Virginia gazette. [volume] (Williamsburg, Va.) 1893-192?, 1908-05-09
VISITS THE BATTLEFIELD.
Or. HOIbTOOk Returns to TeW me
Scene Of Carnage.

eral days here this week sightseeing.
DR.. Holbrook. who is a gentleman
OF pleasing and attractive address.
met many of his former foemsn.
for in the war of the sixties he was
on the 'tother side. Moreover. he
was in the battle of Williamsburg. /
May Sth. 1862.
DR.. Holbrook belonged 70 the
5th Wisconsin and was in Hancock /
brigade. Hooker's division. at this |
battle so well (and unfavorably) re-
membered by our wartime citizens.
His main object in coming here this
month was TO be on the spot he
stood Cor law May S. 1862. and
incidentally 10 attend the unveiling
of the monument to the Confederate
dead. He attended the unveiling
ceremonies and enjoyed the e1cerci-
ses as only old veterans can enjoy
and appreciate such things.
DR.. Holbrook talked interestingly
of the battle Of. Williamsburg. AS
stated. be belonged 70 Hancock
brigade. Il was that brigade which
crossed the dam Cat Jones pond
north of Fort Msgruder. The OBJ
ject Of Hancock was to attack Ma
gruder by a flank movement. He
told the following story Of how they
( crossed the dam.
We left the main road at Lee S
mill, the object being to make de-
tour and get on the flank Of the en-
emy In our march we came upon
the now famous dam. which was a
narrow causeway and a quagmire
Here we met a white man and a ne
gro. They gave Us information
about affairs on the other side. A
consultation was held. and finally i
was decided 20 make the attempt tc
cross. Col. Geo. A. Custer. ther
on the staff OF Gen. Hancock, wa.
the first 70 cross the dam. Col
! Custer was afterwards Gen. Custer
: who was slain by the Sioux Indians
June IS. 1870. al the Little BIZ
: Horn The brigade followed anC
=, took position north of Fort Ma
gruder where we lay concealed IN
! til late in the evening. Sharpshoot
ers picked off every man that dare'
show his head. Gen. Hancock hat
orders 70 retire but each time replie,
by asking for reinsorcements (whicl
never came saying be held the ke,
TO the situation. Had the Confed
! crates known our strength they coulc
have slain or captured the Who'll,
;, brigade"
The reason why Hancock Wa
not annihilsted was because Ma
gruder was Ill at the time and th'
! command devolved upon subordi
mates. The Confe6erates were try
. ing TO avoid a decisive engagement
here, and were retreating 70 Rich
mond. Magruder was left TO defent
: the rear and protect the wagon trail
x of the army then on its way to Rich
: mond under Gen. Johnston. Bu
the FederslS didn't know this.
DR.. Holbrook's regiment was tn
one that fought the gallant fift
North Carolina. which suffere
:. severely. A strange coincidence va
the "5th Wisconsin attacked the St
Carolina at S o'clock on the Sth da
20 OF the 5th month Of the year"
90 DR.. Holbrook visited the BATH,
ne field but things had changeC
rh White winged peace had spread b,
m wings. There were no serried CO
umns of blue and gray; no belchin
u cannon or roaring muSketry. 7
at sabre stroke. TO wild cavalry chargr
ne no death cry. no rivulets of sbloo<
I'D But at o'clock on May 5. l9Ot
:; JUST forty-six years later. ne stoo
upon the self-same spot his con
G rades lay May s. 1862.
a DR.. Holbrook Will send n
N Daughters Of the Confederacy an a
E ticlc he has written upon this battl
- Il a 4