The Washington herald., 1914-08-25

On the morning OF August 25 Gen. John
BibbOn's division Cthe second resumed
the work of destroying the road. which
was now wrecked for three miles south
Of Reams Station, when II was found that
the enemy, both cavalry and infantry.
was working toward the ,sOuth side OF
Hancock's position.
Skirmishing soon developed his pres
ence In force. Gibbon was hastily called
in. and Gen Hancock placed his COM
mand in a position for defense in some
old works that had been hastily built
at the station In June 10 protect a cav
airy division CGen. James II. Wilson's
on its return from a raid.
These works were horseshoe shaped,
the curve being across the tEa,k ana tSe
open end toward the road leading to III.
Federal army's lines. Along their left
side the men Of Gibbons division were
placed and on the right those of Gen.
Miles Cthe hrsO. GreGg's cavalry was
posted on the left.
About p. m. the enemy twice assault
ed Gen. Miles position and met with
repulse.
Day Saved by Miles.
Gen. Meade. whose headquarters were
about eight miles from the scene. sent
an order to Gen. Hancock TO withdraw
II he wished. Before it arrived Hancock
was too heavily engaged to risk a with
drawal
Gen. Meade then ordered two divisions.
one from Gen. Warren's position, about
five miles up the track. and the remain
ing division of the Second Corps CMott'sl.
then near Warren, to march to re-en-
force Hancock: but fearing that the enc
my might turn Hancocks left. they were
sent by a roundabout road toward the
left instead Of down the railroad. Be
fore either had reached the neighborhoOd
Of Reams Station, Hancock had been de-
feated.
The enemy fell upon him at O'Clock
on both sides of his works first deliver
ing a heavy artillery fire, which took the
troops in reverse. then launching a sue
cession OF assaults
Hancock's troops made no sustained ef-
fort to meet the assaults, the bulk of
them lying down, or rushing to the rear.
surrenderinG themselves to panic. Gen.
Gibbon vainly ordered his colonels to
press their men forward and stand firm.
The orders were repeated, but not
obeyed.
On Gen. Miles side of the horseshoe
the resistance was gallant in places,
particularly that of the artillery. but in
a short time the enemy had poured a
reverse fire into the works, shooting
down the gunners and their horses, and.
following their advantage with an as
sault, took battery. A little later they
took two others.
1t now seemed as if complete disaster
was in store for the Second Corps. Gen.
Hancock rode in the midst OF the melee.
exhorting his men to stand; but even the
compelling presence OF the superb field
commander, who had mustered the noble
battle line at Gettysburg to repeI the
great charge Of July 3, was impotent
here.
The day was saved by Gen. Miles and
his old regiment, the Sixty-first New
York Infantry. About 200 of its men ral-
lied around their former colonel, swept
back a part of the enemy's line. and re-
took one Of the captured batteries.
Roth Combatants Retire.
On the left Gibbons men, who could not
be induced to fight, were saved from
capture or death by Gregg's cavalry.
which, dismounted, held the enemy in
check. Darkness put an end to the
fighting. and after it had fallen Gen.
Hancock withdrew his command. 81
multaneously the enemy withdrew, as
Gen. Lee could not spare from his works
at Petersburg for another day the men
who had fought so well here.
The Federal losses were go killed and
wounded. and 1,762 missing, total of
2,372. Gen. Hill reported loss OF 40
killed and wounded, and the capture of
u stands OF colors, 9 guns, 10 caissons
and 2,15O prisoners. The latter figure was
evidently too large
Details of this fight, which better than
any other illustrates the demoralizing
effect the great labors and losses of the
campaign Grant was so relentlessly
waging against Lee. were having on the
Federal army, will be found in Vol
~ W.
TomorrOw-sherman FInnks At
Innta.
EcOpy1ght. ISlLl