The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-07-28
GOLD HARBOR
Judge Purifoy S. Summary Of This Famous
Battle.

maj anniversary Of TINS battle. BY
the Confedcrates it has been known
as the battle OF Canes's MIL some
times tho First Cola Harnor. there
having been second battle fought
tho same ground two years later.
~ the Federals IL has been known
40 the battle OF Chickahonrniny
about o'clock on tho night Of
The 18TH OF june 1852. General George
Is Mcclellan. commanding the Fed
cral forces in front of Richmond. he
came satlsAed that the Confederate
general. r. j. Jackson, was ADVANCING
In strong force towards the rear %,
his ring wing This. he decided
rendered his strong position on the
north bank OF Beaver Dam Creek un-
tcnahle. Ho immediately determined
TO withdraw his forces to a position
near Gaines'S Mil. where ne could
rest both tanks OF his line on the
Chickahominy AMI cover the most i'm
portant bridges over that stream
ms wagons and heavy guns were
withdrawn during the night and his
troops zen back TO the now position
selected early on the morning OF the
2Ith Serial No. 10, p. 20. Omolal War
EecordsD
on the morning Of the 27th. when
the Confederate troops. which had
hivoracked on tho Alechanicsville field
tho night before consisting OF the
\.
J. I'm. prepared TO move forward.
they found the rear guard OF the
Federal army stili IN possession % the
firoag position north " Beaver Dam
Greek. At early dawn the battle
along Beaver Dam Creek was re-
newell with Infantry and artillery re-
rrlting IN small loss to either side
1t was soon discovered that tho
Todorais had abandoned the Beaver
Dam position. and after b delay OF
about an hour TO replace The bridges
over tho stream DESTROYED IS the Fed-
erals tho troops Or tho three dlyl-
nions, with their trains ~ artillery
and ambulsnccs crossed over u. II
Iiills division following the road TO
Cold Harbor b. the way Of Bethesda
church to join Jackson and Long
Yiroet and y = hin moving forward
NJ roads near the Chickahomiuy
Longstroet and a. p. Hn reached
tre vicir y OF New Bridge about noon.
- was asccrtained that the Fedcrals
had taken position hehlnl powhlte
'rTek. Prepared TO resist the Confcd-
s'a'e progress The Federais occupied
range 81 hii!s on wooded hlun
which rose abruptly from deop
raNine. The ravine was nllel with
fnarpshooters. TO whom It's banks gave
proteo'iou. second line o; infautr,-
was stationed on tho side OF the min
Hfnlnd tho brea stworks Of trees above
me nrst. n third ocrupicd the crest
strengthened with rine trenches and
crowned with artillery The approach
70 this position was over an open
plain. about quarter OF a mile wide
commended by TINS trinle line OF nre
and swept hy tho batteries south OF
.he Chlckahomny.
II front Of the Federal center and
right the ground was generalf, omen
crate approach Pr, wood with dense
hnd tangled undergrowth and travers
bF sluggish stream. horderod on
'ither side by hoggy swamps The
woods on tho farther side OF tho
swamp were occupied by sharpshoot-
'rs. and trees had been felied to iu-
crease the difficulty OF its massage ana
columns under the FIRE OF ,nfantcv
nassed on the slopes % tho opDosi,
NILS. and Of the batteries on thsir
crests
General Lee in his report on this
nattle said "A y. Han. who was IN
advance reached the vicinity az Nav.
Cold Harbor. about p. NJ where he
encountered the enemy. He immedf
ately formed his lire nearly parallel
20 the road leading from that place
toward McGehees house. and soon be-
came holly engaged The arrival OF
jackson IN our loft was f,orner-
iarily expected, and IL was supposai
tnat MS approach wouid cause the rA-
tension OF tho enemys line in thnt ii-
roction Under this impression Long
efreet was held back until this move
mont should commence The principal
pant OF the Federal ARMY was now
on the north side OF the Chickahominv.
TITS SINCE ave sion mot this large
force with the impetuous courage for
winch that officer and his troops ~.
distinguished They drove tho enemy
back and assailed him in his s,rous:
rosiUon on the ridge rho battle
ragged norcelv and with VARYING for
tune more than two hours Three
regiments niorced the encmy's line ana
forced their WAY to the crest Of th.
hill OH his left but were compelled 90
fall back before overwhelming num-
bers. some brisados were
rokcn, others stubhornly maintained
their positions, bnt il became arpar-
cnt that the enemy was grudually
gaining ground
The attack on our loft being de-
layed by tho longth OF Iackson's
march, and the obstacles ne cncoun-
tered, Lonsstreet was ordered to mako
diversion in Hills favor by feint
on the enemy's left In making his
demonstration the great strength Of
the position already cdscr bed was
Nis''Nt4tis anu NftItldl Lon EGirfft
perceived that to render the diver
sion effectual tho feint must be con
verted into an attack He resolved
with characteristic nromptness %
carry the heights by assault His col
Nmn was quickly formed near the
open ground and his preparations
were completed Jackson arrived. ana
his right division. that OF Whiting
took position on the left on Long
street Al the same time. n. II. Hin
formed on our extreme left. and after
a short hut bloody conflict, forced
his wav trough the morass and o.
Str and drove the enemy from
oods on the opposite side Ewell
advanced on iIin's right and engaged
the enemy furiously The First and
Fourth Brigades Of jackson's own d.
vision f!led the interval between