CHAPTER XII
SIEGE OF YORKTOWN • BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG • SKIRMISHES
AT SEVEN PINES, COLD HARBOR AND MECHANICSVILLE • BATTLE OF HANOVER COURT HOUSE •
BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS • ATTACK ON TUNSTALL'S STATION • MARCH TO THE CHICKAHOMINY
• NANALEY'S MILL • SHELLING THE ENEMY • BATTLE OF OAK GROVE
BEFORE proceeding further, it will be necessary here to refer to the movements of the Army of the Potomac since its debarkation on the Peninsula. The presence of the enemy's steamer Merrimac in the James River closed it to us, as a line of water communication between Fortress Monroe and the army operating against Richmond. To gain possession of the York River and its tributaries for that purpose, the reduction of Yorktown was necessary. Therefore, on the 4th of April, the army took up its line of march from the camping ground near Hampton to that point. At Big Bethel the enemy's pickets were encountered, but they fell back to Howard's Creek, to which point they were followed by the main body of the army.
THE SIEGE OF YORKTOWN, April 5th to May 4th, 1862 - The next morning the column again advanced, and in a few hours was in front of the enemy's works at Yorktown. On examination of their position it proved to be one of the strongest that could be opposed to an invading force, and the delays thereby created occupied until the 1st of May, when our siege batteries opened fire on the enemy's works, which during the night of the 3d they evacuated, leaving two 3-inch rifled cannon, two 41/2-inch rifled cannon, sixteen 32-pounders, six 42-pounders, nineteen 8-inch Columbiads, four 9inch Dahlgrens, one 10-inch Columbiad, one 10-inch mortar, and one 8-inch siege howitzer, with carriages and implements complete, and seventy-six rounds of ammunition to each piece. Besides these there were a large number of guns left at Gloucester Point and other works on the left.
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BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG 77
BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG, May 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th - General McClellan immediately threw all his cavalry and horse artillery in pursuit, under General Stoneman, Chief of Cavalry, supported by infantry under Generals Heintzelman, Hooker and Smith, who were followed by the divisions of Kearney, Couch and Casey, all under General Sumner, the second in command of the army. Two miles east of Williamsburg, the advance came upon the enemy's works, four miles in extent, over two-thirds of their front being covered by the branches of College and Queen's Creeks. The principal works were Fort Magruder, and twelve other redoubts and epaulements for field guns. The woods in front of the fort were felled, and the open ground dotted with rifle pits. From this position the enemy opened fire upon the advance guard as it debouched from the woods, which, being unsupported by infantry, was forced to retire, but held the enemy in check until the arrival of General Sumner with part of Smith's division, at half-past five P.M. Heintzelman and Keyes reached the ground during the afternoon. Early the next morning General Hooker came up, and began the attack on the enemy's works at seven- and- a-half o'clock on the morning of the 6th, and for a time silenced Fort Magruder. Although the enemy was heavily reinforced, and attacked in turn, capturing five guns and inflicting heavy loss on Hooker, whose ammunition was nearly exhausted, he maintained his position until near four P.M., when Kearney arrived, and, repulsing the enemy, held possession of the ground that night. The battle was renewed the next day, and about four P.M., General McClellan, arriving from Yorktown, took command in person. Fearing there was no direct communication between the centre and left under Heintzelman, and hearing heavy firing in the direction of Hancock's command, he moved the centre forward, attempting to open communication with Heintzelman, and sent Smith and Naglee to the support of Hancock. Before these Generals reached Hancock, however, he was confronted by a superior force. Feigning to retreat slowly, he awaited the onset, and then turned upon them, and, after some terrific volleys of musketry, he charged them with the bayonet, routing and dispersing their whole force, killing, wounding and capturing from five to six hundred men, himself losing only thirty-one men.
The enemy having fought to gain time to save their trains, abandoned their position during the night, leaving the town filled with their wounded in charge of eighteen Surgeons. The official report of our loss is put down at two thousand two hundred and twenty-eight men killed, wounded and missing. The army was so much exhausted by the marches and conflicts which resulted in the victory at
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Williamsburg, as to render an immediate pursuit of the enemy impossible, in the condition of the country.
The divisions of Franklin, Sedgwick, Porter and Richardson, were sent from Yorktown by water to the vicinity of West Point, where, on the 7th, General Franklin handsomely repulsed the enemy under General Whiting, after a battle of nearly five hours duration.
Communication was soon opened between the two columns of the army, and headquarters was established at White House on the 16th, General Stoneman having occupied the place some days before. About the same time Generals Franklin, Smith and Porter, reached White House, the roads being in such a state as to require thirty-six hours for one train to move five miles.
A permanent depot for supplies being established at White House, the army was pushed forward along the York River and Richmond Railroad, and on the 20th the advance reached the banks of the Chickahominy River at Bottom's Bridge, which, as well as the railroad bridge about a mile above, they found destroyed. The operations of the army embraced that portion of the river between this point and Meadow Bridge, which covered the principal approaches to Richmond from the east, and over which it became necessary to construct eleven new bridges, all long and difficult, with extensive log-way approaches.
On the 22d, headquarters were removed to Cold Harbor, and on the 24th three important skirmishes took place. General Naglee made a reconnaissance in force, for the purpose of ascertaining the strength of the enemy, and dislodge them from a position in the vicinity of the "Seven Pines," eight miles from Richmond. Another portion of the army had a spirited engagement of two hours near Cold Harbor, and drove their assailants from the field. A third and brilliant little skirmish took place between the brigades of General Stoneman and Davidson, in which they drove the enemy out of Mechanicsville with their artillery, forcing them to seek safety on the opposite banks of the Chickahominy, they destroying the bridge in their retreat. General Stoneman also sent a portion of his cavalry three miles up the river, and destroyed the bridge of the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad.
THE BATTLE OF HANOVER COURT HOUSE, May 27th - Having ascertained that the enemy were in force in the vicinity of . Hanover Court House, threatening the right and rear of our army, General McClellan dispatched General Porter to dislodge them, for which purpose he moved at daybreak on the 27th. After a fatiguing march of fourteen miles through the mud and rain, General Emory
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arrived in position and opened the battle about noon, driving the enemy before him. The other columns soon after became engaged, and the enemy were defeated and routed with the loss of some two hundred killed, seven hundred and thirty prisoners, a 12-pound howitzer, a caisson, a large number of small arms, and two railroad trains. Our loss amounted to fifty-three killed, and three hundred and forty-four wounded and missing. The enemy's camp was also captured and destroyed. The next day detachments were sent out, which destroyed the railroad bridges over the Pamunky, the railroad bridges of the Virginia Central, and of the Fredericksburg and Richmond Roads, and the country bridges over the South-Anna. These operations for a time cleared our right flank and rear, and cut off communication by rail with Fredericksburg, and with Jackson via Gordonsville, excepting by the circuitous route of Lynchburg.
On the 28th of May, our troops were pushed forward to Fair Oaks, their advance being met with sharp opposition, and on the 30th, their positions on the south side of the Chickahominy were as follows: Casey's division on the right of the Williamsburg Road, at right angles to it, the centre at Fair Oaks; Couch's division at the Seven Pines; Kearney's division on the railroad, from near Savage's Station towards the bridge; Hooker's division on the borders of White Oak Swamp. During the night of the 30th, a violent storm occurred, the rain falling in torrents, making the roads almost impassable, and threatening the destruction of the bridges over the Chickahominy.
THE BATTLE OF FAIR OAKS - The enemy perceiving the unfavorable position in which our army was placed, and the possibility of destroying that part of it which was apparently cut off from the main body by the rapidly rising stream, the next day threw an overwhelming force upon the position occupied by Casey's division. The battle opened about one o'clock R M., the attack being made simultaneously upon the front and both flanks. The unequal contest was maintained with great gallantry, the troops struggling against the overwhelming masses of the enemy, for the space of three hours, before reinforcements arrived, and were finally driven from the field with heavy loss, and the position occupied by Casey taken by the enemy. During this time the troops of Heintzelman, Kearney, Sumner, Keyes, Couch and Sedgwick, were engaged, and in a measure retrieved the disaster of the day, and when night closed the contest, the enemy fell back to their defensive line.
During the night our lines were newly formed, and artillery placed in position, and at five o'clock the next morning, June 1st, the battle was again renewed. The enemy boldly advanced without
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skirmishers, with two columns of attack supported by infantry in line of battle on each side, apparently determined to carry all before him by one crushing blow. He was met, however, with gallant resistance, and through the fierce battle he was driven back at every point, our troops pushing forward to the extreme lines held by them the day before, recovering their own wounded and capturing the enemy's. Our total loss was five thousand seven hundred and thirtyseven, and of the enemy, per their official report, six thousand seven hundred and eighty-three.
The only communication between the two banks of the Chickahominy were Bottom's, New and Mechanicsville Bridges, the two latter being completely enfiladed by the enemy's batteries upon the commanding heights opposite, supported by strong forces, having numerous rifle pits in their front, which would have made it necessary to have fought a sanguinary battle, with not a certain prospect of success, before a passage could have been secured. Therefore, to have advanced on Richmond soon after the battle, it would have been necessary to march the troops from Mechanicsville and other points on the north bank of the Chickahominy down to Bottom's Bridge and thence to Fair Oaks, a distance of twenty-three miles, which in the condition of the roads would have required two days to accomplish with artillery, by which time the enemy would have been secure within his entrenchments, but five miles distant.
On the 13th of June we rested. In the afternoon orders were received to be prepared to move at daylight the next morning. Soon after orders were issued to move immediately, then orders came to draw five days' rations, three of which were to be cooked and two put in the knapsacks. By the time we had got through, about eleven, news was received that an attack had been made upon "Tunstall's Station," in our rear, and our brigade was ordered out. The night was a beautiful moonlight one, and after a march of eight miles we reached there, but the enemy had left. The "Bucktails," Fifth and Eighth were posted on the different roads, and we ordered to occupy a commanding position and hold the station.
It appears that two squadrons of the Fifth United States Cavalry, under the command of Captain Royall, stationed near Hanover Old Church, were attacked and overpowered by a force of the enemy's cavalry, numbering about one thousand five hundred men, with four guns, who pushed on towards White House in hopes of destroying the stores and shipping there, but the fortunate arrival of the Third Brigade of Reserves frustrated their design. Upon the enemy's arrival at the station a portion of them dismounted and awaited the arrival of the train, upon which they fired, Killing one man and
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wounding several others. The engineer immediately put on steam and succeeded in running the train through. After this they set fire
to the station house and a car loaded with grain, and then tearing up a rail retired to a neighboring wood to await the arrival of another train now due. Upon the arrival of our brigade, however, they skedaddled.
The next morning a number of laborers, who had escaped and hid themselves in the woods, came in, as also Colonel G. B. Hall, Second Excelsior Brigade, who fell from a platform car and was captured by the enemy. They bound his hands together and tied him to the stirrup of one of the men, but during the confusion of their skedaddle upon our arrival, he managed to give them the slip. The bodies of two or three poor laborers who had been wantonly killed were found and buried. Near the station they captured and burnt a number of Government and sutler wagons, from which they got considerable liquor, and some of them indulging rather freely, they were found lying around loose in the woods next morning and brought in. A Dutch butcher of Richmond came riding in, in a most glorious state of felicity, tickled half to death with the fun of the night before, which he related to us with great gusto, and proposed taking a drink with any one who had liquor, and shooting the Yankee prisoners. The terror of the poor devil upon discovering his mistake, almost instantly sobered him, and the boys, after frightening him to their hearts' content "bucked and gagged" him, and turned him over to the guard.
The day being excessively hot, we were moved across the railroad to a wood upon a hill, where we remained until the next morning. During the night Companies K and H, Captain Smith and Lieutenant Kennedy were sent on picket, and Lieutenants Jack and Black were sent out with detachments to scour the woods, the latter returning with five prisoners.
On Sunday the 15th, the enemy having all disappeared, we returned to our former camping ground, the weather being oppressively hot and the men straggling much. The entire damage done by the enemy, besides that referred to above, was the killing of several of the guard and teamsters at Garlick's Landing, and the burning of two schooners laden with forage, they making the entire circuit of the army, repassing the Chickahominy at Long Bridge. It is somewhat remarkable that this raid was commanded by Fitz Hugh Lee, and executed a few days after the return of his mother to Richmond, from a visit to White House, where she had been furnished with a pass and escort by General Fitz John Porter, who was a welcomed guest to her hospitalities prior to the war.
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More effectually to conceal from the enemy our positions and numbers, orders were issued prohibiting the sounding of all calls, and ordering the tying to trees of any who discharged their pieces. Every morning early the enemy opened on our fatigue parties at work on the bridges, which the boys said was "Jeff calling the roll."
On the afternoon of the 16th the division was formed at five o'clock to receive General McClellan, but we were disappointed, and after waiting an hour we returned to our quarters. The next day we formed at nine A.M., to receive the General, and remained in position until twelve P.M., and reformed at six, when orders were read to us to march the next morning, which were received with enthusiasm. During the evening we were busy cooking rations, and at three the next morning, Companies B and A, Captains McDonough and Neide, were recalled from picket. At five o'clock we moved off in a northwesterly direction parallel with the Chickahominy, and after marching eight miles encamped about noon near Gaines' House, and about three hundred yards from the river. Our bivouac was on an opening to the left of the road, and between us and the river was a heavy woods, from the edge of which we could see the enemy on the other side busy at work. In the afternoon they opened with artillery on the workmen on the New Bridge, to which the Reserve artillery responded, and with the exception of one man wounded and a gun dismounted, no damage was done our side. This artillery practice and skirmishing was of daily occurrence.
The next morning, the 19th, at day break, we moved off to Ellerson's Mills, on the river road where it crosses Beaver Dam Creek, about one and a half miles distance, where we remained some time, and then counter marching and moving to the left we bivouacked in an oat field near a woods, where the Sixth Pennsylvania cavalry (Rush's Lancers) were encamped. The same afternoon Mr. Hall made an ascension in one of Professor Lowe's balloons near our camp, for the purpose of reconnoitering, but the enemy opening upon him from one of their batteries, he thought it prudent to postpone his aerial operations. Early the next morning we moved back about one mile to Nanaley's Mill, where we encamped between the house and the road near a fine wood and a large mill dam, where the boys enjoyed the luxury of bathing.
Our division upon its arrival was not attached to any Army Corps, but was assigned to the extreme right of the line, which was considered the post of honor.
On the 21st, orders were received to hold ourselves in readiness, to move night or day, at a moment's notice, and each morning to be under arms at three o'clock, and remain so until daylight. The
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same day, Lieutenant Fletcher and Sergeant Pidgeon arrived in camp from recruiting service. On the 23d, we were under arms all the afternoon, and loaned our intrenching tools to the Fifth.
Early on the morning of the 24th, we started on picket to Mechanicsville, about one mile distant, where we found the Twelfth Reserves, Colonel John H. Taggart, four companies of Rush's Lancers and Cooper's Battery; Colonel Taggart, being in command of the line, he being the senior officer. Our regiment forming the Reserve, we lay in the grove back of Dr. Lumkin's house. Mechanicsville lies on the high ground, overlooking the Chickahominy on its north bank, from which it is about five hundred yards distance. It consists of a church and some fifteen houses, all of which were deserted and perforated by shot and shell. The south bank of the river rises gradually for about a half mile, where a long line of redoubts and rifle pits front a heavy wood. In the centre of the stream is an island, which is connected with either shore by a bridge, we holding one end of it, and the enemy the other, the island being neutral ground. The pickets at this point, although quite near one another, remained on good terms, the enemy's relief, upon one occasion, presenting arms to Lieutenant-Colonel McIntire, of the First Reserves, as he was visiting one of our posts. We were disposed, at this time, to show acts of courtesy to one another, as we daily expected to meet in battle. Richmond is but five miles distant from Mechanicsville, and from a shed near the roadside we could see its spires. One of our officers wagered a hundred segars he would be in the city in one week he was, but as a prisoner.
During the night, the positions of our guns were changed and General Reynolds required hourly reports to be made to him in writing. All passed quietly and the next morning we were up and in line at three o'clock. There being strong indications of a movement on the part of the enemy, about five P.M., orders were received to feel them with our guns, to ascertain, if possible, what they were at, and accordingly Cooper's battery threw about twenty shells, but without eliciting any response. We subsequently ascertained, what we then suspected, that they were moving off to our right. The shells, however, dropped beautifully among them, and sent their wagons hurriedly down the pike.
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sion of Heintzelman's corps, was pushed forward to occupy "Oak Grove," a new and important position in front of the most advanced redoubt on the Williamsburg Road, and while advancing through a dense thicket and an almost impassable swamp, was suddenly attacked by the enemy, whom they repulsed and drove back. The fighting continued off and on during the day, and at sunset our object was accomplished, with the loss of fifty-one killed, four hundred and one wounded and sixty-four missing, making a total of five hundred and sixteen. The enemy's loss was about equal in number.
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