The National tribune., 1898-11-24
MECHANICsvILLE AND GAINEs'S MILL.
A NEW POSITION-INTEREST PER-
SONAL ADVENTURES.
CHAPTER XII.


A NEW POSITION-INTERESTI PER-
SONAL ADVENTURES.
On June 26, 1862, orders were sent to
all the corps commanders on the right
bank of the Chickahominy to be prepared
to send as many troops as they couid
spare on the following day to the left
bank of the river. Gen. Franklin received
instructions to hold Gen. SlOcum's Di-
vision in readiness by daybreak on the
9th, and if heavy firing should at that
time be heard in the direction OF Gen.
Porter, to move at once to his assistance
without further orders.
At noon on the Goth the approach of the
enemy, who had crossed above Meadow
Bridge. was discovered by the advanced
pickets at that point, and at hall past Il
in the afternoon they were attacked and
driven in. All the pickets were now called
in, and the regiment and battery at Me-
chanicsvi1Ie were withdrawn. ....
About o'clock in the afternoon the
enemy formed his line-of-battle, and came
down upon our troops like torrent, at
tacking the entire line. Mcclellan, an
tlcipating a fierce onset, was prepared
for such an event, and gave him a warm
reception. Our artillery occupied posi-
tons commanding all the roads and open
ground. Timber had been felled, rifle
pits dug, and the infantry were under
cover OF the thick woods.
All remained quiet until the rebel mass
came rushing on-s elling as they came
within short distance of our line, when
every battery and division opened stimuli
taneousIy a most destructive fire, which
drove the enemy back with tremendous
slaughter.
Several other attacks were made <on our
lines during the afternoon, which proved
disastrous to the enemy. At 8 O'Clock in
the evening the firing ceased, the action
having lasted six hours.
GAINEs's MILL.
During the night the heavy siege-gu
and wagons were removed to the right
bank of the Chickahominy, and most of
the troops withdrawn, unknown to the
enemy. About noon the next day another
general engagement came on, and after
seven hours hard fighting the left flank of
the Federal line was turned, and they
were driven from their position.
Gen. Mcclellan says: about o'clock
in the evening they threw fresh troops
against Gen. Porter with still greater fury,
and finally gained the woods held by our
left. This reverse, aided by the confusion
that followed an unsuccessful charge by
five companies of the 5th Cav, and fol-
lowed as il was by more determined as
saults on the remainder Of our lines, now
outtanlled, caused a general retreat from
our position to the hill in rear overlooking
the bridge
"French's and Mcacher's Brigades now
appeared, driving before them the strag
pIers who were thronging toward the
bridge. These brifades advanced boldly
to the front, and by their example, as
terminated our troops and warned the
enemy that reinforcementS had arrived.
1t was now dusk. The enemy, already
repulsed several times with terrible
slaughter, and hearing the shouts Of the
fresh troops, failed to follow up their ad-
vantage.
This gave an opportunity to rally our
men behind the brigades of Gems. French
and Mea"her, and they arain advanced
up the hill. ready to repuise another at
tack. During the night our thinned and
exhausted regiments were all Withdrawn
in safety, and by the following morning
all had reached the other side of the
stream
A dispatch from Gen. Mcclellan to Sec
retary Stanton, on the 2Sth, tells sad
story, part of which quote:
Had 10000, or even 10, eco, fresh troops !
to use tomorrow ! could take Richmond; |
but l have not a man in reserve, and |
shall be glad to cover my retreat, and |
save the material and personnel of the |
army. If we have ost the day, we have |
yet preserved our honor, and no one need |
blush for the Army Of the Potomac. |
was too small. again repeat that | am |
not responsible for this, and say it with |
the earnestness Of a General who feels in |
his heart the loss of every brave man who
has been needlessly sacrificed to-day.
"ln addition to what | have already
said, i only wish to say to the President
that think he is wrong in regarding me
as ungenerous, when / said that my force
was too weak. merely intmated truth
which to day has been too plainly proved.
IT. at this instant | could dispose 10000
fresh men, / could gain the victory to-
morrow. | know that a few thousand
more men would have changed this de-
feat 10 a victory. As il is, the Govern
ment must not and cannot hold me re-
spoisibie for the result.
Il feel too earnestly tonight. I have
seen too many dead and wounded COM
rade5 to feel otherwise than that the Gov
mas not sustained this army |
II Won 60 not do SO now, the game is lost. |
II save this army now, tell you plainly |