and below that bridge, by the two branches of the New Kent Court-house road at Bottom's Bridge and Long Bridge, the latter in close vicinity to the White Oak Swamp. On either side of the stream comprised between Meadow Bridge and Bottom's Bridge, the land sloped up from the meadows or woods directly adjoining its course; and although partially cultivated, and at the time of the first appearance of the Federal army green with fresh growing crops, it was yet thickly clothed with forests, owing to the fact that each proprietor, dependent for firewood or building material on the individual resources of his farm, preserved a portion of the remains of the original forests; whilst the country being but thinly inhabited, was still covered in its less productive localities by the uncleared woods and jungle. Thus, although the land above, and in the vicinity of Newbridge, was comparatively well-cultivated, that part adjoining the White Oak Swamp retained its forest character. On the sides of the low hills which slant downwards towards the stream stood the comfortable houses of the several landed proprietors, surrounded with smiling gardens and orchards, and resembling in appearance the residences of English yeomen. Clustering round them were the cottages of the slaves, and the large outbuildings necessary for barns and farming stock. All bespoke peace and long-continued plenty ; and the large fields, stretching downwards from the owners' houses to the low ground near the river, already gave promise of rich crops. Adjoining the Mechanicsville Bridge, about five and a half miles from Richmond, was the small but neat village of the same name; otherwise, no buildings except scattered farm-houses stood between the Pamunkey River and Richmond. Such was the appearance of the country when the advanced

divisions of General M'Clellan's army appeared on the hills overlooking the left bank of the stream.

Aware that the struggle for the possession of Richmond must take place on the banks of the Chickahominy, and anxious that every soldier who could be brought up should be present at the apparently imminent battle, General M'Clellan urged on Mr. Lincoln the necessity of the co-operation of M'Dowell's corps; and after some difficulty he so far convinced him of the soundness of his plans as to prevail on him to sanction the advance of that general by land from Fredericksburg. The proposal that the corps d'armée should move by water, and so effect a junction with General M'Clellan's left wing on the banks of the James River, was not approved of, as one of the stipulations laid down by the President expressly urged the necessity of keeping General M'Dowell's corps in such a position as to cover Washington. It was expected that these reinforcements, with the addition of General Shields's division from General Banks's department, would amount to 35,000 or 40,000 men; and General M'Clellan received directions to prepare a depôt for their supply at West Point. This plan was, however, frustrated by the result of the operations in the Shenandoah Valley, which was announced to General M'Clellan in the following graphic despatch from the President :

'Washington, May 25, 1862. MAJOR-GENERAL MCLELLAN, The enemy is moving north in sufficient force to drive General Banks before him; precisely in what force we cannot tell. He is also threatening Leesburg and Gearey, on the Manassas Gap Railroad, from both north and south; in precisely what force we cannot tell. I think the movement is a VOL. II.

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general and concerted one, such as could not be if he was acting upon the purpose of a very desperate defence of Richmond. I think the time is near when you must either attack Richmond or give up the job,* and come back to the defence of Washington. Let me hear from you instantly.

'A. LINCOLN, President.'

Not being inclined to give up the job, but feeling that his right wing was in some danger of attack from the force which had been engaged in watching General M'Dowell at Fredericksburg, but which was now falling back in the direction of Richmond; being desirous also of cutting the lines of railway which connected Richmond with Fredericksburg and Gordonsville, and which might at any time be used for the purpose of bringing reinforcements and supplies into the town, General M'Clellan ordered a reconnaissance in force to be pushed forward in the direction of Hanover Court-house. For this purpose General Porter, commanding the 5th Corps, marched from his camp on the right of General M'Clellan's position at daybreak on the 27th of May, his force consisting of about 8,000 men, including two cavalry regiments. Their objective point was Hanover Court-house, about fourteen miles from the main army, where the enemy were observed drawn up across the road. An attack was immediately ordered, and, after about one hour's firing, the Confederates retired, followed by the cavalry and by two out of the three brigades of General Morell's division. Of the remainder of the corps a portion was detached to burn the bridges over the Pamunkey; whilst one brigade, under General Martingdale, was directed to move at once on Ashland

The italics are our own.

Station in order to destroy the railway. In so doing, it was attacked by a superior Confederate force under General Branch, and with difficulty held its ground until General Porter, hearing the firing in his rear, moved to its assistance. The Confederates were then repulsed, with the loss of about 200 killed and 700 prisoners. Of the latter, many were brought in by detached bodies of cavalry, who scoured the country in the vicinity of the scene of action. The men captured were principally from North Carolina, and had neither the appearance of disciplined troops, nor the enthusiasm. which might have counterbalanced other defects.

In consequence of General Porter's successful operations, the road was open for the advance of General M'Dowell's corps, as had previously been arranged between the President and General M'Clellan; but those who undertook the charge of military matters in Washington destined that general for other purposes, and the greater portion of the troops under his command played no part in the attack on Richmond by the army of the Potomac. General Porter's corps withdrew to its former camp, and General M'Clellan's right rested on Mechanicsville, his left extending across the Chickahominy to Fair Oaks Station, on the Richmond and West Point Railway, within about seven miles of Richmond.

At the end of May, the following was the position occupied by the several corps comprising the army of the Potomac :-The right, under General Franklin, was encamped in rear of Mechanicsville, which was held by a detachment, with advanced pickets posted near the bridge over the Chickahominy, and as far up the stream as Meadow Bridge; on the left of General Franklin, occupying the heights overlooking New Bridge, was General Porter; on his left, but at some little distance,

lay General Sumner's corps; whilst across the Chickahominy, on and to the left of the West Point Railway, were the two corps of Generals Heintzelman and Keyes the latter in advance, the former in support, the extreme left holding the roads debouching from the White Oaks Swamp. The army thus occupied the arc of a circle, stretching from Mechanicsville to Fair Oaks Station; whilst its cord was in the hands of the Confederates. From the camp of General Porter to that of General Keyes, in a direct line, was but a short distance -about three miles; but the intervening space on the right bank of the Chickahominy was occupied by the Confederates, and the only means of communication between the right and centre of the army and its left wing was by an ill-constructed bridge opposite General Sumner's camp, or by Bottom's Bridge, a distance of nearly nine miles. General Johnston had, therefore, the advantage of acting on interior lines, and the opportunity offered itself of falling on and crushing the two corps which had been pushed across the river before assistance could be furnished them by the remainder of the army. An unusually rainy week at the end of May, and the consequent rise of the waters of the Chickahominy, favoured his projects, and induced him to make preparations for a formidable attack on the Federal left wing.

The force at the disposal of General Johnston consisted of four divisions, commanded by Generals Longstreet, Smith, D. H. Hill, and Huger-all officers who had formerly served in the United States army. On the 30th May dispositions were made for an attack on the left wing of the Federals, to take place on the following morning; and orders were sent to General Hill, and communicated verbally to General Longstreet,