The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1881-11-05

ton of Fair Oaks. Porter met and gained
brilliant victory over some 10000 of the enemy
on their way from Gordonsvile to Richmond,
and whom he intercepted at Hanover on the 9th,
and Mcdowell, who had been notified of the
movement, was expected down by the evening
of the 2Sth at farthest; but he did not form a
junction The order for his advance was counter
manded from Washington and, contrary to his
own good judgment, he was sent in the direction
of Port Royal i'll pursuit of StOnewal1 Jackson,
who, to create a diversion, and if possible, draw
off the Union forces from the Peninsula, had
been sent up the Valley, via Gordonsville, to
threaten the National Capital.
The rebel leader accomplished his purpose.
With his less than 10000 men he succeeded in
neutralizing 10000 of his antagonists, who other
wise would have marched into Richmond inside
of a week; and the same movement effectually
prevented the reinforcement of Mcclellan to
make good the loss of Mcdowell. The heavy
pressure upon the enemy from the direction of
Hanover, coupled with the ascertained fact that
Mcdowell was well out of the way, had the
effect naturally to be expected. The confederate
commander, Johnston. taking advantage of
fortuitous rise of the ChickahOminy, which in
terrupted communications between the two wings
of the army swung around, and upon the 31st
of May delivered telling counter-stroke upon
the Union left wing at Fair Oaks. June /, the
foe, who had triumphed the day previous, were
driven back with great slaughter, and the Union
troops resumed their original line of offensive
operations. The losses had been heavy, however,
during the two days engagement, and although
it had eventually resulted in a victory to them,
it had also shown that they were confronted by
an army equal, if not superior in numbers, to
their own, and of equal discipline and valor.
Besides in addition to the troops, aggregating in
the vicinity of $4,000 men, who had been con-
fronting General Mcdowell at Fredericksburg,
the rebels were from time to time receiving
cessons from different parts of the South, while
Mcclellan. with the exception of the Pennsyl
vania Reserves and few regiments from Fortress
Monroe. numbering in all perhaps 10000 men,
received no accessions to make good his losses.
Meantime Jackson, having accomplished his OBJ
jiect, was rapidly returning-w the authorities
at Washington were engaged in hunting for him
in the Shenandoah Valley and at other points
near the National Capitalize assist in driving
Mcclellan from the Peninsula. The first positive
knowledge Of the intentions OF the rebel leader
was gained about the 22d of June, and in this
wise: On about the date mentioned General Por-
ter's pickets on the right toward Hanover Court
House brought in young man who claimed to
be a Baltimore boy who, having enlisted in
Texas, had become tired of the war; deserted
from Jackson's army, near Gordonsville, and was
then on his way home. A thorough examination
by General Porter satisfied that officer that he was
not what he represented himself to be- and he
was thereupOn sent TO army headquarters,
through the provost-marshal general, with the
accompanying statement that he was believed to
be spy. After being Intercepted by General
Mcclellan without result he was set at liberty;
but General Porter, hearing Of this, requested
his rearrest, which being effected, he was again
examined, and finally confessed that he had been
sent out by Jackson to obtain information as to
the disposition of the Union forces and return as
speedily as possible to act as guide to the rebel
leader in his advance on the Union right. He
further stated that a combined attack of Lees
whole army including Jackson, was to be made
upon the Union right flank: that Lee himself
was to cross above Mechanicsville on the Goth,
unite with Jackson, and attack and defeat Por-
ter before he could be reinforced Or retreat to the
south of the Chickahominy, and that, having
thus gotten in McClellan's rear. the defeat of
the Union army would follow as a matter of
course. According to his statement Jackson
was TO be at Hanover Courthouse by the Odd
or oath. This information was reported to
Washington about the oath, but, unfortunately
little reliance seems to have been placed upon
its truthfulness, and no immediate steps were
taken by the governmental authorities to
strengthen their army ON the Chickahominy.
Prior to the capture of this spy Porter had
already taken every precaution in his power
to guard against just such movement by
the rebels as the one indicated, by posting the
brigades Of Reynolds and Seymour of McCall's di-
vision of Pennsylvania Reserves, recently arrived
on the east bank of Beaver Dam Greek, small
tributary of the Chickahominy putting in from
the north and at rig int angles to the river. This
position was but short distance east Of Mechan-
icsville, and constituted good line of defense
against an enemy advancing from the west-the
direction from whence Lee or Jackson must come
to attack the Union ri ght. A few companies and
a battery were thrown forward overlooking the
town a corps of observation. On the 25th of
June the position of the Union forces upon the
Chickahominy was about as follows The Second,
Third Fourth, and Sixth Corps, commanded by
Generals Sumner, Heintzleman, Reyes, and
Franklin respectively were south of the river
and at about right angle to it, the left of the