Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1912-06-07
sl.6o PER ANsun

"The ConIederates had every reason
| to expect rush by us, for a day or
| two before the evacuation notice was
sent to me that there was considerable
movement going ON within the York
town lines, and l ascended in Professor
loves balloon for a birdseye view Of
their works. Some troops were then
marching out Of Yorktown, but they
soon turned and marched back, eyi
IDENTIFY to give me the impression that
the garrison was being REINFORCED.
Their artillerymen set up sudden ac-
tivity In firing, and the shells struck
among the men holding the ropes of
my balloon. At one time l thought the
| ropes would be cut or the men holding
them knocked over and that would be
carried into the enemys lines How
| ever, I descended safely, reported what
I had seen and made preparations for
pursuit, which was begun before day
light the morning of the ith"
1t should be noted that the army bal
loon was In constant use throughout
the siege of Yorktown. General Porter
ascended often, as did his engineer OFF,
GERS. Bombarding 1t was q daily
amusement for the Confederates.
Once when Porter and Lowe were up
| q Confederate shell passed through the
cordage supporting the car and struck
the ground near where General Nc
Clellan was standing. Another shell,
stxty-fbur FOUNDER. landed in tent
where two soldiers We're lying, but for
tunately did not explode One day the
aged General Heintzelman ascended
a thousand feet, That height and less
down to 300 feet was safe from shots.
Battle at Williamsburg.
Pursuit Of the retreating Confeder-
stes was quick and rapid. General
Stoneman's cavalry galloped through
the abandoned works and on toward
Richmond. Six miles from Yorktown
they were skirmishing with General
Stuart's Virginia troopers at MONDAY.
These they drove back to line of re-
doubts which halted them at p m
Here at Williamsburg the Confederates
had Il second line of Notifications
stretching across the peninsula. In
the center stood Fort Magruder at the
junction Of the roads from Yorktown.
Two brigades of General Magruder'sl
division were in the works. Stuart
sent word forward to General Long
street, who had passed through the
town, that the Federals were crowding
things. Longstreet marched back with
his own and General d. III. Hills d.
vision. Stoneman also sent word back
to the infantry summoning General e.
v. Sumner with General w. f. Smiths
division. He arrived just at dark.
Early on the morning Of the 9Th Cen
eral Joe Hooker's Federal division ar
rived and with great impetuosity at
tackled Fort Magruder
Longstreet, with his own division
and that of D. H. Fill. defended this
point from early morning until noon,
tnftct1ng heavy loss upon HOokers
column. Hooker called for help, but
none could be sent him because Sum-
ner, the chief In command, had begun
new line of attack which would turn
the Confederate left, If 1t succeeded.
On this flank the old Confederate re-
doubts were unoccupied. Sumner or
dered the brigade Of General w. 8.
Hancock to occupy two of these. Han
cock did so and attempted to advance
still farther, but was checked by troops
sent over from General Longstreet's
column.
Seeing the danger impending on this
flank If Hancock remained on the ridge
he had seized, General ID. H. Hill
brought forward four regiments and
attempted to break through Hancock's
line. Slowly retiring his front line,
Hancock drew his enemy into trap