, 1862-07-07

tnrned cur right, evidently outnumbering Us
In great dlsproportion, was too strong in front
fer Us to break through, and was in position
to crush Us in front and Iear-and, perhaps, |
futepGiog to strike on our left flank. Appa-
ren;]y his army was numerous enough for that
grand combination. The great retrogadc
movement was really begun Fridly evening,
By the transfer Of Headquarters from Treats
Bluffs to Savage Station, but the grand exc,
did not swell into f1ll proportions till night
fall Of that day. The history Of that move
ment will follow in due course.
The reader being supposed to be familiar
With the war map, will now follow the course
the morale Of the army as far as possible, aad
obtain Eupp1ies OF ammunition and snbsis
tence. it vas determined to carry through all |
the wagons loaded, and the ambulance trim |
ed By artillery trains. There was but one |
narrow road 70 putsue It struck almost due
south from the Williamsburg road, through |
White Oak Swamp to the ChaFles City road,
from Turkey Bend In James River: The
course then lay up the latter road towards
Richmond, where it struck little SOUTHWEST
By the Quaker road, which terminated in
New Market road, leading from Richmond
The river was hut short distance south, and
looking the river and commanding the sur
rounding country, being our goal. Although
there was but q single ,4rozd-with slight
e4ccption,-it had the advantage Of coursiug
through White Oak Swamp, upon which we
might rely il some degree for protection Of
bur TANKS. There Was great danger that the
enemy might cut us off by moving columns
| down the Charles City, Central, or New
Market roads, Or all three, bat these chances
| vert, necessarily accepted Gen. Mcclellan
| would not guess his determination until he
[ was able to defeat their movements. At all
events, it was the only hopeful course, be-
! cause the enemy was watching for him on
| road was a narrow tunnel for such mighty
| torrent OF trains and men, but fortunately it
| Was smooth and dry. In order to make the
movement successfully, it was necessary to
| fight at the outset, because it was morally
certain that our line Of battle could not be
the enemy after them-so that due prepara-
| tions were made. The events will now be
recorded in their erdcr, with rs much Of the
spirit Of the perilous enterprise thro IN into
| the sketch as I have time to engraft. The
affair at Fair Oaks Farm Was the real begin
ming Of the dreary drama.
PREPARATIONS FOR RETREAT.
After describing IN detail the battle on Fri
day at Gaines Hill, the writer proceeds:
But apprehensions about Porter's battle had
distressed officers all along. It seemed appa-
rent that If the enemy defeated him, ruin
Threatened Us from the rear. An attack in
front indicated disposition on the part IF the
rebels to force the issue We now deprecated.
It vas grateful relief to drive them back in
front 80 easily All Our supports had been
sent to Porter. We had no more than men
enough to hold the front. It would have been
madness to have contended with au equll
force Of disciplined troops in front and rear.
There would have been no alternative but
hasty retreat at the sacrifice Of most Of our
eQuipsge and the siege train, with the butch
| cry Of thousands Of our troops.
By this time, sunset, tidings Of gloomy
character had been received from Porter. No
much later the extent Of our misfortune:
, the tir6s time We heard q whisper Of q serious
determination on the part Of Gen. Mcclellan
t to "caaNae Ills base o. operations u to James
, River" It WAS considered most crltiea
moyement-espec1ally under compulsion
} 1ou have ALREADY heard some, and you vii
hear many more explanations Of this calamtt
GUS but necessitous plan, but sincerely be
lieye it never would have been attempted bu
| fer the attack On on: right wing. THIS ques
: ton, however, will be the subject Of contro
J. yersy; shall, therefore, Withhold considera
. tion Of It in detail until more favorable con
! ditions Offer.
e TIE RETREAT.
4 Even before Porter had been driven back
| was struck with the singular operations a
general headquarters. I di=coyeEed that the
!. t were being removed to Sarage's Stltion, an
! competent officer explained gravcl7 tha
: it was thought advisable to go there, a
q though it vas in the rear OF our lsft wing
u Alter dark there were other ominous SYM
q toms; general officers conhded to their stat
y their fears Of coming disaster. Even wit
q the best disciplined troops, and under fa7o
able auspices, to change plan Of operation
:, in the face Of an enemy, is regarded by mi
IL itary authorities as one Of the most dange
~ GUS enterprises. In our situation it WAS
y case OF desperation. With our force, II
ID could cot bod our position against an en-
:. my i'll front and rcsr longer than supplies {
u hand would last. An attempt to cue throue
lines of cntrenchulents aud powerful r
= doubts, defended by numerous and desp
" rate enemy, wou1d have been madnes
u sides it was Eow too late for the
1e to form I junction with Us, either by II
:, Rappahaunoek route or By York riger, sin
"A "A they. would be cut off inevitably, The
Il vas but one extremely perilou5 alter1atiQ
H. H. The army must fall back on james Rive
L. would be deceived into the belief taat We d
:, signed to tall back to the Whitehouse. Prel
s. rations we're accordingly begun. Port,
u u command crossed the river without oppo
% - ton. During the night our bridges we
e. blown up and the crossings were barricad,
Of ur and defrnded.. Keyes' line, which Was upt
~ the extreme left, resting upon White 0
ro Swamp, was prolonged, and our artillery o
~. ~ t1ant purtation trstins were ordered to D.
ar pare to move forward. That night, G.
:. Casey was also directed to destroy ill pub
~ property at the Whitehouse that could not
~ ~ removed, and to transport the sick q
r., ~ wounded to place Of safety, to retire hi
~ himself, and rejoin the army on James Riv
-. passed. The troops were Ignorant Of t
~ sfaHs ard it desirable TO conceal the t1r
- from them. 1t Was feared tile enemy mig
o1v attack on Saturday, aud every preparation =
~ made to resist successfully. Our defaa
M .ae right was disposed On Trent's bluffs, VIII
"a, fully opposed, SID by day light our main be
'Is - of supports, after severe night, resuu
!,ie;, their original position. Tie night Of Frid
ths n.s June q, vas gloomy, but It VAS felicity
W. ~ SELF, compared with those Of Saturday, S
~. ~. day, Monday, aud Tuesday.
@ aao SATURDAYS 5 RETREAT.
From headquarters passed along our 1ir
inr The troops still stood at the bTcastwo
;eT' ready for battle; but it was evident they
Los. begun to Inquire into the situation. So
the apIrcheneive officers had caught hint OF
ny steries which prevailed. The trains II
of ordered to move, troops to hold themsel
INV in readiness to march at any moment.
~ -. passed that day, dreadful in it's moral att
ire ntes as 8 day Of pestllence, and when nj
lille closed upon The dreary scene, the entcrp
, Of had fully begun Endless streams Of ar;il
poured down the roads from all the can
and plunged into the narrow funnel III
- was our cn3y hope Of escape. And now
RF exquisite truth flashed upon me. 1t WAS
soIla:ely necessary, for the salvation Of
army and the cause, that our wounded
mapgled braves who lay moaning in phys
agony in our hospitals should be desc
and left in the hands Of the enemy.
tie cruel horrors Of war. Do ron won
my friends, that the features Of ye
wrinkle, and that the strong mans b
AK sllyeTs soon amid such scenes2 The si
sure Of age indites itself full soon upon
smoothest face Of warriors aud those
witness vars cruelty. All, we'll auo
r,F, night Of soTow without catastrophe.
c1a Gers we're on horseback nearly all night
dering the great caravan and its escorts.
wink Of sleep again; 10 peace Of mind
:ial.I any Rho realized the peril Of our couutr,
| those blank hours.
{ At daylight, General Mcclellan was on
road Thousands of cattle, of wagons,
s;ne our immense train Of artillery, intermin
,ico, with infantry, and great troops Of cav1
MT | choked up the uarroW road already. Gel
For Summers Heintzelman' sand Frauk1in's &C
,ow, | under Summers command, had been le
.ess. guard the rear, with orders to fall back at
he | Light, and hold the enemy in check till nj
M,. A noble army for sacrifice, and some, Oh
ia many, must fall to save the rest. The
RI slightest movement from the front Was
nm cal. At no point along the line, were
se3 more than three-fourths Of mile from
loW' Enemy, and in frnnt frnnt OF sedg gWick's line,
'ii,a were not over 600 yards distant. The SD
~; est vibration at any point WIS apt to thrill
Z ~ rebel lines from center to wings. But for
i ~ ately BY skiIlful secrecy, column after col
tar WIS marched to tue rear-FrankGn first.
- ! wick next then Richardson, and Hooker,