Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1912-06-07

ed that clashes and Observation-Disclosures
We're inevitable. Looked at from this
distance, some actions on both sides
might have been omitted. To RutIar,s
credit 1t can be said that he introduced
system of sanitation into New Or
leans that kept out the yellow fever. az
least for the time being. and made the
city healthier than it ever had been he.
Tore. AS for his order concerning New
orleans women, also the incident of
the spoons well they happened fifty
years ago and are not worth being
celebrated in a semiceutenary.
Mcclellan Before Richmond
The situation in the east was not so
favorable to the Union arms. After
repeated urgings by the president Cen
eral Mcclellan had started his lannon's
campaign on the peninsula and, after
waiting indecisively with his army of
nearly 100000 before Magruder with
MS 1000 until the southern forces
withdrew, had begun the advance that
| finally led him to within six miles of
Va tIlS forward move
ment his troops had fought the battle
OF Williamsburg on May 7, where Gen
eral Hancock held the KEY to the field
AS result of this fight the Confeder.
ates were compelled to evacuate VIII
liamsburg and to retreat on Richmond.
me Federals followed, fighting one or
two minor actions on the way By
| May 30 the Union front was at Seven
Zines and Fair Oaks. within a few
miles of Richmond On that day two
important events occurred. Observing
that the Union army was divided by
the Chickahominy, General Johnston,
IN command of the Confederates, de-
ctded to move out and destroy the
Federal troops on the Richmond side
OF the river. While this movement
was under way the Federal General
Sumner completed a bridge across the
Chlckahominy that the soldiers called
the grapevine bridge" and that was
to be Instrumental in saving a part OF
McClellan's army during the battle OF
the morrow.
The battle of Fair Oaks, as it Is
called in the north, or Seven Pines. as
1t Is known in the south, was the re
suit of Johnston's advance 1t was
fought on May 81 and June I and was
fearfully bloody for the number OF
troops engaged In the beginning the
Confederates had all the best of 1t
taking some guns and many prisoners
At one time the Union left seemed in
| danger of annihilation or capture. be
| ing disorgaDIZed and pressed bach
upon swamp. 1t was at this critica
| juncture that General Summers frest
troops that had advanced over tht
Grapevine bridge went into the 6ght
and saved the day
Tho Coming of Lee.
While the losses on each side were
about eQuai at Fair Oaks, the battle
was in effect a northern victory. John
stOn had failed of his purpose of crush
ing the left wing of the Union army
and retreated back to Richmond. There
was one most important result of the
fight. General Johnston himself was
wounded, and this brought Genera
Robert e. Lee. then acting as Presl
dent Davis chief OF STAFF into the field
1t was after Fair Oaks that Mcclellan
lay SO long in sight of Richmond with
out making a move
While Mcclellan was advancing to
ward Fair Oaks General Wool moveC
against Norfolk and compelled th'
evacuation of that city. the Confeder
ates not considering themselves strong
enough TO remain and give battle Thi'
In turn compelled the southern nava
feet to retreat toward Richmond anC
led to the blowing up of the famous
Merrimac on May II. The south hac
pinned great faith to the Merrimac, ex
pecting her to take Washington anC
lay other northern cities waste. Hell
destruction occasioned fierce criticism
at the time, but subsequent investga
ton showed it to have been necessary.
When the northern army embarked
upon the peninsula campaign McClel
Ian expected Mcdowell to join him
but this was made impossible by q
move OF the enemy. General "Stone-
wall" Jackson was sent down the
Shenandoah with $4,000 or 10000
troops, thus threatening Washington
On May 25 part of Jackson's men. IN
der Ewall, fought an engagement with
the Union orce at Winchester. com
polling General Banks to retreat rap
idly down the valley. Jackson had
Slore than twice the force OF Banks al
This time and expected to crush the
little Union army. There are some
cases In which retreat is equal to a
victory. and OF these the escape OF
General Banks was a brilliant exam
pie.
On May 30 Banks was safe at VII
Transport. and Jackson himself was
in flight from an impending mo
ment against him by General Mellow
ellis entire army. The Confederate
general had won a strategic point
however. even If he had failed 70
crush Banks. He prevented Mcdowell
from joining Mcclellan.