The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1863-04-17
brigade, constituting the rear guard Of the
division of Mccall, but were sharply re-
pulsed, and the movement was not further


mOlested.
In the course of the morning of the 9th
received intelligence that Longstreet's
corps was at Mechanicksville, ready to
move down on either bank of the Ohicka-
hominy, according to circumstances. This
intelligence, and many threatening move
ments of the enemy on various parts of the
centre and left, placed a limit to the
amount of the reinforcements available for
the support of Porter. Under the circum-
stances it was impossible TO withdraw him
to the right bank of the Chickahominy by
daylight. The enemy were so close upon
him that the attempt would have insured
the loss of large portion of his corps, and,
in any event, the abandonment of his po-
sition at that time would have placed our
right flank and rear at the mercy of the
enemy. It was necessary to fight him
where we stood, to hold our position, at
any cost, until night, and in the meantime
to perfect the arrangements for the change
of base to the James river.
In the report of General Porter will be
found detailed description of the field of
battle at Gaines Mill, and the circum-
stances of that eventful contest, creditable
alike to the energy of the enemy and the
desperate valor OF the comparatively small
band that repealed the attacks of his enor-
nous masses. 1t will suffice, for the pur-
poses of this report, to state that the ac-
ton commenced about Q P. M, and that
during the afternoon ordered up the di-
vision of Slocum to the support Of Porter,
and soon after the brlgades of French and
Meagher, Of Richardson's division. The
latter were not engaged. At later pc
Rod two brigades OF Peck's division were
ordered forward, but, as their services
were not needed, they did not cross the
with varying fortunes, until dark, when
the enemy discontinued the attack. Dur
ing the night the final withdrawal of the
right wing across the Chickahominy was
completed, without difficulty and without
confusion, portion of the regulars re-
naming on the left bank until the morn
ing of the 28th. Early on that morning
the bridges were burned, and the whole
army was thus concentrated on the right
bank of the Chickahominy.
During the battle at Gaines Mill the
position of General Smith was warmly at
tackled, but the enemy was at once repulsed
with loss. ......
In the course of the night of the 9th
Gen. Reyes was ordered to cross the White
Oak Swamp with the fourth corps and
take up position to cover the passage of
the trains. Measures were also taken to
increase the number of bridges across the
swamp. The trains were set in motion at
an early hour, and continued passing
across the swamp, night and day, without
intermissiOn, until all had crossed.
On the 28th Porter's corps was also
moved across the White Oak Swamp, and
on the morning of the Goth took up a po-
sition covering the roads leading from
Richmond towards White Oak Swamp and
Long Bridge. During the night Of the
2Sth and goth the divisions of Slocum and
Mccall were ordered across the White Oak
Swamp, and were placed in position to
cover the passage of the remaining divi-
sions and trains. In the cou: Sc of the same
night the corps of Sumner and Heintzel-
man and the division of Smith were order
ed to fall back from their original positions
to an interior line resting upon Keyes' old
intrenchments on the left, and so arranged
as to cover Savage Station. They were
ordered to hold this position until dark,
then fall back across the swamps and rejoin
the rest of the army. This order was not
fully carried out, nor was the exact posi-
ton l designated occupied by the different
divisions concerned. Nevertheless, the
result was that two attacks of the enemy
one very determined onset-were sig
nally repulsed by Summers corps, assisted
in the last by Smiths division of the Sixth
Corps. These are the two actions known
as the affair at Aliens Field and the battle
of Savage Station. The Third Corps
crossed the swamp before dark, having
left its position before the hour assigned,
and was not in action during that day (the
29th). The Second Corps and Smiths di-
vision safely crossed the swamp during the
night with all their guns and material,
and brought up the rear Of the wagon
trains.
In the night of the Goth and 3Oth the
Fourth and Fifth Corps were ordered to
move to James River, to rest on that river
at or near Turkey Bend, and occupy po-
sition perpendicular to the river, thus COW
ering the Charles City road to Richmond,
opening communication with the gunboats,
and covering the wagon train, which was
pushed as rapidly as possible upon Haxall's
and Harrison's plantations. The remain
ing corps were moved in the same direc-
ton, and posted SO as to cover the main
roads leading from Richmond, as well as
the crossings by which the army had
passed the White Oak Swamp, and to guard
the passage of our large trains to James
River.
By this time the last of the trains had
reached Haxall's Landing, and during the
night the troops fell back to the vicinity
of that place, all arriving safely and unmo-
Tested at an early hour of the morning.
They were promptly placed in position to
offer battle to the enemy should he again
attack, the left of the lire resting on the
admirable position of Malvern Hill, with a
brigade in the low ground to the left,
watching the road to Richmond, the line
then following a line of heights nearly
parallel to the river, and bending back
through the woods nearly to the James
River on our right. On the left we relied
upon the natural advantages of the posi-
ton; on the right, where the natural