The Washington herald., 1914-06-15

Fifty years ago today Gen. Grants
krmy, which. marched southwark from
Gold Harbor on June L, began crossing
he James River ten miles below City
Point on the longest military pontoon
! ridge ever constructed, that had been
uilt by the army engineers in a few
Iours. So
The march of the army TO Wilcox
landing on the James, previously Sc
kcted by engineer officers as the best
|rossing place, had been made in re-
harkably quick time.
Withdrawal from the intrenchments at
| old Harbor had not begun until after
| ghtfall, June u. At nightfall, June Is,
be head of the marching column, the
{econd Army Corps, was at the James
liver, at Wilcox Landing. Before night
b the 18th the whole army was at the
yer. The distance marched by the va
ous corps varied from twenty-five
lies TO forty-ive.
The march had been made by two
utes. These had been determined by
be need of part of the army advancing
a way to screen the movement of the
st and by the character of the country
tween Cold Harbor and the James.
The Chickahominy River, an impor-
bit stream because of its swampy
INKS and the absence Of bridges, lay in
army's path.
While the Fifth Corps bridged into
Team and crossed it near enough to
position held by the Confederate
my to attract the enemy's attention.
L Second Corps had followed it and
ID swung of southwark down the
tithwest side of the Chickahoninps-'
fwo other cors, the Fifth and Ninth,
ID marched on the other side of Chick
Iominy to a lower crossing, at Jones
Ridge, twenty miles below the enemy's
sition- Another corps, the eighteenth.
d marched TO White House on the Pa
Inkey River. and had taken trans
rts around to the James. The duty Of
is corps which belonged to the Army
the James, then at Bermuda Hundred
der Gen. B. F. Butler, was to seize
etersburg before the rest of the army
ossed the James.
Grant ,Reticcnt and Cnlm.
IN ordering the advance to the James.
IN. Grant had followed his usual rule
imparting TO his subordinates no more
formation than necessary to get them
to motion. Gen. Horace Porter of his
kff relates an anecdote illustrating this
It,
Grant had ridden some miles from Cold
Arbor when an officer of rank Joined
IN. and as they rode along together
planned 10 him plan he had for
e in defenses that he thought would
useful if the army should leave Colo
. arbor and move toward the James.
ant smoked silently for some time,
en- said to the officer: THE army has
ready pulled out from the enemy's
ont and is now on its march to the
mes"
.bn the night of June L Grants head
arters had been at Providence Mill,
out twenty miles from Cold Harbor.
re he halted in the evening. The head
arters wagons had not come up, and
:, general and his staff camped be-
be fire-at the roadside, with a few
bier blankets their only camp equip
e and a box of crackers their food.
IN. Meade. commanding the Army of
Potomac. was nearby. The night
Is cool, and as the officers sat around
b fire, wearing their overcoats, some
e remarked that this was pretty
ID" Grant cheerfully replied, IF it's
worse than this" and finished the
|ntence by lighting a fresh cigar with
brand from the fire.
BID tents were pitched Throughout the
Iening Grant was as calm and appar-
ltly as unconcerned in the great move
emit the army was making as the young
h officer on his. staff. Yet the move
INT of his great command was fraught
|th uncertainties that might produce
|saster
singing on the March.
Every detail of that movement TO the
ines worked out as planned.
Throughout June Is, while the rest Of
|e army marched, the Fifth Corps Skin.
! shed with the enemy. 1t had been
rust across the upper Chickahominy
| that purpose. Gen. Lee, on learning
| its advance, had crossed the Chicka-
niny in his rear, and moved west
I'd TO cover Richmond thinking that
ant was endeavoring to move directly
that city. Lee was thinking as Grant
ID wished him to. and tbs Federal
ny was destined to cross the James
thout Lee knowing Of the direction Of
march.
When the work of the Fifth Corps was
be. on the night of June IS, that part
Grants army withdrew from before
enemy, and screened by cavalry.
ich still kept up the appearance of
advance on Richmond, marched rapid
in the path Of the Third Corps down
Chicahominy TO the James.
he progress of the army was q de-
pc TO the men in the ranks. Though
Fdened with Fations and ammunition,
bearing near thirty pounds apiece,
ir steps were light as they trod the
ty roads leading southwark. They had
cred at Cold Harbor, cramped for nine |
in small trenches. amid the stencil |
the dead and the debris of battle. |
that they were free once more, |
p natural optimism and spirits found |
ession in song There being no |
ny near. their officers let them sing |
hey marched.
ais music on the march had been in |
zee in by night as well as by day.
sons musical member would start q
Ffotic song" writes the historian of |
18th Pennsylvania Regiment land /
whole regiment. joining in the chorus,