THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. 171 CHAPTER XIV. 1862. END OF THE PENINSULA CAMPAIGN: JACKSON'S VALLEY CAMPAIGN. The battle of Williamsburg - The engagement at Eltham's Landing, West Point- The naval attack on Fort Darling at Drewry's Bluff McClellan's dilatory tactics - The battle at Hanover Court House - The battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines - The beginning of Jackson's Valley campaign - The battle of Kernstown -The battle of McDowell - The engagement at Front Royal - The battle of Winchester - The engagement at Harrisonburg The battles of Cross Keys and Port Republic Frémont's resignation - Stuart's ride around the Army of the Potomac - The battles of Oak Grove, Mechanicsville, Gaines' Mills, Peach Orchard (or Allen's Farm), Savage Station, Glendale (Frazier's Farm, Charles City Cross Roads, or White Oak Swamp), and Malvern Hill - McClellan's retreat to Harrison's Landing. The evacuation of Yorktown took McClellan completely by surprise. He had made no provision for such a contingency, but he gave orders for immediate pursuit, while he himself remained at Yorktown to superintend the embarkation of Franklin's division on transports which were to go up the York River. By noon of the 4th General George Stoneman's cavalry and four batteries of artillery, followed by Hooker's division of infantry on the direct road from Yorktown to Williamsburg, and Smith's division from Lee's Mills, were on the road to harass the Confederate rear and cut off those who had marched from Lee's Mills and by that road. Johnston had assembled his army at Williamsburg whence his head of column (Magruder's division) was ordered to continue the march toward Richmond. Stoneman overtook Stuart's Confederate cavalry about midway between Yorktown and Williamsburg driving it steadily back to the works in front of Williamsburg. The battle was opened early the next morning by Joseph Hooker, who advanced on Fort Magruder. Cuvier Grover's brigade began the attack at 7 o'clock by driving in the Confederate skirmishers and two batteries were pushed to within 700 yards of Fort Magruder, the fire of which was silenced by 9 o'clock. As Lafayette McLaws had gone on toward Richmond on the evening of the 4th, Longstreet was left in command of the Confederate forces. He immediately placed the brigades of R. H. Anderson and Roger A. Pryor with some field-guns in the works previously held by McLaws. Anderson on the right and Pryor on the left were thrown against Hooker, followed in quick succession by C. M. Wilcox, who reinforced Anderson, and by A. P. Hill, George E. Pickett's brigade being brought up about 10 o'clock. These five brigades attacked Hooker's three brigades in an attempt to turn the left held by Patterson's New Jersey brigade. The brigades of Grover 172 THE BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG. and Taylor were sent to Patterson's support, but the odds were too great a vigorous assault, and by nightfall had regained a part of the field from which Hooker had been driven with a loss of about 1,600 men. on Meanwhile E. V. Sumner, who had been directed by McClellan to take command of the troops ordered in pursuit of the Confederates, had been employed in reconnoitering Hooker's right with the intention of turning the Confederate left. Toward noon General W. S. Hancock with five regiments and a battery was sent to seize a redoubt apparently unoccupied on the Confederate left, one of four redoubts northward of Fort Magruder; he had accomplished this by midday and also occupied a second empty redoubt. He then sent back for reinforcements, as he was now confronted by the enemy. Twice Sumner ordered two brigades to reinforce Hancock and twice he countermanded the order, finally sending him orders to return. In the meantime D. H. Hill's division had been recalled and was ordered to the left of the Confederate line. General Jubal A. Early, the first to arrive with his brigade, obtained permission from General Johnston to attack one of the batteries which was annoying the Confederate troops near Fort Magruder. At about 5 o'clock Hill and Early with two regiments each pushed forward through dense undergrowth to an open field, Early in advance. When they came within easy range Hancock, who was falling back, turned upon Early, poured in two effective and Hooker's line gradually fell back. He called for reinforcements, but not before 3 o'clock did Kearny's division arrive on the field. The latter made ELTHAM'S LANDING; FORT DARLING. volleys, and charged, driving Early back upon Hill and both from the field, inflicting a loss of nearly 400 men, among them Early, who was severely wounded. Hancock's loss was 31. At about this time McClellan arrived on the field and made dispositions for the conflict which he expected would be renewed on the following morning, but during the night Johnston evacuated Williamsburg, leaving D. H. Hill to bring up the rear. The Union troops engaged numbered about 20,000 and the Confederates, about 15,000. The Union loss, mostly in Hooker's division, was 456 killed, 1,410 wounded and 373 missing or captured. Incomplete Confederate returns show a loss of 102 killed, 1,458 wounded and 133 captured or missing.* Franklin did not start from Yorktown until the 6th, reaching Eltham's Landing above West Point at 1 P. M. where he embarked his troops and awaited orders. The greater part of the Confederate army was already beyond striking distance, but to protect its trains a division attacked Franklin on the morning of the 7th and engaged him until 3 P. M. when it withdrew. The Union loss was 48 * See Johnston, Narrative of Military Operations; McClellan's Own Story; Allan, History of the Army of Northern Virginia; Webb, The Peninsula, pp. 69-82; Battles and Leaders, vol. ii., pp. 189–207; Official Records, vol. xi.; Nicolay and Hay, Life of Lincoln, vol. v., pp. 376 et seq.; J. N. Copee, The Battle of Williamsburg, Va., May 5, 1862 (1896); Confederate Military History, vol. iii., pp. 270-273; vol. iv., pp. 48-57; vol. v., pp. 43-47. 173 killed, 110 wounded and 28 missing; the Confederate loss, 8 killed and 40 wounded.* Stoneman's cavalry opened communication with Franklin at Eltham's Landing and the Army of the Potomac marched from Williamsburg on the 8th, passing through Barhamsville, Roper's Church, and New Kent Court House, headquarters being established at Cumberland on the south side of the Pamunkey on the 15th, and on the 16th at White House where a permanent depot was organized. General Johnston crossed the Chickahominy and on May 17 encamped his army about three miles from Richmond. Meanwhile at McClellan's request the President had ordered Flag-Officer Louis M. Goldsborough if he deemed it proper to send the Galena and two gunboats up the James River to silence some Confederate batteries there. On the morning of May 8 Captain John Rodgers with the Galena, Aroostook, and Port Royal went up the river, silenced one of the batteries, drove two Confederate gunboats up the river, and then proceeded against Fort Darling on Drewry's Bluff, eight miles below Richmond, a strong position, mounting 5 heavy guns manned by the crews of the destroyed Merrimac and other ships at Norfolk in command of Captain Farrand of the Confederate navy. On the morning of the 15th, being joined by the *Battles and Leaders, vol. ii., pp. 221-222; Confederate Military History, vol. iii., pp. 273274; vol. v., pp. 47-49. |