The daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1863-1864, 1864-01-30

the point of the bay0Det, routing them Ut
terly with total loss to Them OF between
500 or GOO men, he himself losing but 81.
For his course at this time Gen. Hancock
received from deu. Mcclellan the highest
praise, bis engagement having given the fed.
eral army possession of the decisive point
of the field p l91 ''o79-s - - va. s,os x Z
The total loss Of the army is set down at2,
22S men, ri c-in-;sio S5-s-sT s-z-2 - = .sf2
The troops were SO much exhausted by
the marches and conflict which resulted in
the victory of Williamsburg, as to render
an Immediate pursuit of tn, enemy
impossibleo in the then condition of the
country. ' 80 80, III. q ss Jiev o1r r 'o'
On the 9th also, Gen. Franklins division,
then landing, had a most creditable
affair with the enemy under General
Whiting. 9 2.1 ~ e'e6t7TTL ~
On the 10th, headquarters were estab.
Gshed l9 miles from Williamsburg, and COM
munications established between the force
moving moving by land and the force NOV
ing by water. (, 80 ..-..... ~ ~. ~
On the 18th and l6 franklin, Smith and
Porter reached White House, five miles
beyond, the roads being so bac that one
train occupied 36 hours in passing over this
short distance. 2
About this time two provisional army
corps were organized, the one under
Fitz John Porter, the other under Frank.
lin. c71iri ..-r r.. a-a irs, faT -77i ~ o.
Headquarters reached White House on
the 10th, and permanent depot was at once
organized there. o-, '''''" --a
On the 10th headuurters and the corps
of Porter and Franklin moved to Tuns-
tails station, five miles from White
II ouse.
On the Goth, more rain fell. .l
On the 2lst, the position of the troops are
as follows:
Stoneman's advance guard one mile from
New Bridge, Franklin's corps three miles
from New Bridge, with Porter's corps in
supporting distance in its rear. Summers
corps on the railroad. about three miles
from Chickahominy connecting the right
with the left; Keyes's corps on New Kent
road near Bottoms Bridge with Heintzel-
mans corps at supporting distance in its
rear, .s....... ..-,r-rt- .-..
The ford at Bottoms bridge was in our
and the rebuilding of the bridge
which had been destroyed by the enemy,
was commenced. ,,,
On the 23d headquarters were moved to
Coal Harbor. On the 28th the railroad
was in operation as far as the Chickahom
iny, aud the railroad bridge across that
stream nearly completed.
The history of operations before Rich
mond is now given in detail, with reports OF
subordinate commanders including the bat
ties of Fair Oaks and Hanover Court House
the paralysis of the operations caused by
the sudden withdrawal of McDowelfs Gem
mand to protect Washington at the mo.
ment of the panic caused by the movements
Of General Stonewall Jackson against
Banks, Shields and Fremont, and the
change of base to the James river accom-
plished, through the severe and glorious &C
tion of the "Seven Days." from the battle
of Mechancsville, on the Goth of june, to
the fierce battle of Malvern Hill, July l.
"This closed says General cClelan, "the
hard fighting which had continued from the
afternoon of the 26th June, in series of
engagements wholly unparalleled on this
continent for determination and slaughter
on both sides"
July 4th the general telegraphed to the
President that be occupied, at Harrison's
bar, positions (which could be carried only
by Overwhelming Enumbers."
"The spirit of the army" he added sis
excellent, stragglers are finding their regl.
ments and the soldiers exibt the best re-
suits of discipline" He thus sums up the
results of the brief but fierce campaign:
II cannot now approximate to any state
ment of our losses; but we were not beaten
in any conflict. The enemy were unable by
their utmost efforts to drive us from any
field. l We have lost no guns ex-
cept 25 on the field of battle, 2l Of which
were lost by the giving way of McCalps di
vision under the onset of superior numbers.
When all the circumstances of the case are
known it will be acknowledged by all com.
petent Judges that the movement just Com
pleted by our army is unparalleled in the
annals of war. Under tue most difficult
we have preserved our Il aims
our guns, our material and above all Our
honor.
To this the President replied:
''Be assured the heroism and skill Of your.
self, officers, and men, is and forever will
be. appreciated. If you can hold your
present position we shall hive the enemy
yet"
On the 7th Gen. Mcclellan telegraphed:
eff not attacked to-day, l shall laugh at
them. Flag-Oficer Goidsborough is conf,
dent he can keep open my communications
by the James" Expecting an attack, how
ever, as necessity to the enemy, and feel
ing the critical mature ofthe position, Gen.
Mcclellan on the same day addressed to
the President the following letter:
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAc J /
CAMP NEAR HARRIsoN's LANDING,
VIRGINIA, July I, 1862
Mr.. PREsIDENT:-You have been fully
informed that the rebel army is in our front, |
with the purpose of overwhelming US BY
attacking our positions or reducing US by |
blocking our river communications. / can
not but regard our condition as critical, and
T daS,ra IN y;o,r of oo..;LI.