University of Virginia Library

BATTLE OF MECHANICSVILLE.

General Johnston had been severely wounded at Seven Pines, and
General R. E. Lee was now in chief command of the Confederate forces
around Richmond. General McClellan had recently assumed the command
of the army of the Potomac, then concentrated on the banks of the
Chickahominy.

In order that the reader may better understand the movements now
to be noticed he should study carefully the geography of the Tidewater
district of Virginia. By an inspection of the map it will be seen that

the Chickahominy river has its source in the north-western portion of
Henrico county, whence it flows in a south-western direction—its course
in the neighborhood of Richmond closely resembling the arc of a circle—
until it reaches the south-eastern portion of Charles City county, where
it suddenly turns to the south and flows into the James, about seventy-five
miles below Richmond. Mechanicsville is situated on the northeast
bank of this river, distant five miles from Richmond, and marks the
point of McClellan's nearest approach to that city.

At the time of the engagement a portion of the Federal army had
crossed the Chickahominy and held a fortified position on the Williamsburg
road, but far the greater portion lay on the north side, the line extending
many miles up and down the stream.

It was at 3 P. M. Thursday, June 26th, that Major-General Jackson—
flushed with recent victories in the Shenandoah Valley—took up his
line of march from Ashland and proceeded south-east through the country
lying between the Chickahominy and Pamunkey rivers. Brigadier-General
Branch, crossing the former, directed his march so as to form a
junction with the corps of General A. P. Hill. Jackson kept well to
the Pamunkey until he reached the village of Raleigh, when he turned
suddenly to the west and attacked the fortified Federal position at
Mechanicsville; at the same time General Hill with a force of fourteen
thousand joined in the attack, and, after a short but desperate contest,
night settled down upon the scene, both armies holding their position,
but under cover of darkness the Federals withdrew and fell back down
the river to Powhite swamp.

Friday morning dawned clear and bright, and the sun arose to shed
his rays upon such a scene as had not yet been witnessed on this continent.
The way had been cleared at Mechanicsville, and General Longstreet's
corps d' armée, composed of his veteran division of the Old Guard
of the Army of the Potomac and General D. H. Hill's command, emerged
from the forest on the south side of the Chickahominy and crossed that
river. A general advance on the part of the Confederates now began;
the command of General A. P. Hill in the centre marching in the direction
of Cold Harbor; Generals Longstreet and D. H. Hill on the right,
proceeding down the Chickahominy, and the veteran Jackson marching
far to the left, but converging toward the river.

The position of the Federal army was now a peculiar one: that portion
lying south of the river was confronted by the command of General
Magruder, while that on the north side had fallen back to a new line
of defenses, and here McClellan had decided to make a decisive battle.

Jackson's arrival at Cold Harbor was announced by the roar of his
guns, which was the signal of battle, and in compliance with that signal
the forces of Generals Lee, Longstreet, A. P. Hill and D. H. Hill
were simultaneously engaged. From four o'clock until eight, the battle
raged with terrible fury, and a wonderful display of daring and intrepidity
on the part of the Confederates. At last the Federals gave

way, and night covered the retreat of their broken and shattered lines
to the south bank of the Chickahominy.

A memorable part of the day's fighting was that known as the