Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1912-06-11

ne gave MS case away so easily, but MS
war OUTFIT. combined with confusion
over the capture, convinced Keyes that
something new was on the cards
across the lines. Reyes alarmed the
outposts and reserves
a Flood Dividing the Federal Army
A heavy rain OF some days duration
had flooded the Chickahominy river,
beyond which. northward. the main
portion of McCIeIlan's besieging army
lay, and the Confederate leader, count
ing upon an advantage in the impassa-
BILE waters. had marched out 10000
men to overrun keyes' corps and its
reserve, amounting In all TO about 3d.
900. while succor for them was out Of
reach. Owing TO Lieutenant Washing
toms misadventure Longstreet did not
get his proper orders for the attack.
and other generals who were to
take their cue from his movements
were left in fog. So the several col
umns in gray marched boldly forward
and stirred up separate fights.
McClellan's left wing had crossed
the Chickahominy to the Richmond
side Reyes corps held the advance
with rallying points at Fair Oaks and
Seven Pines, about a mile apart and
both about FIVE miles from Richmond
The line did not run parallel TO the
river and was distant from the bridges
over which the Federal troops had
crossed from two to five miles. Scarce
~ had Keyes' men formed for battle
between Fair Oaks and Seven Pines
when the Confederate skirmishers ap.
peared and opened the sensational bat
tie of Fair Oaks. the first heavy com
bat at the gates OF Richmond Colonel
John B. Gordon led the Confederate
skirmishers at Fair Oaks, his own regi-
ment Of Alabamians, the sixth.
Battle Between Skirmishers.
In order to reach the battlefield by a
short cut Gordon had marched his sol
diers through White Oak swamp. After
getting out of the mire, which was
waist deep. they next ran into a briery
thicket. and the experiences OF the
march brought them 10 a lighting TEN
per which only a pitched battle could
tone down. Two New York regiments,
the Eighty first and Eighty fifth. stood
IN line in stump lot where the timber
had been cut TO give range for the
guns Of a Federal battery. The Ala
bamians opened a brisk fire upon the
New Workers, and when it was briskly
returned they threw themselves down
behind the stumps and took picked
shots. In a short time the New York
ers retired to the shelter Of a line OF
trenches in front OF the guns.
About the time that the New Workers
| fell back the Confederate brigade led
/ by General Rodes charged on the bat
terry near Gordon's line. and Gordon or
dered the AlabamianS to rally on the
/ reglmental cOlors. Mistaking the word
| Of command, they faced about and
/ started for the rear. When the mis-
/ take was pointed out, Gordon's men
/ faced about again and charged pell-
/ nell through the tangled abatis aud
/ over the intrenchmeuts
/ Mystified by the tactics Of the south
/ erners. the Federals again retreated.
/ and in the eagerness OF pursuit the
| Alabamians plunged bindly into mo-
| rass two or three feet deep. Gordon S
! men were soon caught in a snare.
! From . fresh Federal brigade the Third
and Fifth Michigan were sent into a
/ piece OF woods on Gordon's flank
/ These two regiments. led by General
/ Phil Kearny in person. were the van
guard OF Kearny's division. AT the
first sound of battle Kearny had set
out from the Federal reserve camps al
/ the head OF the first troops within call
/ These CHANGED TO be the Michigan men
Phil Kearny at the Point of Danger
BY their fierce and steady bush fight
ing they checked the fury of the en-
envy and gained time for Kearny's
main column to get up. Kearny gal
Hoped back and forth. impatient over