94 



ARMY OPERATIONS. 



spot where the group of observers had been 

 standing but a moment before ; then it would 

 bound along and tear up the earth some fifty 

 or sixty yards off, and its inflammable compo- 

 sition would burst with a loud explosion, throw- 

 ing into the air a cloud of dust as high as the 

 water jets of St. Cloud. 



" It was evident that with the powerful means 

 at our disposal the capture of Yorktown was 

 but a work of time. Shattered beneath the 

 tremendous fire which was about to be opened 

 upon it, without casemates to cover their sol- 

 diers, without any other defence than outworks 

 and palisades, the place had not even the chance 

 of opposing a lengthened resistance. Every- 

 thing was ready for the final blow. Not only 

 was a terrific bombardment about to be opened 

 upon the town, not only were the most select 

 troops set apart to follow up this bombard- 

 ment by a grand assault, but the steam trans- 

 ports only awaited a sign to push immediately 

 up the York river, and to land Franklin's 

 troops at the upper part of the stream, on the 

 lino of retreat of the Confederate army. A 

 part of these troops were also to remain on 

 board the transports. They would have taken 

 but a few hours to traverse by water the dis- 

 tance it would have taken the enemy's army 

 two days at least to march by land. Driven 

 from the lines of Yorktown by a powerful at- 

 tack, pursued sword in hand, intercepted on 

 the route by fresh troops, that army would have 

 been in a most critical position, and the Feder- 

 als would have obtained what they so much 

 desired an astonishing military success. 



" A great success of the Federal army before 

 Yorktown was therefore of vital importance to 

 the Government at Washington. Unfortunately, 

 the Confederate leaders and generals were of 

 the same opinion, and, as able and resolute men, 

 they took the best means to render it impos- 

 sible." 



On the nights of the 3d and 4th of May, 

 Yorktown and the Confederate lines of the 

 Warwick river were evacuated. This work, 

 doubtless commenced several days before, and 

 was conducted with great skill and energy. On 

 the 3d the fire of the enemies batteries was re- 

 doubled in severity. This was done to mask 

 their retreat, and it was highly successful. The 

 absence of all signs of them on the morn- 

 ing of the 4th, caused their lines to be closely 

 examined, when it was soon ascertained that 

 they were abandoned. The capture of this 

 strong position of Yorktown and its armament 

 with scarcely any loss of life, was a brilliant 

 military success. 



The impossibility for the navy to cooperate 

 with the army, the want of forces to turn the 

 flank of the enemy, as had been originally plan- 

 ned, and their obstinate courage and efforts to 

 prevent the capture of Yorktown, had caused 

 the delay of a month before that place. Dur- 

 ing this time the defences of Richmond had 

 been pushed forward, and the spring time of 

 the year had so far passed away, that the hot 



season was at hand, which would produce dis- 

 eases in the low lands of the peninsula, and 

 thus greatly aid the enemy. The loss thus far 

 on the Federal side was about three hundred. 

 That of the Confederates has not been as- 

 certained. They left in their works at York- 

 town two 3-inch rifled cannon, two 4^-inch 

 rifled cannon, sixteen 32-pounders, six42-pound- 

 ers, nineteen 8-inch columbiads, four 9-inch 

 Dahlgrens, one 10-inch columbiad, one 10-inch 

 mortar, and one 8- inch siege howitzer, with 

 carriages and implements complete. Each 

 piece was supplied with 76 rounds of ammu- 

 nition. At Gloucester there was captured nine 

 9-inch Dahlgrens, two 32-pounders rifled, five 

 32-pound navy guns, five 42-pound carronades ; 

 making at both places a total of seventy-three 

 guns and much ammunition. 



Their force has been estimated at 100,000 

 men. Some of the Federal soldiers were killed 

 and horses injured by the explosion of instru- 

 ments of destruction left by the enemy. It was 

 at this time that New Orleans was captured. 



The next important point before the Federal 

 army was the city of Williamsburg. There were 

 two roads to that city : one direct from York- 

 town ; and the other, from the left of the Fed- 

 eral army, crossed Warwick river at Lee's Mills, 

 and uniting with the first formed a fork near 

 Williamsburg. 



This city is the capital of James City county, 

 and is situated near the narrowest part of the 

 peninsula between the James and York rivers, 

 and is three miles from James river and about 

 five and a quarter from York river. It is one 

 of the oldest towns in the State, and contained 

 a population of about fifteen hundred. 



As soon as the evacuation of Yorktown was 

 known, the entire cavalry and horse artillery 

 with five divisions of infantry were advanced 

 in pursuit. Gen. Franklin's division was or- 

 dered to move at once by water to the vicinity 

 of West Point to endeavor to check the retreat 

 of the enemy, and to be supported by other di- 

 visions as rapidly as water transportation could 

 be obtained. The remaining divisions were 

 massed near Yorktown, ready to move by land 

 or water, as might be necessary. Gen. Mc- 

 Clellan meanwhile remained at Yorktown un- 

 til Monday noon, the 5th, pushing the move- 

 ment of the troops to West Point by water and 

 awaiting the development of events. It was 

 not until that time that he was made aware of 

 the serious resistance encountered at Williams- 

 burg. All the information up to that time in- 

 dicated nothing more than an affair of a rear 

 guard. As soon as the true state of affairs was 

 known he moved rapidly to the front and as- 

 sumed the immediate command. 



Gen. Stoneman had led the advance, with his 

 cavalry and four batteries of artillery, on the 

 direct road from Yorktown. . After the bridge 

 had been constructed over Warwick river, Gen. 

 Smith advanced on the narrow road from the 

 Federal left to Yorktown. He encountered a 

 Confederate force, which fell back before him. 



