Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-04-22

( f0lk was taken ana Inc Merrfnldc destroy Gu
But preparations had been made before those
! events occurred 10 have supplies sent up ors
! River instead of the James and the line after
wards followed was adopted. The consequence
was that the gunboats were of little or no ser
vice in the operations against Richmond, and
remained entirely inactive. except in some OPP
erations against Fort Darling. mill they we're
called upon TO protect the army when, in July,
it fell back to the James river.
The distance between Williamsburg and the
line OF operations the Chickatominy was
from forty TO fifty miles, aud the army was
most tive weeks in moving that distance. The
fist troops that crossed the Chickahominy
was the corps of Gen. Keyes. which crossed
on the oath OF May, followed by the corps OF
Gen. Heintzeman on the 25th. The rest of our
army remained on the lett baps OF the Chick
aborn inv until the battle of Fair Oaks, when
the corps of Gen. Sumner crossed to the
sistance of Gems. Heintzeiman and Keyes.
MCCLELLAN STILL CALLING FOR MORE TROOPS.
Gen. Mcclellan continued ling for re- in
forcements, representing that the force of the
enemy in his front superior to his own,
and that the force under Gen. 'Dnweli would
do more for the protection of Washington, If
sent to his army, than in any other position in
which it could be placed. In letter written
on the 2lst Of May he asks that Gen. Mellow
ellis corps be sent him by water rather than
by land, as the more expeditions mode, and
der his orders, ssin the ordinary way" He
closes his letter by saying
"i believe there is great struggle before
this army, but am neither dismay ed nor dis
couraged. 1 wish to strengthen its force
much as can but in any event, I shall fight
ii with all the SIX i'll, and caution, and determi-
nation that possess. And trust that the
result may either obtain for me the pcrma
nent confidence of my Government, OF that IL
may close my career"
In reply 10 the request of Gen. Mcclellan
that Gen. M'Dowel should join his forces by
water, the President states, on the 2lst Of May:
Seen. N 'Doweil car reach you by land sooner
than he could get aboard of boats if the boats
were ready at Fredericksburg, unless his
march shah be resisted, in which case the
force resisting him will not be confronting you
at Richmond. By land he W i'll reach you in
five days after starting whereas, by water, he
would not reach you in two weeks, judging by
past experience. FrankIin's single division did
not reach you in ten days after | ordered it."
JACKSON IN THE SHENANDOAH.
Preparations were accordingly made for Gen
eral NJ DowelI to leave Fredericksburg on the
25th of May TO join Gen. NJ 'CieIlan. Just at
that time, however, Jackson commenced his
expedition down the Shenandoah Valley, and
Gen Dowell, tQnether with Gen. Fremont,
from Western rg5hia, was sent to the assist
ance Of Gen. Banks. and TO intercept Jackson
in his re trest. Upon being informed of this
Gen. NJ 'Clellan replied tbat the movement of
Jackson was probably intended to prevent re-
inforcements being sent to him. The Presi-
dent replied, giving him full information as
10 the condition of affairs in the Valley, and
closed by saving:
s.T NJ DoweitS force no,o beyond onT
reach should be utterly helpless Apprehcn-
sions OF something like this, and no unwilling
ness TO sustain you, has always beensmy
son for Withholding N Dowell's force from
you. Please understand this, and do the best
you can with the forces you now have"
BATTLE OF THE SEVEN PINES.
On the 31st of May and the LIST of June the
battles of Seven Pines and Fair Oaks were
fought. As there has been SO much contro.
versy in regard to the conduct OF some of the
troops engaged in that battle, your Committee
will refer more particularly to the testimony
of Gen. Casey, who commanded the advanced
division, upon which the attack was first made.
Gen. Casey states that, when the campaign of
the Peninsula commenced, his division con-
sisted principally of raw and. inexperienced
troops. They had suffered greatly from the
labors and exposures inc ident upon the siege
of yorktown and the advance of the troops up
the Peninsula. Some OF them had been for
weeks without shelter, being compelled to
leave their camp equipage behind when order
ed on the pursuit of the enemy after the cvac
uation of Yorktown. That division took the
lead across the Chickahominy. taking mp a
high position at Seven Pines, where it .stab-
lisbed itself by throwing mp intrenchments
and cutting abats. A few days before the
battle of Seven Pines. contrary to the ad vice
aud opinion OF Gen. Keyes apd Gen. Casey,
the vision was ordered thrfe- quarters of
mile to the front, within six miles of Rich
mond, his pickets extending within five miles.
They had no support upon fheir.right or their
left, the remainder Of the corps to which they
belonged (keyes) being in their rear. They
at once commenced digging rife pits and cnt-
ting abatis, the pickets at night being attack
ed by the enemy, who We're repulsed. About
IL O'Clock on the morning of the 3lst the
pickets reported the enemy approaching. and
an aid of General johnson was captured and
brought in with important papers upon him.
Gen. Casey, with this aid and his general OFF,
Ger of the day, went to General Keyes and re- |
ported the circumstances to him. Gen. Keyes |
testifies that for some days before the attack
he sent to Gen. VI M'Clellan reports of his con-
dition, the threatening attitude of the enemy
in his immedi late vicinity and urged that Gen. |
Sumner be sent across to his support This
was not done, however, until after the attack |
commenced. Reports continued to come in |
of the approach of the enemy. The division |
was called out and formed, the working men |
called in, and preparations made to meet the |
coming attack. Two lines of battle were form |
ed-one in the rifle pits, and another about
one. third of mile in adyance-composed OF |
FIVE or six regiments and four pieces of artil- |
lery A regiment had previously been sent |
ont to support the pickets. About 20 minutes |
to O'Clock the enemy commenced the attack |
in force, supposed to amount TO about 50, 900
men, attacking in front and on both tanks. |
After fighting for some time, the enemy con-
thinning to come force, the forces in front !
fell back to the rifle-pits, and fought there un-
til nearly surrounded. endorsements had |
been promised, and Gen. Casey had selected
the position to which they were to be assign