“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 extreme advance; 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.
[Illustration: 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 inch
more, 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
the _morale_ of 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
near the 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 foreign with all its beautiful surroundings, was
overrun by the “invader.”
[Illustration: 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 many
prisoners 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.”