96 



AEMY OPERATIONS. 



erate left flank caused them to retreat that 

 night, and at daylight all the forts on the Fed- 

 eral front and Williamsburg itself were found 

 completely abandoned by the entire Confederate 

 army. On the roads and in the woods were 

 found the Confederate dead left unburied, and 

 the wounded in their agonies. Their loss in 

 killed and wounded was estimated at nearly a 

 thousand. 



Gen. McClellan evidently had not anticipated 

 so serious a resistance at Williamsburg. In a 

 despatch to the Secretary of War on Sunday 

 evening the 4th, he says : " Our cavalry and 

 horse artillery came up with the enemy's rear 

 guard in their intrenchments about two miles 

 on this side of Williamsburg. A brisk fight 

 ensued just as my aid left. Smith's division 

 of infantry arrived on the ground and, I pre- 

 sume, carried his works, though I have not 

 yet heard. The enemy's rear is strong, but I 

 have force enough up there to answer all pur- 

 poses." 



The force that was actually before Williams- 

 burg would have been routed on the next day, 

 if they had not been sustained by the arrival of 

 fresh troops. These troops were delayed great- 

 ly by the bad roads. They were a portion of 

 those whom Gen. McClellan, unaware of the 

 great difficulty of the roads, and uninformed of 

 the true state of the case by correct reports 

 of the front, supposed were before Williams- 

 burg. As it was, Gen. Hooker's division alone 

 for hours withstood the enemy, even within 

 hearing of other troops who were unable to 

 come earlier to his relief. 



In the evening after his arrival Gen. McClel- 

 lan sent a despatch to the Secretary of War, in 

 which he says: "After arranging for move- 

 ments up York river, I was earnestly sent for 

 here. I find Gen. Joe Johnston in front of me 

 in strong force probably greater a good deal 

 than my own. 



" I shall run the risk of at least holding them 

 in check here while I resume the original plan. 



" My entire force is considerably inferior to 

 that of the rebels, who will fight well ; but I 

 will do all I can with the force at my disposal." 



On a subsequent day Gen. McClellan took 

 occasion to address three of the regiments of 

 Gen. Hancock's brigade, which was engaged on 

 the enemy's left. His remarks indicate the 

 importance which he afterward ascribed to the 

 action of the brigade on that day. 



To the men of the Fifth Wisconsin regiment 

 he said: 



My Lads : I have come to thank you for the bravery 

 and discipline you displayed the other day. On that 

 day you won laurels of which you may ever be proud 

 not only you, but the army, the State, and the coun- 

 try to which you belong. 'Through you we won the 

 day, and Williamsburg shall be inscribed upon your 

 banner. I cannot thank you too much, and I am sure 

 the reputation your gallantry has already achieved 

 will always be maintained. 



To the Seventh Maine regiment he said : 

 Soldiers of the Seventh Maine : I have come to thank 

 you for your bravery and good conduct in the action of 



yesterday. On this battle plain you and your comrades 

 arrested the progress of the advancing enemy, and 

 turned the tide of victory in our favor. You have de- 

 served well of your country and your State, and in 

 their gratitude they will not forget "to bestow upon you 

 the thanks and praise so justly your due. Continue 

 to show the conduct of yesterday, and the triumph of 

 our cause will be speedy and sure. In recognition of 

 your merit you shall hereafter bear the inscription 

 " Williamsburg" on your colors. Soldiers, mv words 

 are feeble ; but from the bottom of my heart I thank 

 you. 



To the Thirty-third New York regiment he 

 addressed the following : 



Officers and Soldiers of the Tliirty -third : I have 

 come to thank you in person for your conduct and 

 bravery on the 5th of May. I will say to you as I have 

 said to the other regiments engaged with you at that 

 part of the field, that all did well did all that I could 

 have expected. The other troops engaged elsewhere 

 fought well and did their whole duty, too ; but 3-011 won 

 the day, and to you and your comrades belongs the 

 credit of the victory of Williamsburg. 



You acted like veterans ! Veterans of many battles 

 could not have done better. You shall have " Williams- 

 burg " inscribed upon your flag. I have accorded the 

 same privilege to the other regiments engaged with 

 you. 



You have won for yourselves a name that will last 

 you through life. 



Soldiers, again I thank you. 



It has been stated that the division of Gen. 

 Franklin, belongingto the corps of Gen. McDow- 

 ell, was subsequently sent to the army of Gen. 

 McClellan. This division arrived previous to 

 the surrender of Yorktowu, and remained on 

 board of the transports in order to proceed up 

 the York river as soon as the enemy's batteries 

 might be taken. The division was delayed on 

 the 5th by the weather. On the 6th it left 

 Yorktown, and landed at Brick House Point 

 on the same day. This is the point where the 

 Pamunkey river enters the York river and on 

 the right bank of the latter. The Pamunkey 

 is navigable for gunboats of light draft some 

 twenty miles above White House. It unites 

 with the Mattapony and forms the York river. 

 On the tongue of land between the two rivers 

 at their junction is West Point opposite to 

 Brick House Point. From West Point a rail- 

 road runs to Richmond, and crosses the Pamun- 

 key at White House. Although at this time 

 an insignificant village, West Point was ancient- 

 ly a place of considerable pretensions. It is 

 about twenty-five miles by water from York- 

 town and about thirty-five by railroad from 

 Richmond. The troops were landed on the 

 same night, and encamped on a plain surround- 

 ed on three sides by woods, and on the fourth 

 bounded by the river. That evening a part of 

 the division of Gen. Sedgwick, under Gen. Dana, 

 arrived. During the next day the enemy were 

 discovered in the woods, and made an attack 

 in which they had the advantage for a short 

 time, but were repulsed and driven a considera- 

 ble distance. Two batteries were brought to 

 bear, which caused them to press upon the 

 Federal left. The gunboats then opened upon 

 them and did effective service, contributing 

 materially to the success of the day. The divi- 



