The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-19
AMOUS RETREATS OF GREAT AMERICAN ARMIES

| well night desperate.
Strategy in the Retreat From sMampn
! of Chicknhominy.
As the retreat led dccpcr into the
| lowiands of Virginia. near the Jnmes
| river. Mcclellan rosortcd to strategy
l" MATT the icSfonS In tho rear. Thou
! SANDS OF aNcmen took position behind
| trees bordering the roads over which
inc army was travelling, and chopped
| the trees nearly through When the
laSt supply Sawon aud the rear guard
hhd passed. the final strokes were de-
ilNcrcd. The resulting crash sounded
ior miles, and caused the pursucrs to
wonder. They quickly learned the
cause when they came plunging along
the road aud became cnncshcd In Nc
Clcllans trap.
During this retreat the historic bat
Ties OF Gaincss Mill, Mcchanicsvillc.
frayser's Farm and iiarrison's Landing
worH fought. At Malvern hin the re-
treat halted for II while, and during
This rest the Confcdcratcs came upon
tile foe like "A whirlwind. Mcclellan
had placed his artillery on the plateau
over the James. and when Lees men
swept UP To the base OF the hill. sixty
guns suddenly opened upon them.
Within II few minutes. Lees batteries
were torn into fragments: horses lay
dead upon men. and disabled cannon
added to the pile. Again and again
the gallant Southcrncrs assailcd the
imprcEnahl" hill, only 10 recoil batter
cd and bleeding. When the recall
sounded. more tian 5000 mon had paid
the price.
During the night. Mcclellan again
gathered his troops and marched them
down the James To Harrison Land
ing, where, Il month later, they en-
barkcd and sailed for Washington.
From Malvern Hin. Lee led his cxult-
ant army to the entertainments about
hichmond. and here they were received
like conquering hcrocs-thcy had
again driven the foe from Virginia and
had saved the Confederate capital
The Most Famous Retreat ON American
Soil.
The most famous retreat OF Amori-
can soldicry is that which will be cello
DRAFTED year from next July. It was
after the terrific echoes Of ono OF the
worlds battlcs-echocs from which will
forever rcsound down the ages.
The sublimity of Lee never Ioomch
Larger than it did at Gettysburg as he
stood silent by the side OF his horse.
inc moon shonc fun upon his massive
features. Minute after minute passed.
but Lee stood motionless.
General" exclaimed lmbodcr. as he
looked at the great warrior, this has
been Il hard day on YOU"
Yes. ii has been Il sad, sad day to
MS. replied the general. For mo-
neni longer he remained in his posture
TheiI. removing his arm from the back
of his equally weary warhOrse, he
threw back his shoulders. ana his face
liShted with the memory of pickctts
glorious charge.
Il never SAT troops behave more
magniiicently than Pickett's division of
Nirsinians did to-day in that grand
charge upon the enemy" he exclaimed
\ smile passed over his face. Thea
the horrible memory OF the thousands
of gallant Nirginians falling beneath
the blasting vollcys OF Tn Fedcrais
on the hill Hooded his vision.
Too bad too bad OH, too bad" he
said. turning his eyes to the ground
lnboden's heart was wrung by the
evident mental suffering OF his beloved
chief. He had looked deep into the
heart OF a great warrior. His tongue
was siicn; lie hHs% n" words of man
could assuagc the grief of this man 80
this moment. In few moments tho
iron viii of Lee had conquered again
ana Ills face resumed its usually sad
and peaceful appearance. Inlhoden was
not deceived. he knew that the same
turmoil of soul was going on within.
though concealed by placid features OF
strong character
Caravan Of the Dying on Itonh From
GcttysburS.
Tho two men turned into Lees tcnt
as his thoughts turned from the dead
10 the living
''Wc mus, now return to Virginia,
nc remarked. AS many Of our poor
wounded as possible must be taken
home The duty will be arduous, re-
sponsiblc. aud dangerous COR l am
afraid YOU vii: be harasscd by tho
cncinNs cavalry"
III" following Afternoon was tho ma
TONS birthday. TIE Chumbcrsburs
Road from gettysburg presented a
scene that has never been cqualcd IN
! history. Tho transportation trains of
the Army Of Northern Virginia stretch
ed from town to town, a distance OF
| seventeen miles. With the rumble Of
the wheels mingled the means of near
~ 1000 wounded men. Every third
OF mile dctachmcnts of troops and
artillery broke the line of wagons--tho
sole defenders Of this caravan Of the
dying.
During tic morning. the sun had hid.
den behind gathering rain clouds
About noon the storm burst. AMI such
a torrent of rain fell upon this sad
procession as the natives had never
before seen. The rain seemed to fall
in sudden gusts and sheets, binding
drcnching.
terrific bowling wind swept aside
the frail cotton coverings of wagons
ana tents. permitting the torrents 10
drcnch the wounded who lay strcachcd
out upon the bare board bottoms Of
the wagons. The horses and mules
were frenzicd, and seemed momcntari-
jy on the point Of "a stampede.
The rain continued throughout tho
day, orders were smothcrcd in tho
! throats of the officers by the gale, and
tho wagons rocked from side to side
| il was four in the afternoon when tho
| remnants of Lees magnificent lcEion3
| hCEhm It's mnrnlI---.l nlar.h ihAI mn o..