The National tribune., 1904-03-31

His next battle was Mechanicsville, near
Richmond. June 26, 1862, when he stood
by his guns until a rebel officer got close
enough 10 shoot him with pistol.
LEARNING THE ART OF WAR.
Before it was discovered that the inn
posing armament Of MunsOn's Hill con-
sisted Of Quaker guns, a force of 10000
men under Gen. Smith, in camp south of
the Chain Bridge; like force under Gen.
Porter. south Of the Long Bridge, and an
other from Alexandria, started, after dark,
for Munson's Hill. Capt. Motifs N. Y.
Battery, the 9Th Pa. Cav, and detach-
our column. My section Of Battery e was
next to Motifs. Towards midnight we
heard muskets, and supposed that pick
cts were exchanging shots with our ad-
vance guard. We came to place where
trees were felled across the road. causing
much delay. Advancing on top Of ridge,
the head of the column turned at right an
giles. At the crossroads there was woods
on three sides. Motifs Battery in column
Of pieces had reached a down grade, and
our guns were on the level ground around
TIE corner, when a yolley of musketry
came from the front and the balls went
over us on the level, while Motifs Bat
terry suffered severely. Our horses had
never been under FIRE, and turned short
around and broke my two gun-carriage
poles and one Of the caisson poles, and
some Of the horses fell into the bitches.
We hurriedly pulled the guns to the cor
ner and loaded them with canister. Gen.
Smith and staff galloped to the corner,
and l heard dictated a dispatch addressed
to Gen. Mcclellan to the effect that We
were surrounded by the enemy. A regi-
ment was ordered into the woods in front
OF us to feel for the enemy, and soon q
soldier came to the corner, excitedly shout
ing: For Gods sake, call the regiment
back" His regiment, I'd Wis, he said
was only 800 yards distant. That regi.
ment was in gray uniform which fact ex.
planned what was afterwards designated
as BaileJs Crossroads blunder.
CHANGE OF BASE.
In March, 1862, the transfer of tho
Army Of the Potomac to the Peninsula
was begun. The Monitor had whipped
way 10 Fortress Monroe Landing. / saw
the dents in the Monitors turret as We
sailed by, while the rebel guns at Sewall's
Point were menacing us.
| Deliberately the Army Of the Potomac
| commenced the tour Of the Peninsula that
became so famous in our military history.
The siege OF Yorktown was begun April
., and ended May 3. 1862.
| Our army was distributed in zig-zae
lines between the York and the James
Rivers. Digging intrenchments and mount
ing heavy siege guns were our occupations
Labor, sickness and suffering on our part
were the result Of the siege while the
leisurely Withdrawing from their strong.
holds, and May they evacuated.
| Early on the morning - May B, when
the news spread that the enemy had flown
there was general rush after them. Regi
nents double-quicked for miles-and then
s.att. md To- hi. aIx-
wagons and artillery carriages and horses
stuck in the mud In hurried attempts to
| follow the enemy on converting roads that
led to Williamsburg.
Different commands got mixed Gen
Rockers men reached Williamsburg, frst
and hand .to-hand conflicts, between the
blue and the gray occurred in old Revolt
tionary rife pits.
Magruder, the largest Of a series built
by the rebels, was the most conspicuou.
In the new defenses Of Williamsburg. Capt
iBramwelPs New York Battery was ad
vanced within range Of the heavy gun.
second nes co De T fasas Sas q %as
York Zouaves fell back, and Branhill,
Battery was silenced and most of BIZ
horses and men were killed. Our division
commander, Gen. Couch, anticipated
charge from the enemy, and admonishet
vigilance and readiness. Gen. Hancock
noMe'SIs ndo IedcAeu kne leIt hank O.
the enemy's line, and by an impetuoti
charge put them TO flight and ended th
battle OF Williamsburg.
i Mcclellan was in the rear somewhere
In his report>of the battle hs said "Gen
Hancock, the superb" was the hero O
! the occasion, and eourt-martial OF th
limpetuous Hooker and others. who opene,
the fight, was talked of
Gen. Magruder's command that day wa
only the rear-guard OF the fleeing enemy
Yet, I believe that II he had taken iii
i aggressive the Army Of the Potoma
! would have had another disaster lik
; that Of Bull Run, on account Of the con
: EDITION Of the soft ground, into whic