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and produced great consternation at
Richmond.
In the mean time the armed vessels had been busy in keeping the river open, and they now engaged in the perilous work of fishing up torpedoes, with which, in places, its channel had been sown.
Notwithstanding the great precautions observed, one of the smaller gun-boats, named
Commodore Jones, was totally destroyed by the explosion of one of these mines under it,
1 by which twenty of its officers and crew were killed, and forty-eight were wounded.
In the mean time
Colonel West, with his cavalry, had made his way across the
Chickahominy to the shore of the
James at
Harrison's Landing, and been taken thence, on transports, to
Bermuda Hundred.
A quick and vigorous movement upon
Petersburg and
Richmond at that time might have resulted in the capture of both cities, for very few Confederate troops appear to have then been in either place.
That fact was unknown by the Nationals, and a wise caution, rightfully exercised, caused a delay fatal to the speedy achievement of such victories, for strength was quickly imparted to both posts.
When the movement of
Butler and the arrival of
Gillmore with troops from
Charleston harbor was first known to the
Confederates at
Richmond,
Beauregard was ordered to hasten from
Charleston to the latter place, with all possible dispatch, with the troops under his command there, others drawn from
Georgia and
Florida, and such as he might gather in his passage through
North Carolina.
He instantly obeyed, and when
General Kautz struck the
Weldon road, as we have seen, he found these re-enforcements for
Lee passing over it. A large portion of them were left south of that cutting,
2 but as
Kautz could not hold the road nor advance toward
Petersburg, he returned to
City Point,
leaving the
Confederates to make their way without further molestation.
Before
Petersburg was seriously threatened by
Butler,
Beauregard's troops were there in strong force.
It was expected that
General Butler's movements, after he should gain a position on the south side of the
James River, and intrench it, should be governed much by those of the Army of the Potomac, with which he was acting as an auxiliary.
It was believed that the latter would march quickly from the
Rapid Anna to the lines before
Richmond, defeating
Lee, or driving him within the intrenchments at the
Confederate capital.
So soon as
Butler should hear the sounds of battle on the north side of the
James, in front of the beleaguered city, he was to move against it on the south side, and in perfect co-operation, and even junction, the two armies were thus to work together.
But the unexpected detention of the Army of the Potomac at The Wilderness, and at Spottsylvania Court-House, compelled
Butler to stand much on the defensive; and in the absence of orders to march on either
Richmond or
Petersburg immediately after seizing
City Point and
Bermuda Hundred, he was forced to be governed by circumstances, and assume grave responsibilities.
He therefore resolved to do what he might
|
The Union Generals. |