The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-07-01

After ChanceIlorsxiIIe.

uation:
Owing to sudden rise in the river.
the bridges became too short, and
there was some doubt as to the practical
0ility 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 ii as | 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 ac
Quainted with some details that never
went into history. to give which is the
object of this sketch.
There is in my possession a brief
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, l succeeded
In conveying across by signals that
memorable night l will tell how it
came to be given.
1t was toward evening that the lay
Inc 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, l was with
them.
The Upper Rappaharnock is a deep
but usually not a wide stream. The
laying of the pontoons, when not I'M
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 a 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 l 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 70 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 well
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 rs ours was there by the river was
N 10 shape to fight, and that a sud-
del and resolute attack might have re-
suited in such disaster as that un-
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 bave known that we were trying
70 communicate; but. the signal men
ON the other side were not down near
the river.
I'VE can't make them understand"
[ said. us 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 il 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
and state the situation to him. AS vet
did not know what order he wished
to send over.
found him in room in the Barton
house, sitting before a wood fire.
weary, exhausted, spiritless.
/ stated my name and errand. He
handed me a piece of paper with
these words written on 1t 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.
The way in which he said 1T made
me hesitate to tell him that had been
trying to signal, and could get no re-
sponse. | went away, resolved to try
again
Tor some time | was still unsuccess-
ful. Then suddenly / saw a waving
light far back from the river. Rapid
ly the motions spelled out the CUES
lions, Who are you? What's want
ed?" The order was signaled across,
the 20. K" came back, and | sent
over to headquarters at once to re-
port my success.
II was not long after this that the
pontoons were got under control again,
and fixed so that the army could
cross, as is related by General Double
day. After Hooker's order had been
signaled across | suppose the best dis
positions possible were made to oppose
an attack that did not come. That no
attack was made was, | verify believe,
a terrible mistake in General Lee.
oho he