cordingly ordered, as soon as Jackson passed beyond Meadow Bridge, to throw his division across at that point; to advance upon Mechanicsville, attack the position, and uncover the bridge, when D. H. Hill would cross and join Jackson, and Longstreet reënforce A. P. Hill-Magruder and Huger remaining on the southern side in front of the enemy's left, with orders to hold their ground, whatever force was brought against them. The main body--Jackson, D. H. Hill, A. P. Hill, and Longstreet was then to sweep down the northern bank of the Chickahominy in échelon of divisions, Jackson on the left and in the advance, and Longstreet next to the stream-threaten the Federal depots at the White House, and their line of communication, the York River Railroad; force them to come out of their intrenchments and fight-or retreat, and give up their position. By this plan of battle the enemy would be attacked beyond the Chickahominy before he could throw his left wing, near Seven Pines, across to the assistance of his right. The programme of operations involved desperate fighting for the possession of Mechanicsville, where a large body of the troops must cross; but with that point once secured, the movements which were to follow promised, as far as the human eye could see, to result in the success of the Confederate arms. The Federal right wing and centre would be assailed in front and flank at the same moment; and the defective communications between the northern and southern banks of the Chickahominy threatened General McClellan with utter defeat before his left could come up to take part in the action.

On the 26th, as we have said above, the great gladiators were face to face, and the struggle began. Brigadier-General Branch crossed the Chickahominy high up, where it is crossed by the Brooke turnpike, and moved down the left bank to form a junction with General A. P. Hill, who crossed at Meadow Bridge about three P. M. Branch did not arrive in time to join Hill, who advanced upon Mechanicsville, and attacked the Federal position there with stubborn resolution. The engagement which ensued was resolute and bloody; the Confederate

on fire, and the sound of the enemy's axes was heard beyond, felling trees to obstruct the road. To prevent the prosecution of this work, General Hood was directed to throw forward skirmishers, and Captain Reilly to open with his battery upon the enemy. This had the desired effect. They disappeared, leaving their axes sticking in the trees; and the bridge having been repaired, the army continued its march, still skirmishing with the Federal rear guard until it reached Hundley's Corner, where it bivouacked for the night. Jackson, following the orders of General Lee, had thus borne away from the Chickahominy, where the reverberating roar of artillery indicated the commencement of the battle; had gained ground toward the Pamunkey, driving all before him; and was now in a position to descend next day on the enemy near Cold Harbor, and decide the fate of the day.

The memorable 27th of June dawned clear and cloudless. Jackson, now reënforced by D. H. Hill, gradually converging toward the Chickahominy again, and advancing steadily, with Ewell in front, drove the enemy steadily before him, surmounted every obstacle which they had placed in the roads to bar his progress, and about five in the afternoon reached the vicinity of Old Cold Harbor.

He did not arrive a moment too soon. Whilst he had been rapidly bearing down, in accordance with his orders, in the direction of the White House, so as to threaten the Federal right flank, important events had been taking place nearer to the Chickahominy.

Longstreet and A. P. Hill had pressed on after the retreating enemy-who left behind them burning wagons and crowds of stragglers-until they reached, about noon, a point near New Bridge. Here they found the Federal forces drawn up behind Powhite Creek, in a position of very great strength, prepared to hold their ground and dispute the passage of the stream.

Powhite Creek is one of those small watercourses which traverse the counties of Hanover and New Kent, running between densely-wooded bluffs, or stealing across marshy low

grounds. It runs obliquely to the Chickahominy, in a direction nearly southwest, and on its left bank a long wooded ridge extends from above Cold Harbor to the vicinity of Gaines' Mill, where it terminates in a bluff rising abruptly from a deep ravine. On this ridge the enemy were posted; their right at McGehee's house, their left near Dr. Gaines'. The ravine in front was filled with sharpshooters, lurking behind the banks and trees; above them, on the slope of the ridge, a heavy line of infantry was stationed behind a breastwork of trees; and on the crest a third line was drawn up, supported by crowding batteries, ready to unloose their thunders as soon as the Southern troops appeared. No point was left unguarded; rifle-pits extended on every hand; artillery and infantry crowned every elevation; and the Federal batteries on the southern bank of the Chickahominy completely swept the ground over which the Confederates must advance to the assault.

In front of the Federal centre and right the ground was marshy, and obstructed by felled trees; and the coverts were full of sharpshooters, ready to delay the advance of the Southern forces; while the heavy batteries from the crest above played on them and repelled their attack.

General A. P. Hill advancing, followed by Longstreet, reached the vicinity of New Cold Harbor, opposite the Federal right and centre, about two o'clock. Here he came upon the enemy, whose advanced artillery was posted in the fields near by, and immediately attacked them, with a dash and courage which, at the close of that memorable day, had won for him and his men justly deserved fame. Their advance was driven back; and then, for more than two hours, ensued a conflict desperate and bloody in the extreme. In vain, however, did Hill, with his force of not more than 8,000 men, assail the strong fortifications in which nearly 30,000 Federal troops, with heavy artillery supports, disputed his advance. Their works crowning every slope, and protected by ravines, watercourses, and the swamp, in which the timber had been felled, rendering the approaches almost impassable, still defied his most determined efforts; and

in charge after charge, the bravest of the Southern troops recoiled from the horrible fire, shattered and broken. Hill was reenforced by Pickett's brigade, and a still more resolute assault was made than before; but with the same result. The troops fought with the most reckless courage; and three of Hill's regiments pierced the Federal line and attained the crest, but were forced to retire before overwhelming numbers. Under the murderous salvos of shell and canister sweeping their ranks and strewing the earth with their dead, the Southern troops were forced to give back, and the enemy rushed forward and gained possession of the ground from which they had been first repulsed.

General Lee had joined General A. P. Hill at New Cold Harbor, and now listened with anxiety for the sound of Jackson's guns on his left. The obstinacy of the enemy in holding their position on Powhite Creek, instead of falling back, as it was expected they would do, to protect their communications, had compelled a corresponding change in Jackson's movements. The design of advancing down the Peninsula in échelon of divisions, was necessarily abandoned, in consequence of the changed aspect of affairs; and Jackson had to alter his order of march and hurry forward to the battle-field. To relieve General Hill, meanwhile, and hold the position until Jackson arrived, General Longstreet was directed to make a feint on the right against the enemy's left, near Gaines' Mill; and this he proceeded to do without loss of time. The batteries on the south side of the Chickahominy, as well as those in front, were sweeping the approach, but the men advanced with great coolness to the assault, and were now close upon the Federal position. Its enormous strength was now for the first time discovered; and finding that he could effect nothing by a feint, General Longstreet determined to turn the movement into a real attack, and made his preparations without delay.

Such was the aspect of affairs on the field about five in the evening. The Federal troops had repulsed every assault, and the descending sun threatened to set upon a day memorable in