at Grapevine Bridge and move down the south side of the Chickahominy. Magruder and Huger found the whole line of works deserted, and large quantities of military stores of every description abandoned or destroyed. The former reached the vicinity of Savage Station about noon, where he came upon the rear-guard of the my was advancing, he halted and sent for reenforcements. Two brigades of Huger's division was ordered to his support, but subsequently withdrawn, it being apparent that the force in Magruder's front was covering the retreat of the main body. Jackson's route led to the flank and rear of Savage Station, but he was delayed by the necessity of reconstructing Grapevine bridge. Late in the afternoon, Magruder attacked the enemy with one of his divisions and two regiments of another. A severe action ensued, and continued about two hours, when it was terminated by night. The troops displayed great gallantry and inflicted heavy loss upon the enemy; but owing to the lateness of the hour and the small force employed, the result was not decisive, and the enemy continued his retreat, under cover of darkness, leaving several hundred prisoners with his dead and wounded in our hands. At Savage Station were found about two thousand five hundred men in hospital, and a large amount of property. Stores of much value had been destroyed, including the necessa ry medical supplies for the sick and wounded. But the time gained enabled the retreating column to cross White Oak Swamp without interruption, and destroy the bridge. Ewell's division, was ordered to seize the York River Railroad; and General Stuart, with his main body, to cooperate. When the cavalry reached Dispatch Station the enemy retreated to the south bank of the river and burned the railroad bridge. Ewell, coming up shortly afterward, destroyed a portion of the track. During the forenoon columns of dust, south of the Chicka-retreating army. Being informed that the enehominy, showed that the Federal army was in motion. The abandonment of the railroad and destruction of the bridge proved that no further attempt would be made to hold that line. But from the position it occupied, the roads which led toward James River would also enable it to reach the lower bridges over the Chickahominy, and retreat down the Peninsula. In the latter event it was necessary that our troops should continue on the north bank of the river, and, until the intention of General McClellan was discovered, it was deemed injudicious to change their disposition. Ewell was therefore ordered to proceed to Bottom's Bridge to guard that point, and the cavalry to watch the bridges below. No certain indications of a retreat to James River were discovered by our forces on the south side of the Chickahominy, and late in the afternoon the enemy's works were reported to be fully manned. The strength of these fortifications prevented Generals Huger and Magruder from discovering what was passing in their front. Below the enemy's works the country was densely wooded and intersected by impassable swamps, at once concealing his movements and precluding reconnoissances except by the regular roads, all of which were strongly guarded. The bridges over the Chickahominy, in rear of the enemy, were destroyed, and their reconstruction impracticable in the presence of his whole army and powerful batteries. We were therefore compelled to wait until his purpose should be developed. Generals Huger and Magruder were again directed to use the utmost vigilance and pursue the enemy vigorously should they discover that he was retreating. During the afternoon and night of the twenty-eighth the signs of a general movement were apparent, and no indications of his approach to the lower bridges of the Chickahominy having been discovered by the pickets in observation at those points, it became manifest that General McClellan was retreating to the James River. BATTLE OF SAVAGE STATION. Early on the twenty-ninth, Longstreet and A. P. Hill were ordered to recross the Chickahominy at New-Bridge, and move by the Darbytown to the Long Bridge road. Major R. K. Meade and Lieutenant S. K. Johnson, of the engineers, attached to General Longstreet's division, who had been sent to reconnoitre, found about sunrise the work on the upper extremity of the enemy's line of intrenchments abandoned. Generals Huger and Magruder were immediately ordered in pursuit, the former by the Charles City road, so as to take the Federal army in flank; and the latter by the Williamsburgh road, to attack its rear. Jackson was directed to cross BATTLE OF FRAZIER'S FARM. Jackson reached Savage Station early on the thirtieth. He was directed to pursue the enemy on the road he had taken, and Magruder to follow Longstreet by the Darbytown road. As Jackson advanced, he captured such numbers of prisoners, and collected so many arms, that two regiments had to be detached for their secu rity. His progress was arrested at White Oak Swamp. The enemy occupied the opposite side, and obstinately resisted the reconstruction of the bridge. Longstreet and A. P. Hill, continuing their advance on the thirtieth, soon came upon the enemy, strongly posted across the Long Bridge road, about a mile from its intersection with the Charles City road. Huger's route led to the right of this position; Jackson's to the rear; and the arrival of their commands was awaited to begin the attack. On the twenty-ninth, General Holmes had crossed from the south side of James River with part of his division. On the thirtieth, reenforced by General Wise with a detachment of his brigade, he moved down the river-road, and came upon the line of the retreating army near Malvern Hill. Perceiving indications of confusion, General Holmes was ordered to open upon the column with artillery. He soon discovered that a num ber of batteries, advantageously posted, sup ported by an infantry force superior to his own, and assisted by the fire of the gunboats in James son's right; but before his arrival, two of HuRiver, guarded this part of the line. Magruder, ger's brigades came up and were placed next to who had reached the Darbytown road, was or- Hill. Magruder subsequently formed on the dered to reenforce Holmes; but being at a great-right of these brigades, which, with a third of er distance than had been supposed, he did not Huger's, were placed under his command. Longreach the position of the latter in time for an at- street and A. P. Hill were held in reserve, and tack. Huger reported that his progress was ob- took no part in the engagement. Owing to igstructed; but about four P.M., firing was heard in norance of the country, the dense forests impedthe direction of the Charles City road, which was ing necessary communications, and the extreme supposed to indicate his approach. Longstreet difficulty of the ground, the whole line was not immediately opened with one of his batteries to formed until a late hour in the afternoon. The give notice of his presence. This brought on obstacles presented by the woods and swamp the engagement; but Huger not coming up, and made it impracticable to bring up a sufficient Jackson having been unable to force the passage amount of artillery to oppose successfully the of White Oak Swamp, Longstreet and Hill were extraordinary force of that arm employed by the without the expected support. The superiority enemy, while the field itself afforded us few poof numbers and advantage of position were on sitions favorable for its use, and none for its the side of the enemy. The battle raged furi- proper concentration. Orders were issued for a ously until nine P.M.; by that time the enemy general advance at a given signal; but the causes had been driven with great slaughter from every referred to prevented a proper concert of action position but one, which he maintained until he among the troops. D. H. Hill pressed forward was enabled to withdraw under cover of dark- across the open field, and engaged the enemy ness. At the close of the struggle, nearly the gallantly, breaking and driving back his first entire field remained in our possession, covered line; but a simultaneous advance of the other with the enemy's dead and wounded. Many troops not taking place, he found himself unable prisoners, including a general of division, were to maintain the ground he had gained against captured, and several batteries, with some thou- the overwhelming numbers and numerous batsands of small-arms taken. Could the other teries of the enemy. Jackson sent to his supcommands have coöperated in the action, the re- port his own division and that part of Ewell's sult would have proved most disastrous to the which was in reserve, but owing to the increasenemy. After the engagement, Magruder was ing darkness and intricacy of the forest of swamp, recalled to relieve the troops of Longstreet and they did not arrive in time to render the desired Hill. His men, much fatigued by their long, assistance. Hill was therefore compelled to hot march, arrived during the night. abandon part of the ground he had gained, after suffering severe loss, and inflicting heavy damage upon the enemy. On the right, the attack Early on the first of July, Jackson reached was gallantly made by Huger's and Magruder's the battle-field of the previous day, having suc- commands. Two brigades of the former comceeded in crossing White Oak Swamp, where he menced the action, the other two were subsecaptured a part of the enemy's artillery and a quently sent to the support of Magruder and number of prisoners. He was directed to con- Hill. Several determined efforts were made to tinue the pursuit down the Willis Church road, storm the hill at Crew's house. The brigades and soon found the enemy occupying a high range, advanced bravely across the open field raked by extending obliquely across the road in front of the fire of a hundred cannon and the musketry Malvern Hill. On this position of great natural of large bodies of infantry. Some were broken strength he had concentrated his powerful artil- and gave way; others approached close to the lery, supported by masses of infantry, partially guns, driving back the infantry, compelling the protected by earth-works. His left rested near advanced batteries to retire to escape capture, Crew's house, and his right near Binford's. Im- and mingling their dead with those of the enemy. mediately in his front the ground was open, va- For want of concert among the attacking colrying in width from a quarter to half a mile, and umns, their assaults were too weak to break the sloping gradually from the crest, was completely Federal line, and, after struggling gallantly, susswept by the fire of his infantry and artillery. taining and inflicting great loss, they were comTo reach this open ground, our troops had to pelled successively to retire. Night was apadvance through a broken and, thickly wooded proaching when the attack began, and it soon becountry, traversed nearly through its whole ex- came difficult to distinguish friend from foe. tent by a swamp passable at but few places, and The firing continued until after nine P.M., but no difficult at those. The whole was within range decided result was gained. Part of the troops of the batteries on the heights and the gunboats were withdrawn to their original positions, othin the river, under whose incessant fire our ers remained on the open field, and some rested movements had to be executed. Jackson form- within a hundred yards of the batteries they had ed his line with Whiting's division on his left, so bravely but vainly assailed. The general conand D. H. Hill's on his right, one of Ewell's bri- duct of the troops was excellent; in some ingades occupying the interval. The rest of Ewell's stances heroic. The lateness of the hour at and Jackson's own division were held in reserve. which the attack necessarily began, gave the enMagruder was directed to take position on Jack-emy the full advantage of his superior position, BATTLE OF MALVERN HILL. and augmented the natural difficulties of our own. After seizing the York River Railroad on the twenty-eighth of June, and driving the enemy across the Chickahominy, as already narrated, the cavalry under General Stuart proceeded down the railroad to ascertain if there was any movement of the enemy in that direction. He encountered but little opposition, and reached the vicinity of the White House on the twenty-ninth. On his approach the enemy destroyed the greater part of the immense stores accumulated at that depot, and retreated toward Fortress Monroe. With one gun and some dismounted men, General Stuart drove off a gunboat which lay near the White House, and rescued a large amount of property, including more than ten thousand stand of small-arms, partially burned. Leaving one squadron at the White House, in compliance with his orders, he returned to guard the lower bridges of the Chickahominy. On the thirtieth he was directed to recross and cooperate with General Jackson. After a long march he reached the rear of the enemy at Malvern Hill on the night of the first of July, at the close of the engagement. On the second of July it was discovered that the enemy had withdrawn during the night, leaving the ground covered with his dead and wounded, and his route exhibiting abundant evidence of precipitate retreat. The pursuit was commenced, General Stuart with his cavalry in the advance; but a violent storm which prevailed throughout the day, greatly retarded our progress. The enemy, harassed and closely followed by the cavalry, succeeded in gaining Westover, on the James River, and the protection of his gunboats. He immediately began to fortify his position, which was one of great natural strength, flanked on each side by a creek, and the approach to his front commanded by the heavy guns of his shipping in addition to those mounted in his intrenchments. It was deemed inexpedient to attack him; and in view of the condition of our troops, who had been marching and fighting almost incessantly for seven days, under the most trying circumstances, it was determined to withdraw in order to afford them the repose of which they stood so much in need. Several days were spent in collecting arms and other property abandoned by the enemy; and in the mean time some artillery and cavalry were sent below Westover to annoy his transports. On the eighth of July the army returned to the vicinity of Richmond. Under ordinary circumstances the Federal army should have been destroyed. Its escape was due to the causes already stated. Prominent among these is the want of correct and timely information. This fact, attributable chiefly to the character of the country, enabled General McClellan skilfully to conceal his retreat and to add much to the obstruction with which nature had beset the way of our pursuing columns. But regret that more was not accomplished gives way to gratitude to the Sovereign Ruler of the universe for he results achieved. The siege of Richmond as raised, and the object of a campaign, which had been prosecuted after months of preparation at an enormous expenditure of men and money, completely frustrated. More than ten thousand prisoners, including officers of rank, fifty-two pieces of artillery, and upwards of thirty-five thousand stand of small-arms were captured. The stores and supplies of every description which fell into our hands were great in amount and value, but small in comparison with those destroyed by the enemy. His losses in battle exceeded our own, as attested by the thousands of dead and wounded left on every field, while his subsequent inaction shows in what condition the survivors reached the protection to which they fled. The accompanying tables contain the lists of our casualties in the series of engagements. Among the dead will be found many whose names will ever be associated with the great events in which they all bore so honorable a part. For these, as well as for the names of their no less distinguished surviving comrades who earned for themselves the high honor of special commendation, when all so well discharged their duty, reference must necessarily be made to the accompanying reports. But I cannot forbear expressing my admiration of the noble qualities displayed, with rare exceptions, by officers and men under circumstances which demanded the exercise of every soldierly virtue. To the officers commanding divisions and brigades belongs the credit for the management of their troops in action. The extent of the fields of battle, the nature of the ground, and the denseness of the forests, rendered more than general directions impracticable. To the officers of my staff I am indebted for constant aid during the entire period. Colonels Chilton and Long, Majors Taylor, Venable, Talcott, and Marshall, and Captain Mason, were continuously with me in the field. General Pendleton, Chief of Artillery; Lieutenant-Colonel Corley, Chief Quartermaster; Lieutenant-Colonel Cole, Chief Commissary; Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander, Chief of Ordnance; Surgeon Guild, Medical Director; Colonel Lay and Lieutenant-Colonel Harvie, Inspectors-General; and Lieutenant-Colonel Stevens, Chief Engineer, attended unceasingly to their several departments. To the whole medical corps of the army I return my thanks for the care and attention bestowed on the wounded. OPERATIONS OF THE ARMY FROM RICHMOND TO AND INCLUDING THE BATTLE OF CEDAR RUN. After the retreat of General McClellan to Westover his army remained inactive for about a month. His front was closely watched by a brigade of cavalry, and preparations made to resist a renewal of his attempt upon Richmond from his new base. In the mean time another Federal army under Major-General Pope advanced southward from Washington and crossed the Rappahannock as if to seize Gordonsville and move thence upon Richmond. The enemy also appeared in force at Fredericksburgh and threatened the railroad from Gordonsville to Richmond, apparently for the purpose of cooperating with the movements of General Pope. To meet the advance of the latter, and restrain as far as possible the atrocities which he threatened to perpetrate upon our defenceless citizens, General Jackson, with his own and Ewell's division, was ordered to proceed toward Gordonsville on the thirteenth of July. Upon reaching that vicinity he ascertained that the force under General Pope was superior to his own, but the uncertainty that then surrounded the designs of General McClellan, rendered it inexpedient to reenforce him from the army at Richmond. He was directed to observe the enemy's movements closely, to avail himself of any opportunity to attack that might arise, and assistance was promised should the progress of General Pope put it in our power to strike an effectual blow, without withdrawing the troops too long from the defence of the capital. The enemy at Westover continuing to manifest no intention of resuming active operations, and General Pope's advance having reached the Rapidan, General A. P. Hill, with his division, was ordered on the twenty-seventh of July to join General Jackson. At the same time in order to keep McClellan stationary, or, if possible, to cause him to withdraw, General D. H. Hill, commanding south of James River, was directed to threaten his communications by seizing favorable positions below Westover, from which to attack the transports in the river. That officer selected Coggin's Point, opposite Westover, and the conduct of the expedition was committed to Brigadier-General French. to return in haste to Fredericksburgh, and General Stuart retired with the loss of only two men, bringing off eighty-five prisoners and a number of horses, wagons, and arms. No further attempt was made upon the railroad. On the fifth of August our cavalry reported that the enemy had advanced in large force from Westover to Malvern Hill, and the next day the divisions of General Longstreet and McLaws, and that commanded by General Ripley, were moved down to the Long Bridge road. The enemy was found occupying the ground on which the action of July first was fought, and seemed ready to deliver battle in as great force as on that day. McLaws's and Ripley's divisions, reënforced by D. R. Jones's division, formed our left, Longstreet the right. The heat was intense, and the progress of the troops necessarily slow. Before the road was cleared of the enemy's pickets and the line of battle disclosed, the sun had almost set. Orders were given for our left wing to advance to Willis's Church, threatening the communication with Westover by extending well to the left, while two brigades of Longstreet's division were directed to advance upon Malvern Hill and drive in the enemy on Curls Neck. The latter operation was handsomely executed by General Evans, with his own and Cobb's brigade, forcing the enemy back to his guns on Malvern Hill. The next morning, upon advancing, it was found that he had withdrawn during the night and retired to Westover. Our pickets were reëstablished, and the troops returned to their former positions. This expedition, which was the last undertaken by General McClellan on James River, was attended with small loss on either side. General Hampton, with his brigade of cavalry, kept the enemy closely confined within his lines until his withdrawal. On the night of the thirty-first General French, accompanied by Brigadier-General Pendleton, Chief of Artillery, placed forty-three guns in position within range of the enemy's shipping in the river, and of the camps on the north side, upon both of which fire was opened, causing conster-final nation and inflicting serious damage. The guns were withdrawn before daybreak, with the loss of one killed and two wounded by the gunboats and batteries of the enemy; this attack caused General McClellan to send a strong force to the south bank of the river which intrenched itself on Coggin's Point. BATTLE OF CEDAR RUN. While the main body of the army awaited the development of McClellan's intentions, General Jackson, reënforced by A. P. Hill, determined to assume the offensive against General Pope, whose army, still superior in numbers, lay north of the Rapidan. In the latter part of July, the enemy's cavalry from Fredericksburgh attempted to cut Jackson's On the second of August, Colonel (now Brigacommunications by destroying the Central Rail- dier-General) W. E. Jones, with the Seventh road at Beaver Dam. This force did no serious Virginia cavalry, of Robertson's brigade, was damage; but to prevent the repetition of the sent to take charge of the outposts on the Rapiattempt, and to ascertain the strength and de- dan. Arriving near Orange Court-House, he signs of the enemy, General Stuart was directed found it occupied by a large cavalry force, which, to proceed from Hanover Court-House, where by a bold and vigorous charge, he drove from he was posted, toward Fredericksburgh. His the town. The enemy rallied, and Colonel Jones progress was delayed by high-water until the was in turn compelled to fall back before supefourth of August, when he advanced, with Fitz-rior numbers to the place where the engagement Hugh Lee's brigade and the Stuart horse artillery, upon Port Royal. Arriving at that place on the fifth, without opposition, he proceeded in the direction of Fredericksburgh, and the next day came into the telegraph road at Massaponax Church, just after two brigades of the enemy had passed that point on the way to the Central Railroad. His vigorous attack caused the expedition Vol. IX.-Doc. 18 began. The enemy soon after withdrew. Learning that only a portion of General Pope's army was at Culpeper Court-House, General Jackson resolved to attack it before the arrival of the remainder, and, on the seventh August, moved from Gordonsville for that purpose. The next day the Federal cavalry on the north side of the Rapidan was driven back by General The enemy was found about a mile and a half in rear of the field of battle, and information was received that reënforcements had arrived. General Jackson therefore halted for the night, and the next day, becoming satisfied that the enemy's strength had been so largely increased as to render a further advance on his part imprudent, he sent his wounded to the rear, and proceeded to bury the dead and collect the arms from the battle-field. Robertson, and on the ninth, Jackson's command enter Culpeper Court-House before morning, dearrived within eight miles of Culpeper Court-termined to pursue. Hill's division led the adHouse, when the enemy was found near Cedar vance, but, owing to the darkness, it was comRun, a short distance north-west of Slaughter's pelled to move slowly and with caution. Mountain. Early's brigade, of Ewell's division, was thrown forward on the road to Culpeper Court-House. The remaining two brigades, those of Trimble and Hays, the latter under Colonel Forno, diverging to the right, took position on the western slope of Slaughter's Mountain. Jackson's own division, under Brigadier-General Wilder, was placed on the left of the roadCampbell's brigade, Lieutenant-Colonel Garnett commanding, being on the left; Taliaferro's parallel to the road, supporting the batteries; and Winder's own brigade, under Colonel Roland, in reserve. Lawton's brigade, having been detached by General Jackson to guard the train, was prevented from taking part in the engagement. The battle opened with a fierce fire of artillery, which continued for about two hours, during which Brigadier-General Charles S. Winder, while directing the movements of his batteries, received a wound, from the effects of which he expired in a few hours. I can add nothing to the well-deserved tribute paid to the courage, capacity, and conspicuous merit of this lamented officer by General Jackson, in whose brilliant campaign in the Valley and on the Chickahominy he bore a distinguished part. The enemy's infantry advanced about five o'clock P.M., and attacked General Early in front, while another body, concealed by the inequality of the ground, moved upon his right. Thomas's brigade, of A. P. Hill's division, which had now arrived, was sent to his support, and the contest soon became animated. In the mean time, the main body of the Federal infantry, under cover of a wood and the undulations of the field, gained the left of Jackson's division, now commanded by Brigadier-General Taliaferro, and poured a destructive fire into its flank and rear. Campbell's brigade fell back in confusion, exposing the flank of Taliaferro's, which also gave way, as did the left of Early's. The rest of his brigade, however, firmly held its ground. Winder's brigade, with Branch's, of A. P. Hill's division, on its right, advanced promptly to the support of Jackson's division, and after a sanguinary struggle the enemy was repulsed with loss. Pender's and Archer's brigades, also of Hill's division, came up on the left of Winder's, and, by a general charge, the enemy was driven back in confusion, leaving the ground covered with his dead and wounded. General Ewell, with the two brigades on the extreme right, had been prevented from advancing by the fire of our own artillery, which swept his approach to the enemy's left. This obstacle being now removed, he pressed forward, under a hot fire, and came gallantly into action. Repulsed and vigorously followed on our left and centre, and now hotly pressed on our right, the enemy gave way, and his whole line was soon in full retreat. Night had now set in, but General Jackson, desiring to On the eleventh, the enemy asked and received permission to bury those of his dead not already interred. General Jackson remained in position during the day, and at night returned to the vicinity of Gordonsville. In this engagement, four hundred prisoners, including a brigadiergeneral, were captured, and five thousand three hundred stand of small-arms, one piece of artillery, several caissons, and three colors fell into our hands. Our casualties will appear from the report of the medical director. For a more detailed account of the action, reference must be made to the clear account of General Jackson, herewith transmitted, and the accompanying report of his officers. The conduct of his troops is commended in terms of well deserved praise, by their distinguished leader, and the success achieved was worthy of the skilful management and bold and vigorous execution of the entire enterprise. CAMPAIGN IN NORTHERN VIRGINIA, FROM THE BAT- The victory at Cedar Run effectually checked the progress of the enemy for the time; but it soon became apparent that his army was being largely increased. The corps of Major-General Burnside, from North-Carolina, which had reached Fredericksburgh, was reported to have moved up the Rappahannock a few days after the battle to unite with General Pope, and a part of General McClellan's army was believed to have left Westover for the same purpose. It therefore seemed that active operations on the James were no longer contemplated, and that the most ef fectual way to relieve Richmond from any danger of attack from that quarter, would be to reenforce General Jackson, and advance upon General Pope. Accordingly, on the thirteenth August, Major-General Longstreet, with his division, and two brigades under General Hood, were ordered to proceed to Gordonsville. At the same time, General Stuart was directed to move with the main body of his cavalry to that point, leav ing a sufficient force to observe the enemy still remaining in Fredericksburgh, and to guard the railroad. General R. H. Anderson was also directed to leave his position on James River, and follow Longstreet. On the sixteenth, the troops began to remove from the vicinity of Gordons |