The National tribune., 1904-03-31

Corps could be reinforced from the north
side. But Gen. Summers ihprovised %
called grapevine bridge opened the way
forcements, we assumed tie aggressive,
aud the Confederates who expected that
day 20 gobble up all OF Keyess Corps on
the south side of the river were surprised,
terribly punished, and driven in panic out
Of our way, from the main road leading
we did not go. The tiae omnibus Of the
Spotswood Hotel, drawn by four dapple-
gray horses, and loaded with civilians who
had come out to see Keyes's Corps cap
tured. drove into our lines! There evi.
IDENTIFY was no rebel picket on that road
to warn them Of their danger. We had
an open highway before us, unpicketed!
On June % the rebels assaulted the
right Of our line, and the disastrous bat
ties of Mechanicsville and Gaines's Mill
occurred on the north side of the Chicka-
hOminy, and there was another change of
base, from the York River to the James.
stores for which we had no transpOrta-
ton. Tents and stacks OF Commissary
stores and carloads of army supplies We're
set on fire, and the cars were run upon the
railroad bridge to be destroyed Herewith.
Capt. Linn. the historian of the Penn
sylvania Reserves, pictures the closing
scenes of that occasion, as follows:
teries, after varied services in the seven
days battles, were reunited at Turkey
Bridge. They We're Brady's, Floods, Nc
Carthy's and Miller's, the latter now I'M
der the command Of Thomas g. Orwig.
Just at twilight of that night of the LIST
the night, with their supports, Gen. Peck
said to Capt. Brady, pointing to the
woods, Here is a regiment covering left,
and in yonder woods to your right is an
other, and this one on your right is an
other, and this one in yonr rear pointing
to six stacks Of muskets and flag, will
Support se0 yG adding it might BE- moved
piled: We are safe enough with it there,
General The General smiled grinly and
rode off. A regiment q thousand strong,
had marched out with that flag, and these
six stacks, perhaps 80 men, were all who
were left Of it. But the flag was still
there. Capt. Orwig's Battery was the
last to leave Turkey Bridge and the last
to enter the lines at Harrison's Bar"
Being On the reserve, occupying the post
Of honor, and anticipating another battle,
l believed that it was possible, after each
Of that series Of battles, to assume the ag
gressive, and in place OF retreating to 60
forward and capture Richmond. Only
engaged in each Of the seven days bat
ties. and practically they were victors in
each.
The enemy came in sight OF our guns,
but the main portion were ordered to make
a move northward to reach Washington
in advance of the Army of the Potomac.
GEN. PoPE's CAMPAIGN.
President Lincoln had wisely made some
protection for Washington, and Pope's
command intercepted Gen. Lees march
North. Pope had issued bombastic or
der about not looking for lines of retreat,
that seemed to reflect on Gen. Mcclellan,
and Gen. Mcclellan and his friends re-
scented it. / believe Mcclellan ought to
have been court-martialed.,a as well as Por-
ter, for conspiring to defeat Pope. Re-
marks heard by McClellan's friends, at
such words. & .si..
When the army embarke at Harrison's
Landing, on the James River, detach-
ment was ordered to march overland to
Yorktown to occupy the nearest point to
Richmond then held by the Union army.
Our battery was in that detail, and re-
NAMED on the Peninsula Hntiitafter all the
great battles that subsequently occurred
from Antietam to Cold Harbor. With a
gunboat on the York River and another
on the James, our TANKS were well pro-
tected. During the battles of Gettysburg
we made a faint demonstrat ton on Rich
mond with a small command, and one
secLioH VI Our Odttefy OpeueOs ure Oh the
Richmond Home Guard, to prevent rein
forcements being sent to Lee, and on July
4 we fired National salute as we cele-
brated Meade's victory at Gettysburg.
SOCIAL LIFE IN CAMP.
When opportunity occurred We were not
slow in making ourselves comfortable and
social with loyal natives. At Yorktown
our battery guns were posted on q bluff
commanding the Richmond road and our
quarters were rebel barracks outside of
historic Yorktown, where CORVALLIS sur
rendered at the close of our Revolutionary
War. Lieut.. Champion, Of Capt. Fitch's
Battery, established weekly paper, 1.-THE
Cavalier" Correspondence with relatives
and the girls We left behind was pretty
general. l was not an exception, and
sometimes, under the inspiration Of Cupid,
wrote sentimental rhymes. I was entitled
to leave Of absence, but numbers Of
applicat ions were refused. went to Gen.
Buffers headquarters, and personally
for leave. He said: Captain. IL Won
promise to get married, I'll give you q
leave" I answered.: you know, 1t takes
two for that; but I'll promise to do the
best l can"
My betrothed, Mary e. Sipp, was born
in New Jersey, educatedin New York City
and at Mt. Holyoke, Mass, and was teach
ing in Culpeper Institute. In Virginia.
when the John Brown raid occurred, and
her Northern sentiments necessitated her
getting North Of Mason and Dixon's line.
On Feb. 9. "a, we were married at Mid
dletown, N. Y, and she accompanied me
to Yorktown, where We started our mar
ried life in rebel barracks overlooking York
River.
Later the command was ordered to Will
liamsburg, and located between Fort Ma
gruder and the old town Of Revolutionary
fame.
Lieut.. Beecher and numerous others
brought their brides to the front. When
the Lieutenant reported at headquarters
and was introduced to Gen. Butler, the
General looked up and nodded a welcome.
Gen. Shaffer whispered, "He is Henry
Wards son." Butler arose and shook
hands with the Lieutenant, a chip off the
old block, who said: II would like to have
credit on my own account"
Lieut.. Butts, of the 9th Pa. Cav. wooed
and Won Miss Pickett, a niece Of the Con-
federate General. who made the fatal
charge at Gettysburg. She had been
prisoner in Libby, and the Southern SYM
pathizers gave warning that the antici-
pated wedding at her uncle's (Senator
Bowden's) mansion would be prevented by
Confederate soldiers.
Mrs. Orwig and myself, and most of
the officers and their wives, we're invited
to the wedding / MIA ced n rnption Of tho