The National tribune., 1906-02-22

! seen III the woods surrounding the plain
| upon which we landed as soon as the
landing began, convinced me that some
thlng was to be feared from the enemy
in the morning. During the night one
| OF our pickets and one of the enemy's
| were killed and two prisoners were
taken by our pickets. From these we
! learned that the enemy was in large
Ecrce in our front, and that we We're
| to be attacked in the morning. Ex-
tTaordinary precautions We're taken dur
Ing the night to prevent the success Of
an attack. The roads approaching the
landing We're obStructed by felled trees,
the vigilance of the sentinels was re-
doubled, the wood surrounding the
plain upon which the landing was made
was thoroughly watched by pickets
which were posted by Gen. Bartlett,
21th n. Y. General officer of the Day
and to their watchfulness and efficiency
our success of the next day is to great
extent due.
About I o'clock a. IN. on the 7th in
slant Gen. Newton and myself made a
reconnaissance of the position on foot,
which convinced us that our right and
left TANKS and front We're protected by
creeks, and that the only dangerous
point of the position was n space about
geo yards wide a the right of the left
flank. Through this space the road
from the interior entered the open plain.
flanked on both sides by thick wood.
There is Il dam in front of our position
over which infantry might pass but it
was well protected by a strong picket
"ReconnoiSsances were sent out in all
directions to obtain as accurate
knowledge of the country as possible,
and nothing was heard from the enemy
until about . o'clock in the morning.
Then firing between the pickets III the
vicinity OF the road entering the plain
from the interior commenced. and in
creased in violence until the action be-
came severe. between 10 and IL O'clock
Between Z and o'clock Gen. Newton's
Brigade had been ordered to take po-
sition to guard the road and its de-
bouche from the wood.
Il had been TO the fleet, endeavoring
to expedite the departure of the trans
ports which had brought us up, when
the firing commenced, and j did not
hear of 1t until signaled by Gen. Slo-
cum, between 10 and IL o'clock. l i'm
mediately went ashore, and found that
the arrangements which had already
been made were ample to repel any
force which the enemy could bring
against us. Newton'S Brigade. consist
ing of the 18th, 31st and 32d n. Y. and
the 95th Pa, was holding the wood and
road under a severe musketry fire. This
brigade was supported on the left by
the Sd and 4th n. j., and by the 5th
Me-, of Slocum's Brigade. In its rear
were HeXamer's New Jersey and Up
tons Regular batteries, under command
OF Capt. Platt I'd Art. They were sup
ported by five companies of the 10th
n. Y, under Col. Howand The re-
mainder of Taylor's Brigade the 1st
and I'd n. j., supported the batteries,
and at the same time were in reserve
to repel any attacks upon the approach
by the dam.
wick's Division, which had that morn
ing landed, was posted, with Porter,o
Massachusetts, Battery on its left, rest
ing upon the river. Capt. Wilson's New
York Battery. of four guns, was held |
in reserve in the center. The Goth Pa, |
Col Cake, was placed in front on the |
left. The 27th n. Y, Col. Bartlett, was
OH picket during the night of the 9Th. |
Three companies helped to commence |
haved well, and Capt. Jay, of that regi- |
ment, was distinguished for his good |
conduct and good sense. The other |
seven companies of this regiment sup
ported Wilson's Battery during the day
Two companies of the 10th N Y We're |
in the commencement of the engage
ment and behaved well. Capt. Curtis,
in command of one OF them, was se-
verely wounded. These two and the
iment supported Wilson's Battery.
"At the beginning of the action the
pickets were driven in upon their sup
ports, which held their ground well,
falling back steadily when necessary
without confusion. Two regiments. the
326 N. Y. and portion Of the 95th Pa,
we're thrown into the woods to sup