The National tribune., 1904-04-21
Battle of Williamsburg.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The very
interesting article of Capt. Orwig in The
National Tribune of March 81 induces me
to write touching some Of the incidents Of
the battle OF Williamsburg. as l was Il
soldier in Hancock's Brigade--which at
that time consisted of the 9th Wis, It'll
Me-, and 43d and 49th \. y. He says:
Gen. Hancock, however, had reached
the left flank Of the enemy, and by an inn
petuous charge PIT the enemy to fight
and ended the battle Of Williamsburg"
In this he is little in error. No inn
petuous charge was made by Hancock;
but it was the repulse of such a charge
made by the tIiesby, that ended the battle.
Our brigade arrived upon the field after
Hooker had assaulted the main works of
the enemy. passing his men over and
through Il large body Of fallen timber with
prOach to their works. 1t was while his
gallant men struggled to pass through this
obstruction, which was as impregnable as
cane brake, that lie suffered his heavy
losses, and was forced to partly with
draw. 1t was at this critical stage of the
fight that Hancock's Brigade came up
and took post in the rear OF lockers
battalions. After remaining in this posi-
ton until towards evening, the brigade
was ordered to move to the right, to feel
for the enemy's left flank. When opposite
our desired position we had to cross IL
creek upon a dam. Upon the opposite
bank was new fort, commanding the
dam, but the fort was not manned and
our crossing was not opposed, although Il
large force of the enemy was near. After
crossing, one company of the 9th WIS. to
which belonged. was thrown forward as
skirmishers and the brigade was moved
up the creek to a small copse of scattered
! xrtn l,a. tn hn
stream, we formed line Of battle, facing Il
large fort almost half mile in our front,
which was flying the rebel flag and was
crowded in and around with the forces of
the enemy. In front of our position. about
100 yards in advance. was an old rail-
fence. badly wrecked, the rails scattered
about in disorder. Gen. Hancock ordered
a detail Of men to put the fence in order,
which they accomplished. 1t was Il
quanlary among the men ut the time as to
what the purpose was! Some sarcastic
guesses were made that the General
wished to pasture his horses there.
| After we had remained in line some
time. watching the enemy at the fort.
without any firing, except from the skirm-
| ish lines. with the pickets. five rebel regi-
ments filed out Of the fort and proceeded
to form line Of battle with all the for
mality of dress parade. Then they
| swoopcd down upon us, on charge. Gen.
Hancock. when he saw them coming. rode
| in front of the brigade and addressed
them: Gentlemen, you see that fence
| (pointing to the fence with his sword!
When / give the order to charge, charge
| to the fcnce-and hold it!'
In the meantime the enemy came for
ward in grand array, and when they werc
| crossing the fence. with their ranks i'll
confusion. the order from Hancock came
| to charge! Many Of the enemy was cap
tured, wounded or killed while attempt
| ing to get over the fence. exposed to a
| whitening fire. They fed on all sides.
| leaving over 100 killed and wounded. be-
sides a large number of prisoners: They
| were utterly demoralized. and, joined in
| their retreat by those at the fort, they
fed abandoning all Of their defenses. end
ing the battle of Williamsburg: One of
| their officers. the Colonel of a South Car
DINA regiment, made himself very con-
spicmous in the charge. He rode a beau
tiful white horse and while leading his
regiment in the charge was killed. to-
gethcr with his horse.-CoMPANY II.
MAN