The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-02-18


of the crests OF the highlands bordering
the bottom, thus perfectly screening from
view the bottOm-lands and slopes of the
highlands on the enemyss side. Through
this belt of swamp the stream flows some
times in a single channeb more frequently
or two above it's Sumner level. over
spreads the whole swamp. The bottom
lands between the swamp and the high
lands, in width from threequarters of a
mile to a mile and q quarter, are little
elevated at their margin above the swamp
SO that rise of the stream by few feet
overaows large areas Of these bottoms.
and even when not overdowed they are
artillery. Q0)
MCCLELLAN ATaEAULT.
In this state of facts, McClellan's dis
position of his army mnsts be considered
n grave fault, and inaction In such n stu
alton was in the highest degree danger
Gus. "A General" says the Archduke
Charles, must suppose that his oppo-
nent will do against him Wisatever he ought
strike one or the other ofthese exposed
wings, was to neglect that principle which
forms the whole secret OF war-to be SUI
perior to your enemy at lthk point of col
lision; it was, in fact, to sndglect unique
opportunity Of delivering -aS decisive blow.
ln0 COnleOeFdtc C0ulu8&4tRE WdS uOt
the man to let slip suellaa4n opportunity;
and, as soon as reconnoinsanses had fully
developed the position oil that portion Of
the Union army which ny 0 the Rich
mond side OF the ChickalBmiay, he deter
mined to act. 1t was si1na tisn in which,
by bringing two-thirds Of dis own force
TO bear against ene-thind fof the Unisn
Int to destroy the exposed Hing. BY the
30th of May he had formed bis resolution
and he Immediately made prepare tons
for carrying it into effect ON the folisws
ing day.u1 During thesnfEht of the 3Oth.
there came q storm OF unMonfed violence.
barrass the execution Of :pisnston's pro-
posed plan, at the same time gave that
General the hope OF makiRg the operation
.till more complete from Nhe sxitnation ip
which it would place his e1ponent.
The reeonnoissances Of the Confederates
sion. of Keyes's Corps held an advanced
position on the Williamsburg road, three
quarters of mile beyond the point known
rs Seven Pines and about six miles from
Richmond. Coucf's Division Of the same
corps was stationed mt Seven Pines, or
both sides OF the Williamsburg road and
along the Nine-mile road. his right resting
Ut Fair Oaks Station, ON the Richmond
md York River Railroad. OF the two
divisions of Heintzelman's Corps. that OF
kearny was on the Williamsburg road
and the railroad. three-quarters Of a mile
in advance of Savage. Station: and that
Of Hooker was guarding the approaches
Of the White Oak Swamp.
REBELS AssAULr
In this state of facts Johnston made
-ie following dispositions for attack: Hill
ID. H., who had been covering the VIII
iamsburg and Charles City road, was
directed to move his division, supported
by the division of Longstreet, out on the
williamsburg road, but not to move till
Huger's Division. which was to move out
on the Charles City road, should relieve
him. Huger's duty was to strike the left
fank Of the Union force which Hill and
l4ongstreet should engage in front. &.
w. Smith, with his division. was to ad-
vance on the right flank of the Union
force, to the junction of the New Bridge
road with the Nine-mile road. there to be
or to cover Longstreet's, 1eft.Q2) The
divisions were to move at daybreak; but
the wretched condition of the roads, re-
sulting from the storm, greatly retarded
the movement of the troops. Hill, Long
street, and Smith, indeed, were in posi-
tion by 8 o'clock; but not SO Huger. For
hour after hour. Longstreet aud Hill
awaited in vain the signal-gun that was
to announce Huger's arrival in his proper
position. At length, at 10 O'Clock, Hill13)
went forward on the II Williamsburg
road,Q4 and presently struck Casey's
Z. known as Summers Upper Bridge"
and Summers Lower Bridge"
3. These bridges were the "New Bridge"
and two other bridges. the one half mile
above and the other half mile below.
8. $50 far as engineering preparations
thrown over as early as the 2Sth of May,
Sumner uniting his CORPS with those of
Heintzelman and Keyes, and taking the
enemy's position at New, Bridge in flank
and rear Thus attacked, tbe.enemy could
passage Of our right wing, Barnard: Re-
port Of Engineer OperationS, p. q.
10. Barnard: Report 0 Engineer
Operations, PIP. 1S, 10.
II: It is commonly a suppsssasthat it was
the storm Of the night af tn 3Oth, that
prompted Gen. Johnston TO idnck; but he
had fully resolved to stike before the
storm came on, on the meToa chances Of
the situation Of the Unisn army, The
storm did not come on till 4henight OF the
30th, and the following szr.et from the
will show that Gen. J0hnstR had made
dispositions for the attaae - early as
noon of chat day: s.Thess1ecannoissances
(of Hills Brigade cominandaH) satisfied
me that The enemy was NOT II force on the
Cnaries City road, put N9a Nn tho VIII
liamsburg road, and that As lnd fortified
himself about the Seven Illness The fact
was further established, li1ats the whole
Of Keyes's Corps had crossed the Ohicka-
hominy. These facts + eopmunlcated TO
Gen. Johnston about NOM % Friday, S0fh
of Nay. I received q promW answer from
him. that, being satisfied by my report
ef the presence OF the snspy b forge In
my immediate 'front.' - had resolved 70
attack them" oinciaI Rspprts Of Battles,
IL. Johnston, Hepors d Seven Pines:
ncnfcdsrate Repefts Of Battle. Richmond.
Is. hin was sctins undar Lossstrsst's
=: HilIs Report; oa4sl Rs,e.s of
Battles. Richmoad, 1894
tContlnssd o. sixths spsssj