Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1863-05-28
"a a.u s.io.. i. VA. Reinforced hi. troop. w.ss


impossible to bring up fresh ammunition That night the
enemy evacuated their position at Williamsburg.
Gen. Mcclellan states that after he arrived on the held
he satisfied that enemy had been beaten and would
be compelled eyacuate their position that night, or be
taken at great disadvantage, that he oountermanded
orders to the divisions of Richardson and Sedgwck and
sent them back to orktoxn.
The next dsy the pursuit was continued for short dis
lance by Gen Stoneman and the cavalry with small bedy
of infantry Several of the Generals testify that had the
enemy been promptly followed up after the battle 81
Wlllamsb burg they could have been followed right INTO
Richmond-one Of them says without hrlng gun zen
Mcclellan says that the roads SO bad Ia consequence
of the rains, that it was imprachcable 70 MAKE
pursuit.
The battle of Williamsburg appears to have been iought
under many and serious disadvantages Noth.ng was
known of the nature of the country or the defensive works
of the enemy until our troops arrived before them there
was no controlling mind in charge OF the movements
there was uncertainty in regard 10 who was IN command
each General fought he considered best and by Inc
time the General Commanding appeared on the field the
principal part Of the hight ng was over
ANOTHER ADVANCE OF THE ARMY.
Some three four days spent at Williamsburg for
the purpose Of bringing supplies &c aud then the line
of march was taken up for he Chlckahominy LII was
about The time that the army left Williamsburg that Nor
folk taken and the Merrmac destroyed But prepa-
had been made before those events occurred have
supplies sent up York river instead OF the james and Inc
line afterwards followed adopted The consequences
that the eunboats OF little service IN the
operations against Richmond and remaned entirely mae
tive except operations against Fort Daring until
they called upon protect the army when IN July,
it fell back to tn. James
The distance between Williamsburg and the line of ope-
ranns the Cbickahominy from forty To fifty miles,
and the army about two in moving that dis aDce
The first troops that crossed the Chick ,homny the
corps Of G-n Reyes which crossed the 24h of May
followed by the corps of Gen Heulzelman the 18th.
The rest OF army remained The left bank OF The
Chckahonny until the battle of Fair Oaks, when the
corps Gen Sumner crossed to the assistance OF Gems
Heintzelman and Reyes.
ANOTHER REQUEST FOR McDowELLs CORPS.
Gen Mcclellan continued calling for reinforcement re-
presenting that the force Of the enemy in his front
perior his and that the force under Gen Mcdowell
would do for the protection of Wa hngton if sent to
his army than any other position in which 1t could be
placed In letter written on the 2l-t OF May he asks
that Gen. McDowe corps be sent to him by water rather
than by land, the expeditions mode and that he
and his forces be explicitly placed under his orders in the
ordinary way" He closes his letter by saying
81 believe there great struggle before this army, but
neither dmaved disconr gd wish to srenp then
it's force much cam but, Ia any even, shall fight
with all the skill, and caution and determination that
And trust that the resi- may either obtain for me
the confidence Of Government or that it may
close my career
In reply to the request of General Mcclellan that Gen.
Mcdowell should join his forces by water the President
writes on the 2Ist of May:
Mcdowell can reach you by land sooner than he could
aboard Of boats il the boats Fredericks
burg unless his march shall be resisted in viii se the
force resisting him wi not be cour nting you Richmond
BY land he will reach in five days after starting where
by ter he would not reach you in weeks judging
you in ten days after ordered it,"
Preparations accordingly made for Gen. Mcdowell
to leave Fredericksburg the 25h of May to Gen.
Mcclellan. Just at that time, however, Jackson
meced his expedition down the Shenandoah Valley, and
GEN Mcdowell together with Gen. Fremont, from West
Virginia sent TO the assistance Gen Banks, and
to intercept Jacks In bi retreat Upon being informed of
this Gen Mcclellan replied that the movement OF Jackson
probably intended to prevent reinorcemeDts being
sent 10 him The President replied giving him full in
formation to the condition of affairs in the valley and
closed by saying:
fMcDowels force was now beyoud our reach we soud
be utterly helpless Apprehensons of hing like this,
and unwlneness 10 sustain you has always been
understand this and do the best You with the forces
now have"
BATTLE OF THE SEVEN PINES.
On the 3lst Of May and the ls of June the battles OF
Seven Pines and FAIR Oaks We're fought. As th-re has
been much controversy regard 10 the conduct of
of the troops engaged IN that battle your Committee will
refer particularly to the testimony of Gen Casey
who commanded the advance upon which the attack
first made Gen Casey states that when the campaign Of
the Peninsula commenced his division consisted principal
y of aud inexperienced troops They had suffered
greatly from the abors and exposures incident upon the
siege of Yorktown aud the advance of the troops up the
Peninsula Some OF them had been for weeks without
shelter beng compelled to leave their camp equpsge be-
hind when ordered the pursuit of the enemy after the
evacuation of Yorktown. That division took the lead
the Chickahominy, taking up position at Seven
Pues where established Itself by throwing up ntrench
ments and cutting ahatis.
few days before the battle If Seven Pines contrary to
the advice aud opinion of Gen Keye and Gen Casey the
division ordered three quarters of mile to the front
within miles of Richmond its pickets extending with
in FIVE miles They had support their right or their
left the remainder Of the corps which they belonged
(Keyes) being in the They at commenced Dig
gng re-pt and cutting abss the pickes at night being
attacked by the enemy, who repused. About IL
O'Clock the moruing Of the 3st the pockets reported the
enemy approaching aud aid OF Gen. johnson cap
turet and brought in with important PAGERS upon him
Gen. Casey, with this aid aud h general cer the day
went to Gen. Reyes and repo ted the to him
Gen. Key ttshes that for before the attack
he sent TO Gen Mcclellan reports of his condition the
threatening attitude If the enemy bis immediate vicinity
and urged that Gen Sumner be sent his supp
This not done, however until after the attack com
need Reports Continued to Ia of the approach
If the enemy The division called out and f,rmsd,
the working called and prepare ions made TO nv ct
the coming attack. Two lines Of battle fbrmed-one
ia the rifle pits and another about one-third mle in
advance-composed of five or six regiments and four
pieces OF artillery regiment had previously been sent
out to support the pickes About twenty one
O'Clock The enemy commenced The attack in force sup-
pused amount 10 about 35 900 men, attacking in fnt
aud on both tanks.
After fighting for time, the enemy continuing to
come on iorce the forces in front fell back rh
pts and fought there until surrounded Reinforce
ments had been promised and Gen Casey had selected
the position TO which they be assigned but no
endorsements t. bis position until ut before he
forced 10 fall back from the second line when single
regiment arrived After about three hours fphtit The
division tell back from its second line with loss of l433
In killed wounded, and missing In the of an hour
after Caseys division had driven back the
Of our forces swept back from mile aud half to
two miles from Caseys first line when the enemy were
checked, aud the fighting ceased for the day.
During the battle Gen Sumner, whose corps the
left bank Of the Chickahominy ordered by Gen Nc.