Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1862-07-07
McCLELLAN'S MOVEMENTS.
CHANGE OF BASE OF OPERATIONS.
The Situation Before the Change
A SERIES OF BLOODY BATTLES.
TIE SITUATION NOW


TIE SITUATION NOW
The fearful suspense that so long has trembled
over the nation is ut last relieved The army of
the Potomac after series Of bloody battles and
terrible suffering, is at length free from the
swamps of the Chickahominy. and securely post
ed on the high lands and bluffs of James River
All eyes in the loyal States have been turned
upon Richmond for months, where Gen. McCLEL
Ian, with an insufficient force, has been moving
upon and menacing the rebel capital. Since the
battles of May 3lst and June LIST, when he beat
back the massive columns hurled upon him, it
has been evident to every rejecting mind that
his situation was very critical one, and that he
must be heavily reinforced to make success pos
sible. The dashing demonstration in his rear,
towards White House. disclosed the fact too that
his base of supplies could be reached by the enc
my, and with his force he could not advance his
long line of investment. or even hold it without
extreme danger. In short it was demonstrated
that he could be fanked, but whether the move
ment to the james River was forced upon him
prematurely or not by the advance of the enemy,
we can only conjecture. The position of his
army in his old line on the Chickahominy is
clearly stated by the correspondent of the Gin
cnnat Commerc,al
THE SITUATION.
You remember that the army was pressing
hard upon Richmond. Every communication to
,H< hat IL
enough to execute the task For weeks the
symptoms of insufficiency of power maniiesty
increased But the army pressed so closely upon
Richmond it could not be Withdrawn without
great peril Gen. Mcclellan was committed to
edo all he could" with what be had, while he
hoped for aid. If the enemy did not reinforce,
he might accomplish his aim. So the work was
pressed while the people clamored that it was
slow. The right wing, consisting of McCall's,
MOrels, and Sykes's divisions less than %, 900
strong, was well posted on the left bank OF the
Chickahominy, from Beaver Dam creek to
point below New Bridge Several military
bridges formed the avenues of communication
between the two portions Of the army separated
by the river The center, consisting of Smiths
Sedgwick's, and Richardson's divisions stretched
in line of battle from Golding's on the banks of
the river to point south of the Yorktown rail
road. The left wing, consisting of HOoker's,
>,
Richardson's left to a point considerably south of
the Williamsburg stage road, on the borders of
White Oak Swamp. The whole line pro-
tected by strong breastworks and redoubts The
necessary extent of the line left but few troops
for supporters. Casey's, now Peck's, sadly re
duced division, now guarded Bottom Bridge the
railway bridge and were assigned to other SINH
lar duty Our line of battle on the right bank
of the ChickahomiEy, as | have informed you
IL - 4 ii.
could advance a regiment outside OF their re-
spective breastworks without provoking battle.
On Wednesday, June 25, General Mcclellan
made the first distinctly offensive movement by
directing Gen. Hooker tc take mp an advanced
position on Fair Oaks Farm, near the Williams
burg road. 1t provoked sharp resistance, which
we overcame, and accomplished our object. Ii
is necessary TO note this fact particularly, because
it bears strongly upon the question whether Gen.
Mcclellan had then distinctly contemplated
changing his base of operations to James river
perilous thing to attempt BEFORE more so now
that were still nearer the enemy. 1t was pro-
nouncei an " important achievement by Gen.
Mcclellan himself, because il gave him adyan-
taCes over the rebel position which he had not
enioyed before. Sometime during the night
however, tidiugs were received of movement of
Stonewail jackson on our right wing. Ii was
deemed hazardous to maintain the advantage of
the previous day, and the line was ordered to re-
sumo its old position. Thursday afternoon the
anticipated attack upon our right wing was made
and handsomely repulsed; but il was discovered
that it had not been made by Jacksons com
mand. Information was received that Jackson
was sweeping down the Pamunkey, probably TO
capture military stores at the White House, to
cut of our communications with our water base
and menace our rear. Orders were given at once
to destroy all public property at the White House
and evacuate that point. Matters began to
sumo "a critical appearance, and danger culmi
mated in the disaster of Friday. Ii was then fully
determined to "change the base OF operations TO
James river" Ii seems TO me this was compul-
sorry. The enemy bad turned our right evidently
outnumbered Us in great disproportion, was too
strong in front for To freak through, and was
in position 10 crush in front and rear-and,
perhaps, intended to strike on our left flank. Ap
parent!y his army was numerous enough tor that
grand combination. The great retroSrade move
ment was really begun last FRIDAY evening BY
the transfer of headquarters from Trent's Bluff
to Savage Station, but the grand exodus did not
commence until Saturday, and did not swell into
full proportions till nighttall of that day.
The reader being supposed TO be familiar with
the war map, will now follow the course pursued
by the army. In order TO preserve the morale of
the army as far as possible, and obtain supplies Of
ammunition and subsistence, it Was determined
to carry through all the wagons loaded and the
ambulance tran-making mighty caravan
vastly increased by artillery trains. There was
but one narrow road 10 pursue. Ii struck almost
due south from the Williamsburg road. through
White Oak Swamp to the Charles City road into
which it debouched about eight miles from Tur
KEY Bend in James river. The course then lay