Identifier: historyofamerica002drap (find matches)
Title: History of the American Civil War
Year: 1867 (1860s)
Authors: Draper, John William, 1811-1882
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Publisher: New York, Harper
Contributing Library: Wellesley College Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Boston Library Consortium Member Libraries

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eChickahominy. On the national side, McClellan was withdrawing histrains to the south bank of the Chickahominy. Beforedaybreak he had sent as many guns and wagons as pos-sible over that river, and prepared to retire the troops toa position on its north bank stretching round the bridges,so that their flanks would be secure. In his opinion itwas not advisable to bring them across, as that wouldhave enabled Jackson to interrupt the proposed retreat bypassing the Chickahominy at some of the lower bridgesbefore the national army, with its trains, could reach Mal-vern. Porters train crossed successfully over the bridges,and had joined the trains of the troops on the south sidein their movement to James River. The upper bridge,New Bridge, had been destroyed. Stoneman had beensent with a column of cavalry to evacuate the depot atWhite House, and to destroy there, and along the YorkRiver Railroad, whatever could- not be removed. Thegreater part of the heavy guns and wagons having thusII.—C c
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DIAGRAM OF THE RETREAT. Chap. LV.) BATTLE OF THE CHICKAHOMINY. 4Q3 been removed, the delicate operation of withdrawing thetroops which had been engaged at Mechanicsville wascommenced about dawn. They were retired about fivemiles, to Gainess Mill. The new position occupied by Porter was an arc of aposition of the na- circle, covering the approaches to the bridgeswhich connected the right wing with thetroops on the opposite side of the river. The troopswere arranged in two parallel lines, those which had beenengaged on the day before being in the rear of the first.They were all in, position by noon. They were to defendthe bridges in their rear, to cross them in the evening, andthen to destroy them. Shortly after noon the Confederates were discoveredAdvance of the con- approaching in force under A.P.Hill, andvery soon the firing became heavy. Theground over which they were advancing was an openfield, about a quarter of a mile wide, traversed by astream, the sides of which were morasses.

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