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CH. XIV.]

VICTORY AT WILLIAMSBURG.

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the capital of the "confederacy." Franklin's division, with others, were sent by water from Yorktown to the right bank of the Pamunkey, in the vicinity of West Point. Early on the 7th of May, when Franklin had disembarked, the rebels determined to attack him, in order to gain all the time possible for retreat, and for the strengthening the various works about Richmond. The action was continued for several hours, and the rebels were finally driven off the field.

earth-work, flanked by a line of re- slowly, McClellan advanced towards doubts, protected in front by abattis; extending across the isthmus of dry land to the swamps on either side. Here the enemy remained in force, evidently determined to oppose, to the fullest extent, the advance of our troops. Stonemau, with the cavalry and four batteries of horse artillery, took the lead in the pursuit, the divisions of Hooker and Kearney following as rapidly as possible. Stoneman made an attack, with no special result. Gen. Hooker came up in the course of the night, and early the next morning, attacked the rebel works, Fort Magruder and the rest; but after a hard fight, was compelled to give way. Kearney and his division, having arrived on the field about four P.M., dashed into the battle. The rifle pits were taken; the enemy's rear was gained; and they lost the day. The victory was complete, the rebels retreating in great haste; but our loss was very heavy, there being 456 killed, 1,400 wounded, 372 missing, total, 2,228. The committee on the conduct of the war were rather tart in speaking of this battle, asserting that "there was no controlling mind in charge of the movements; there was uncertainty in regard to who was in command; each general fought as he considered best."

The miserable condition of the roads rendered pursuit by cavalry of little avail, and the commanding general found his hands full in the urging forward the bringing up supplies of vari ous kinds, provisions, ammunition, forage, etc. This had to be done principally by water. By degrees, though

VOL. IV-21

By the 16th of May, despite the rain and mud, the different divisions of the army were concentrated at White House, on the Pamunkey, a few miles above West Point. A permanent depot was at once established at White House, with reference to future and important operations. By the 26th of May, the railroad was in working order as far as the Chickahominy, and the railroad bridge across that stream was nearly completed.

Meanwhile, an important event in Eastern Virginia had occurred, in the capture of Norfolk. Hopes had been entertained for some time that this capture would be accomplished; butas yet nothing of moment had been done. A few days after the fall of Yorktown, Gen. Wool took command of an expedition from Fortress Monroe, landing at Willoughby's Point, about eight miles from Norfolk, at daylight, on the 10th of May. The rebel troops abandoned the place, and by the telegraph of that same night, the cheering news was announced to the country "Norfolk is ours."

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*

Very early the next morning (Sunday, river as far as was possible. Three May 11th), a bright light was observed iron-clads and two steam gun boats from Fortress Monroe in the direction pushed their way cautiously up the of Craney Island, which was supposed James, and arrived, on the 14th of May, at first to be a signal of some descrip- within about ten miles of Richmond. tion from the Merrimac or Vir- Two miles further on, at Ward's or ginia. It was closely watched Drury's Bluff, resistance was made to from various quarters, and at half-past their advance by a heavy battery and four o'clock an explosion took place, obstructions in the river. After a which made the earth and water tremble spirited but unsuccessful engagement, for miles round. In the midst of the our vessels gave up the contest. The flames which shot up in the distance, gun boats continued to hold possession the timbers and iron of the monster of the extended line of navigation besteamer could be seen flying through low, but the advantage gained was for the air. A naval reconnaissance being the present of less importance, while made, it was found that the rebels, in the York River, on the other side of order to secure the aid of Gen. Huger the peninsula, was made the exclusive with his troops (some 18,000), in the channel of communication with the adimmediate vicinity of Richmond, had vancing Army of the Potomac. abandoned the powerful fortifications at and near Craney Island, destroying all they could by fire at the Gosport navy yard, the shipping, steam boats, etc., and leaving behind large quantities of powder and other articles of especial value to the secession cause. The James River being now open, by the abandonment of the land batteries at the entrance, several United States vessels were sent to reconnoitre the

We have before alluded to the destruction of the

Merrimac (p. 136). We may also state here, that Tatnall, the officer in command, was censured severely for

his action in the matter. Pollard says that it was "un

After the retreat from Yorktown, the rebels gradually withdrew within the line of the Chickahominy, with the evident purpose of making a most strenuous effort to repulse McClellan from the vicinity of Richmond. The York River and Richmond Railroad, running nearly due east and west, crossed the Chickahominy near Bottom's Bridge, about eleven miles distant from the capital of Virginia. It was on the left or southerly bank of the river, and along the line of the railroad, which separated here from the river at an acute angle, with the apex at the bridge, that several of the most important bat

necessary and wanton, and occasioned an amount of
grief and rage in the confederacy such as had not yet
been exhibited in the war." "The vessel was destroy-tles

ed in great haste by Commodore Tatnall, who, in the
dead hour of the night, aroused from his slumbers, and

acquainted with the decision of the pilots (that they

could not carry the vessel above the Jamestown Flats),

ordered the ship to be put ashore, landed his crew in the vicinity of Craney Island, and blew to the four winds of heaven the only naval structure that guarded the

water approach to Richmond '-"Second Year of the War," p. 27.

of the campaign were fought.

On the 15th of May, McClellan had gathered the several divisions of his army in the large plain at Cumberland, on the south bank of the Pamunkey, where a vast encampment was formed, covering some 20 square miles. White

CH. XIV.]

THE CHICKAHOMINY CROSSED.

House, about five miles above, on the river, at the head of navigation, with a connection, by the York River Railroad, with Richmond, had been abandoned by the rebels a few days before, on the approach of General Stoneman, who took possession of the place. It thenceforward was used as a permanent base for the landing of supplies during the campaign, supplies, which, we may here mention, to the disgrace of those concerned, were furnished with a lavish ness and prodigality hard to explain or

excuse.

On the morning of Monday, the 19th of May, our army directed its course westward towards Richmond, the capture of which was so eagerly and, in measure, unreasonably longed for at the North, and the defence of which was so fixedly resolved upon by the rebels who held it under their sway. It was too important to their interests lightly to yield it; and hence men like Jeff. Davis, Gen. Joe Johnson, and Stonewall Jackson, gave all their ability and all their energy to devise ways and means for repelling the advancing forces under McClellan.

"Recent disaster," it is true, as Davis said, "has spread gloom over the land, and sorrow sits at the hearthstones of our countrymen; but a people, conscious of rectitude and faithfully relying on their Father in heaven, may be cast down, but cannot be dismayed." Fort Pulaski had been lost. New Orleans was captured. Norfolk and Yorktown had been abandoned. The Merrimac had been destroyed by their own hands. In almost every direction gloom and despondency seemed to preponderate;

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but Davis and his aiders and abettors were not disposed to yield an inch. Davis declared "that if, in the course of events, Richmond should fall-the necessity for which he did not see or anticipate-that would be no reason for withdrawing the army from Virginia. The war could still be successfully maintained on Virginia soil for twenty years."

The left wing of the army, formed of the corps of Keyes and Heintzelman, led the way, as above stated, on the 19th of May, toward the Chickahominy at Bottom's Bridge; the centre, Sumner's corps, followed the line of the railroad; and the right, consisting of Franklin's and Porter's corps, pursued a course to the northwest. Stoneman, with his cavalry, was in the advance. The bridge over the Chickahominy was partly destroyed, but there was no resistance made to the crossing of Stoneman, who reconnoitred the country above, preparatory to the right wing's advance. On the 20th, the centre and left were at the Chickahominy, near the railroad bridge, and the next day the right encamped at Coal Harbor, where McClellan established head-quarters, about three miles from the river, at New Bridge.

On the 25th of May, Keyes' and Heintzelman's corps had crossed the river, while on the right an important reconnaissance, followed by the capture of the place, had been pushed to Mechanicsville, a village near the Chickahominy, five miles west of Coal Harbor, and about the same distance from Richmond. The corps of Keyes on the left held the advance beyond the Chicka.

hominy, being encamped on both sides of the railroad, in the vicinity of Seven Pines and Fair Oaks, and the corps of Heintzelman was in their, rear also along the railroad, in the neighborhood of Savage's Station.

In the advance in this quarter, Casey held the front, with his division, about 4,000 men, nearly all raw troops. His force was stationed, the last week in May, in the immediate presence of the enemy, within six miles of Richmond, his pickets extending to within five miles of that city. Couch s division of Keyes' corps was next behind on the railroad. A line of pickets was extended across the narrow angle made by the railroad and the river, the general lines of the left and right wings of the army to the vicinity of New Bridge, the distance across between railroad and river being about three miles. To secure the communication between the two wings, a large number of the troops skilled in such labors, were

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actively engaged in building bridges across the Chickahominy, which separated the two portions of the army. The labors in this service were excessive, and pursued under peculiar difficulties, from the uncertain nature of the stream, liable to sudden increase from rains, and always embarrassing from the swamps and quicksands in which the structure must be built. The weather was bad, the roads muddy in proportion, and the water was, for the season, unusually high in the river.*

* McClellan, in his report, says: "In view of the

peculiar character of the Chickahominy, and the liability of the bottom lands to sudden inundations, it became necessary to construct, between Bottom's Bridge and Mechanicsville, eleven new bridges, all long and difficult, with extensive log-way approaches."

Everything, however, was pushed on diligently, and only the completion of the bridges was waited for in order to secure a perfect co-operation of the whole army, and thus bring the enemy to a decisive engagement. A general order was issued by McClellan, on the 25th of May, requiring the troops beyond the Chickahominy to hold them. selves in readiness for battle at a moment's notice. Just on the eve, however, of the approaching great contest near Richmond, McClellan received information respecting a rebel force in the vicinity of Hanover Court House, which might seriously endanger our communications, or interfere with McDowell's expected, and anxiously looked for junction. By the commanding general's direction, Fitz John Porter set out, early on the morning of the 27th of May, to dislodge or defeat this force, said to consist of North Carolina troops from Newbern, under the rebel General Branch. Near Hanover Court House Porter drove the rebels, who, having been reinforced, made an attack on the rear of our force. Porter then faced about and routed them completely.* The rebel force was estimated at 8,000, of which more than 200 were killed and between 700 and 800 made prisoners.

Our loss was reported at 53 killed and 300 wounded and missing. McClellan spoke in the highest terms of Porter's success, as not only having dispersed Branch's division, but more especially as clearing and entirely relieving the right flank of the army.

*The railroad bridge over the South Anna was de stroyed by our men on the 27th of May. This was on the direct line of communication between Fredericks burg and Richmond.

CH. XIV.]

MCDOWELL WITHDRAWN FROM MCCLELLAN.

165

execution. This is a crushing blow to us." Mr. Lincoln sent him word that "every thing now depended on the celerity and vigor of his movements," to which McDowell answered, plainly expressing his doubt as to the success of the proposed movement.

McClellan had felt all along, very day he wrote: "the president's order keenly, the being deprived of McDow- has been received, and is in process of ell's support, (see p. 138), and he was now hoping every day to have that general's aid and co-operation in view of the direct assault to be made upon Richmond.* The government, on the 17th of May, ordered McDowell, with Shields's division taken from Banks, to move toward Richmond and join McClellan; at the same time he was to keep careful watch, and be ready to meet any sudden dash or attack upon Washington. The rebel General Johnston and his advisers seemed to understand the position of affairs very well, and they knew that it was of the utmost importance to them that McDowell should be kept at a distance from Richmond. With great shrewd ness, they resolved to dispatch Jackson for the purpose of making a bold and rapid raid upon Banks, being assured, apparently, that this would so frighten the authorities at Washington that McDowell's further advance would be commanding-general, and his positive immediately stopped, and McClellan's calculations, based upon his co-operation, rendered void.

The rebel plan was well laid. On the 24th of May, McDowell was ordered to hasten to the help or rescue of Banks. He obeyed of course; the same

* The Prince de Joinville's remarks on the grievous

mistake in preventing McDowell's advance are worth quoting:-"It needed only an effort of the will; the two armies were united, and the possession of Richmond certain! Alas, this effort was not made.... the fatal error was on the point of being committed. Not only did not the two armies unite, but the order came from

Washington to burn the bridges which had been seiz ed. This was the clearest way of saying to the Army of the Potomac and to its chief that in no case could they count on the support of the armies of Upper Virginia."

President Lincoln, in virtue of his office, was commander-in-chief of the army and navy of the United States; and though he had no acquaintance with military or naval science, yet he was full of anxious care on the subject. He was eager in urging forward matters, and was greatly distressed in regard to military movements in Virginia, just at this time. There was a sort of terror hanging over him and others at Washington, lest the capital should be suddenly assaulted and taken by the rebels, and notwithstanding his deep regard and respect for McClellan, he did not trust to the judgment of the

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assurance that, if McDowell
came at once to his assistance,
Richmond was sure to fall.
sure to fall. On the
25th of May, Mr. Lincoln sent to Mc-
Clellan, saying: "I think the time is
near when you must either attack Rich-
mond, or give up the job, and come to
the defence of Washington." McClel
lan gave every assurance of his readi-
ness and determination to go forward,
greatly vexed and disappointed though
he was at McDowell's withdrawal. He
was making all his preparations to fight
the enemy with such force as he had,
and the bitter struggle was now at
hand.

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