Page:The American Cyclopædia (1879) Volume IV.djvu/418

 410 CIIICKAHOMINY erable stream, navigable by small steamers. The military operations of 1862 and 1864 em- braced that portion of the river from Bottom's bridge on the south, where it is crossed by the Williainsburg turnpike, to Meadow bridge,15 m. N. W., where it is crossed by the Fredericks- burg railroad. Richmond lies nearly opposite the centre of this line, about 6 m. from the Chickahominy at its nearest approach. Be- tween these points the river flows through a wooded swamp a few hundred yards wide, from which the land slopes gently up about 100 ft. to the level of the surrounding country. In dry weather the stream is here a mere rivu- let; but a moderate shower fills the channel, which is a dozen yards wide and 4 ft. deep ; a continuous rainfall Hoods the swamp and over- flows the adjacent bottom lands. These are intersected by deep ditches, and even when not overflowed are so soft as to be impassable for cavalry and artillery. The stream was crossed by several rude bridges, and there were here and there fords, accessible only in dry weather. The spring and summer of 1862 were unusually rainy ; the channel was always full to the brim, and every shower flooded the swamp and bot- toms. Infantry might possibly have picked their way in loose order through the swamp ; but horses would have sunk to their girths, and artillery and trains to the axles. An army could cross only by bridges built above the level of the highest floods, and provided with long approaches through the swamps. As a military obstacle the narrow Chickahominy, with its bordering swamps, is more formidable than a broad river which can be crossed by boats, or over which a pontoon bridge may be thrown in a few hours. Early in the spring of 1862 the Union army of the Potomac, under Gen. McClellan, disembarked near Fortress Monroe, with the design of moving upon Rich- mond. The natural approach by the James river was commanded by the confederate iron- clad Merrimack, and it was resolved to march up the peninsula formed by the York and James rivers. This peninsula is about 60 m. long, with an average breadth of 12 m. The lower part is covered with swampy forests, and intersected by sluggish creeks. The roads are few and hardly passable by vehicles. After some trials McClellan decided that he could not move his army directly up the peninsula, but must invest and capture Yorktown, near the mouth of the York river, or rather estuary. Yorktown captured, his base of operations would be at West Point, near the junction of the Pamunkey and Mattnpony, which form the York, whence a railroad runs to Richmond, 80 m. W., crossing the Chickahominy about mid- way. I. WILLIAMSBUBG. The siege of York- town was the initial step in the peninsular cam- paign of 1862. Strong works had been here erected, which were placed under the com- mand of Gen. Magruder, who had at the out- set barely 15,000 men to defend Yorktown, Gloucester point, on the opposite side of the York river, and the line across the peninsula, here about 10 m. broad. But the confederate force in northern Virginia numbered about 50,000, of whom 38,000 were soon transferred to Yorktown, so that by April 17 Gen. J. E. Johnston, who now took the command, had 53,(JOO men, exclusive of cavalry. Against these McClellan had on the 30th 112,000 pres- ent for duty, and 6,000 sick and on special duty. The siege of Yorktown began April 5, and by the close of the month the batteries were nearly completed. The 6th of May was fixed upon as the day when fire was to be opened. But two days before Johnston evac- uated his works, carrying away everything worth taking; his trains and the mass of his troops were well under way toward Richmond hours before their departure was known by the besiegers. The Union cavalry started in pur- suit, and came up with the rear of the enemy, who made a stand near Williamsburg, where some works had been previously erected. Hooker's division soon came up, and on the morning of the 5th commenced a vigorous at- tack, which Avas continued throughout the day by a constantly increasing force. Longstreet, who commanded the confederate rear, had gone beyond Williamsbnrg; but he turned back, and a severe action ensued, which toward even- ing was decided by a brilliant bayonet charge by Hancock's division. The confederates then abandoned their works ; but they had delayed the pursuit long enough for their trains to be beyond reach. The Union loss at the battle of Williamsburg was 1,856 killed and wounded, and 872 missing, more than two thirds of which was in Hooker's division of 9,000 men. The confederate loss is unofficially stated by Gen. Johnston to have been about 1,800; but it was probably considerably larger, for 800 wounded were found next day in the hospitals at Wil- liamsburg, besides many in private houses. "Sickness and the fight at William sburg," says Johnston, " reduced our number by 6,000." McClellan's advance was slow. The right wing kept to the north, striking the Chicka- hominy at New bridge, directly in front of Richmond ; the left, keeping to the south, reached the river at Bottom's bridge, 18 m. below, on May 20. The bulk of the confed- erates were across the stream, and a detach- ment at Mechnnicsville was easily brushed away by an artillery fire. On the 20th a Union division crossed the river, occupied the high ground, and made two reconnoissances, one reaching beyond the Seven Pines to within four miles of Richmond. The enemy was nowhere found in force, and no traces of defensive works were discovered. The two corps of Keyes and Heintzelman were then sent across the river, taking up their position near the Seven Pines. Johnston, in his retreat, had neglected to tear up the railroad from Richmond to the Pamun- key. He had indeed partially destroyed the bridge by which it crossed the Chickahominy ; but by the 26th the road was in operation up