The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1904-03-03

70 preserve his communications by the
White House; and lie saw that, holding
might retreat down the Peninsula over
/. the same route by which Johnston re-
the lower bridges of the Chickahominy, he
treated up the Peninsula. In either ease,
it was necessary to hold his entire force
in hand on the north side of the river.
Yet Mcclellan had adopted neither of
these courses, but one different from either,
and which his adversary had not OWNED.
And ens it happened that when, on the
day after the battle of the Chickahominy
Sunday, the 2Sth of June-Lce threw
forward Ewells Division and Stuart's
Cavalry Corps to seize the York River
Railroad, he discovered he had been an
ticipated; for the line of supplies by the
York River Railroad had been already
abandoned two days before, the water
transportation had been ordered round to
the James River, the vast supplies had
been run across to the south side OF the
Chickahominy. and the enemy on his ar
rival found nothing save the burning piles
in which the remnant of stores it had been
impossible to carry of were being con-
gumed. In fact, the army was rapidly in
notion for the James River; and SO skill
fully was the retreat masked by the troops
holding the line of works on the Richmond
side of the Chickahominy, that Magruder
and Huger. who had been charged with
the duty of watching closely the move
ments Of the Union force, were quite una
ware of what was going on. Late i'm the
afternoon fof the 2Sth) the enemy's
works." says Gen. Lee, were reported to
be fully manned. The strength of these
Notifications prevented Gems Huger and
Magruder from discovering what was
passing their front" 1t was night. in
fact. before the movement was disclosed:
and next morning f29th), before Long
street and Hill and Jackson could be sent
across to the south side of the Chickahom-
my, and. with Huger and Magruder. put
in pursuit. Mcclellan had gained "a hours
hours of infinite price in the execution
Of his delicate and difficult enterprise.
The line of retreat to the James passes
across White Oak Swamp, and the diff
Guilty OF the passage for the retreating
army with its enormous trains was. at
least. partially compensated by the bar
Tier ii opposed TO reconnoissances and
flank attacks by the pursuing foe.
Keyes's Corps, which had been holding
position on the margin of White Oak
Swamp, naturally took the advance, and,
traversing this region. had by noon Of the
2Sth seized strong positions on the oppo-
site side to cover the passage of tile troops
and impedimenfd. Then. followed the long
train of 5000 wagons, with herd OF 2 800
beef-eattle, all Of which had TO traverse
the morass by one narrow defile. 1t was
during the same night, Porter's Corps
headed towards the James. Meanwhile.
TO allow the trains to get we'll on their
way. Summers Corps and Heintzelman's N :
Corps and Smiths Division of Franklin's
Corps were ordered to remain on the Rich
mond side of the White Oak Swamp dur
ing the whole of the 29th and until dark
in a position covering the roads from
Richmond, and covering also Savage Sta
ton on the railroad.
LEE IN PURSUIT.
Upon learning definitely the withdra wa
OF the army. Lee. on the morning Of the
Doth, put his columns in motion i'm pur
suit. Magruder and Huger We're ordered
to follow up on the Williamsburg ant
Charles City roads, while Longstreet an,
A. p. Hill were to cross the Chickahominy
at New Bridge. and move by flank route.
near the James, so as to intercept the re
treat; and Jackson, making the passage a
Grapevine Bridge, was to sweep down tn,
south bank of the Chickahominy.
Now. when Sumner, on the morning O
the 18TH, learnt that the enemy was re
crossing the Chickhominy and advancing
in the direction of Savage Station, h,
moved his corps from the position it ha.
held at Aliens farm TO that place, unitin
there with Smiths Division of Franklin
Corps. HeintZelman, who held position
On Tue ielI ol SUMMER, Had Deel Ofuefcd I
hold the Williamsburg road; but, whe
Sumner shifted his force on to Savage Sta
ton, Heintzelman fell back entirely an
crossed White Oak Swamp. Thus, whe
Magruder pushed forward ON the Wi
liamsburg road he found, i'm conseauenc
of Heintzelman's withdrawal, no force t
oppose; and Sumner, who was not awar
OF Heintzelman's retirement, was SUI
prised to find the enemy debouching on hi
front Mt Savage Station Such were th
circumstances that, ON the afternoon of tn
18th, brought on the action known as tn
battle of Savage Station-an action tina
fqms the second OF the series Of blow