Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1909-07-02

After Charlottesville.

| the C1Vu war series, p. oo), says OF
the situation at the conclusion Of the
three days fighting in the former sit
uation:
Owing to sudden rise in the river,
the bridges became too short, and
there was some doubt as to the practical
bility Of passing over them; but, by
taking down one and piecing the
others with it, the difficulty was over
come, and the army retired without
being followed up, under cover Of thir-
ty-two guns posted on the heights on
the opposite bank"
do not know how much of this sit
uation General Doubleday saw person
ally. Those who had an opportunity
to see it as I did will always remem-
Der it as one of the most critical and
alarming situations of the war. Cir
cumstances at that time made me &C.
quainted with some details that never
went into history, to give which Is the
object of this sketch.
There is in my possession brief
written order from General Hooker,
his generals on the other bank, which,
with the greatest difficulty, succeeded
in conveying across by signals that
memorable night. I will tell how it
came to be given.
1t was toward evening that the lay
ing of the pontoons was completed, or
supposed to be completed. The COM
handing general, his staff and escort
had come over. AS signal officer at
tached to headquarters, I was with
them.
The Upper Rappahannock is deep
but usually not a wide stream. The
laying of the pontoons, when not un-
der fire was no difficult job, as had
been often before proved. But the
Sudden rise" of the river referred to
changed the situation. The stream
was widened by the flood Of water
coming down from the mountains
after the spring rains, and was swollen
to torrent. The bridges were sway
ing about, carried down by the force
of the current, leaving wide gaps be-
tween their ends and this side. They
were just as useless for the crossing
of a single soldier or single gun as
no bridge at all would have been.
The night came on, dark as pitch;
but while there was still light enough
to see across / had observed the spec.
tacle on the other shore that caused
all Of us to shudder with apprehen-
sion. The retreating army was crowd
ing down to the water. OF course we
only saw the advance divisions; but
the whole were near at hand. In some
places the troops looked all huddled
together, their officers, no doubt, sup
posing that the crossing could be COM
menced in few minutes.
The thirty-two guns posted on the
heights beyond, and the rear guard,
under General Meade, were all we'll
enough; but think what might have
happened that night had General Lee
learned Of this situation. 1t was plain
enough to me that an army cooped
| up as ours was there by the river was
in no shape to fight, and that a sud-
den and resolute attack might have re
suited in such disaster as that I'M
lucky campaign had not yet given us.
Hooker had his headquarters at Mrs.
Barton's house. 1 had established my
self and my assistants near by, at
what was known as the "Chestnut-tree
Station" from the great tree that
grew there. 1t was an advantageous
point, and had been used for signal
ing during the few days preceding.
1 was ordered to establish communi
cation by signal with the other Shore
and I went at it. The darkness was
intense, and lights had to be used.
For half an hour I worked there,
| trying to stir up somebody on the
other side to answer. No response
came. Our moving lights must have
| been seen by thousands, and many
must have known that we were trying
| to communicate; but the signal men
| on the other side were not down near
| the river.
1--WE can't make them understand"
l said us there anybody here will
! volunteer to swim over?"
i Will, one Oh TIE ulSu plO1upIIy
answered.
1t would have been difficult, per
haps dangerous, at that hour and in
! the condition of the river, but it was
! practicable. Still, man reaching the
| other shore would be delayed in find
ing headquarters, and delay just then
was very dangerous.
resolved to find General Hooker
j and state the situation to him. AS yet
| | did not know what order he wished
| to send over.
l found him in room in the Barton
| house, sitting before a wood fire,
| weary, exhausted, spiritless.
| l stated my name and errand. He
handed me a piece of paper with
these words written on it in pencil:
ITO Couch, Slocum, or Meade:
Stop the retreat. Have troops re-
take positions The pontoons are
| gone Hooker.
Get that across instantly" he said.
4 TIT L. aI, ha coid If made