MAJOR-GENERAL FITZ-JOHN PORTER, U. B. V.
As the enemy gave way, the troops were pushed on toward Hanover Court House in pursuit of the fleeing foe and to strike their camp, which I had keen informed was near by, but which was found abandoned. Suddenly the signal officers notified me of a large force attacking our flank and rear, and especially the troops under Martindale. At once the infantry were faced about, and at double-quick step hastened to the aid of their imperiled comrades. McQuade’s brigade, on arriving opposite the contending forces, moved in line to the attack. Butterfield, now in rear as faced about, pushed his brigade through the woods and fell with vigor upon the enemy’s flank. The united attack quickly routed the enemy, inflicting heavy losses in killed and wounded and prisoners. . . .
After the battle of Pair Oaks, during the greater part of the month of June, 1862, the Army of the Potomac, under General McClellan, and the Army of Northern Virginia, under General Lee, confronted each other, east of Bichmond. The two armies were of nearly equal strength. McClellan’s forces, divided by the Chickahominy, were extended south of that stream, from New Bridge to White Oak Swamp, leaving north of the river only the Fifth Army Corps. The Confederate troops faced the Federal army throughout its length, from White Oak Swamp to New Bridge, and thence up the right bank of the Chickahominy, covering the important crossings at Mechanicsville and Meadow Bridge, north of the city. . . .
In the middle of June General McClellan intrusted to me the management of affairs on the north bank of the Chickahominy, and confided to me his plans as well as his hopes and apprehensions. His plans embraced defensive arrangements against an attack from Richmond upon our weak right flank. We did not fear the results of such an attack if made by the forces from Bichmond alone; but if, in addition, we were to be attacked by Jackson’s forces, suspicions of whose approach [from the Shenandoah Valley] were
THE BATTLE OF GAINES’S MILL.
From a photograph of the painting by the Prince de Joinville, 1862, made from personal observation.
Persons represented: 1. Gen. P. J. Porter; 2. Gen. G. W. Morell; 3. Gen. George G. Meade (on horseback in the distance), and the following aides-de-camp : 4. Comte de Pans; 5. Colonel
K ado wit 76 ;׳. Major Hammerstein; 7. Due de Chartres; 8. Captain Mason.
HANOVER. COURT HOUSE AND GAINES’S MILL.
(Continuing “The Peninsular Campaign,” from page 94.)
BY FITZ-JOHN PORTER, MAJOR-GENERAL, U. S. V.
Union Commander at Hanover Court House and Gaines’s Mill.
son’s 25th New York Volunteers and Berdan’s Sharp-shooters), protected by artillery, was sent forward to hold the enemy in check, pending the arrival of Morell, who was slowly pushing along the swampy roads. Cavalry and artillery were sent to the left along the Ashland road, to guard our flank and destroy the railroad and telegraph at the crossing. On Martindale’s arrival he was sent in support of this force, and with it soon became engaged with very persistent opponents. Butterfield was sent to the front, where, deploying in line, he moved rapidly upon the enemy, put them to flight, and captured many prisoners and one cannon and caisson.
a battery of artillery under command of General W. H. Emory. At the same hour Colonel Warren with his brigade moved from Old Church. ... In a pelting storm of rain, through deep mud and water for about 14 miles, the command struggled and pushed its way to Peake’s Station on the Virginia Central Railroad, 2 miles from Hanover Court House, where we came in presence of the enemy.
At once a force of infantry (Colonel C. A. Jolm-
UNDER the direction of General McClellan certain measures for the protection of the right flank of the army in its advance upon Richmond were put in my hands, beginning simultaneously with the march of the army from the Pamunkey. Among these were the clearing of the enemy from the upper Peninsula as far as Hanover Court House or beyond, and, in ease General McDowell’s large forces, then at Fredericksburg, were not to join us, the destruction of railroad and other bridges over the South and Pamunkey rivers, in order to prevent the enemy in large force from getting into our rear from that direction, and in order, further, to eut, the Virginia Central Railroad, the one great line of the enemy’s communications between Bichmond and Northern Virginia.
A portion of this duty had been accomplished along the Pamunkey as far as was deemed prudent by Colonel G. K. Warren’s forces, posted at Old Church, when on the 26th of May, preparatory to an immediate advance upon Richmond, General McClellan directed me to complete the duty above specified, so that the enemy in Northern Virginia, then occupying the attention of McDowell, Banks, and Fremont, could not be suddenly thrown upon our flank and rear nor otherwise strengthen the enemy in Bichmond. I was allowed to adopt my own plans, and to select such additional forces as I deemed necessary.
At 4 a. M. on the 27th General G. W. Morell, commanding the division consisting of J. H. Martin-dale’s, Daniel Butterfield’s, and James McQuade’s brigades, marched from New Bridge preceded by an advance-guard of two regiments of cavalry and
CONFEDERATE RETREAT THROUGH MECHANICSVILLE BEFORE THE ADVANCE OF MCCLELLAN’S ARTILLERY, MAY 24TH.
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