SUMNER’S CORPS CROSSING THE OVERFLOWED “GRAPEVINE” BRIDGE TO REINFORCE COUCH AT FAIR OAKS.
From a sketch made at the time.
SUMNER’S MARCH TO REINFORCE COUCH AT FAIR OAKS.
Lieutenant■ Edmund Kirby, Battery I, First U. S. Artillery, says in his official report: “ The roads were almost impassable for artillery, and I experienced great difficulty in getting my guns along. I was obliged at times to unlimber and use the proionge, the cannoneers being up to their waists in water. About 4 30 p. m. I was within three-quarters of a mile of Fair Oaks Station, with three pieces [twelve-pounder Napoleons] and one caisson, the remainder of the battery being in the rear, and coming up as fast as circumstances would permit.”
successful issue of this attack would, it was supposed, drive the enemy from his positions on the heights overlooking Mechanicsville, and probably enable us to force him back into his main line of works. We would then be in position to reeonnoiter the lines carefully, determine the points of attack, and take up a new base and line of supply if expedient.
During the night of the 24th information arrived confirming the anticipation that Jackson was
ised by the land route, so that, on the 18th, I ordered a number of transports, with supplies of all kinds, to be sent up the James, under convoy of the gunboats, so that I might be free to cut loose from the Pamunkey and move over to the James, should circumstances enable me or render it desirable to do so.
The battle of Pair Oaks was followed by storms of great severity, continuing until the 20th of June, and adding vastly to the difficulties of our position, greatly retarding the construction of the bridges and of the defensive works regarded as necessary to cover us in the event of a repulse, and making the ground too difficult for the free movements of troops.
On the 19th Franklin’s corps was transferred to the south side of the Chickahominy, Porter’s corps, reinforced by McCall’s division (which, with a few-additional regiments, had arrived on the 12tli and 13th), being left alone on the north side.
This dangerous distribution was necessary in order to concentrate sufficient force on the south side to attack Richmond with any hope of success; and, as I was still told that McDowell would arrive by the overland route, I could not yet change the base to the James.
It was not until the 25th that the condition of the ground and the completion of the bridges and intrenehments left me free to attack. On that day the first step was taken, in throwing forward the left of our picket-line, in face of a strong opposition, to gain ground enough to enable Sumner and Heintzelmanto support the attack to be made next day by Franklin on the rear of Old Tavern. The
pulsed, and the ground occupied at the beginning of the battle was more than recovered; he had failed in the purpose of the attack. The ground was now so thoroughly soaked by the rain, and the bridges so much injured, that it was impracticable to pursue the enemy or to move either Porter or Franklin to the support of the other corps on the south bank. Our efforts were at once concentrated upon the restoration of the old and the building of new bridges.
On the 1st of June the Department of Virginia, including Fort Monroe, was placed under my command. On the 2d the Secretary telegraphed that as soon as Jackson was disposed of in the Shenandoah, another large body of troops would be at my service; on the 5th, that he intended sending a part of General McDowell’s force as soon as it could return from Front I־ioyal (in the Shenandoah Valley, near Manassas Gap, and about one hundred and fifteen miles northwest of Richmond), probably as many as I wanted; on the lltli, that McCall’s force had embarked to join me on the day preceding, and that it was intended to send the residue of General McDowell’s foree to join me as speedily as possible, and that it was clear that a strong force was operating with Jackson for the purpose of preventing the forces there from joining me.
On the 26th the Secretary telegraphed that the forces of MeDowell, Banks, and Fremont would be consolidated as the Army of Virginia, and would operate promptly in my aid by land.
Fortunately for the Army of the Potomac, however, I entertained serious doubts of the aid prom-
rain fell, inundating the whole country and threatening the destruction of our bridges.
Well aware of our difficulties, our active enemy, on the 31st of May, made a violent attack upon Casey’s division, followed by an equally formidable one on Couch, thus commencing the battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines. Heintzelman came up in support, and during the afternoon Sumner crossed the river with great difficulty, and rendered such efficient service that the enemy was cheeked. In the morning his renewed attacks were easily re-
MAJOK-GENERAL DARIUS N. COUCH, U. S. V.