CHAPTER XI.“Gaines’ Farm.”—Liberty Hall.—Battle of Seven Pines.—Fair Oaks.—Rapid rise of the Chickahominy.—The Gaines Estate.—An aged Negro.—Golden’s Farm.—Camp Lincoln.—Letter from an Officer.
“Gaines’ Farm.”—Liberty Hall.—Battle of Seven Pines.—Fair Oaks.—Rapid rise of the Chickahominy.—The Gaines Estate.—An aged Negro.—Golden’s Farm.—Camp Lincoln.—Letter from an Officer.
Davidson’s brigade again moved from Beaver Dam Creek, on the 26th of May, down the left bank of the Chickahominy (the enemy throwing a few shells at them as they marched), and encamped on “Gaines’ Farm,” where they remained until the 5th of June, performing picket duty and building corduroy roads. Not far from here was “Liberty Hall,” where Patrick Henry was born, May 29, 1736. The building, which his father had used as a grammar school, was now appropriated for a National Hospital, and the little farm on which Patrick had commenced life in company with his young wife, the daughter of a neighboring farmer, occupied by our troops.
General Keyes’ corps, followed by that of General Heintzelman, had now crossed the Chickahominy, the remainder of the army still resting on the left bank. General Casey’s division held the extremeadvance; his pickets being within five miles of Richmond. Relying upon the sudden and rapid rise of the river preventing our crossing over more troops, Gen’l Johnston, then commander of the rebel forces, hurled his whole army upon these two corps on the morning of the 31st, with the expectation of annihilating them. Casey’s Division, which bore the brunt of the attack, was forced back from their rifle-pits and second line of battle, after fighting for several hours and losing 1,443 men.
Liberty Hall, Birth-place of Patrick Henry.
Liberty Hall, Birth-place of Patrick Henry.
The courageous Sumner, who, notwithstanding the freshet, had crossed his corps, now drove fiercely at the enemy, and saved the left wing from destruction. Yet the whole force was obliged to fall back nearly two miles, owing to the overwhelming numbers and impetuous onslaught of the rebels. Here they maintained their ground, refusing to yield an inchmore, and the fighting ended for the day. This was known as the battle of Seven Pines.
The enemy renewed the conflict on the morrow, attacking General Sumner at “Fair Oaks,” from which the second day’s struggle derives its name. They were everywhere repulsed, and compelled to retreat back to their stronghold, followed by our victorious troops to within four miles of the capital, when, for a second time, it was given up for lost. “The enemy,” wrote General McClellan to the Secretary of War, after the close of the contest, “attacked in force, and with great spirit, yesterday morning, but are everywhere most signally repulsed with great loss. Our troops charged frequently on both days, and uniformly broke the enemy. The result is, that our left is within four miles of Richmond. I only wait for the river to fall to cross with the rest of the force and make a general attack. Should I find them holding firm in a very strong position, I may wait for what troops I can bring up from Fort Monroe. But themoraleof my troops is now such that I can venture much. I do not fear for odds against me. The victory is complete, and all credit is due to the gallantry of our officers and men.”
The Thirty-third, at the commencement of the conflict, was doing picket duty near one of the bridges which were being constructed over the Chickahominy. So sudden was the rise in the river, that the force which proceeded at two o’clock Sunday morning to relieve the pickets stationed nearthe bridge three hours previous, found them nearly surrounded with water. Some were standing up to their arm-pits in the now new channel, and others, having lost their footing, were clinging to trees, for dear life. Boats were obtained, and they were rescued from their perilous position. At 3 o’clock, General Brooks came down to the river with his Brigade, the second in Smith’s Division—Davidson’s being the third, and Hancock’s the first,—to cross over and render what assistance he could on the opposite side. By this time the bridge was most of it swept away, and the General, instead of attempting to cross, set his men to repairing it. At sunrise the river had overflowed to the width of half a mile, and he experienced much difficulty in getting his troops back to dry land again. All day Sunday the heavy roar of artillery and sharp firing of musketry could be heard. Just at night, General McClellan, accompanied by General Hancock, rode down to the right of the Thirty-third, where they remained until dark, watching the progress of the battle.
Dr. Gaines, the owner of the farm on which the Regiment was now encamped, possessed one of the finest estates in Virginia. One wheat field alone comprised four hundred and fifty acres. In the rear of his dwelling, furnished in the most costly manner, was a picturesque grove, which furnished a cool retreat for the officers during the intense heat of the mid-day. In front was an extensive garden, abounding in flowers and shrubs of native and foreignwith all its beautiful surroundings, was overrun by the “invader.”
Camp Lincoln.Attack of the 7th and 8th Georgia.
Camp Lincoln.
Attack of the 7th and 8th Georgia.
The Regiment remained here until the 5th of June, when the Division was ordered to cross the Chickahominy and encamp on “Golden’s Farm,” nearly opposite. The Third Brigade took the advance. Owing to the high stage of the water, it was obliged to proceed down the river to “Dispatch Station,” before effecting a crossing. When marching up on the opposite bank, the men fell in with a gray-haired, toothless negro, 102 years of age, who entertained them with a recital of many incidents which had transpired during his long period of slave life. After having marched over fifteen miles to reach a point only three miles opposite the old encampment, the Thirty-third arrived at Golden’s Farm, where Baxter’s Fire Zouaves, of Philadelphia, were found briskly skirmishing with the enemy.
Our artillery, which immediately opened upon them, put the rebels to flight, and the picket line was moved forward, for some distance. Col. Taylor halted his command in a beautiful corn-field, and on the following day occupied a more advanced position, less than one thousand yards from the enemy’s lines. There it remained until the 28th of June, the spot being christened “Camp Lincoln.”
An officer of the Regiment, in a communication from here, dated June 8th, wrote:
“We are now six miles from Richmond, behind entrenchments, waiting for something to turn up. The pickets are very close together, and manyprisoners are coming in every day. A Sergeant and five men just came through the lines, and reported to Colonel Taylor, Field Officer of the day. The Sergeant is from Ulster County, N. Y. Doubtless a great number would desert, if it were possible to do so without incurring danger. Yesterday much amusement was created by the operation of a new and original line of telegraph between our forces and the enemy. It seems a number of dogs have been wandering around in front for some days. One of them yesterday came in with a letter tied around his neck. It was read by our men, the Thirty-third being on picket duty at the time, and an answer sent back the same way; another note was likewise written, and answered. The import of the first letter was, that they were much ‘obliged for the tender of cannon they took from us the other day, and anything more of the same sort sent them, they would cheerfully receive.’ No doubt of it. The second was rough in its language, and full of empty boastings. The battle-field of last Saturday week is close by us, and bears evidence of the murderous conflict, when tens of thousands bore down upon barely a Division, and unsuccessfully tried to cut them off, or thrust or crush them into the river.
The difficulties attendant upon transporting troops and various munitions of war, has retarded us some, but now we are ready. This morning (the Sabbath) there was some sharp firing in front, but it was quickly subdued by a battery of our 20-pounders. A new Regiment has been added to our Brigade—Col.Max Weber’s Regiment—the 20th N. Y. Vols. We have a fine Brigade now, and our General thinks an effective one. Our picket line has been advanced twice, the enemy retiring each time. The regular receipt of the mails has been interrupted again, and of course is a source of regret to us. Sitting on the ramparts of our rifle-pits this morning, writing this letter, the view looking up the river, reminds one of Big Flats, at Geneseo, flooded by heavy rains. The stream here is unusually high. An old negro, 102 years old, who has always lived in this section, says that he never knew such an immense quantity of rain to fall before in the same space of time, at this season of the year. Gen. Prim and Staff, with our Division Staff, just passed through our camp on a reconnoissance to the front.”