The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-05


During the 18th we lay idle all ia,
The clouds of smoke from the burning
plumber of the encmy's camp and fire.
uuent explosions OF magazines indi-
Gated retreat The battle was over
and the Federal infantry WAC in full
hight towards the swamp OF the
Chickahominy. burning bridges in
their rear. and leaving a large por-
ton of their artillery in our hands
But til. lighting was not al over.
numerous Federal batteries posted, on
the further side OF the swamp orSFned
Il rapid lire on our line FOR thug pur-
pose Or covering the retreat OF ;hc!:
infantry
Early on the morning of the Goth
Magrudcr crossed to the north bank OF
the Chickahomlny. fording the stream
and muddy bottom lands. We reaches
what was known the Wild Cat Bat
terry. strong position, constructed
with railroad iron and covered with
about five or six feet OF dirt This
position had been occupied by McCalfs
Division of Siocum's Corps. When the
enemy abandoned their fortlhcations
they threw medicines ana other pot
sons In the wells ana ponds. So wc
suffered intensely for water.
There was every evidence Of confu
sion and defeat. General Mcclellan
had called together all of his CORPS
commanders on the night after the
battle OF Cold Harbor and Gaines's
Mill, and informed them OF his in
tention to fall back on the James
River He said: II can gain one dag
and possibly two for the movement { {
the trains before the Confederates are
sure Of my purpose, and one day is all
] require with such troops as those OF
the Army of the Potomac" Mcclellan
said: We have defeated the enemy
at every point OF attack. md ! know
the army can be depended upon to
make the movement" II Is most
markable that successful army should
destroy large quantities of stores and
abandon its line OF works and forty or
nifty cannon and several thousand small
arms.
Slocum was ordered TO Savage sta
tion to support keyss Corps. which
was to cover the retreat. Mcclellan
said In his report. This was critical
day crossing the swamps by the trains.
which had to be accomplished ny It's
close. and the protection against at
tack from Richmond must be assur
cd"
Mcclellan certainly believed that he
escaped by the action OF the finest
Judgment and strategy. and yet he
congratulated his army on the gallant
fight.
Grlnlths Mississippi Brigade formed
line across the York River Railroad,
near the Wildcat Battery, Immediately
In the rear of the railroad section
house. General Griffith formed the
advance line for pursuit of the enemy
which was moving towards Savage sta
ton While waiting for orders from
General Magruder to move, n shell
passed through the section house e5;-
plodcd. and a fragment struck General
ri . To-, .g..~ 81
helped from his horse and sent To tho
rear. but expired in n short time. Cen
crai Griffith was splendid officer. lie
was the adjutant of Mr.. Daviss regi-
ment in the Mexican War. His death
deprived us OF "a brilliant leader. Col
onel William Barksdalc. of the Thir-
tecnth Regiment being the senior c.l-
, onel. assumed command. and the bril-
gade soon moved forward under a
heavy fire from tho Federal batteries.
sumner with his corps and Franklin's
Division, had taken position on u
wooded ridge.
We reached his line short time be-
fore night and opened the fight, to-
gethcr with Semmes's Georgia and
kershaw's South Carolina Brigades OF
McEaw's Division, opposed by Summers
Corps and Franklins Division. sum
ner in his report said: II was viciously
attacked by Magruder's superior force.
but drove the enemy back with much
loss. Magruder's force engaged the
three briEades of 5000 men, while
summers force numbered 10000" This
was Magruder's first battle OF the hour,
and remember with great distinctness
that our line moved against the enemy
/ In the face of murderous infantry
and artillery fire with wild enthusiasm.
our line passed through a field and
Barksdale's Brigade charged through
large orchard. the trees of which
were almost destroyed by shot and can
ister Magruder had instructions to
engage and hold tho enemy. not TO
push him. Jackson was moving TO his
rear. ard IL Sumner and Franklin could
be held at Savage Station, Jackson
| would cut off his line of retreat.
Magrudcr, however. seemed to have
lost sight of General Lees puxposc. and
pushed the enemy With all the force at
his command. Night closed the battle.
ana soon afterwards IL began to rain
which continued during the night, We
slept on the battlefield. and the follow
ing morning. Sunday, June 30. 1862. we
found the woods filed with Federal
dead end thousands of small arms and
camp cquippage. Most of the rifles and
muskets were bent between saplings.
We found hundreds of breastplates
many of them encompassed In vests,
and numerous dead Federals with
breastplates on. | remember how our
men deprecated the use of breast
plates. We thought 1t was not only
, cowardly 10 wear them but il was an
unfair advantage. l am certain that
not man in our army ut that tims
would have donncd one. Later on they
might have done SO. The Federal army
was now in fun retreat towards White
Oak Swamp.-New Orleans Picayune.