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NEW YORK, SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1862.
SINGLE COPIES SIX CENTS.
$2 50 PER YEAR IN ADVANCE.
Entered according to Act of Congress, in the Year 1862, by Harper & Brothers, in
the Clerk's Office of the District Court for the Southern District of New York.
THE SKIRMISH AT COLD
HARBOR.
WE publish on this page
a view of the scene
of the skirmish on 24th, near
Cold Harbor, where, in
General McClellan's words, the 4th Michigan
about finished the Louisiana Tigers. The
following account of the affair we take
from the
Herald:
Intelligence having reached head-quarters that quite a
force of the enemy was near New Bridge, the Fourth Michigan regiment,
Colonel Woodbury, was sent to feel them, and, if necessary, interrupt their
quiet. The regiment left camp at 7 A.M., their Colonel at their head, and all in
splendid spirits at the prospect of a rencontre with the rebels. Lieutenant N.
Bowen, of the Topographical Engineers, went with the expedition, as also a
squadron of the Second regular cavalry,
under command of Captain Gordon; a company of the Fifth cavalry, Lieutenant
Coster; a company of the Eighteenth infantry, Captain Forsyth, and a company of the
Second infantry, Captain McMillen. New Bridge is four miles from the camp. They
went down the main road about two
miles, to what is called the
Old Mill, and thence turned to the right through a piece of woods, keeping it
till they came to an open field, commanding a view of the
Chickahominy River.
A portion of Company A, Fourth Michigan regiment, Captain Rose, was here sent
forward as skirmishers, and the remnant of the company kept as reserves. The
regiment filed out of the wood by flank, and formed in line of battle very
nearly parallel with the river, the left extending across the main road. Here
the rebels were seen lying behind a fence across the river. The right wing of Colonel
Woodbury's
regiment was ordered to cross the river, which at this point is about
thirty feet wide. In the men plunged, all accoutred as they were, but contrived
to keep their muskets in condition to use. In some places the stream, which had
been swollen by the rain during the night and morning, was so deep that the men
were obliged to swim, and none got over without wading waist-deep in water. But
this was not the worst. The enemy, who had lain
concealed behind a fence close to the opposite bank of the river, kept up an
incessant fire upon them. Fortunately the enemy's shots passed harmlessly over
their heads. Lieutenant Bowen attempted to cross the stream with
his horse, but the latter was shot under him before
he had advanced a third of the way across. This prevented field-officers
and the cavalry from attempting to ford the stream. All the companies but
two passed the river. One of these remained behind to act as skirmishers in the
wood on the right, and the other to keep an eye on the bridge and to the left
beyond to prevent being flanked on either side by the enemy.
As soon as our men crossed the river the work of firing commenced. Captain Roe's
company discharged the first volley on our side. All the remaining companies had
their muskets to their shoulders in double-quick time. The firing was brisk and
continuous on both sides. The rebels had two pieces of artillery from which they
hurled shells, but, like their
volleys of musketry, they passed over the heads of our men. Their cannon
were planted on a hill beyond, while the infantry still kept position behind the
fence, which, in addition to having an embankment as the base, in the style of
old Virginia fences, had a deep and wide ditch in front. The shooting continued
for nearly two hours. Our men drove the rebels behind the fence
and their encampment at the left. They fled,
leaving their dead and wounded behind them, taking refuge
in encampments on the hill.
On our side the last shot was fired. They had four regiments engaged, Fourth and
Fifth Louisiana regiments, a Virginia and an Alabama regiment, besides their
artillery, while on our side there
were actually only eight companies of the Fourth Michigan regiment who
did the fighting.
The rebel loss is estimated in killed and wounded at about
one hundred. In the ditch were found twenty-eight dead bodies. Among the killed
were two lieutenants. One was shot with two balls through the head, and the body
of the other was completely riddled with bullets. Of the thirty-seven prisoners
we took fifteen were wounded. Our men brought them on their shoulders across the
stream, whence they were taken to a dwelling-house near by, and every possible
care given them by our surgeons. They all expressed astonishment at the care
shown them, and stated that they had been told that if they ever fell into our
hands they would be killed ; and such fate they
expected would be theirs.
Our men partook of the dinner the Louisiana Tigers had prepared for themselves.
They captured their company books, and brought away rifles,
muskets, swords,
sashes, etc.
General McClellan, having received intelligence of the skirmish, rode toward the
river and met the regiment on its return. He grasped General Woodbury warmly by
the hand and said, "General, I am happy to congratulate you again on your
success. I have had occasion to do so before, and do so again with pleasure." He
also shook hands with Captain Rose, of the First Company, and said,
"I thank you, Captain, your men have done well."
To some of the men he said, "How do you feel, boys?" They exclaimed, " General,
we feel bully !"
" Do you think any thing can stop you from going to Richmond?" he asked, and an
enthusiastic "No!" rang from the whole line.
One secret of the success
of our troops in skirmishes
is thus given by a
correspondent:
The movements of the Army of the Potomac during
the last three days have resulted in the occupation of the
entire line of the Chickahominy River, from the New Bridge to the Long
Bridge. Those divisions of the army which were in the rear have gone on to the
front, while those that have been marching in the front in the general onward
movement (of which this division is one) have been encamped here, and have seen
for three days the magnificent spectacle of an uninterrupted column of troops,
of all arms —cavalry, artillery, and infantry—with all their baggage trains,
marching steadily past them. The management of the entire army, from the day it
left Yorktown, has been most admirable. The troops have made steady progress
each day. They have not been hurried, nor overtasked, nor harassed by marches of
unnecessary length. The capacity of the roads not being great enough to permit
the whole of the immense army to advance at once, the march has been so
arranged that the
corps d'armee that is in the advance one day halts and encamps the next,
or for two or three days, as the case may be, till
all the others have passed. Thus all the troops are kept fresh and
vigorous. The army has, besides, always presented a strong front
to the enemy, as numberless skirmishes have proved; and our flanks have
been placed beyond all possibility
of surprise.
COLD HARBOR, NINE MILES FROM RICHMOND, VA., NEAR
GENERAL McCLELLAN'S
HEAD-QUARTERS—SCENE OF A SKIRMISH ON MAY
24.—[SKETCHED
BY
MR. A. R. WAUD.]
We acquired this leaf for the purpose of digitally
preserving it for your research and enjoyment. If you would like
to acquire the original 140+ year old Harper's Weekly leaf we used to
create this page, it is available for a price of $195. Your
purchase allows us to continue to archive more original material. For
more information, contact
paul@sonofthesouth.net
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