party that reached the railroad at Tun-gress in crossing was very slow at the stall's surprised the guard at the depot, point chosen, just above Forge Bridge, fifteen or twenty infantry, captured them and learning that, at the bridge proper, without their firing a gun, and set about enough of the debris of the old bridge reobstructing the railroad, but before it mained to facilitate the construction of could be thoroughly done, and just as another-materials for which were afterthe head of our column reached it, a ward afforded by a large warehouse adtrain of cars came thundering down from jacent-I moved to that point at once. the "grand army." It had troops on Lieutenant Redmond Burke, who, in board, and we prepared to attack it. The every sphere has rendered most valuable train swept off the obstructions without service, and deserves the highest conbeing thrown from the track, but our fire, sideration at the hands of the governdelivered at only a few rods' distance, ment, set to work with a party to coneither killed, or caused to feign death, struct a bridge. A foot-bridge was soon every one on board, the engineer improvised, and the horses were crossed being one of the first victims, from the over as rapidly as possible by swimming. unerring fire of Captain Farley. It is fair Burke's work proceeded like magic; in to presume that a serious collision took three hours it was ready to bear artilplace on its arrival at the White House, lery and cavalry, and as half of the latfor it made extraordinary speed in that ter had not yet crossed, the bridge endirection. bled the whole to reach the other bank by one o'clock, P. M. Another branch of the Chickahominy, still further on, was with difficulty forded, and the march was continued without interruption towards Richmond. Having passed the point of danger, I left the column with Colonel Lee, of the 1st, and rode on to report to you, reaching your headquarters at daylight next morning. Returning to my command soon after, the prisoners, one hundred and sixty-five in number, were transferred to the proper authority; two hundred and sixty mules and horses captured, with more or less harness, were transferred to the quartermaster departments of the different regiments, and the commands were sent to their respective cmps. The number of captured arms has not been, as yet, accurately ascertained. A pole was broken, which obliged us to abandon a limber this side of the Chickahominy. The success attending this expedition will, no doubt, cause ten thousand or fifteen thousand men to be detached from the enemy's main body to guard his communications, besides accomplishing the destruction of millions of dollars' worth of property, and the interruption, for a "The railroad bridge over Black creek was fired under the direction of Lieutenant Burke, and it being now dark, the burning of the immense wagon train, and the extricating of the teams, involved much labor and delay, and illuminated the country for miles. The roads at this point were far worse than ours, and the artillery had much difficulty in passing. Our march was finally continued by bright moonlight to Talleysville, where we halted three and a half hours for the column to close up. At this point we passed a large hospital, of one hundred and fifty patients. I deemed it proper not to molest the surgeons and attendants in charge. At twelve o'clock at night the march was continued, without incident, under the most favorable auspices, to Forge Bridge (eight miles), over the Chickahominy, where we arrived just at daylight. Lee, of the 9th, by personal experiment, having found the stream not fordable, axes were sent for, and every means taken to overcome the difficulties by improvised bridges and swimming. I immediately dispatched to you information of my situation, and asked for the diversion already referred to. The pro time, of his railroad communications. The three commanders, the two Lees and Martin, exhibited the characteristics of skillful commanders, keeping their commands well in hand, and managing them with skill and good judgment, which proved them worthy of a higher trust. Their brave men behaved with coolness and intrepidity in danger, unswerving resolution before difficulties, and stood unappalled before the rushing torrents of the Chickahominy, with the probability of an enemy at their heels, armed with the fury of a tigress robbed of her whelps. The perfect order and systematic disposition for crossing, maintained throughout the passage, insured its success, and rendered it the crowning feature of a successful expedition. I hope, General, that your sense of delicacy, so manifest on former occasions, will not prompt you to award to the two Lees, (your son and nephew), less than their full measure of praise. Embalmed in the hearts and affections of their regiments, tried on many occasions requiring coolness, decision and bravery, everywhere present to animate, direct and control, they held their regiments in their grasp; and proved themselves brilliant cavalry leaders." There was a great stir, as might be expected, at White House, in anticipation of an attack, when Stuart's cavalry crossed the Pamunkey a few miles above, at Garlick's Landing, where the two schooners were destroyed, and when the flying train, which had been assailed at Tunstall's, arrived with its news of death and disaster. A raid of this description was then something of a novelty, and a general attack was feared. There were few troops at the place; but they were immediately put under arms, with the civilians, by Colonel Ingalles, in charge of the post, while the assailable fleet of steamboats, schooners, transports, and trading vessels in the river made preparations to leave. The government papers and property were placed on board the mail boat which had just arrived from Fortress Monroe. Had the enemy been in force, and made an attempt upon the place, they would either have captured an immense amount of valuable stores, or compelled their destruction. As it was, the damage which was inflicted along his course was comparatively slight, and the expedition, though sufficiently annoying, was in one way profitable to the Union armies. It sounded a note of warning which was not neglected, and when the right of the army was seriously threatened a fortnight later by the advance of Jackson, the enemy found, on the railway and at White House, the movement every where anticipated by General McClellan. It was more than ever evident after this raid that something was necessary to be done in the army of the Potomac to secure the object of its visit to the Peninsula, the capture of Richmond, or, at least, extricate it from the difficulties which had beset its progress from the moment of its first landing-embarrassments and hardships which were beginning to tell fearfully upon its condition. The army was, indeed, being reinforced by McCall's division; but a few thousand new troops arriving, to be, in turn, exposed to the same injurious influences, could not be expected to counteract the steadily working force of malaria and over-exertion, which were rapidly decimating the army. Moreover, the enemy was gaining in strength. "Stonewall" Jackson, who by his rapidity of action, the energy of his character, and the consequent devotion of his troops, had taught his foes to watch his movements with interest, if not with anxiety, having accomplished his work on the Potomac, and eluded the skillfully laid plan of President Lincoln for his capture, was now at leisure, after contending with Fremont at Cross Keys, and defeating Shields in the Luray valley, to operate on the right of the army of the Potomac. The country, seeing the perils to which AFFAIR AT OAK GROVE. 495 that army was exposed by delay, and vance before Fair Oaks, was ordered to trusting in its capacity and valor, was push forward his pickets, and drive the impatient for action, and the feeling was enemy from the woods in his front, thus undoubtedly shared by the brave, well- relieving his men from an unwholesome trained soldiers in the camps. Bridges position in the swampy ground, and had now been built in sufficient numbers bringing them to an open, cleared space to connect, readily, the two wings of the beyond. It was a movement intentionarmy; the most important of these was ally preliminary to the general action, Woodbury bridge, named after the Col- now at length resolved upon. The brunt onel of the 4th Michigan regiment, its of this affair, which was carried out with builders, an extraordinary work in ex- spirit, was chiefly borne by two brigades tent and solidity, the lines had been of Hooker's division, those of Sickles, pushed forward, defensive works erected, composed of the New York "Excelsior" to secure the safety of the army in case regiments and Grover's New England of a repulse, and the force on the right regiments. As the action grew warm, bank of the Chickahominy, where the General Kearney, with his command, advance on Richmond was proposed to and other troops, were engaged in the be made, was considerably augmented by fight. A bombardment was at the same the addition of Gen. Franklin's corps. On time opened by General Porter from the the 18th of June General McClellan tel- left bank of the Chickahominy, on the egraphed to President Lincoln, "A gen- enemy's positions on the other side. eral engagement may take place at any Hooker's advance was sharply contested hour. An advance by us involves a in the wood. General McClellan came battle more or less decisive. After upon the field about noon, and personto-morrow we shall fight the rebel army ally directed the movement. At three as soon as Providence will permit. We o'clock in the afternoon he reported, in shall await only a favorable condition of a dispatch to the Secretary of War: the earth and sky, and the completion of "The enemy are making desperate resome necessary preliminaries." The sistance to the advance of our picket strength of the army of General McClel- lines. Kearney and one half of Hooklan at this time, according to official re-er's are where I want them. I have this ports of the 20th of June, was--present moment reinforced Hooker's right with for duty, 115,102; on special duty, sick, and in arrest, 12,225; absent, 29,511 a total of 156,838. This included McCall's division of 11,000, and other reinforcements from Fortress Monroe. Though the number of furloughs was said to be very liberally extended, it is to be presumed that they covered many cases of broken health, which were to be added to the account of the malaria of the region. The force of the army of Richmond, strengthened as it had been, probably did not greatly exceed that before the city. . . . The commencement of direct active operations by General McClellan was made on the morning of the 25th of June, when General Heintzelman, holding the ad a brigade and a couple of guns, and hope in a few minutes to finish the work intended for to-day. Our men are behaving splendidly. The enemy are fighting well also. This is not a battle, merely an affair of Heintzelman's corps, supported by Keyes, and, thus far, all goes well, and we hold every foot of ground we have gained. If we succeed in what we have undertaken, it will be a very important advantage gained. Loss not large thus far. The fighting up to this time has been done by General Hooker's division, which has behaved as usual, that is, most handsomely. On our right Porter has silenced the enemy's batteries in his front." Two hours later General McClellan added, in a further dispatch: "The affair is over, and we have gained our point fully, and with but little loss, notwithstanding the strong opposition; our men have done all that could be desired. The affair was partially decided by two guns that Captain Dusenbury brought gallantly into action under very difficult circumstances. The enemy was driven from his camps in front of this, and all is now quiet." The Union loss was about 500. This affair, which has been called the battle of Oak Grove, was succeeded the next day by an engagement on the left bank of the river, followed by the most important consequences. The movement of the 25th, just described, had its significance in the obvious purpose of a speedy advance upon Richmond. General McClellan, however, apparently not sanguine of the result, advised of the approach of Jackson, with his entire force, consisting of his own division, and those of Ewell and Whiting, which, he understood, was, on the 24th, at Frederick's Hall, in Louisa county, with the intention of falling upon his right, and breaking up his communications with York river, had, with a view to future events, ordered a number of transports, with stores and supplies, to the James river. He had, in fact, warned by the easy success of the raid of Stuart on his rear, already contemplated the change of base which was, a few days after, fully consummated. The active pressure of the enemy speedily determined the movement. It is said to have been the strategy of General McClellan to entice the enemy to the left bank of the Chickahominy, that he might make his main attack on the right, by the roads in that quarter leading directly into Richmond; but that design, if he entertained it, was speedily abandoned in the presence of the enemy. On the very afternoon of the affair of Oak Grove, General MéClellan was hurried from the field by intelligence brought in by several contrabands, con firming the supposition that Jackson's advance was at or near Hanover Court House, and that Beauregard had arrived at Richmond the day before with strong reinforcements. "I am inclined to think," he telegraphed to the Secretary of War, in the evening, "that Jackson will attack my right and rear. The rebel force is stated at 200,000, including Jackson and Beauregard. I shall have to contend against vastly superior odds if these reports be true; but this army will do all in the power of man to hold their position and repulse an attack." This estimate of the rebel force, was, as usual, much overstated. The report of Beauregard's arrival at Richmond was altogether erroneous, nor is it clear that any of his troops were in Virginia. Lee's force is said to have numbered 90,000, to which Jackson's command added 30,000. Expecting an attack on the right on the morrow, he accordingly proceeded, with the view of making the necessary arrangements, to the camp of General Porter, who commanded the right wing, now reduced to three divisions of about 35,000, in all, with Stoneman's cavalry, which was constantly employed in various reconnoissances along the line of the railway, and toward Hanover Court House. "On my arrival," says General McClellan, in his official report of the events now taking place, "I found that there was a strong probability of Jackson's advancing, although not a certainty of it. I therefore determined to leave our heavy guns in battery, and to retain McCall's division in its strong position on Beaver Dam creek, near Mechanicsville, posting merely small outposts to watch the crossing near Meadow Bridge and Mechanicsville, and to give McCall immediate notice of the enemy's approach. Porter's remaining troops were to be held in reserve, ready to act according to circumstances. The centre and left of the army were also to be held in readiness to repulse any attack, or to BATTLE OF MECHANICSVILLE. move to the assistance of the right. It had long before been determined to hold the position of Beaver Dam creek in the event of being attacked on that side, for the reasons that the position was intrinsically a very strong one, was less liable to be turned on either flank than any position in advance of it, and brought the army in a more concentrated and manageable condition. The natural strength of the position had been somewhat increased by slight rifle pits, and felling a little timber in front of it; with the exception of epaulments for artillery near Gaines' and Hogan's houses, to act against the enemy's batteries on the right bank of the Chickahominy, there were no other artificial defences on the left bank of that stream. Our position on the right bank of the river had been rendered reasonably secure against assault by felling timber, and the construction of slight earthworks. Measures had already been taken to secure the passage of White Oak Swamp. The right wing, under the command of General Fitz John Porter, consisted of the divisions of Morell, Sykes, and McCall, with a large part of the cavalry reserve. He had ten heavy guns in the battery on the banks of the Chickahominy. Such was the state of affairs on the morning of June 26. I was, by that time, satisfied that I had to deal with at least double my numbers, but so great was my confidence in the conduct of the officers, and the bravery, discipline, and devotion of my men, that I felt contented calmly to await the bursting of the coming storm, ready to profit by any fault of the enemy, and sure that I could extricate the army from any difficulty in which it might become involved. No other course was open to me, for my information in regard to the movements of the enemy was too meagre to enable me to take a decided course. "I had not long to wait. During the afternoon of the 26th the enemy crossed, in several columns, in the vicinity of Me 497 chanicsville and Meadow Bridge, and attacked McCall in his position at Beaver Dam creek. His repeated efforts were constantly repulsed, with but little loss on our side, but with great slaughter on the part of the enemy. The contest ceased here about nine P. M., the enemy leaving us in full possession of every part of the field of battle. During the action McCall was supported by the brigades of Martindale and Griffin, of the division of Morell. While this was going on, there were some sharp affairs of pickets on the centre and left, but nothing of a serious nature. By this time I had certain information that Jackson was rapidly advancing in strong force, from Hanover Court House, and that his advance guard had probably participated in the battle of Beaver Dam creek. This rendered that position untenable. I, therefore, determined still further to concentrate the army by withdrawing Porter's command to a position near Gaines' Mill, where he could rest both his flanks on the Chickahominy, and and cover the most important bridges over that stream. The wagons and heavy guns were withdrawn during the night, the troops falling back to their new position early in the morning. The enemy attacked Seymour's brigade, constituting the rear guard of the division of McCall, but were sharply repulsed, and the movement was not further molested. In the course of the morning of the 27th, I received intelligence that Longstreet's corps was at Mechanicsville, ready to move down on either bank of the Chickahominy, according to circumstances. The intelligence, and many threatening movements of the enemy on various parts of the centre and left, placed a limit to the amount of the reinforcements available for the support of Porter. Under the circumstances, it was impossible to withdraw him to the right bank of the Chickahominy by daylight. The enemy were so close upon him that the attempt would have insured |