Battle of Mechanicsville, or Ellison's Mill,
Gen. Robert E. Lee, who had been recalled from
Georgia, was placed in command of the Confederate army led by
Johnston, after the latter was wounded (see
fair Oaks, battle of). He prepared to strike
McClellan a fatal blow or to raise the siege of
Richmond.
He had quietly withdrawn
Jackson and his troops from the Shenandoah Valley, to have him
suddenly strike the right flank of
McClellan's army at
Mechanicsville and uncover the passage of that stream, when a heavy force would join him, sweep down the left side of the
Chickahominy towards the
York River, and seize the communications of the Army of the Potomac with the
White House.
McClellan did not discover
Jackson's movement until he had reached Hanover Court-house.
He had already made provision for a defeat by arrangements for a change of base from the
Pamunkey to the
James River; and when, on the morning of June 25, 1862, he heard of the advance of
Jackson on his right, he abandoned all thought of moving on
Richmond, took a defensive position, and prepared for a retreat to the
James River. On the right side of the
Chickahominy General Porter was posted with 27,000 men and ten heavy guns in battery.
At 3 P. M., on the 26th,
Gen. A. P. Hill crossed the river and drove a regiment and a battery at
Mechanicsville back to the main line near Ellison's Mill, where the Nationals were strongly posted.
There, on a hill,
McCall's Pennsylvania Reserves were posted, 8,500 strong, with five batteries.
These, with a part of
Meade's brigade, were supported by regulars under
Morell and
Sykes.
General Reynolds held the right, and
General Seymour the left, and the brigades of
Martindale and
Griffin were deployed on the right of
McCall.
In the face of these formidable obstacles, and a heavy fire of infantry and artillery, the leading brigades of
Hill advanced, followed by
Longstreet's, and moved to the attack.
They massed on the
National right to turn it, expecting
Jackson to fall upon the same wing at the same time; but this movement was foiled by
Seymour.
A terrific battle ensued.
The Confederates were hurled back with fearful carnage.
At 9 P. M. the
battle of Mechanicsville, or Ellison's Mill, ceased.
The loss of the Nationals was about 400; that of the
Confederates, between 3,000 and 4,000.
By this victory
Richmond was placed at the mercy of the
National army; but
McClellan, considering his army and stores in peril, prepared to transfer both to the
James River.
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