The Washington herald., 1914-05-12
THE WAR DAY By DAY
Fifty Years Ago.
written Expressly for Tn. Herald.

for The Herald.
regiments; Second (the irish Brisade,
Col. Thomas smyth. Twenty-eightf
Msssachusetts, sixfy-third. sixty-ninfh
and Eighty.eighth. New York. and nstf
PennsyIysuia; Third, Col. Paul Frank
Thirty-ninth. Ttfty-secopd, sFifty-sey'
enth, nth. lzsth, and fsth New York
Fourth, Col. John r. Brooke. Secon1 DeI'
aware, eixty-fourth and 6ixty-blxth New
York. Fifty-third, lasth, and 18th Penn
sylvania.
Birney's division consisted Of two byi-
gades, a. follows:
First, Gen. J. H. H. Ward. Third
Maine, Fortieth. Eighfy-sixth. 11lth New
York, Ninety-ninth, 10th. 1l16t Pennsyi-
vania. Twentieth Indiana, and Second
United States sharpshooters: Second.
Fourth and Seventeenth Maine. Ninety
third, and 106th Pennsylvania. Third end
Fifth Michigan, First United States
Sharpshooters.
These divisions were to be supported
by the division Of Gen. Gershom Mott.
consisting Of the following troops: FIRST
Brigade. Col. Robert McAllister. First
and Sixteenth Massachusetts,. Fifth.
Sixth. Seventh, Eighth. and Eleventh
New Jersey. Twenty-sixth and 18th
Pennsyiyania: Second Brigade, Col. Will
lam R. Brewster, Eleventh Massachu-
setts. Seyentieth, Seventy-nrst. Seventy
second. Seventy-third. Seventy-fourSh.
and 10th New York. Eighty-fourth Penn
sylvania.
Preparations for the assault consumed
the night. the men taking such rest as
they could after reaching their positions.
sleeping on their arms in the rain. Grant
had ordered the movement to begin At 4
q. m. but at that hour II was not yet
light and Gen. Hancock delayed the
start until AS.
Over Works Like . Wave.
When the forty regiments Of the two
leading divisions began to move. their
officers being on foot among them. 1t
was yet barely light. The rain had rear
ly ceased and q mist hung close to the
ground. Direction was taken from the
compass, and the troops, 5000 men, ad-
vanced slowly through q wood until they
came to a clearing that lay in front of
the Confederate works. Here. without
orders. the men broke into a run, and,
cheering. dashed forward at double GJlick
in q huge single mass. toward the works.
These works were composed Of oai
logs piled one on another. and faced
with earth to a height Of four feet. pro-
tecting a series of square interior rife
pits. Between the top log. known as q
headlog. and the next below. was a
space for muskets.
The works were manned by MAI. Gen.
Edward Johnson's division Of Eweil's 8
Corps. These were supported by Gen.
John B. Gordon's division
Early in the night this part of the
works had been stripped of its artillery.
which had been sent to the left Of the
johnson. believing that the Federa,s in
tended to attack him at dawn. had sent
an urgent request to Gen. Lee to return
the guns. and Just as the Federal os-
saulting column burst into the open
space in front Of the works. the artil-
lery. which had made q rapid march to
return, was coming up to the breast
works at trot in a single column.
So rapid and impetuous was the ap-
proach of the Federals that they were
upon the works before the troops defeni-
ing them could fire more than three vol
leys and before the artillery, except two
guns. could come into action at all.
There was a short. decisive struggle
in the rife pits. which lasted for a few
minutes. the fighting being principaliv
with clubbed muskets.
Then the blue host rolled into the works
like a wave and Lees lines were broken.
Lee at the Breeeh.
Assaulted on both sides Of the salient
at once. encompassed by their enemies
and brought to bay in small groups be-
fore they could reload their, pieces. the
Confederates threw down their arms and
surrendered. Twenty of their twenty
two cannon were captured.
The ease of this victory was now a
means of disconcerting the Federals.
They had lost all formation. Excitedly
they turned to securing prisoners and
trophies. An hour was thus spent. Mean
while the rear ranks of the assaultiny
force had pressed over the breastworks
until the angle was crowded with Fed
eral troops. Attempts to advance we're
checked by more works in the rear of
the angle.
BY the time the prisoners had been
sent to the rear-there were nearly 4.eoe.
including Mai. Gen. Edward johnson and
Brig. Gen. George II. Stuart-the Con-
federates had begun a counter attack
upon the blue masses in the angle They
staked their fate on that attack I'm
less the Federals were driven back be-
fore they could recover from their con-
fusion. Lees army would be cut in two.
routed and destroyed.
According to his custom in supreme
lead his men. As he appeared among
them at the base of the angle. riding his
war horse. Traveller. his gray head barred
and his manner calm and noble, and
turned his horse toward the enemy. Gen.
Gordon laid his hand on the Travellers
bride. These men will not fail Tou.
Gen. Lee" he said. indicating that Geo.
gians, Virginians and Carolinians Of his
Then to the soldiers he added.
'.Will you. boysr'
mo. We won't fair him." was their re-
sponse, homely and eloquent. Then in
a moment q cry of Gen. Lee to the
rear! Gen Lee to the rear" passed
down the lines. The men were ready
to die for Lee. but they would not allow
the last hope of the Confederacy to
perish on the field.
They gathered around Traveller. and
by common accord men laid hands on
him, as II they would carry horse and
rider to safety. The scene, amidst the
roar of battle. was deeply impressive,
and as Gordohs men advanced Gen. Lee
remained behind. as II satisfied that his
troops did not need his presence at their
head to spur them to their limit of
strength and devotion.
Fcdcrals Driven Back.
Lee now massed every available man
back of the angle Fortunately for him
Grants plans for q vigorous general at
tack had miscerried. Burnside's attack
had been calamity made, but had failed
Gen. G. X WarSen's corps, the Fifth
which was on the Federal right, had
hoop Srdarod IN altar Hopcock