The National tribune., 1907-09-26
SIauShterinE Canister.

AS Hlll mad maSSed ms men Tor an
overwhelming attack, the effect of the
canister upon them was simply mur-
derous. and they recoiled, leaving the
muddy ground covered with their dead
and wounded. In the meanwhile, how
ever, Hill had sent Gen. Rains with his
brigade to work his way thru the woods
and strike the little force in flank. 1t
now appeared, and opened a severe en-
filading fire, which the defenders could
not Withstand. Col. Bailey recognized
the desperation of the situation, and
strove t1 spike, the guns aided by Maj.
Van Valkenberg and Adjt Ramsey, of
his regiment, the 1st n. Y. l.. A. Sharp
shooters. shot; them down almost at
once. and the division crumbled away,
leaving their guns in the hands of the
enemy, and only rallying when Gen.
touch's position was reached at Seven
Pines. 81 81
Gen. Eeyes had sent Aids to Gen.
Heintzeiman, who was in command of
the left wing, asking for reinforcements.
out the messengers were delayed, and
Ieintzelman fdjdl not receive the mes
sages until O'Clock. kearny started
AT once with. his foremost brigade, but
in spite Of his 'impetuosity he did not
reach Seven Pines until O'Clock, where
he found Couch's, and Casey's men still
struggling obstiuateIy to hold their
ground. He Immediately threw Berry,
Brigade into the woods on the left, and
the trusty rifles of the I'd, Sd and 5th
Mich. and 37th n. Y. soon began check
ing the furious onslaught of Long
streets men, coming up to take the
place of Hills. who had been fought
out. In spite Of the rout and confusion
and the overwhelming numbers attack
ing them, the Union troops had put up
q magnificent fight. and inflicted fright
ful injury upon their assailants.
.jameson's Brigade also came up, and
rushed impetuously into the fight.
We have so frequently occasion to
point out the mistakes and failures of
Union commanders that it is pleasant
to be able to show how badly those on
the other side did. This particular bat
tie was a conspicuous instance. Joe
Johnston had planned the movement
with the greatest skill, but his execu-
tion was atrocious. He went with G.
w. Smiths column, and remained with
ii all day. He kept up no communica-
tion with Longstreet and Hill. and did
not know what they were doing. Tho
he was n,t more than three or four
miles from them, the wind carried the
sound away from him, and he had no
means of judging what was being done.
Why he did not send Aids to get in
formation is impossible to understand.
He did not move Smiths Division for
ward until o'clock, and had no knowl-
edge whatever of Huger'S movements
Had he moved all his men promptly in
accordance with his plan, it is difficult
to see how the Union force would have
escaped destruction. AT o'clock he
learned in some way that Hill and
Lougstreet had been fighting for four
hours and Immediately ordered Smiths s
Division forward. At that time Couch
tried t. relieve the pressure on Casey's
flank BY forward movement, but en-
countered Smiths full force. short
but desperate fight ensued Couch was
| thrown off to the right. and Berrys and
Jameson's Brigades of Kearny's Division
We're forced back into the White Oak
Swamp. 1t was now or 6 O'clock
Sumner TO the Rescue.
AS the sounds of the first shots drift
ed back to the soldierly old Sumner on
| the east bank of the Chickahominy, it
stirred him as the sound of the trumpet
| does a war horse. Without waiting for
orders he put his two divisions in mo-
ton, Sedgwick's for the upper bridge,
Richardson's for the lower, and sent
word of ,Whae was happening to Gen.
McClellaG, WHO lay sick in his tent at
Gaines,s YIN. Mcclellan returned an