Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-06-25

After ChanceIIorsviIle.

burg (Vol. VI of the Campaigns Of
the Civil War series, p. 6S), 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 1t as did will always remem-
Der 1t 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
AhCAV 10 Al NY HOaHGoSiol1 II uII~4
written order from General Hooker,
made on the left bank OF the river to
his generals on the other bank, which,
with the greatest difficulty, succeeded
in conveying across by signals that
memorable night, / will tell how 1t
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 stan and escort
had come over. AS signal officer at
tached TO headquarters, ! was with
them.
The Upper Rappahannock is deep
but usually not 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 food 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 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 a few minutes.
The thirty-two guns posted on the
heights beyond, and the rear guard.
under General Meade, were all well
! enough; but think what might have
happened that night had General Lee
learned of this situation It was plain
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. | 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
/ was ordered to establish communi.
| cation by signal with the other shore,
and / went at It, The darkness was
intense. and lights had to be used.
For half an hour l 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
we can't make them understand, -
| said. rs there anybody here will
volunteer TO swim over?"
Il will" one OF the men promptly
answered.
1t would have been difficult, per.
haps dangerous, at that hour and in
the condition OF the river, but it was
practicable Still, a man reaching the
other shore would be delayed in find
ing headquarters, and delay just then
was very dangerous.
! resolved to find General Hooker
and state the situation to him. AS yet
/ did not know what order he wished
TO send over.
I found him in room in the Barton
| house, sitting before wood fire,
| weary, exhausted, spiritless.
! stated my name and errand. He
handed me a piece Of paper with
these words written on IT In pencil:
TO Couch, Slocum, or Meade:
Stop the retreat. Have troops re