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Chickahominy some three miles to New Bridge.
Then, crossing this stream, it bent south and ran to White Oak Swamp, where the left rested, giving about four miles on the south side in a line convex toward Richmond, and scarcely six miles away at its nearest point.
In observation of McDowell at Fredericksburg was Gen. J. R. Anderson at Hanover Junction with about 9000 men; and near Hanover C. H. was Branch's brigade, about 4500.
Johnston directed that these forces should be drawn behind the Chickahominy, on our left, and united into a new division under A. P. Hill.
Before this could be accomplished, however, Branch was attacked by Morell's division and Warren's brigade of Porter's corps, and was forced back with a loss of about 300 killed and wounded, and 700 prisoners, the enemy reporting 62 killed, 223 wounded, and 70 missing, total 355.
At Fredericksburg, McDowell's column was at last joined by Shields, who had been detached from Banks in the Valley, and on May 26 McDowell was put in motion.
In the forenoon of the 27th notice of his advance reached Johnston, who at once recognized that he must now attack before McDowell could unite with McClellan.
The latter had moved so cautiously as to offer no favorable opportunity until his last move which had put his army astride of the Chickahominy.
That presented as fair a chance as Johnston could now expect.
So he immediately determined to attack on the 29th.
As McDowell was approaching behind the enemy's right, his strongest effort would be made to crush that flank.
On the 28th Johnston got his troops into position to attack at dawn on the 29th. Three of his seven divisions (Whiting's, A. P. Hill's, and D. R. Jones's) were to attack Porter's corps at Beaver Dam.
The other four divisions on the south side of the Chickahominy (McLaws's, Longstreet's, D. H. Hill's, and Huger's) would be held in observation, ready to cross when Porter's corps was driven back.
Everything was in readiness by sundown on the 28th, when further news was received.
McDowell had suddenly stopped his advance, and his troops seemed to be falling back toward Manassas.
What had happened was that Jackson had again broken loose in the Valley and
1907.
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