Year: 1863

of feed trees, or made of logs sort of plat
form, on which they could get but very pro.
carious rest. remember having seen gem
eral of division whose entire establishment
consisted of five or six poles covered with
pine branches, one end of which rested on the
ground-that is in the water-the other OH
the trunk of fallen tree. He slept on this,
with waterproof cloak over his head.


Advancing thus, we came to tho lines Of
the confederate army. from which sharp fire
Of artillery was opened. We replied, but
without producing any impression on the we'll
defined works which covered the hostile can
non. The creek had been examined and
found impassahle by infantry, both on account
of the depth ofthe water and Of the bogs in
which our troops would have been mired un-
der cross-ire from the sharp-shooters in the
woods and behind embankmcnts Through
out the seven miles protected by this fortified
line the enemy had been found on the alert
Everywhere there were cannon, camps, and
barracks.


1t resulted from all this that the army was
brought to stand on the second day Of tho
campaign by apparently considerable forces,
and before position could be taken without
great difficulties. But this had been antici-
pated. In order to gain time and avoid the
delay of siege. General Mcclellan had de-
vised means for turning the position The
enemy held James river by the Mcrrimoc and
his gunboats. and closed York river by the
batteries of Yorktown and at Gloucester, a
little town on the opposite bank. However.
by landing troops on the Severn river, beyond
Gloucester, this latter position could have
been carried, and tho passage Of the Federal
g,,nboats up York river made more easy. by
then advancing up the left bank, in the direc-
ton Of West Point our troops would have
been so far in the rear of the troops holding
the lines of Porktown, that tho latter would
have been in very dangerous situation.
Gloucester once in tho hands Of the Federal
troops. this unexpected danger would have
caused the enemy to fall back upon Richmond.
The execution Of. this coup dc main had breu
left to corps of the army of the Potomac
commanded by Mcdowell. This corps had
had to embark last Of all at Washington, and
it had been calculated that it would arrive in
II body, on board its transports, before York
town. at the same time the rest of the army.
coming from Fortress Monroe, would appear
there by land.


Instead of finding it there. we found the
unexplained and inexplicable intelligence that
this corps had received another destination.
The army was stupefed at tho news, though
the majority did not then foresee the d-plora-
bio results of an act done, We must believe,
with no bad design, but with inconceivable
imprulencc. A fortnight sooner, this meas
IRE. which must have been unfortunate at any
time, would have been less so. Different ar.
rnngcmcnts might have been made But now
the chief part of II machine already in motion,
was removed, and everything was deranged
by its loss.


Among the divisions Of McDowcll's corps
thus taken away from Mcclellan, there was
one that of Franklin, more to be regretted
than NIL the rest both on account Of tho troops
composed in it and Of their officers. The
General-in thief had taken special pains with
much attached to it, and he earnestly claimed
without explanation, as it had been taken
from him. This fine division, eleven thous.
and strong. arrived, and for short time it
was in contemplation to intrust to it alone the
coup de main against Gloucester. But this
idea was abandoned. Then it was considered
that there must be some assailahle point some.
where in the seven miles of confederate in
trenchmcnts. If such point could b. forced
there would certainly happen what always
happens in such cases: tho enemy at the two
extremties would think Ills flank turned. and
would become demoralized aud It force morn
and more considerable were rapidly poured
through tho opening made, tho army thus cut
in two would probably he visited with ono Of
those disasters that decide tho fate of cam
paign. A weak point was thought to have
been found about tho center Of tho lines Of
Warwick creek, ut place called Lees Mill.
The water here was whist deeI,, with firm
bottom. Opposite the enemy's works there
was a sort Of open plateau, ON which, during
the contemplated assault. number Of cannon
could BE- brought up to batter them. On the
10th of April an assault was made at this
point. Eighteen field pieces opened fire at
five hundred yards from tho confederate bat
t4ries, and silenc.I them aud then several
Vermont companies were sent across the
creek. They advanced very bravely. and
took riAe.pit; but their ammunition was
wet; they We're not supported. and had to rc-
tire with the loss Of n large part Of their force
Some unforeseen obstacles to the execution Of
the project thus commenced had doubtless
been discovered !. for it was It once aban-
doned. ksF,.c,,a,..


This undertaking. like that against Glouces.
ter, having proved unfeasible. the siege Of the
uninvested portion of Charleston had now to
be commenced Unfortunately, all these en-
deavors to feel the way had consumed time.
and the siege itself was destined to consnme
still more; though It was pressed with great
energy. Ten thousand laborers, constantly
l