90 THE A11MY OF THE POTOMAC. other point the enemy has been repulsed, and Jackson, Hill, Lee. and Longstreet will have urged up their troops in vain. For lack of infantry, Porter has put three batteries en potency on his extreme left to support the troops who are there sustaining an unequal tight; but these troops have been in action since early morning, they are worn. out, and have tired almost their last cartridge. Now in their turn come up the confederate reserves ; they deploy regularly into line against the federal left which gives way, breaks and disbands. The disorder grows from point to point till it reaches the centre of the federal lines. There is no panic; the men do not fly in the wild excitement of fear; but deaf to every appeal, they inarch off deliberately, their muskets at the shoulder, like people who have had enough of it, and do not believe success possible. In vain do the generals, the oilicers of the staff, among them the Count ol Caris and the Duke of Chartres, ride sword in hand into the melee to stop their disorderly movement; the battle of Gaines's Mill is lost. There is nothing left but to prevent a rout. The enemy, indeed, was advancing on the plain still in the same order, his infantry deployed by regiments en echelon, and every minute he was closing in upon the confused masses of the federals. Such is the fury of the cannonade and the musketry lire that the cloud of dust struck up from the ground Uoats steadily over the battle. Then came the ordci for the cavalry to charge. I happened at this moment to be near its position. I saw the troopers draw their swords with the sudden and electrical impulse of determination and devotion. is they got into motipi, I asked a young officer the name of his regiment. “ The Fifth cavalry,” he replied, brandishing his sabre with a soldier’s pride in his regiment. Unfortunate voung man! I saw the same regiment next dav brom the charge of that evening but two officers had returned. lie was not one of them. 1 he charge failed against the dense battalions of the enemy,
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MTM4ODY=