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The casualities in these engagements were very heavy. The total Union loss, as furnished by General McClellan, was, in the corps of General Sumner, 183 killed, 894 wounded, and 146 missing; in that of Heintzelman, 259 killed, 980 wounded, 155 missing; in that of Keyes, 448 killed, 1,753 wounded, and 921 missing-a grand total of 5,739. General Johnston, in his report, states the Confederate loss in the command of General Longstreet, at 3,000, in that of General Smith 1,233-altogether 4,233. General Hill's division was included in Longstreet's command, and General Huger did not reach the field. Many prisoners were taken by the Union troops, including General Pettigrew and Colonel Long. General Johnston claimed the capture of several hundred prisoners, ten pieces of artillery, 6,000 muskets, one garrison flag, and four regimental colors, besides a large quantity of tents and camp equipage.

to replace those regiments of the front line who had expended all their cartridges, the relieved regiments coming out and filling their boxes again. Sixty rounds had now been fired per man, and the battle was supposed to be ended. Hardly was this effected, however, when the enemy's column, being reinforced by the reserve, gave a general shout, and again advanced to the attack. This time I threw into action, in support, the Irish regiments of General Meagher's brigade, reserving some of the first, which had been much shattered in the early part of the conflict, and our steady fire was continued about one hour more, until the enemy again fell back. Their retreat this time was more precipitate than before, and three of the Parrott guns, which I had just placed in a new position, now opened their fire, and did what they could to hurry up the retreat. The enemy did not see fit to renew the attack, and from the account given by prisoners and deserters, they must have been badly beaten." It was General Sumner's prompt movement on the afternoon of the 30th, "instead of merely preparing to move, advancing," which saved the day for the Union army. The river was rising rapidly when General Sumner crossed; it continued to rise afterwards, and speedily became impracticable. They met and repulsed the fresh division of General Smith, which would probably else have succeeded in its flank movement, and cutting the Union force off from retreat by the road by which it had crossed the Chickahominy, would have driven it to utter destruction in the labyrinths of White Oak swamp. It was in this encounter that the Confederate commander-did review of the circumstances of the in-chief, General Johnston, who had been stationed during the day with the division of General Smith, was, about sunset, struck from his horse, severely wounded by a fragment of a shell. The missile struck him in the right shoulder, and it was said that in falling from his horse two ribs were fractured.

In his first dispatch from the field of battle, in telegraphing the result of the conflict to the Secretary of War, trusting to various reports, General McClellan commented with severity upon the conduct of Casey's division. "They gave way," he said, "unaccountably and discreditably." In a subsequent dispatch, however, on the 5th, he modified his censure. 'From statements made to me subsequently by Generals Casey and Naglee," he wrote, "I am induced to believe that portions of this division behaved well, and made a most gallant stand against superior numbers." The report of those officers, and the simple statement of the heavy losses incurred, with a can

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case, will, indeed, exonerate the division from any opprobious condemnation. "If a portion of my division," says General Casey, after reviewing the condition of the greater part of his command, raw troops on leaving Washington, ill provided and fearfully exposed on the Peninsula, "did not behave as well as could

You are fighting for all that is dearest to men, and though opposed to a foe who disregards many of the usages of civilized warfare, your humanity to the wounded and the prisoners was the fit and crowning glory to your valor. Defenders of a just cause, may God have you in his holy keeping!"

have been wished, it must be remember- the loved ones you have left at home. ed to what a terrible ordeal they were subjected; still, those that behaved discreditably were exceptional cases. It is true that the division, after being nearly surrounded by the enemy, and losing one-third of the number actually engaged, retreated to the second line; they would all have been prisoners of war had they delayed their retreat a few minutes longer."

On the 2d of June, the day after this conflict, two important bulletins were issued, one addressed by President Jefferson Davis to "the army of Richmond," the other by Gen. McClellan to "the army of the Potomac." The former had most to say of the present; both looked to the continuance of the contest in battles as severe in the future. "I render to you my grateful acknowledgments," said Jefferson Davis, "for the gallantry and good conduct you displayed in the battles of the 31st May and 1st inst., and with pride and pleasure recognize the steadiness and intrepidity with which you attacked the enemy in position, captured his advanced entrenchments, several batteries of artillery, and many standards, and everywhere drove them from the open field. At a part of your operations it was my fortune to be present. On no other occasion have I witnessed more of calmness and good order than you exhibited while advancing into the very jaws of death, and nothing could exceed the prowess with which you closed upon the enemy when a sheet of fire was blazing in your faces. In the renewed struggle in which you are on the eve of engaging, I ask, and can desire, but a continuance of the same conduct which now attracts the admiration and pride of

The address of General McClellan to his troops from his camp near New Bridge ran thus: "Soldiers of the army of the Potomac : I have fulfilled at least a part of my promise to you. You are now face to face with the rebels, who are held at bay in front of the capital. The final and decisive battle is at hand. Unless you belie your past history the result cannot be for a moment doubtful. If the troops who labored so faithfully, and fought so gallantly, at Yorktown, and who so bravely won the hard fights at Williamsburg, West Point, Hanover Court House, and Fair Oaks, now prove worthy of their antecedents, the victory is surely ours. The events of every day prove your superiority. Wherever you have met the enemy you have beaten him. Wherever you have used the bayonet he has given way in panic and disorder. I ask of you now one last crowning effort. The enemy has staked his all on the issue of the coming battle. Let us meet him and crush him here, in the very centre of the rebellion. Soldiers, I will be with you in this battle, and share its dangers with you. Our confidence in each other is now founded upon the past. Let us strike the blow which is to restore peace and union to this distracted land. Upon your valor, discipline, and mutua! confidence the result depends."

CHAPTER LXXI.

THE SEVEN DAYS BATTLES BEFORE RICHMOND AND RETREAT FROM THE PENINSULA, JUNE-AUGUST, 1862.

FROM the glowing address to his army | with which the last chapter concludes, and from the tenor of a letter written by him the same day-that following the battle of Fair Oaks-to the Secretary of War, it would appear that General McClellan meditated an immediate movement upon the enemy. "I only wait," he wrote, "for the river to fall, to cross with the rest of the force, and make a general attack. Should I find them holding firm in a very strong position, I may wait for what troops I can bring up from Fortress Monroe. But the morale of my troops is now such that I can venture much. I do not fear for odds against me. The victory is complete, and all credit is due to the gallantry of our officers and men." The condition of the ground, however, and the state of water in the Chickahominy, remained such, as in the judgment of the commander, to render the projected forward movement, for the time, impossible, and the month of June was mainly passed in preparations for an advance, which, at the close, by the superiority of the enemy, was suddenly changed into a precipitate retreat. This was emphatically the season of trial to the army of the Potomac. The victory of Fair Oaks left the several corps on the right bank of the Chickahominy, in possession of the battle field, with their pickets, as before, within five miles of Richmond; and the natural difficulties of the position remained the same. The ground was impassable for artillery, the slender communications with the right wing had to be repaired and increased in the building of bridges; encampments and entrenchments had to be formed in the swampy

woods, which were flooded by frequent rains, while the midsummer sun-never more severe than at times in this region-inflamed the pestilent influences of crowded camps and noxious marshes into active and virulent diseases. Thousands of strong men, during these operations of the "siege of Richmond," slowly sickened of fever, and died in the swamps of the Chickahominy, a name which grew to the country a terrible word of fear, synonymous with suffering in its most aggravated forms. The enemy, meanwhile, encouraged by the brilliant successes of Jackson in his dash through the valley, and by the heroism of their divisions at Seven Pines, were greatly strengthening their forces in and about Richmond, under the skillful leadership of General Robert E. Lee, who had succeeded General Johnston in command of the Confederate army.

By an order of the War Department on the 2d of June, the Department of Virginia extended to include that part of the State south of the Rappahannock and east of the railroad from Fredericksburg to Richmond, Petersburg, and Weldon, was assigned to General McClellan. This brought Fortress Monroe under his authority, and a change of officers at that point, General Dix succeeding to General Wool, who was appointed to the command of the Middle Department, with his headquarters at Baltimore. General McClellan had thus an additional force of several thousand troops immediately at his disposal, and was still further strengthened, in the following fortnight, by the arrival of General McCall's division, about 11,000 in number, detached from the command of General McDowell,

Washington being again relieved of its fears of capture by the retreat up the valley of "Stonewall" Jackson.

It was about this time that the army on the Peninsula was startled by a brilliant cavalry raid of the enemy, which, in a three days' adventure, from the 13th to the 15th of June, swept the whole circuit of the Union lines in the rear of the camps, from the outposts of the right wing, toward Hanover Court House, across the railway, and by the lower course of the Chickahominy back to Richmond, inflicting considerable damage in the destruction of stores, and in several encounters laying bare the weakness of the communications of McClellan's army with its base at York river. As this was, up to this time, one of the most daring exploits of the war, and became the model of others of equal and greater temerity and success, undertaken on both sides, the reader may be interested in the particular narrative of the affair presented in the official report of General J. E. B. Stuart, the eminent cavalry officer to whom the conduct of the expedition was assigned by General Lee.

you that I did not depart from their spirit, and that the boldness developed in the subsequent direction of the march was the quintessence of prudence. The destination of the expedition was kept a profound secret (so essential to success), and was known to my command only as the actual march developed it.

The force was quietly concentrated beyond the Chickahominy, near Kirby's Station, on the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac railroad, and moved thence parallel to and to the left of that road. Scouts were kept far to the right to ascertain the enemy's whereabouts, and advanced guard flankers, and rear guard, to secure our column against surprise. I purposely directed my first day's march (Thursday, June 12), so as to favor the idea of reinforcing Jackson, and camped just opposite Hanover Court House, near Southana bridge (R., F. and P. railroad), twenty-two miles from Richmond. Our noiseless bivouac was broken early next morning, and without flag or bugle sound we resumed our march, none but one knew whither. I, however, immediately took occasion to make known. "In compliance," he writes to General my instructions and plans confidently to Lee, "with your written instructions, I the regimental commanders, so as to seundertook an expedition to the vicinity cure an intelligent action and coöperaof the enemy's lines on the Pamunkey, tion in whatever might occur. Scouts with about twelve hundred cavalry and had returned, indicating no serious oba section of the Stuart horse artillery. stacles to my march from that to Old The cavalry was composed of portions of Church, directly in rear of, and on the the 1st, 4th, and 9th Virginia cavalry, overland avenue of communication to the second named having no field officer New Bridge and vicinity. I proceeded, present, was, for the time being, divided therefore, via Hanover Court House, upbetween the first and last mentioned, on the route to Old Church. Upon reachcommanded, respectively, by Colonel ing the vicinity of Hanover Court House, Fitz. Lee and Colonel W. H. Fitzhugh I found it in possession of the enemy; Lee, also two squadrons of the Jeff. but very little could be ascertained Davis Legion, commanded by Lieutenant about the strength and nature of his Colonel W. T. Martin; the section of ar- force. I, therefore, sent Colonel Fitz. tillery being commanded by First Lieu- Lee's regiment, 1st Virginia cavalry, to tenant James Breathed. Although the make a detour to the right, and reach expedition was prosecuted further than the enemy's route behind him, to ascerwas at first contemplated in your instruc- tain his force here, and crush it, if postions, I feel assured that the considera-sible; but the enemy, proving afterward tions which actuated me will convince to be one hundred and fifty cavalry, did

STUART'S CAVALRY RAID ON THE PENINSULA.

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not tarry long, but left-my column fol- who brings on the field the last cavalry lowing slowly down, expecting every reserve wins the day. The next squadmoment to hurl him upon Lee; but, ow-ron, therefore, moved to the front under ing to a bad marsh, Colonel Lee did not reach the intersection of roads in time, and the cavalry (the regular 6th) passed on in the direction of Mechanicsville. This course deviating too much from our direction, after the capture of a sergeant they were allowed to proceed on their way. Our march led thence by Taliaferro's mill and Edon church to Haw's shop; here we encountered the first pickets, surprised and caught several videttes, and pushed boldly forward, keeping advanced guard well to the front. The regiment in front was the 9th Virginia cavalry, Colonel W. H. F. Lee, whose advance guard, intrusted to the command of Adjutant Lieutenant Rodins, did admirable service-Lieutenant Rodins handling it in the most skillful manner, managing to clear the way for the march with little delay, and infusing, by a sudden dash at a picket, such a wholesome terror, that it never paused to take a second look. Between Haws' shop and Old Church the advanced guard reported the enemy's cavalry in force in front. It proved to be the 5th regular cavalry (formerly the 2d, commanded by yourself). The leading squadron was ordered forward at a brisk gait, the main body following closely, and gave chase to the enemy for a mile or two, but did not come up to him. We crossed the Tolopotomy, a strong position of defence which the enemy failed to hold, confessing a weakness. In such places half a squadron was deployed afoot as skirmishers till the point of danger was passed. On, on dashed Rodins, here skirting a field, there leaping a fence or ditch, and cleaning the woods beyond, when, not far from Old Church, the enemy made a stand, having been reinforced. The only mode of attack being in column of fours along the road, I still preferred to oppose the enemy with one squadron at a time, remembering that he

the lamented Captain Latane, making a most brilliant and successful charge, with drawn sabres, upon the picket guard, and after a hotly-contested hand-to-hand conflict, put him to flight; but not till the gallant captain had sealed his devotion to his native soil with his blood. The enemy's rout (two squadrons by one of ours), was complete; they dispersed in terror and confusion, leaving many dead on the field, and blood in quantities in their tracks. Their commander, Captain Royall, was reported mortally wounded. Several officers, and a number of privates, were taken in this conflict, and a number of horses, arms, and equipment, together with five guidons. The woods and fields were full of the scattered and disorganized foe, straggling to and fro, and but for the delay, and the great incumbrance which they would have been to our march, many more could and would have been captured. Colonel Fitz. Lee, burning with impatience to cross sabres with his old regiment, galloped to the front, and begged to be allowed to participate with his regiment, the 1st Virginia cavalry, in the discomfiture of his old comrades-a request. I readily granted-and his leading squadron pushed gallantly down the road to Old Church; but the fragments of Royall's command could not be rallied again, and Colonel Lee's leading squadron charged, without resistance, into the enemy's camp (five companies), and took possession of a number of horses, a quantity of arms and stores of every kind, and several officers and privates. The stores, as well as the tents, in which everything had been left, were speedily burned, and the march resumedwhither?

Here was the turning point in the expedition. Two routes were before me. the one to return by Hanover Court House, the other to pass around through

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