HANOVER COURT HOUSE AND GAINES’S MILL.
3 21
Central Railroad, 2 miles fromHanover Court House, where wecame in presence of the enemy.
At once a force of infantry(Colonel C. A. Johnson’s 25thNew York Volunteers and Ber-dan’s Sharp-shooters), protectedby artillery, was sent forward tohold the enemy in check, pend-ing the arrival of Morell, whowas slowly pushing along theswampy roads. Cavalry andartillery were sent to the leftalong the Ashland road, to guard
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PROFESSOR T. S. C. LOWE OBSERVING TIIEBATTLE OF SEVEN PINES FROM IIIS BAL-LOON “INTREPID,” ON TIIE NORTHSIDE OF THE CIIICKAHOMINY.
our flank and destroy the railroadand telegraph at the crossing.On Martindale’s arrival he wassent in support of this force, andwith it soon became engagedwith very persistent opponents.Butterfield was sent to the front,where, deploying in line, hemoved rapidly upon the enemy,put them to flight, and capturedmany prisoners and one cannonand caisson.
As the enemy gave way, thetroops were pushed on towardHanover Court House in pursuit of the fleeing foe and to strike their camp,which I had been informed was near by, but which was found abandoned.Suddenly the signal officers notified me of a large force attacking our flankand rear, and especially the troops under Martindale. At once the infantrywere faced about, and at double-quick step hastened to the aid of theirimperiled comrades. McQuade’s brigade, on arriving opposite the contend-ing forces, moved in line to the attack. Butterfield, now in rear as faced
■fo Colonel Auchmuty, of New York City , who made they would fire at the balloon. The usual heightmany ascensions by this balloon from the camp near of observation was 1000 feet; and when lowerDoctor Gaines’s before the battle, says that the than 300 feet high the balloon was within rangeConfederates had a Whitworth gun at Mrs. Price’s, of this gun. General Porter made no fewer thanon the south side of the Chickahominy, with which a hundred such ascensions.— Editors.