The National tribune., 1904-06-16

ing. it had been determined to make an
attack on the enemy on Warrens front and
that of the Sixth Corps, and Gen. Han
cock was ordered to withdraw two divisions
from the south side of the Po, to assist
the proposed assault.
In obedience to this order, the divisions
of Gibbon and Birney were retired, the
rear of the latter being assailed in the act
There then remained only the division of
Rarlow, and as the enemy at this moment
was instructed to withdrawS9this also.
WAR IN FLAMING FOREST.
The order was given just as Barlow's
skirmishers were being driven in. at p.
m. The operation Immediately became one
dispositions, two brigadess of the division
had been withdrawn from the front, the
enemy, encouraged by what he deemed a
forced retreat. made very vigorous as
sault on the two remainil& brigades, under
Coils. Brooke and Brown He, however,
met so deadly and determined a fire from
these fine brigades that he was repulsed
with heavy loss. During the heat of the
contest the woods in the rear of the troops,
and between them and the river. took fire ;
and in the midst of these appalling perils,
with fierce foe i'm it's frcnt, and burn
ing the advance of the enemy by several
stubborn stands, was retired across the
20. This was not accomplished without
heavy loss. and many of the wounded per-
ished in the flames. (12) The remarkable
GOODNESS and steadiness of the men alone
saved them from a great disaster. One
gun. the first ever lost by the Second Corps,
had to be abandoned in consequence of be-
ing sunk in a marsh. Miles's Brigade
crossed last, taking up the pontoon-bridge
and DESTROYED the other.
This affair though illustrating the steady
yru unr nf fhn xs-FI. ,,,,fr 70
one in every respect 1t was undertaken
without any very well-defiHed military OBJ
ject, and abandoned under circumstances
unfavorable to the spirit of the troops and
highly encouraging to the enemy. (13)
TERRIFIC UNION ASSAULTS END FRUIT
The point against which the attack Ito
assist in which the Second Corps had been
retired across the POI was designed to be
made was hill and held by the enemy
in front of Warren's line. 14) This was,
perhaps, the most formidable point along
the enemy's whole front. It's densely wood
ed crest was crowned By earthworks, while
the approach. which was swept by artillery
and musketry fire, was rendered more diff
cult and hazardous by heavy growth of
low cedars. mostly dead, the long bayonet-
like branches of which, interlaced and
pointing in all directions. presented an al
most impossible barrier to the advance of
a line of battle. 15l
The attack OF this position had already
been essayed during the day by troops both
OF the Second and Fifth Corps. and with
most unpromising results. tl61 When Han
cocks Divisions Joined the Fifth. an as
sauit was made by the troops of both corps
at > o'clock: but it met a very bloody re-
pulse. The men struggled brayely against
an impossible task and even entered the
enemys breastworks at one.pr two points !:
but they soon waveFed and fell back i'm con-
fusion and great slaughter. { sNotwithstand-
ing the disastrous usshot of this assault,
the experience of which had taught the
troops that the work assigFfed them was
really hopeless. t1D a secoisd charge was
ordered an hour after the failure of the
first. The repulse Of this tsas even more
complete than that of tss former effort !:
and the loss in the two attacks vas between
1000 and COCO, while it is doubtful wheth-
| er the enemy lost laany hundreds.
Among the killed was Brig.-Gen. Rice of
the Fifth Corps, distinguished for his in
trcpid bearing on many fields.
On the left of Warren an assault by
part of the Sixth Corps met with more
success. Epton's Brigade. in vigorous
charge, carried the enamy's first line of in
trenchments, capturing 900 prisoners and
several guns. But as this operation was
unsupported, the advantage could not be
maintained, and after nightfall Upton
NIlHuiCN, IedSiuS TIE cdpCuFeu guns De-
hind. (1S)
CONTINUOUS IAMMERING.
In these operations before the lines of
SDotsylvania, Gen. Grant had carried out
with much fidelity, but very Indifferent sue
cess, his OWL principle OF hammering con-
tinuously. Better results, however, at
length rewarded his perseyering efforts un-
der sounder combinations
Thus far the attacks had been mainly
directed against Lees left. 1t was now
resolved to make sudden sally against his
right center. where it was thought fav-
orable point of attack presented itself. Han
cocks Corps was selected for this opera
ton, which was to be supported by the
rest of the army. The 18th was passed in
prepara ton for this, and. after dark, the
Second Corps was moved over from the
right to near the point decided on for the
assault. The night was dark and stormy,
and Hancock's troops quietly and prompt
ly took position within 1900 yards of the
position they were to storm--a position of
,s<1 - r.