davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
ry JOHN McELRGY.

destroyed or abandoned. Among these
We're 200 cannon in fair condition which
the enemy had not been able to remove
to the forts they We're building for
them. This made the third time that
the Norfolk Navy Yard had been burn
ed-frst, in the War of 1912, to pre-
vent its capture by the British; second,
when the United States officials aban-
doned it to the Confederates: and, final
ly, by the Confederate upon the evac-
uation before the Union forces
Destruction of the Merrimac.
Great as was the JOY at the recapture
of the Navy Yard, there was an even
more distinct sense of eXultation over
the destruction of the greatly feared
Merrimac. Huger had at first begged
the Merrimac to stay with him. 10 aid
in defending his position, but when he
retreated he sent no information of his
intention to Commodore Tatnall. COM
manding the Merrimac, thus leaving
him in the lurch, to learn of the retreat
when It was too late to save his vessel.
A bright light in the horizon and a
terrific explosion occurring Simultane-
ously, which could be attributed to no
other cause. announced to the Union
troops the suicide of their dreaded an
tagonist Comm odore Tatnall, finding
himself in trap, had run the Merri-
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
GINGER In THE AIR.
Continued from first page.)

dent Roosevelt would veto the law If
1t was gotten thru Senate and House.
But all these people of the opposition
are terribly in earnest. and they can
cause the Secretary of Agriculture an
noyance.. Sulphurous acid. for exam
pie. Is used in preserving fruits and also
in the manufacture of molasSes. and its
advocates claim that it is not deleteri-
Gus TO health. The Secretary says 1t IS
deleterious to health. and he is keeping
the wheels of the Department whirring
as he grinds out proof that this acid
ought not to be used in foods for hu-
man consumption. There will certainly
be noise in the corridors of the Capitol
when these sulphur men. borax men
and benzOate of soda men reach there
in December They will make personal
appeals to Senators and members in
dulge in threats TO desert the Repub-
lican standard unless something is done.
and all the other customary things that
a determined body of men will do when
they come down to Washington to make
a fight to the very death After they
have had a hearing and have talked
themselves out they may feel better.
even if there be no remedial legislation.
as very often happens in such cases 1t
the Capitol of this great free country
of the United States of America.
The National tribune., 1907-09-12

His assertion that the Peninsula was
far easier route of approach to Rich
mond was not so well sustained by
subsequent events. The lines of the
Warwick River and of Williamsburg
were to be as formidable barriers as
that OF Bull Run had appeared. and
that of the Chickahominy was to cost
almost as many lives as the Rappahan-
mock.
The Chickahominy is said to lie
around Richmond like great wet ditch
about fortress. 1t cuts deep gorge
with steep banks about 10 miles to the
north of Richmond. and then falling
INTO the tidewater plain spreads out
into the Great White Oak Swamp. 10
miles long and five wide TO the east OF
the city. and finally falls into the
James River about 40 miles below
Richmond. In its ordinary stages the
Chickahominy is about 40 feet wide.
with from half mile to mile width
of swampy. heaYily-timbered ground on
either side. Any heavy rain brings
down a great volume of water from the
uplands, which covers this swamp The
White Oak Swamp is practically i'm
passable at all times. and all the roads
UP the Peninsula made wide detou-
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
T. HOOKER.

present" of 126,0S9 officers and men,
with $50 pieces of artillery. The "pres-
ent," of course, included the sick in
hospital and others. There was a
great number of these. owing to the
long weeks of exhausting labor in the
rain and the mud.
Gen. Mcclellan reported that he did
not feel as if he could put more than
so, 900 men in battle, and ne began
the most strenuous appeals to the Pres
ident for reinforcements. He wrote:
Il ask for every man that the War
Department can send me. l will fight
the enemy, whatever their force may
be, with whatever force I may have,
and 1 firmly believe that we shall beat
them. but our triumph should be made
decisive and complete. The soldiers of
this army love their Government, and
will fight well in its support. You may
rely upon them. They have confidence
in me as their General, and in you as
their President. Strong reinforcements
will at least save the lives of many of
them. The greater our force, the more
perfect will be our combinations and
the less our loss" He also reiterated
even more earnestly that Mcdowell
should be sent him with all his troops.
The President returned an encouraging
reply, but events were about to happen
that would seriously discompose the
plans then made.
(TO be continued.)
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
The Preliminary skirmishing.

The political fighting will be on all
Winter. II will start from the first
day of the session and continue till the
last day. There will be political fight
ing among the Republicans and between
the Republicans and the Democrats.
the enIire Congressional body will be
watching the returns from the conven-
tions that elect delegates The follow
ers of candidates will be elated AMI
depressed as the tide of popular favor
ebbs and flows. Already the election Of
delegates 10 the Republican National
Convention is at hand. Within few
days the Republicans of the rordney-
District, in Michigan, will meet 20
choose two delegates. 1t is said that
those delegates Will favor the nominal
ton of Speaker Cannon. Probably Rep-
reSentative F'ordney wants some COM
rlittee promotion in the House of Rep
resentatiVeS, and is taking this way 10
get it from the Speaker.
Sa~ator Foraker has already secured
the Endorsement of the Republican STATE
Committee of Georgia, but that is
different thing than the actual choice
of delegates. The Republicans of Ari-
zona, which viii be the second delega-
tGn called in the Convention. are also
preparing to support the Ohio Senator
The big crop of conventions for choice
of delegates, however. will not be on
till January and March, and many Of
them wilt not be held till late in May.
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
The f69th n. Y,

Editor National Tribune: Will you
please give the service of the 9th "
Y? / have never met a comrade since
We were mustered out. nor seen any
mention of the regiment in your paper.
George r. Irwin. Danvilie. ILL.,
The 18Th n. Y.-one of Foxs Eight
ing regiments"-was organized at New
York and Troy September and October,
1852. and mustered out July 19, 1855.
1t was first commanded by Col. Clar-
ence Buell.. who resigned Feb IS. 1864,
and was succeeded by Col John Me-
Conihe. who was killed in action at
Cold Harbor. Va. June 1, 1864. At the
time of muSter-out Col AlonZo Alden.
brevetted Rrigadier-General Jan. Is.
1865, was in command The regiment
was actively engaged in the defense of
Suffolk. Va. April. 1863, and in the op-
erations about Charleston Harbor. and
went with the Army of the James to
bermuda Hundred, where it met with
heavy loss. The IS9th held a Derilous
position in the trenches before Peters,
burg, losing men almost every day 1t
was one of those selected for the ey-
pedition against Fort Fisher, a large
proportion of its losses there resulting
from the explosion of the magazine
after the fort had been captured. 1t
belonged to Ames's Division, Tenth
Corps. and lost 157 killed and 12S from
disease. etc--Editor National Tribune.
The National tribune., 1907-09-12

tfe rear OF Norfolk, and made Gen.
Woofs proposition to move upon that
place much more attractive.
AS soon as Yorktown was evacuated
and the retreating Confederates uncoT-
cred the flank of Huger, who was com
manding at Norfolk, the President and
Secretary of War gave Gen. Wool the
long-desired permission, and May a
combined attack was made on Sewe.f s
Point by the army and navy, the latter
under Commodore Goldsborough. The
Merrimac and the entire Confederate
fleet was brought out to oppose the
Union advance, and a long-range en-
gagement ensued. The next day Gen.
Wool, acting upon Col T. ]. Grams
advice, landed 5000 troops at Ocean
View, a watering place, from which
SewelFs Point could be taken in re-
verse. The artillery attack on Sewei's s
Point by the vessels and the Rip Raps
was renewed to cover this movement.
The immediate advance was command
ed by Gen. Max Weber, and by 8
O'Clock on the morning of May 10 the
infantry was ashore and pushing out
vigorously for the bridge over Tanners
Creek. The enemy had received intel
ligence of the movement and set the
bridge on fire, but the troops hurried
forward, and by o'clock in the after
noon reached a strongly intrenched
camp, where they found % cannon in
position, but no enemy. Wool, who
had placed himself at the head Of his
column, in company with Gems. Mans
field and Viele, pushed on straight to-
wards Norfolk, but before reaching the
city they were met by the Mayor with
q flag of truce and an offer to surren-
der. The authorities at Richmond saw
the indefensibility of Norfolk, and in
structed Gen. Huger not to attempt to
hold the city against any strong ad-
vance of the National troops. There
fore, as soon as Wool appeared in force
Huger withdrew with his troops towards
Richmond and told Mayor Lamb to
surrender the town. Gen. Wool an
pointed Gen. Viele Military Governor
of the town, issued a reassuring proc
lamation TO the citizens, and then rode
back to Ocean View, where he took a
steamer for Fortress Monroe, and per-
sonally communicated the news of his
brilliant success to the anxious Presi-
dent and Secretary of War. WooIs
swift success in a movement of such
importance was delightful contrast
to McClellan's long delay before York
town, and Secretary Stanton expressed
the feelings of his heart in the follow
Ing order which, at the direction of the
president, he issued:
1.-The skillful and gallant movements
of Maj.-Gen. John L. Wool and the
forces under his command, which re-
suited in the surrender of Norfolk, and
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
The 18th Wis.

Editor National Tribune: I would
like very much to see sketch of the
old 18th Wis. in our paper once.-Dan-
iel Ballinger, Sharon, Wis. b,
The 18th Wis. was organized at
GAINESVILLE from October to December
1861, and mustered out Nov "a. 1865
1t was first commanded by Col. Maurice
Maloney, of the Regular Army. who
was discharged Aug. 1, 1862, and fol-
lowed by Col. William p. Lyon (brevet
Brigadfer-General Oct. IS, 1869, who
was also discharged Sept. II, 1855. At
the time of muster-out the regiment
was under the command of Lieut.-Col
Augustus II. Kummel It belonged to
Rousseau's Divisionn, Twentieth Corps,
and lost five killed and 1SS from dis
ease, etc.-Editor National Tribune.
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
Battery c, Ky. l.. 4.

Editor National Tribune: Will you
please give a short history of Co c,
KY L. Al. Laughlin, Eiwood, Ind.
Battery c was organized at Louis
vile. Sept. 10. 1863. TO serve one year.
The original members were mustered
out at the expiration of their time. but
the veterans and recruits retained in
service till July 20, 1865. 1t was first
commanded by Capt. David C. Stone,
who was dismissed March IS, 1853. and
was succeeded by Capt John w Neville,
who was mustered o,It Oct. 81. 1864.
At the time of the final muster-out OF
the battery Capt. John Richard W. Nc
Reynolds was in command. 1t lost four
killed and 16 from disease. etc.-Ed-
itOr National Tribune.
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
The sterenscopIc Views.

Noah Brendle. Somerset, Pa, Co. E,
1881 Pa, writes: Il received the views
all right, and would not part with the
% views of the Life of Christ, could l
not get again, for less than So, as the
planned and know the meaning of all,
and are therefore getting their parents
to study the Bible, and think it woul.l
be a grand thing for each family to
have a set of these views. and / also
think that The National Tribune should
be in each household. 1 hope that the
man who is now occupying the White
House will remain in it for the next
Presidential term"
The National tribune., 1907-09-12

crossing, and that Hlr. Mauory, ths
Secretary of the Navy, had within thi.;
period himself visited Norfolk to look
after the public interests, The evacua-
ton of this port clearly involved the
question, what disposition was to be
made of the Virginia. If the Govern
ment made no decision of a question
which for week stared il in the face,
ii certainly WAS very strangely Tegiect-
ful of the public interest. IL Mr.. Nal
lory visited Norfolk when the evacua-
ton was going on, and never thought
of the Virginia, or, thinking of her,
kept dumb, never even giving so much
as an official rod as to what disposition
should be made of her, he must have
been more stupid than the people who
laughed at him in Richmond, or the
members of Congress, who niclknamed
him without mercy thought him TO
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
Increased Pay for the Army and Navy.

The officers of the Army and the
Navy have framed up nice bill for the
increase of the salaries all the way from
10 per cent to % per cent, notwith-
standing the fact that they are now
the best paid of all Government EN-
ployes. AS there IS plenty OF money in
the Treasury, and as it is not popular
to deny the Army and tire Navy any
thing. when President Roosevelt is in
the White House, the bill viii probably
become law. To sugar coat the bill and
make the action popular the enlisted
men are to be given an increase of 20
per cent in their pay. But there are
legislators who will oppose the in
creases, and they will not become law
till there has been something of a
run-in.
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
The 27th N. Y.

Editor National Tribune: Will You
please give little history of the 21th
n. Y.?-J. E. Cary. 672 E. 143d St.
New York City, n. Y.
The 2Tth y. Y. was organized at Ell
mira, May 81, 1851, for two years, and
mustered out May 81. 1868. Its first
Colonel. Henry w. Slocum. a West
Point graduate, was promoted to Brig
adier-General of Volunteers Aug 3,
1851 He was followed in command by
Col Joseph j. Bartlett, who was also
promoted to Brigadier-G General of. VOL
unteers Oct. 4, 1862. AT the time of
muster-out the regiment. was commands
ed by Col Alexander D. Adams 1t
belonged to Slocum's Division. Sixth
Corps. and lost IA killed and ~ from
disease, etc.-Editor National Tribune
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
blew up a little before on the morn
ing of the 11th."

blew up little before on the morn
| ing of the 11th."
POlInrd's Account.
| Pollard in his Second Year of the
| War has this to say about the de-
struction of the Merrimac:
| The destruction of the Virginia was
a sharp and unexpected blow to the
confidence of the people of the South
! in their Government. How far the
Government was implicated in this
| foolish and desperate act was never
openly acknowledged or exactly ascer-
| tanned; but despite the pains of ofhciai
lconcealment there are certain weli-at-
tested facts which indicate that in the
destruction of this great warship the
authorities at Richmond We're not
guiltless. These facts properly belong
to the history of one of the most un-
happy events that had occurred since
the commencement of the war.
The Virginia was destroyed at a.
m. of the 11th of May. During the
morning of the same day prominent
politician in the streets of Richmond
was observed to be very much detected.
He remarked that it was an evil day
for the Confederacy. On being ques-
toned by his intimate friends, he de-
c!ared to them that the Government
had determined upon. or assented to.
the destruction of the Virginia. and that
he had learned this from the highest
source of authority in the Capital At
this time the news o. the explosion of
the Virginia could not have possibly
reached Richmond. There was no
telegraphic communication between the
scene of her destruction and the city,
and the evidence appears to be COM
plete that the Government has at least
Il provision of the destruction of this
vessel or had assented to the general
policy of the act trusting, perhaps. to
acquit itself of the responsibility for il
or the unworthy plea that it had given
no express order in the matter. Again, |
it is we'll known that for at least a week |
prior to the destruction of the Virginia
the evacuation of Norfolk had been
determined upon; that during this time
the removal of stores was daily pro-
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
Alphabetical List Of Battles
With Dates from 1854 to 1900.
Or Encyclopedia OF the Wars.
FROM OFFICIAL RECORDS.

The PENSION BUREAU uses it to de-
termine dates of battles and incidents Of
the various wars.
ANY one of the SEQ battles, skir-
miSheS. and other incidents of the Civil
War, or of the 1881 engagements of tho
Spanish War, with losses in each. can
be referred to as easily as to a word in
the dictionary.
1t conaenses into one book. of 2J3
pages, praeiically all the knowledge OF
the various
All principal events are given as they
occurred from day 20 day,-this is worth
the price of the book.
1t gives a list of Pension ratings, U.
S. Pension Agencies, Soldiers Homes.
Camps. National Cemeteries, and Number
of Troops furnished by States. in fact,
it is a Dictionary of Information of the
varOus wars.
Cloth binding. s1.00, sent prepaid.
Ii you are not pleased with the book
return il and get your money.
Address: N. A. STRAIT,
21Z ape Street N. w, Washington, ID. q
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
The 1lSih LII.

Editor National Tribune: Will you
kindly give a history of the 11Sth Ill. b?
l would like to hear from some of the
old dog raiders, as we We're called.
j. o. Mort, Foss, Okla.
The 11Sth Ill. was organized at Camp
Butler Nov. Z, 1862, and mustered out
Oct. 1, 1865. 1t was commanded all
thru its service by Col. John c. Fonda,
who was brevetted a Brigadier-G General
June 2S. 1865. 1t belonged to Oster-
haus's Division. Thirteenth Corps. and
lost "a killed and 1S3 from disease, etc.
Editor National Tribune.
The National tribune., 1907-09-12

to avoid it. On the upper course of
the Chickahominy the banks on the
Richmond side approach quite near and
command the opposite shere.
Gen. Grant tried both the overland
and the PeriEsular routes in 1864, an,l
finally transferred his army south OF
TIE James to approach Richmond from
hat side.
The Army of the Potomac moved to
ward the Chickahominy with incom-
3.ci snsibIe slowness 1t is true that
lrsnching rains fell nearly every day,
that the roao speedily became such
i,Iagnires that they had to be corilu-
Dyed and that tha whole Medical.
Quarter master and ComTIissary service
Ald to be reorgan,Zed at tn, first strain
# field service, but all these hardly
explained why the army tool, two weeks
to go from the White Ho;sse to the
'hickah smiEy. a distance of 80 miles,
fully exhausted by the arduouS labor
they had perform ed. Part of the ex-
haustion was due TO NcCiellan's manu-
FeTs made i'll consequence of his CEN
slant fear that Joe Johnston would
Iveiwheln his army. if every unit was
not kept in close supporting distance.
On the contrary, Johnston was moving
away leiSureiy to the positions he hai
hosen for his line of defense. and get
ting ready 10 cover a possible advance
u the James.
McCIeilan's plans were good, but
heir execution WAS entirely too SLOW
ana tinid Establishing his base a..
White House, on the Pafnulkey, he Sc
cured a good line of supplies back TO
Washington bv the way of York River.
White House, 20 miles from Rich
mOnd, was a fine property. which once
belonged TO George Washington. and
then had descended by Inheritance TO
one of the Lees. The railroad from
Richmond to West Point crossed the
Pamunkey there. Using the railroad
as a line of supply, Mcclellan could
advance upon Richmond. crossing the
Chickahominy by the New. Mechanics
vile and Meadow and Bottom Bridges,
over which passed roads leading di-
rectly into Richmond.
Crossing the Chickahon,iny.
Gen. Naglees Brigade of Casey's Di-
vision succeeded in crossing the Chicka-
hominy at Bottoms Bridge, and three
days later Gen. Keyes had the remain
Ter of the Fourth Corps across the
Chickahominy and in a position at Seven
Pines, on the main turnpike leading
% Richmond and about five miles from
The city. Heintzelman's Third Corps
also crossed the Chickahominy, and
dooker's Division moved to the south
ward to guard the White Oak Swamp
bridge, while Kearny's Division went
20 a position somewhat in advance at
savage's Station. This left on The other
side of the Chickahom;ny Summers,
.franklin's and PDrter's Corps, and Gen.
Mcclellan established his headquarters
at Gainess Mill.
The consolidated return of the army
from May 81 showed an aggregate
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
A Court of Inquiry.

Commodore Tatnall applied for a
Court of Inquiry. but when it was con-
stituted it was composed of the three
officers who had been his rivals for
appointment to the command of the
vessel after the wouhdng of Commo-
dore Buchanan. These found that the
destruction of the Merrimac had been
The National tribune., 1907-09-12

unnecessary and she could have been
ridden so as to take her up the river
to Hog Island. and the storm of abuse
against Tatnall broke out afresh. Tat
nall demanded IA court-martial. Among
the members of this were Commodores
Buchanan, who had formerly COM
manded the Merrimac; Sidney S. Lee
and George II. HolIins. The court gave
Tatnall an honorable acquittal, and
said that his only course was 10 burn
the vessel then and there.
Aftermath of the Battle.
The battle of williamsburg was the
first real battle of the Army of the
Potomac; the men had acquitted them
selves handsomely. No better fighting
could have been expected from Euro
rean veterans than had been done by
the men of Hooker's and Kearny's Di-
visions and Hancock's Brigade. They
had shown swift intrepidity in attack,
stubborn tenacity on the defense and
bne ability for maHuyerinS. Their rifle
| fire was particularly deadly, and of 225
dead in one place. SO were found shot
thru the head. In the open field or
any place where the chances were at
| all equal, they had shown themselves
a full match at least for the best that
| the Southern Confederacy could bring
against them. They had gone into the
| fight under many hardships. Most OF
+, the regiments had been hurried away
before they could draw rations, and
had plodded weary miles over the deep
mud and the swamps before they went
into action. Hooker. Hancock and
Kearny came out Of the fight with Shin
ing regulations They were the heroes
of the day. and thereafter maintained
their positions in the public eye. No
| one ever forgot what they did at Will
liamsburg. Sumner, Heintzelman,
Keyes. Badly Smith, Stoneman and
some of their suborGinates declined
sharply in public favor. 1t began to be
felt that they were not the men for
Galway"
A very large proportion at least of
the losses which Hooker and Kearny
had suffered by the direct attack in
front would have been saved If anyone
in command had had the good sense
to follow up Hancock's advance. Re-
Inducements sent to that euterprisinS
officer when he first called for them
would have enabled him to push for
The National tribune., 1907-09-12

khe evacuation of strong batteries erect
ed by the rebels on SewelPs Point and
Craney Island, and the destruction OF
The rebel ironclad steamer Merrimac,
are regarded by the President as among
the most important successes of the
present war. He therefore or k.is that
his thanks, as Commander-iLSCh OF
The Army and Navy, be communicated
by the War Department to Maj.-Gen
Sohn Il. Wool and the officers and SOL
6iers of his command for their gallantry
and good conduct in the brilliant op-
erations mentioned"
The Navy Yard Recaptured.
As Huger's forces retreated they, of
course, abandoned their formidable
works at Sewells Point and Craney
Island, which had been such a menace
for months, and set fire to the Navy
yard. By this means were DESTROYED
two unfinished armored vessels which
were being rushed forward to reinforce
The Merrimac, and considerable quanti-
. kies of naval storas and sunnlies We're
The National tribune., 1907-09-12
CHAPTER XII.

AFTERMATH OF WILLIAMSBURG.
straction of the Merrimac-Rittc Gen.
federnte Regrets-FranElin Fails tG
Cut OFF LOngstreet's Re.rc3:-Ths
Mighty Barrier of the Chicl>ahominy.