REPORTS-March 17-June 24, 1862. Mar. SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL EVENTS. 17, 1862.-Embarkation of the Army of the Potomac commenced at Alex- 26, 1862.-Confederate Department of Henrico, under command of Brig. Gen. John H. Winder, extended to embrace Petersburg and vicinity. 27, 1862.-General Joseph E. Johnston, C. S. Army, ordered to re-enforce the 31, 1862.-Blenker's division ordered to Mountain (Frémont's) Department. April 1-2, 1862.-Headquarters Army of the Potomac transferred to vicinity of Fort 4, 1862.-The First Army Corps (McDowell's) detached from Army of the The Fifth Army Corps (Banks') merged into the Department of Skirmish at Howard's Mill, near Cockletown. 5-May 4, 1862.-Siege of Yorktown. 11, 1862.-Confederate naval operations in Hampton Roads. 12, 1862.-Command of General Joseph E. Johnston, C. S. Army, extended over the Departments of Norfolk and the Peninsula. 22, 1862.-Franklin's division arrives at Yorktown. 4, 1862.-Skirmishes near Williamsburg. 5, 1862. Battle of Williamsburg. 6, 1862.-Williamsburg occupied by the Union forces. 7, 1862.-Engagement at West Point, Barhamsville, or Eltham's Landing. 7-8, 1862.-Reconnaissance to Mulberry Point, James River. 8, 1862.-Naval demonstration upon Sewell's Point. *Including the transfer of the Army of the Potomac from the defenses of Washington Of some of the minor conflicts noted in this "Summary" no circumstantial reports May 9, 1862.-Norfolk evacuated by the Confederate forces. June 10, 1862.-Norfolk and Portsmouth occupied by the Union forces. 13, 1862.-Skirmish at Baltimore Cross-Roads, near New Kent Court-House. 15, 1862.-Engagement at Fort Darling, James River. 17, 1862.-Maj. Gen. Irvin McDowell ordered to move upon Richmond in co-operation with Major-General McClellan. Expedition up the Pamunkey River. 18, 1862.-Brig. Gen. Fitz John Porter, U. S. Army, assumes command of Maj. Gen. William B. Franklin, U. S. Army, assumes command of 18-19, 1862.-Reconnaissance toward Old Church. 19, 1862.-Skirmish at City Point, James River. 20-23, 1862.-Operations about Bottom's Bridge, Chickahominy River. 22, 1862.-Reconnaissance to New Castle and Hanovertown Ferries. Reconnaissance from Bottom's Bridge to the Turkey Island Creek Skirmish at Ellison's Mill, near Mechanicsville. Skirmish at Hogan's, near New Bridge. 24, 1862.-McDowell's orders to move upon Richmond suspended. Skirmish at Seven Pines. Skirmish at Mechanicsville. Reconnaissance toward Hanover Court-House. 25-26, 1862.-Expedition from Bottom's Bridge to James River. Skirmish at White Oaks. 27-29, 1862.-Engagement at Hanover Court-House (27th) and operations (28th29th) in that vicinity. 28, 1862.-Virginia Central Railroad Bridge, on South Anna River, destroyed by Union forces. Destruction of Confederate supplies at Ashland. 29, 1862.-Skirmish near Seven Pines. Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad Bridge, on South Anna 30, 1862.--Skirmish near Fair Oaks. Skirmish near Zuni. 31-June 1, 1862.-Battle of Fair Oaks, or Seven Pines. 1, 1862.-General Robert E. Lee, C. S. Army, assumes command of the Army The Department of Virginia extended and embraced in Maj. Gen. 1-2, 1862.-Reconnaissance beyond Seven Pines. 2, 1862.-Expedition to Wormley's Ferry, Pamunkey River. 3- 7, 1862.-Reconnaissance to the James River to communicate with the Union fleet. 5, 1862.-Skirmish at New Bridge. 7, 1862.-Reconnaissance on east bank of the Chickahominy. June July 8, 1862.-Skirmish near Fair Oaks. Major-General McDowell ordered, under conditions stated, to operate in the direction of Richmond. Reconnaissance on the New Market Road. 11, 1862.-Re-enforcements sent from Army of Northern Virginia to the Valley District. 12-13, 1862.-McCall's division re-enforces the Army of the Potomac. 13-15, 1862.—Stuart's raid, including skirmishes at Hawes' Shop, Old Church, and Garlick's Landing. 15, 1862.-Reconnaissance to vicinity of New Market. Skirmish near Seven Pines. Parley between Brig. Gen. Howell Cobb, C. S. Army, and Col. 17, 1862.-Jackson's command moves from vicinity of Staunton and Weyer's 18, 1862.-Skirmish near Fair Oaks. Skirmish on Nine Mile Road, near Richmond. 19, 1862.-Skirmish on the Charles City Road, near Richmond. 20, 1862.-Skirmish near New Bridge. Affair at Gill's Bluff, James River. 21, 1862.-The Confederate Department of North Carolina extended to the south bank of James River. Skirmish near Fair Oaks Station. 22-23, 1862.-Reconnaissance to the left of White Oak Swamp. 24, 1862.-Skirmish near Mechanicsville. 25-July 1, 1862.-"The Seven-days' Battles." 27, 1862.-Jackson re-enforces Army of Northern Virginia. 28-July 4, 1862.-Expedition from Fort Monroe to open communication with Army of the Potomac. 2, 1862.-Skirmish near New Kent Court-House. Skirmish at Malvern Hill. Affair near Haxall's Landing. 3, 1862.-Reconnaissance from Harrison's Landing, on Charles City Road. 3- 4, 1862.-Skirmishes near Herring Creek, or Harrison's Landing. 4, 1862.-Reconnaissance from Harrison's Landing. Skirmish at Westover. 5-6, 1862.-Operations against Union shipping, James River. 9, 1862.-Reconnaissance on the Long Bridge Road. 10, 1862.-Reconnaissance from Harrison's Landing toward White Oak Swamp and skirmish. 11, 1862.-Reconnaissance from Harrison's Landing beyond Charles City Court-House, Va. 16, 1862.-Reconnaissance from Westover, on the Richmond Road. 22, 1862.-Maj. Gen. John A. Dix assumes command of the Seventh Army Maj. Gen. A. E. Burnside assumes command of the Ninth Army Affair near Westover. 22-30, 1862.-Scout in King William, King and Queen, and Gloucester Counties. 23, 1862.-Maj. Gen. Henry W. Halleck assumes command of the Armies of the United States. 29, 1862.-Reconnaissance from Harrison's Landing to Saint Mary's Church. July 30, 1862.-McClellan ordered to remove his sick, etc. Reconnaissance from Harrison's Landing to Jones' Ford, Chicka hominy River. 31-Aug. 1, 1862.-Attack on Union camps and shipping between Shirley and Harrison's Landing. Aug. 28, 1862.—Reconnaissance from Harrison's Landing and reoccupation of Malvern Hill by the Union forces. 3, 1862.-Reconnaissance on south side of James River and skirmish at Sycamore Church. McClellan ordered to withdraw his forces to Aquia Creek. 4- 5, 1862.-Reconnaissance from Coggins Point beyond Sycamore Church. 5, 1862.-Skirmish at White Oak Swamp Bridge. Engagement at Malvern Hill. 6, 1862.-Skirmish at Malvern Hill. 13, 1862.-Preliminary orders issued for the movement of the Army of Northern Virginia from the Peninsula. 14-15, 1862.-The Third and Fifth Army Corps move from Harrison's Landing for Aquia Creek. 14-19, 1862.-Operations of the cavalry covering the rear of the Army of the Potomac from Harrison's Landing to Williamsburg. 17, 1862.-Reconnaissance toward Forge Bridge. 20, 1862.-The Fifth Army Corps embarked at Newport News. 21, 1862.-The Third Army Corps sail from Yorktown. 23, 1862.-The Sixth Army Corps embarked at Fort Monroe. GENERAL REPORTS. No. 1.-Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, U. S. Army, commanding Army of the Potomac. No. 2.-Brig. Gen. John G. Barnard, U. S. Army, Chief Engineer, of operations from May 23, 1861, to August 15, 1862. No. 3.-Lieut. Col. Barton S. Alexander, U. S. Army, Engineer Officer, of operations from April 20 to July 12. No. 4.-Brig. Gen. Daniel P. Woodbury, U. S. Army, commanding Engineer Brigade, of operations from May 18 to June 30. No. 5.-Brig. Gen. Andrew A. Humphreys, U. 8. Army, Chief of Topographical Engineers. No. 6. Col. Charles P. Kingsbury, U. 8. Army, Chief Ordnance Officer. No. 7.-Brig. Gen. Stewart Van Vliet, U. S. Army, Chief Quartermaster, of operations from July 27, 1861, to July 10, 1862. No. 8.-Brig. Gen. Rufus Ingalls, U. S. Army, Chief Quartermaster, of operations from August, 1861, to September 2, 1862. No. 9.-Col. Henry F. Clarke, U. S. Army, Chief Commissary of Subsistence, of operations from August 1, 1861, to November 9, 1862. No. 10.—Surg. Charles S. Tripler, U. S. Army, Medical Director, of operations from March 17 to July 3. No. 11.-Surg. Jonathan Letterman, U. S. Army, Medical Director, of operations from July 4 to September 2. No. 12.-Maj. Albert J. Myer, Chief Signal Officer, U. S. Army. No. 13.-E. J. Allen [Allen Pinkerton], Chief of Secret Service Division. No. 14.-Col. Robert O. Tyler, First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, commanding siege train. No. 15.-General Joseph E. Johnston, C. S. Army, commanding Department of Northern Virginia, of operations from April 15 to May 19. No. 1. Report of Maj. Gen. George B. McClellan, U. 8. Army, commanding Army of the Potomac. NEW YORK, August 4, 1863. SIR: I have the honor to submit herein the official report of the operations of the Army of the Potomac while under my charge. Accompanying it are the reports of the corps, division, and subordinate commanders pertaining to the various engagements, battles, and occur. rences of the campaigns, and important documents connected with its organization, supply, and movements. These, with lists of maps and memoranda submitted, will be found appended, duly arranged, and marked for convenient reference: SECOND PERIOD. CHAPTER I. The council composed of the four corps commanders, organized by the President of the United States, at its meeting on the 13th of March, adopted Fort Monroe as the base of operations for the movement of the Army of the Potomac upon Richmond. For the prompt and successful execution of the projected operation it was regarded by all as necessary that the whole of the four corps should be employed, with at least the addition of 10,000 men drawn from the forces in the vicinity of Fortress Monroe; that position and its dependencies being regarded as amply protected by the naval force in its neighborhood and the advance of the main army up the Peninsula, so that it could be safely left with a small garrison. In addition to the land forces, the co-operation of the Navy was desired in the projected attack upon the batteries at Yorktown and Gloucester, as well as in controlling the York and James Rivers, for the protection of our flanks and the use of the transports bringing supplies to the army. With these expectations, and for reasons stated elsewhere in this report, my original plan of moving by Urbana and West Point was abandoned, and the line with Fort Monroe as a base adopted. In the arrangements for the transportation of the army to the Peninsula by water the vessels were originally ordered to rendezvous mainly at Annapolis; but upon the evacuation of Manassas and the batteries of the Lower Potomac by the enemy it became more convenient to embark the troops and material at Alexandria, and orders to that effect were at once given. In making the preliminary arrangements for the movement it was determined that the First Corps, General McDowell's, should move as a unit first, and effect a landing either at the Sand-box, some 4 miles south of Yorktown, in order to turn all the enemy's defenses at Ship Point, Howard's Bridge, Big Bethel, &c., or else, should existing circumstances render it preferable, land on the Gloucester side of York River and move on West Point. The transports, however, arrived slowly and few at a time. In order, *So much of this report as relates to the "First Period" will be found in Series L Vol. V, pp. 1-66. t See Series I, Vol. V, p. 55. |