ARMY OPERATIONS. 



99 



of all the localities between the Chickahominy 

 and Richmond. After the passage of a hundred 

 teams it becomes necessary to construct new 

 roads. Some days passed in bringing up the rear 

 of the army, in making preparations to cross the 

 Chickahominy, and in securing the conveyance 

 of the supplies for the army. The railroad from 

 the White House became the base for this pur- 

 pose, and was kept open until the 25th of June. 

 Meantime the Federal army was diminishing in 

 numbers, while the Confederates were gather- 

 ing troops by every method they could devise. 

 Prisoners were taken, who belonged to regi- 

 ments which had opposed Gen. Burnside in 

 North Carolina. And Norfolk had been sacri- 

 ficed to send her troops to Richmond. The 

 conscription act, passed by the Confederate 

 Congress in April, made every man between 

 the ages of eighteen and thirty-five years a sol- 

 dier. The new levies were now collecting be- 

 fore Richmond. 



On the evening of the 21st Gen. McClellan 

 sent the following despatch to the War Depart- 

 ment: ''I have just relumed from Bottom's 

 Bridge; have examined the country on the 

 other side, and made a reconnoissance on the 

 heelsof theenemy, who probably did not like the 

 skirmish of yesterday. The bridge will be re- 

 paired by to-morrow morning, and others con- 

 structed. All the camps have advanced to-day." 



On the next day the troops began to cross both 

 at Bottom's Bridge and at the railroad bridge, 

 and took up a position one and a half miles 

 beyond. Reconnoissances made during the day 

 gave no assurance that the Confederates were 

 in any considerable force near at hand, but led 

 to the impression that it was their purpose to 

 make a stand in a selected position near Rich- 

 mond. On the next day. the 23d, the advance 

 was within seven miles of Richmond. The Con- 

 federates were at the same time attacked with 

 shells on the opposite side of the river near 

 Ne\v Bridge. This was followed up on the next 

 day wi*h more skirmishing. During these days, 

 since the army had reached the river, the un- 

 usual quantity of rain that fell had rendered the 

 roads almost impassable for artillery, at the 

 same time it had greatly retarded the construc- 

 tion of the numerous bridges which Gen. Mc- 

 Clellan wished to build over the Chicka- 

 hominy. There were two principal objects 

 now before the commander-in-chief : one was 

 to capture Richmond, and the other to secure 

 supplies for his army. For this latter purpose, 

 it was necessary for him to be prepared to de- 

 fend the railroad against every attack upon 

 it. The Confederate general, Johnston, by hav- 

 ing possession of the bridges over the river on 

 the north of Richmond, could at any moment 

 throw a force over and attack Gen. McGlellan'fl 

 line of supplies. The river therefore was ne- 

 cessarily made passable to the Federal army at 

 all time*, to enable the commander to mass'his 

 troops on either side as might be necessary. 



While arrangements were making to render 

 the position of the Army of the Potomac safe 



and secure its successful advance upon Rich- 

 mond, Gen. McClellan began to look anxiously 

 for the expected cooperation of Gen. McDow- 

 ell. It was evident that the retreat of the ene- 

 my could be made but very little farther. The 

 campaign had ripened for the battle, and the 

 conflict must be near at hand. The enemy had 

 always declared that Richmond would never 

 be captured so long as any men were left to 

 defend it. They had shown their willingness to 

 wait, and no one believed they would retire with- 

 in the defences of Richmond until they were 

 forced to do it by the disastrous issue of a battle. 

 On the iVth of May. the War Department 

 Bent the following instructions to Gen. McClel- 

 lan. Unfortunately the reinforcements spoken 

 of therein, were destined never to arrive : 



WAR DEPARTMENT, ) 



"WASHINGTON- CITY, D. C., Jfay 17, 1S62. f 

 Maj.-Gen. George B. McCldlan, Commanding 



Army of the Potomac before Richmond ' 



Your despatch to the President, asking for rein- 

 forcements, has been received and carefully consider- 

 ed. The President is not willing to uncover the capi- 

 tal entirely, and it is believed that even if this were 

 prudent, it would require more time to effect a junc- 

 tion between your army and that of the Rappahan- 

 nock, by the way of the Potomac and York rivers, 

 than by a land march. 



In order, therefore, to increase the strength of the 

 attack upon Richmond at the earliest possible moment, 

 Gen. McDowell has been ordered to march upon that 

 city by the shortest route. He is ordered keeping 

 himself always in position to cover the capital from all 

 possible attack so to operate as to put his left wing 

 in communication with your right, and you are in- 

 structed to cooperate so as to establish thfs communi- 

 cation as soon as possible. By extending your right 

 wing to the north of Richmond, it is believed that this 

 communication can be safely established, either north 

 or south of the Pamunkey river. In any event, you 

 will be able to prevent the main body of the enemy's 

 forces from leaving Richmond and falling in over- 

 whelming force upon Gen. McDowell. He will move 

 with between thirty-five and forty thousand men. 



A copy of the instructions to Maj.-Gen. McDowell 

 is with this. The specific task assigned to his com- 

 mand has been to provide against any danger to the 

 capital of the nation. At your earnest call for rein- 

 forcements, he is sent forward to cooperate in the re- 

 duction of Richmond, but charged, in attempting this, 

 not to uncover the city of Washington, and you will 

 give no orders either before or after your junction, 

 which can keep him out of position to cover this city. 

 You and he will communicate with each other by tele- 

 graph or otherwise as frequently as may be necessary 

 for efficient cooperation. 



When Gen. McDowell is in position on your right, his 

 supplies must be drawn from West Point, and you 

 will instruct your staff officers to be prepared to s'up- 

 ply him by that route. 



The President directs that Gen. McDowell retain the 

 command of the Department of the Rappahannock, 

 and of the forces with which he moves forward. 



Bv order of the President. 



EDWIN M. STAXTOX, Secretary of War. 



On the 26th, an order was given for a move- 

 ment, the design of which was to open a com- 

 munication with Gen. McDowell, as well as to 

 scatter a force known to be collecting near 

 Hanover Court Honse*to threaten the right of 

 Gen. McClellan and his communications. 



About four o'clock on the morning of the 

 27th, the division of Gen. Morrell, of Gen. Por- 



