be fully
realized in order to gain a just apprecia-
ton of this singular and terrible combat.
1t is impossible to conceive a field worse
adapted to the movements of grand army.
The whole face of the country is thickly
wooded, with only an occasional opening,
and intersected by few narrow wood
roads. But the woods of the Wilderness
have not the ordinary features of a forest.
The region rests on belt of mineral rocks,
and, for above hundred years, extensive
mining has here been carried on. (10S) To
feed the mines the timber of the country
for many miles around had been cut down,
and in its place there had arisen dense
underground of low-limbed and scraggy
pines, stiff and bristling chinapins, scrub
oaks, and hazel. 1t is a region of gloom
and the shadow of death. AIanuvering
here was necessarily out of the question,
could only receive direction by point Of
the compass: for not only were the lines
of battle entirely hidden from the sight OF
the commander, but no officer could see 10
files on each side of him. Artillery was
wholly ruled out of use the massive con-
centration of 300 guns stood silent, and
only an occasional piece or section could
be brought into play in the road-sides.
Cavalry was still more useless. But in
that horrid thicket there lurked 200,000
men, and through it lurid fires played; and,
though no array of battle could be seen,
there came out of its depths the crackle and
roll of musketry like the noisy boiling Of
some hell-caldron that told the dread story
of death. Such was the field of the bat
tie of the Wilderness: and Gen. Grant ap-
pointed that at o'clock Of the morning
the fight should be renewed. Combinations
or grand tactics there were none; the or
der of battle was simple, and was to all the
corps-Attack along the whole line.
BOTH SIDES ASSUMED THE AGGRESSIVE.
1t is striking proof of the aggressive
determination animating both commanders,
that Lee, also, that morning had resolved
upon assuming the offensive. His plan
was to deliver an overwhelming blow on
the left of the Union army-a point well
chosen, since this was Grants strategic
flank, the carrying of which would force
him back against the Rapidan. 1t was.
however, impossible to strike this blow
The National tribune., 1904-06-09

10S The mines Of this region were first
worked in the early part of the 18th GEN.
tury by Alexander Spottswood, then Gov
ernor of Virginia. Col. Byrd, in his
Progress of the Mines" published in 1872,
gives many interesting details of this re-
gion, from which it appears that German
ma, now known only as a ford, was once a
place of some celebrity. ''This famous.
town tGermannal consists of Col. Spots
woods enchanted castle on one side of the.
street and bakers dozen of ruinous tene-
ments on the other. where so many Germa1
families had dwelt some years ago; but
are now removed 10 miles higher, in the.
fcrk of the Rappahannock, to land of their,
own. In the evening the noble Colonel
came home from his mines. l let him un..
derstand that besides the pleasure of pay
ing him visit, | came TO be instructed by
SO great master in the mystery of maxi
ing iron, wherein he had led the way, and
was the Tubal Cain of Virginia. He COR
rected me little there, by assuring me,
that he was not only the first in this coun-
try, but the first in North America, who
had erected regular furnace" Another
writer, of a still earlier period, thus
speaks Beyond Col. Spottswood's fur
mace, above the Falls of Rappahannock
River, within view of the vast mountains,
he has founded town called Germanna,
from some Germans sent over by Queen.
Anne. Beyond this is seated the colony
of Germans of Palatines, with allowance
of good quantity of rich land, who thrive
very we'll and live happily, and entertain,
Hugh Jones: Present Con-
dition of Virginia." 1724. The latter syl-
liable Of the maine Spottswood, latanized,
forms with the former part the name Of
the County of Spetsylyania-.
The National tribune., 1904-06-09

%. "The enemy crossed the Rapidan at
Elys and Germanna Fords. Two corps Of
this army moved to oppose him-Ewell's
by the old turnpike, and Hills by the
MAY 81, in close proximity to the enc
my's line of march."-Lee: Dispatch Of
May 5, 1864. Longstreet's Corps, which
formed the extreme left of the Confederate
line, was further of than the others, be-
ing near Gord0nsville; but it also was or
dered up.
9G. This ignorapce of the enemy's posi-
tion was partly due to the fact that Will
sons Division of Cavalry, which had, on
the afternoon Of the 4th, moved out on the
turnpike nearly to Robertson's Tavern,
was withdrawn that evening, and proceed
ed on scout to. Parker's Store on the
plankroad. Therefore no feelers were out
on the route by which Ewell was adyanc-
ing.
81. LED the advance of the Fifth Corps
at a. m, with orders to proceed to Park
er's Store. Received the following instruc-
ton from Gen. Warren; Throw out a
skirmish line well to your left and rear
facing the plankroad, SO that the enemy
cannot get on your flank or rear without
your knowing it. Gen. Getty is now NOV
ing up the pIankroad towards your left
Ii you hear firing in that direction it will
be his Took the wood road from the Lacy
House, and pushed on till reaching the
open space about one mile from Parker's
Store. The cavalry had become engaged
with the enemy, who pressed them so hard
that they sent back for support. / de-
ployed the Bucktails at once to the front,
and they advanced just in time to resist an
attack of infantry that had just arrived.
Took up position, and at 20 minutes past
8 a. m. received an order from Cen War
rem, stating that the movement had been
suspended and that Griffin and Wadsworth
would attack on the turnpike. e."-Cra wford !:
Notes on the Battle offthe Wilderness.
9S. AS direct testimony to this state of
feeling on the part of the Commanding
General, extract from my notebook the
following memorandum made on the spot: !:
May 5 rode with Grant, Meade, and the
staff to Old Wilderness Tavern; found
Warren's Corps in position there, and
Sedgwick coming up. At 8 o'clock, while
on the way, message came that the enc
my were advancing on us by the turnpike
Grifhn's Division out on that road. At 8
a. m, Gen. Meade said to Warren, Sedg-
wick, and others standing by: They (the
enemy have left division to fool us here
while they concentrate and prepare a posi-
tion toward the North Anna; aud what I
want Ii to prevent those fellows from get
ting back to Mine Run.'n
The National tribune., 1904-06-09

SO. Lieut.-Gen. Grant, touching this
point, uses language which shows that he
regarded the passage of the Rapidan as a
very important achievement. This" says
he, Il regarded as great success, and it
removed from my mind the most serious
crossing the river in the face of an active,
large, well-appointed, and ably-commanded
army, and how so large train was to be
carried through hostile country and pro-
tected. d."-Grant: Report of Operations of
1S6i-'6J, p. q. But the trouble in regard
to the trains really began when the army
reached the Wilderness, being there shut
up in the restricted triangle between the
Rapidan and Rappahannock.
81. The following extract from the or
der Of march for May will show the line
Of advance contemplated by Gen. Grant,
and the points the corps were that day
to reach, had not the movement been in
terrupted by Lee:
Headquarters Army of the Potomac,
May 4, 1864: 6 p. NJ.
"The following movements are ordered
for the 9th May, 1864: 1st Maj.-Gen. Sher-
idan, commanding Cavalry Corps, will move
against the enemy's cavalry in the direc.
ton of Hamilton's Crossing. Gen. vii.
son, with the Third Cavalry Division. will
move at 5 a. m. to Craig's Meeting House
on the Catharpin road. He will keep out
parties on the Orange Courthouse pike and
piankroad, the Catharpin road, Pamunkey
road (road to Orange Springs), and in
the direction of Troyman's Store and An
drews' Store or Good Hope Church. I'd
Maj.-Gen. Hancock, commanding Second
Corps, will move at 5 a. m. to Shady
Grove Church and extend his right toward
the Fifth Corps at Parker's Store. 3d.
Maj.-G Warren, commanding Fifth
Corps, will move at 5 a. m. to Parker's
Store on the Orange Courthouse plankroad
and extend his right toward the Sixth
Corps at Old Wilderness Tavern. 4th.
Maj-Gen Sedgwick. commanding Sixth
Corps, will move to Old Wilderness Tavern
on the Orange Courthouse pike as soon
O. the road is clear.
by command Of MAJ.-GEN. MEADE"
The National tribune., 1904-06-09

the columns when the march was resumed
on the morning of Thursday, May ), was
such as would have carried them quite be-
yond the bounds of the Wilderness re-
gion. (94) He counted that the Confeder-
ate right being turned by the successful
passage of the Rapidan, he would be able
to mask his march through the Wilderness,
and then by a rapid advance toward Cor
louisville, plant himself between the Con-
federate army and Richmond.
To foil his adversary's design was Lees
first aim. The plan he formed to effect
this is one of the boldest and most skillful
conceptions Of that officer. Instead of fall
ing back, on finding his flank turned, he
took a strategic offensive, directed rapid
concentration of his forces to meet Grant,
and aimed to shut Grant up in the Wilder
ness.
LEE CONCENTRATED QUICKLY.
From Orange Courthouse, which was the
center of Lees position, two parallel roads
tthe Orange and Fredericksburg plankroad
and the turnpike) run eastward and strike
Grants line of march at right angles. BY
directing his forces rapidly forward on
these routes, Lee would fall upon the army
Wilderness, where he hoped to lure his an
tagonist into tangled labyrinths Of confu-
sion and disaster. This region, we'll known
to him, was to his antagonist pure terra
incognita. In its thick chaparral, through
which no artillery could play, Grants
masses would lose their force of impact,
while the Confederate marksmen, with an
almost Indian skill in woodcraft, could lie
unseen in their gray array amid those dun
woods and deal death to the assailants.
Being apprised, therefore, on the morning
Of the 4th, that the Army of the Potomac
had begun the passage of the Rapidan, he
promptly directed his forces forward to
meet it by the routes l have indicated.
The mean distance Of the corps from their
camps to where they would strike the army
was about 20 miles. Ewell's Corps was
thrown forward on the old turnpike, and
Hills on the plankroad. Thus, while the
Army Of the Potomac was, throughout the
4th, defiling to the south bank Of the
Rapidan, the Army of Northern Virginia,
making rapid change Of front, hurried
forward to meet its rival with fSont of
opposition before it should have time, by a
march beyoSd the Wilderness, to lay hold
The National tribune., 1904-06-09

to hold stoutly this position until Han
cocks junction could be effected. While the
latter was still far off, Getty had begun to
feel the presence of the enemy, and hour by
hour it grew more heavy upon him. But
he held his post immovabiy, and toward
3 o'clock in the. afternoon. the welcome
cheer Of Hancock's approaching troops was
heard. Then the position was secure, and
the Second Corps, hurrying forward as
rapidly as the narrow defiles of the forest
would permit, was disposed in double line
of battle along and in front of the Brock
road, facing Hills line drawn up across
the Orange plankroad. (1O4) To make the
tenure of the position certain, in case the
enemy should assault, as seemed likely,
substantial lines of breastworks were i'm
mediately constructed by Hancock's troops
but before these were entirely completed
he received orders to advance upon Hill
and drive him back on the plankroad be-
yond Parker's Store.
HILLS COLUMN ATTACKED BY GETTY.
The situation of the opposing forces was
now peculiar enough. Warren had engaged
Ewell on the turnpike with such result
as has already been seen, and Hancock
now prepared to attack Hill on the plank
road but there was no connection what.
ever either between the two Federal or the
two Confederate columns. Each combat,
in fact, had the character of an action in
a defiIe, and had very slight bearing the
one on the other.
A little past 4 o'clock, the attack on Hill
was opened by Getty's command. His
troops encountered the enemy in line of
battle, not intrenched, about 300 PAGES in
front Of the Brock road, and Immediately
became hotly engaged. But as it was soon
manifest that the Confederates were pres
ent in heavy force. Hancock advanced his
own corps. The fight at once grew very
fierce, the opposing forces being exceeding
ly close and the musketry continuous and
deadly along the whole line. Hancock at
tackled with the utmost vigor in what Lee
justly calls repeated and desperate as
saults :" (105) but the Confederates, seek
The National tribune., 1904-06-09

by dctachments from the 14th Ind and Sth
Ohio, CarroIl's Brigade. 1t was then
withdrawn, and replaced by section of
Dow's 9th Me. Battery"
JOG. Meade: Report of the Rapidan Com
paign.
107. The column under command of Gen.
Wadsworth moved about 4 o'clock After
entering the woods southeast of the Lacy
House, line of battle was formed. After
proceeding half mile the skirmish line
of the enemy was driven in and steadily
pushed until it was too dark to see, when
the troops halted in line of battle for the
night. The line had gradually swung
round SO as to be facing more nearly south,
between Widow Taps (see map} and the
Brock road-the left being perhaps half q
mile from the Brock road.
The National tribune., 1904-06-09

THE LAW OF JUNE q. 1890. AND THE NEW
"AGE" ORDER.
The laws of June q, 1890, and May 0,
1900. provide for a pension, according to
degree of disability, from Sc to $12 per
month for any soldier Of the War of the
Rebellion who served 80 days and was hon.
orably discharged.
The new "AGE" Order simply says that
any claimant who has arrived at the age
of 62, or 65, or 6S, or 70, is presumed with
out further proof (and, inferentially, with
out examination) to be suffering disability
sufficient to warrant sc a month pension
at age of 81; $S month at age of G5: $40
a month at age of 68 and $12 month at
age Of 20.
To Those Who Have Never APP
piled for Pension.
The estimate is that there are 162, 900
soldiers of the War of the Rebellion who
have never applied for pension, and that
the majority of them are over 62 years of
age. We urge upon these comrades that
it is their duty to apply. If many are so
weli-to-do that they do not need it, they
can apply the money to help those who
do need it. A pensioner contributes to the
prosperity of his neighborhood. Every dol
lar he draws and puts into circulation
serves the whole community before it final
~ goes back to the Treasury. The pension
list is really Roll of Honor. Under this
AGE" Order an application can be made
that, in most cases, does not involve ex-
ture that was Objectionable to many.
The National tribune., 1904-06-09

Of 20. IL the claimant can not show that
he has greater disability at these respective
ages than is recited above. it is of no use
for him to describe his ailments. 1t Is q
disadvantage, in fact, because 1t will incur
the expense and delay of medical examina-
ton. If claimant is in fair health for
his age, it is useless to apply for more than
is allowed by the "age" order.
Any one, however, who is sure that he
is more disabled than is allowed for by the
AGE" Order should write to r. w.
Shoppell, or The National Tribune, Wash
ington, D. c., and proper blank viii bs
mailed him without cost.
The National tribune., 1904-06-09
All About the New "Age" Order.

Write to r. w. Shoppell, or The National
Tribune, Washington, D. c., and proper
blank will be mailed you without cost.
TO GENERAL LAW PENSIONERS DRAWING
LESS THAN $12.
II under the law of June q, 1890. as
construed by the New "AGE" Order, which
is given elsewhere, a pensioner will receive
an increase, he should write to r. w.
Shoppell, or The National Tribune, Wash
ington, D. c., and proper blank will be
mailed him without cost.
TO PENSIONERS UNDER THE ACT OF JUNE
q, 1890, WHO ARE RECEIVING LESS THAN
$12 PER MONTH.
Read very carefully the new "AGE" Or
der given in another column. If it allows
you more pension than you are now re-
ceiving, write to r. w. Shoppell, or The
National Tribune, Washington, D. c.,
and a proper blank will be mailed you
without cost.
TO REJECTED CLAIMANTS.
Any one over so years of age whose
claim, under any law, was rejected should
write to r. w. Shoppell, or The National
Tribune, Washington, ID. c., and proper
blank will be mailed you without cost.
TO THOSE WISHING TO ALLEGE MORE DIS
ABILITY THAN Is PRESUMED By THE
AGE" ORDER.
The "AGE" Order presumes and allows
that claimant is half disabled for manual
labor at the age of G2; two-thirds disabled
age Of 6S, and wholly disabled at the age
The National tribune., 1904-06-09
Quick Work in Pension Office.

IE
all
D.
The National tribune., 1904-06-09

sCsnsa.usd ON second pase.)
The National tribune., 1904-06-09

Itisvery gratifying for men and women
q to-day to ind IN ancestors name ea
the pension rsu Of the Revolution. It
viii bs equally gratifying in the future
for . mans descendants to find that he
was on the pension roll Of the War Of
Rebellion.
The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-02-29
SAVED FROM THE STAKE
MrssTsSrppx AUTH0RITHEs pR0-
 TECT ALBERT BALDWIN.
rronpk Action Was Needed to Pre- vent the Lynckfng of tha Alleged Slayer of Engineer
 TogaxEys

Jackson Miss. Feb 2s --Yhs Greenwood military company arrived ct Jackson this afternoon. having in charge Albert Bald. win. e negro. who. it ig said, killed. En- gineer Fogarty of the Valley Road &we weeks ago.
 The negro was captured ak BaieavilEG and waA @ have heAn takan to TutwtIer. When GoxeFxaz nraanssM xneff tltRk n was to have been burned there today. he acted promptly to save the negro He and Adjutant-Gener Fridge went with the Greenwood company on special train to Batesvilie and came back this afternoon. They met with no resistance, The sheriff of Panola County had taken every .precaution to keep the negro from falling into the hands of the mob.
 Before the Governor and the company arrived, the negro was taken out of jail and walked to Sardis. ten miles distant, and back again so as to keep him out of the way of those looking for him. The Governor and AdJutant1 General report to- night that the trip back here was made without incident and that there was no hostile demonstration.