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commanders, to move to the assault at daybreak, on the day appointed. With every facility of communication with Richmond, and with the various divisions occupying the roads commanding the Union position, had the rebel plan of attack been effectively carried out, backed, as it was, by a greatly superior force, it could hardly have failed of entire success. The heavy rains, however, which aided their purpose in one way, hindered it in another. If reinforcements could not be readily brought across the river to the Union lines, neither could the enemy take the field as early as was intended. The divisions of Smith, Hill, and Longstreet, however, were in position to commence operations by eight A.M. Huger, entangled with his artillery in the mud and swamps, was not at hand, and Longstreet, who had the direction of operations on the right, was unwilling to go into action without his co-operation; hence the attack was deferred till early in the afternoon.

Hardly had Porter and his brave by Johnston to his several division band returned from Hanover Court House, when the right bank of the Chickahominy became famous for the hard-fought battle of the Seven Pines, or Fair Oaks, so called because of the localities at two important stages of the conflict, its beginning and its end. On the rebel side were the divisions of Hill, Longstreet, Huger and Smith; and on ours, were the corps of Keyes and Heintzelman, with a portion of that of Sumner. Johnston, well aware of the critical position of affairs, and anxious to strike a blow which should be felt, took note of the advance of Casey's division (see p. 164) at and beyond Seven Pines; and probably supposing that the corps of Keyes, to which it be longed, was the only one which had yet crossed the Chickahominy, he thought by massing his forces in one furious onset, to break the Union lines, and destroy this section of the army before a junction could be made, by the completion of the bridges, with the troops on the other side of the stream. On the night of the 30th of May, there was Meanwhile, Keyes had not been one of the most violent summer rain- unobservant or inactive. Expecting storms known to the country. Torrents an attack at any moment, he watched of rain drenched the earth, and the light- earnestly the indications of hostile ning and thunder were fearfully grand. movements brought to him on the mornFrom their beds of mud, and the pelting of May 31st. Cars had been heard ings of the storm, our men rose to fight the battle of the 31st of May.

In this state of things, the roads converted into mud, the swamps flooded, and the river threatened with an unusual rise, it appeared to be a comparatively easy thing for the rebels to destroy the exposed wing of the divided army. Accordingly, orders were given

coming out from Richmond, and an aid of Johnston's had been taken prisoner by our pickets. About eleven A.M., a body of the enemy was reported ap proaching. Casey prepared for imme diate action; and at one o'clock was assaulted by the rebels with tremendous force and energy. They endeavored to crush his division utterly before help

CH. XIV.J

BATTLE OF SEVEN PINES.

could be brought, and the troops fell back upon the second line, held by Couch's division. Couch tried hard to regain the lost position; but without success; and he was driven back to wards Fair Oaks.

Our troops, with rare exceptions, behaved excellently well, and a sort of line of battle being formed across the woods, perpendicularly to the road and the railroad, assault after assault was steadily resisted. Our left was protected by the morasses of the White Oak Swamp, but our right ran the risk of being surrounded. A strong column of the enemy advanced against the right, and if it had succeeded in getting between Bottom's Bridge and our troops who held beyond Savage's Station, the left wing would have been lost. But at this moment, six P.M., Sumner, who had been ordered by McClellan to be ready to move to the scene of action, appeared, and effectually put a stop to rebel progress. Instead of merely preparing to move, this brave commander advanced directly, and saved an hour of time. He succeeded in crossing the river, and marched upon Fair Oaks, where he found Couch with his men. The rebels made a fierce assault upon Sumner's command; but they were repulsed, and fled, thus closing the contest for that day. Night put an end to the battle; but dispositions were made for its early renewal on Sunday morning, June 1st. Before sunrise, the rebels were pressing forward the attack. They appeared in large force from the woods in front, opened a heavy fire of mus. ketry at short range along the whole lins and seemed determined to carry

167

1862.

all before them by one sweeping blow. The attack was met by our troops with steadiness and unflinching determination. Notwithstanding the fierce on slaughts of the enemy, renewed again and again, our men stood nobly to their posts. Led on by brave and experienced officers, and freely using the bayonet, toward midday they finally and entirely repulsed the rebel force. These fled in confusion and haste; but unhappily, if we may rely on McClellan's opinion, the state of the roads prevented any effective pursuit on our part. All that was accomplished at the time was the re-occupying the lines held previous to the battle.

The losses on both sides were very heavy. McClellan reported a total loss of 5,737; a few days afterwards he reported that the number would be at least 7,000. The total rebel loss was, according to their reports, nearly 7,000. Pollard's statement for the rebels is: "We had taken ten pieces of artillery and 6,000 muskets, besides other spoils; our total loss was more than 4,000; that of the enemy is stated in their own newspapers to have exceeded 10,000, an estimate which is no doubt short of the truth."*

* Prince de Joinville's remarks on the battle of Seven Pines may here be quoted: "Such is the history of

this singular battle, which although complicated by incidents superior to human will, must not be taken conflict was a bloody one, for the North had lost 5,000 men, the South at least 8,000; but the results were barren on one side as on the other. Although the losses Federals, the result was especially distressing to the latter. They had lost a rare opportunity of striking a therefore, in the circumstances in which they were placed, the result was against them.”

otherwise than as a type of American battles. The

of the enemy were much greater than those of the

decisive blow. These occasions did not return, and

CHAPTER XV.

1862.

BANKS AND FREMONT IN THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY.

Banks takes command - Bridges over Shenandoah protected - Jackson driven out of the Valley - Doubts as to his further intentions - Effect of Banks's movements - Position of our forces in Virginia-Jackson assumes the offensive - His plan to capture Banks - Kenly's disaster at Front Royal - Banks's position and danger- One of three courses before him - Determines to retreat to Winchester - Affair at MiddletownActivity of the rebels - Battle at Winchester - Retreat to Martinsburg and thence to the Potomac - Saved by crossing the river - Losses on the retreat - Success of Jackson's plans - President calls for more troops ---The Mountain Department and General Fremont - His labors there - Movements at Monterey, Romney, Lewisburg-Fremont ordered to go to Banks's help and to cut off Jackson if possible - Fremont's plan Crosses the mountains-Advance comes up with enemy near Strasburg Ewell's attack on Harper's Ferry-Jackson's sudden retreat - Fremont a day too late-Jackson's policy as to fighting - Rebels retreat through Woodstock, etc. Encounter at Harrisburg - Ashby killed - Battle at Cross Keys, losses, etc. - Jackson's position critical-Colonel Carroll and his advance movement - Attack of the rebels in force on Shields's advance - Battle of Port Republic- Success of the rebel plans-Fremont and Shields retire — Army changes-Fremont resigns.

1862.

In a previous cnapter (see p. 136) we have spoken of Gen. Shields's active movements in Virginia, and his success over Stonewall Jackson near Winchester. This was towards the close of the month of March. Gen. Banks, who was in command of the army corps which comprised his own and Shields's divisions, arrived on the battle-ground just before the close of the engagement described on p. 137. The rebels continued their retreat, and, whenever possible, burned the bridges on the road. At Edenburg, a halt was made by the advance under Shields, so as to allow time to build the bridge over the creek there. Ashby's cavalry gave occasion for some sharp skirmishing; but Banks, on the 17th of April, entered Mount Jackson, pursuing the ene ny beyond to New Market, of which he took possession the following day.

On the 19th of April, Banks went in force to see to the protection of the bridges on the south fork of the Shenandoah in the Masanutten Valley. He succeeded in his purpose, although the rebels made vigorous efforts to destroy the bridges; from such informa tion as he could collect, he was of opinion that Jackson had left this val ley. On the 22d of April, Banks wrote to Washington, announcing that "the rebel Jackson has left the Valley of Virginia permanently, and is on the way to Gordonsville, by the way of the mountains." Two days after, a reconnaissance was made towards Staunton; the town was entered without opposi tion. The Shenandoah divided Jackson's rear guard from our forces at Strasburg and other points of the val ley, and, apparently, the troublesome enemy had taken his final departure.

The position of affairs was not, how

Cn. XV.]

JACKSON'S PLAN TO CAPTURE BANKS.

169

to retreat to Franklin with great haste and much loss. At Franklin, however, by the aid of Gen. Fremont, a successful stand was made. Towards the lat ter part of the month of May, Jackson

1862.

ever, without its anxieties. It was very valley, attacked Milroy in Highland difficult to get any reliable information. County, and compelled him and Schenck The "contrabands " here, as elsewhere, were useful in this respect, and from them and some refugees it was learned, that Jackson was posted eighteen miles from Harrisonburg on the other side of the south fork of the Shenandoah. His commenced more directly ag force, including Ashby's cavalry, was gressive movements, having in thought to be more than 8,000, and view, no doubt, the important end to among other reinforcements, Ewell's which allusion has been made on a prebrigade was said to be on its way to vious page (see p. 165). He determinjoin him. With some 10,000 men in ed by a bold dash to attempt the caphand, well supplied with artillery and ture of Gen. Banks and his entire force. cavalry, it was quite probable that Accordingly a heavy column was sent Jackson would speedily assume the of up the valley, between the Blue Ridge fensive. and Massanutten Mountain range to Front Royal, where the Manassas Railroad crosses the Shenandoah, twelve miles from Strasburg. The plan was to capture Col. Kenly, with a force of about 1,000 men, and then pushing on to Winchester, to get in the rear of Banks. On the 23d of May, the enemy were found to be advancing in force, and our men had the alternative either to run away, or attempt a stand against overwhelming numbers. Kenly chose the latter, and for two hours fought bravely against the rebels. He then fell back across the Shenandoah, destroying one of the bridges; before the larger one, however, could he burned he was flanked by the rebels in great numbers and crushed entirely.

Banks's success thus far was of no material value. He was expected to occupy Staunton, and, at least, threaten the enemy on the line of the Virginia Central Railroad; but from necessity or policy, early in May, his main force fell back to Strasburg, whence a large portion of his command was withdrawn for the reinforcement of the army in Eastern Virginia. The Army of the Potomac, under McClellan, had, as we have seen (p. 137), embarked for the Peninsula; while Fredericksburg had just surrendered to the forces of McDowell, who, having been detained for the defence of Washington, and wishing to co-operate directly with McClellan, had pushed his corps to the Rappahannock, where he was ready for either movement.

That same evening, at Strasburg, Banks received the news of Kenly's loss. He speedily ascertained by scouts, that Jackson was advancing with at least 15,000 or 20,000 men, and divin ing at once that the rebel commander

The rebels, meanwhile, were not inactive. Ewell was gathering his men for service in the eastern part of the valley, while Jackson further south crossed the western boundary of the must be intending to occupy Winches

VOL IV-22

ter and cut of all supplies and reinforcements, and thus compel his surrender, he promptly decided upon his line of action. One of three courses was open to him either a retreat across Little North Mountain to the Potomac, or an attack upon the enemy's flank on the Front Royal road, or a rapid movement direct upon Winchester. The two former were out of the question; so there was no alternative but to start at once, and if possible occupy Winchester in advance of Jackson.

The advance guard was called in long before daylight, May 24th. The disabled men, left by Shields, and the wagon train were ordered forward to Winchester. Gen. Hatch, with the cavalry and artillery, undertook the defence of the rear, and between nine and ten o'clock the column was on the march. Our men had marched only a few miles when the enemy attacked the train in front, instead of the rear. The troops were ordered to the front, and encountered the rebels in force at Middletown, thirteen miles from Winchester. Our men fought bravely, and drove the enemy back. This episode, with the change of front, occupied nearly an hour, but it saved Banks's column. Had the enemy vigorously attacked the train while at the head of the column, it would have been thrown into such dire confusion as to have made a successful continuation of the march impossible.

Various and energetic efforts were made by detachments to join the main column, but in every case they were prevented by the enemy, who pressed steadily and vigorously upon our men.

At five o'clock P.M. the advance guard reached Winchester, where the strength and purpose of the enemy became more fully known to Banks. Jackson's force was probably not less than 25,000, and it was expected that an attack would be made at daybreak. Banks deter mined to test the strength of the enemy, and ordered the men to prepare for battle, his entire force being only about 6,000. About four o'clock on the morning of the 25th of May, the artillery opened fire, which was continued to the close of the battle. The enemy's force was massed apparently on Banks's right, and their manoeuvres indicated a pur pose to turn him upon the Berryville road; but the steady fire of our lines held them in check for several hours.

The large force of the enemy render ing it unwise to attempt further fight ing, the retreat was continued, in the direction of Martinsburg, in three paral lel columns, each protected by an efficient rear guard. The enemy kept up the pursuit promptly and vigorously; Banks's movements, however, were rapid and without loss. At Martinsburg the column halted two and a half hours, and arrived at the Potomac at sundown, forty eight-hours after the first news of the attack on Front Royal. It was a march of 53 miles, 35 of which were performed in one day. Fortunately the enemy did not appear. The single ferry over the river was occupied by the ammunition trains, and the ford by the wagon trains. Several boats belonging to the pontoon train, brought from Strasburg, were launched and given up to the use of the soldiers, and the crossing was achieved with entire

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