May 28, 1862. |
May. |
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hundred and fifty.
At two o'clock the next morning
McClellan telegraphed to the Secretary of War that Porter had gained “a truly glorious victory” with his “magnificent division” --“not a defeat, 28, but a complete rout” --and that he had “cut all but the Richmond and Fredericksburg Railroad.”
He expressed his belief that the Confederates were “concentrating every thing on Richmond,” and that Washington was in no danger; and he told the War Minister that it was “the policy and duty of the Government” to send him “by water all the well-drilled troops available;” as “the real issue” was “in the battle about to be fought in front of Richmond.”
He concluded by saying--“If any regiments of good troops remain unoccupied, it will be an irreparable fault committed.”
1
Having reason for believing that General Anderson, who was specially charged with confronting McDowell, was still at Ashland, McClellan ordered General Sykes's division of regulars to move on the 28th from New Bridge to Hanover Court-House, to be in a position to support General Porter; and, during that and the following day, expeditions went out in various directions to destroy railway and other bridges, for the purpose of obstructing the passage of re-enforcements and supplies to Johnston's army.
The railway bridge over the South Anna was destroyed by a party under Major Williams, and the Richmond and Fredericksburg road was cut. A part of Emory's cavalry, under Captain Chambliss, drove the Confederates from Ashland, and destroyed a railway bridge and broke up the road and the telegraph in that vicinity.
When these raids on the Confederate communications were accomplished, Porter withdrew to his camps with the main army, which was lying quietly on the Chickahominy, the extreme right being at Meadow Bridge.
McClellan had again telegraphed to his superiors, telling of Porter's “complete victories,” speaking of the greater force than he expected before him, and of the risk he was running in moving at all, and declaring--“I will do all that quick movements can accomplish, but you must send me all the troops you can, and leave to me full latitude as to choice of commanders.”
2
Three days afterward there were “quick movements” in the Army of the Potomac.
The skillful and vigilant Johnston had observed with special satisfaction the perilous situation of that army, cut in twain by the Chickahominy, and its commander's almost timid caution, and he resolved, on the 30th,
to strike its portion lying on the Richmond side of the stream, and cut it off before it could be joined by troops on the other side.
He ascertained that Casey's division of Keyes's corps held an advanced position on both sides of the Williamsburg road, half a mile
1 The patient President calmly rebuked the General for his forgetfulness of his own duty in assuming to teach the Government its business, and said--“I am very glad of General F. J. Porter's victory; still, if it was a total rout, I am puzzled to know why the Richmond and Fredericksburg railway was not seized again, as you say you have all the railroads but that. I am puzzled to see how, lacking that, you can have any excepting the scrap from Richmond to West Point. The scrap of the Virginia Central, from Richmond to Hanover Junction, without more, is simply nothing. That the whole of the enemy is concentrating on Richmond, I think cannot be certainly known to you. Saxton at Harper's Ferry informs us that large forces, supposed to be Jackson's and Ewell's, forced his advance from Charlestown to-day. General King telegraphs us from Fredericksburg, that contrabands give certain information that 15,000 left Hanover Junction Monday morning, to re-enforce Jackson. I am painfully impressed with the importance of the struggle before you, and shall aid you all I Can, consistently with my view of due regard to all points.” --Lincoln's dispatch to McClellan, May 28, 1862.
2 McClellan's dispatch to the Secretary of War, May 28, 1862.
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