New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1911-07-09

TNHE Seven DAYS Battle, as the series
Of engagements in front of Rich
N mond extending from June % to
July !. 1862, between Mcclellan and Robert
F. Lee. Is styled. resulted for the Confed-
crates in the relief of Richmond. 1t in
volved a great waste of blood. and McClel-
Ian. falling TO take advantage Of the many
opportunities offered to march into Rich
mond. did succeed in making a mastery
retreat" General Lee. recognizing Cen
eral McCleilan's slowness in assuming the
initiative when it came TO actual fighting
undertook movements which, had they
been made in the face of generals of other
temperament. would have been counted
vital military errors
The field of the Seven Days extended
from a little hamlet on the Virginia Cen
trail Railroad about six miles. or the dis
lance from the New York City Hall to
lower Harlem. north Of Richmond 10 Nal
vern Hill. on the north side of bend in
the James River, fourteen miles in di-
rect line from the Confederate capital. The
width following along the successive fronts
presented by McClellans army was about
seventeen miles. Across the upper edge
the Chickahominy River coursed between
bluffs and through thlcky overgrown
swamps in a general direction parallel to
the James River. Short creeks, also Dor
dered by swamps, woods and underground,
emptied into the Chckahominy on both the
north and south sides. One Of these which
played a particularly important part in the
Seven Days struggle was known as White
Oak. Having its source near Seven Pines.
perhaps three miles south of the Chcka-
hominy II swung south and east in a cres-
cent through a considerable swamp bear
ing the name of White Oak Swamp.
Crossing the small peninsula Enclosed by
this creek and the Chickahominy on the
north was the Richmond & York River Rail-
road, having as stations within the Enclosed
area Fair Oaks, Savage's and Meadow. The
whole territory between the Chickahomny
and the James was covered with n network
Of highways resembling section of cir
cuiar spiders web main lines radiating like
wheel spokes from Richmond toward diff
ferent important communities. These were
connected at irregular intervals by cross
roads. Among the spokes were the Me-
Gainesville Turnpike. leading almost
north; the Williamsburg Stage Road, lead
ing east parallel to the York River Rail
road; the Charles City Road, running south
Of the White Oak Swamp, and the Central
or Darby Town Road and the Newmarket
Road below the Charles City Road, which
ran In the general direction Of Malvern Hill
and cut across a bend in the James River.
When the battle of Seven Pines, or Fair
Oaks, was fought Mcclellan had only two
of his five corps on the south side Of the
Chickahominy In the course OF the month
which interviewed between that battle and
the opening Of the Seven Days ii was con-
fdently expected at Washington that he
would rush in upon Richmond. His tele-
grams from time TO time declared this 10
be his intention. He had drawn all of his
forces with the exception of Fitz John
Porters corps, which was encamped in the
neighborhood Of Mechanicsville, across the
Chickahominy and intrenched them in a
line extending across the York River Rail
road and the Williamsburg Turnpike. in
front of Seven Pines from the Chicka-
hominy TO a swamp on "A branch of the
White Oak Creek. His supplies came in
over the York River Railroad. One thing
or another. however. always served TO de-
lay an attack Either the weather was
bad or the roads were in poor condition,
and continuously he was worried about
further endorsements lie suffered under
the impression that the enemy under Cen
eral Lee. who had succeeded General
Joseph Z. Johnston when the latter was
wounded at Fair oaks was double his own
force
In the mean time the Confederates were
exercising an initiative which kept the
Union armies in Virginia guessing. stone
wall" Jackson, almost fanatic religious
" and imhued with a deep belief that the
Supreme Being was God Of Battles in
deed. acting always in his behalf and seek
ing through him 10 destroy the ungodly in
the form of the Union armies. was leading
every one merry dance with his Shenan-
doah raid. In March, 1862, he had been or
dered north into the Shenandoah Valley to
keep General Banks. of the Union army.
busy. He advanced rapidly and was driven
of the field at Winchester. In May he be-
gan another campaign in the same fruitful
valley by winning battle against odds at
Mcdowell Then ensued a race up the val
ley between the Federal troops under Gen
eral Banks. and Jsckson's force At Win
chester they met again. and this time the
Federals lost
Lincoln, fearing an attack in the direc-
ton Of Washington along the Potomac, de-
cided to use General Mcdowell in driving
hack Jackson instead of sending him TO