"Night put an end to the contest. I grieve to state that our loss in officers and men is great.

"We sleep on the field, and shall renew the contest in the morning.

"I have the honour to be,

"Very respectfully,

"R. E. LEE, (General)."

CHAPTER VII.

MACCLELLAN'S RETREAT.

THE battle of the Chickahominy or Cold Harbour was a decisive battle, whatever certain Northern writers may say, who pretend that it was only the first in a series of engagements, all nearly of equal importance, mere incidents in General MacClellan's change of front from the banks of the York to those of the James. This theory is difficult to support. Had this first encounter been a Federal victory General MacClellan would have marched straight on Richmond, without dreaming of losing time in a change of his base of operations, and the result would have been the taking of the city. The proof that it was a Federal defeat is precisely the necessity MacClellan was under of bearing towards the James, since his communications with the North by the White House were cut off. Far from being able to think of attacking Richmond, all he could do was to save his army. It is true he had an idea of changing his base of operations before the battle; but, having lost it, he had no further choice. It was no longer an army full of spirits and hope which he was directing towards a stronger position than the one he left, but a tired and discouraged mob whom he drew after him, hastening to gain the River James, there to take refuge under the fire of his batteries, and so escape from the pursuit of an enemy bent on his destruction. This result, deciding the whole campaign, was brought about by the battle of the Chickahominy. To wish, therefore, to

give no more prominence to this engagement than to those which followed it is to falsify history.

However this may be, MacClellan at least was too good a soldier not to know that the battle of the 27th had been decisive, and his resolution to beat a retreat was attested the night of the battle in an assembly at head-quarters, where he unfolded to his generals his plan and the motives which had dictated it.

On the morning of the 28th of June, nearly all his army was concentrated on the southern side of the Chickahominy. MacClellan gave proof, in the retreat which followed, of a rare skill and much vigour, surrounded as he was by dangers of all kinds. The advantages he was able to possess over his foe ought in nowise to detract from the admiration due to the Federal general-inchief.

One of these advantages was the uncertainty in which Lee was placed as to what his adversary was going to do. The latter could give battle to reconquer the railway from York River, or retire into the Peninsula, or towards the James. Lee found himself compelled to await his enemy's movements. It was very unfortunate, but there was nothing to be done. Meanwhile Ewell took the railway from York River, the Federals retiring before him to the other side of the Chickahominy, burning the bridge and destroying the road. The clouds of dust coming from the Federal lines south of the river manifestly indicated that something was preparing. The Federals had just abandoned for good the York River railway; but on the side of the James the Confederates could not detect any sign of movement towards this river. It became, therefore, more and more probable that it was to the Peninsula that MacClellan was directing his army. Ewell advanced, following the north bank of the Chickahominy, in the direction of the different fords leading to Williamsburg, but without discovering anything. General Stuart likewise made a sudden push towards the White House, taking, on his way, some convoys of provender and war material, capturing or putting to flight some

scouts and squadrons of artillery. Towards night the blaze in the sky and the explosion of howitzers in the direction of the White House, showed that the enemy was destroying there all they could not carry off. At daybreak Stuart resumed his march, and arrived in sight of a Federal battery, with which he exchanged cannon shots. Stuart took at the White House considerable booty. Nine large barges, loaded with provisions, were burning as the Southern cavalry arrived; the fire likewise devoured an immense number of tents, waggons, railway trucks loaded, five locomotives, buildings of all sorts, ammunition, and an immense amount of material, representing a total of several million dollars: all was destroyed.

Hence, turning to the south, the cavalry went, according to Lee's orders, and surveyed the bridges and fords over the Chickahominy, leading towards the Peninsula. At New Market, a group of houses near the James, between Richmond and the Federal lines, 6000 men under General Holmes were posted, to hinder the enemy from approaching the river, and to advertise head-quarters of the first indication of a Federal movement. The 28th, therefore, was passed in watching the enemy, completely hidden by the woody nature of the country, and the lines of defence which sheltered him. All the Confederate army received orders to rest under arms all night between the 28th and 29th of June, in order to advance without losing a moment directly it was known in what direction MacClellan would retire. All the tokens which came to him confirmed General Lee in his idea that the Northern army was preparing for a general movement, and as nothing indicated that it would be towards the Peninsula, it could only be in the direction of the James.

Lee was right. During daytime on the 28th, MacClellan occupied all the defensive points which could protect the passage of his army across that series of bogs known under the general name of the White Oak Swamp. 5000 ambulances, waggons, tumbrils, and 2500 bullocks, were road which traversed this district.

driven by the single and only During the night of the 28th,

Porter's division also retired by the same way. The corps of Sumner, Heintzelman, and Smith received orders to remain north. of the swamp, on the side of Richmond, during the whole day on the 29th, till all the conveyances and supplies were out of danger. Although Lee had no doubt about what was occurring, everything was done with such order, that he was not assured of the Federal retreat till discovering at sunrise on the 29th that their lines were abandoned.

Presently Longstreet and A. P. Hill recrossed the Chickahominy at New Bridge, and took the road which goes from Derbytown to Long Bridge. Huger quitted his intrenchments, and his columns defiled by the Charles City Road to fall on the Federal flank. Magruder, following the route to Williamsburg, was to attack their rear; and Jackson, recrossing the river at Grape-vine Bridge, and then passing Savage Station, was to rejoin Magruder. Lee hoped thus to cut off the enemy's retreat, and capture or destroy the greater part of his army. All the Confederate columns were early on the march; on the 29th Jackson alone, who was obliged to repair the bridge at Grape-vine, could not cross the Chickahominy till the evening.

Lee's arrangements were excellent, but MacClellan had twentyfour hours' advance, which, joined to the nature of the country the two armies had to travel, gave him advantages that no pursuit could deprive him of, however vigorous and well-combined.

Magruder, going through the fortified outposts and positions just abandoned, and passing enormous quantities of war material, chiefly in good condition, arrived at Savage Station towards evening. There the Federal General Sumner's corps was awaiting him. A sanguinary conflict ensued, to which the darkness of night alone put an end. During the night Sumner retreated across the White Oak Swamp, destroying all the bridges in his rear, and all the war-material he could at Savage Station. The Confederates took several hundred prisoners, and found a large number of men killed and wounded in the recent engagement,