The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1891-05-23

tel1C POSITIONS ON James 1IVoI OuU AHuUA08
of Confederates bent on the same purpose,
the center warding on powerful attacks
which threatened to cut the long line in
two, and the rear holding out against
another powerful force coming up to catch
our columns between converging fires.
On that day Lee knew for the first time
after Mcclellan withdrew from the lines
before Richmond just where his opponent
was and how to strike him effectually. and
he had his troops we'll in hand to do it. Yet
the day was to him and to his licutenants
one of great humiliation, and was wonder
full surprise to the Union soldiers when the
truth became / own. When Lee found
that Mcclellan had abandoned the upper
Chickahominy and was moving without =
secure base anywhere he planned atrap for
him as perfect, owing to tho lay of the land
around the Union army, as could be con-
ceived.
Mcclellan, on leaving the Chickahominy
to 20 toward James river, had to pass
White Oak Swamp on q single road, and,
as Lee took good care, he had but that one
road all the way to tho James. Beginning
with the point on James river aimed at by
Mcclellan, Haxall's Landing (see dia-
,zram), Lee sought to spread his army like
u net from the James along the west side
Of McClellan's path tn the swamp on the
north, thence around down the cast side to
the James again to the head of the net
That head he hoped to close by selling
commanding ground at Malvern Hill,
above Haxall's From points of vantage
all around this line the several Confed.
crate corps were to assail McClellan's COL
,,mns, and either drive them to corner
en- masse or brca]. them up into weaker
bodies and thus have them at their mercy.
Under the circumstances it is plain that
McClcllan's safety lay in getting his army
together, and with great body, including
troops. artillery and trims, to move ON
one road. Time was everything to him.
On the Confederate side rapid movement
was everything, and the column depended
upon by Lee to drag the loose end of the
net and to hustle McClellan'Y scattered d.
visions pell nell into the danger pockets
prepared for them was ''Stonewall' Jack
sons jackson was following up the Union
army across White Oak Swamp. He had
his own valley army, d. H. Hills corps
and "Jeb' Stuart's cavalry. Jackson and
Hill. with infantry and artillcry-four
large divisions, Of not less than $1,000 men
kept the direct road, and Stuart, with all
his mounted column, moved across coun.
try on Jsckson's left flank, to close the
avenues of escape against Mcclellan on
tho east. The task of direct pursuit was
assigned to jackson, because his army had
been nearest to Mcclellan when the move
nent began.
On the morning Of June 80 the situation
was one of gravcst danger for our disjointed
and unsettled lines. Only one corps out
Of five had reached James river, and the
Confederate column Of Gen. Holmes, con.
sisting of the garrison troops of Richmond
city, Petersburg, tho river batteries and
railway guards, WAS moving down the
river road to seize Malvern Hill, where
Mcclellan desired to concentrate. Tho
other Union corps were strung along the
roasl back toward White Oak Swamp,
where the Sixth, under Gen. w. b. Frank.