The Project Gutenberg ebook of History of the United States, Volume 4, by

78 CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION [1862

May 31st, the Confederate General Joseph E. Johnston fell upon the part of McClellan's army south of the river, at Fair Oaks, and in a bloody battle drove it back a mile. McClellan sent re-enforcements across the river, and the retreat was stayed. The lost ground was regained next day, and the enemy driven into Richmond. Johnston having been wounded, General Robert E. Lee was now placed in com­mand of the Army of Virginia, destined to lay it down only at the collapse of the Confederate government.

McClellan waited three weeks for better weather. He also expected McDowell's corps of 45,000, which had been kept near Fredericksburg to defend Washington, but was under orders at the proper time to co­operate with McClellan by moving against Richmond from the north. But Stonewall Jackson came raiding down the Shenan­doah Valley, hustling General Banks be­fore him. Washington was alarmed, and McDowell had to be retained.

Lee boldly took the offensive, and the "Seven Days' Fight" began. June 26th he attacked McClellan's extreme right under Porter, on the north side of the Chickahominy. He was repulsed, but Por­ter fell back farther down the river to Gaines's Mill, there fought all the next day against great odds, and was saved from total rout toward night only by the arrival of re-enforcements.

General Nathaniel P. Banks.

80 CIVIL WAR AND RECONSTRUCTION [1862

Jackson's army from the north had joined Lee's left, and McClellan's communication with York River was in danger. He de­cided to change his base to the James, where he would have placed it at first but for his expectation of McDowell and his desire to connect with him. Everything not transportable, including millions of ra­tions and hundreds of tons of ammunition, had to be destroyed. Five thousand loaded wagons, 2,500 head of cattle, and the re­serve artillery were then set in motion toward the James, protected by the army in flank and rear.

On discovering this movement Lee has­tened to strike. A force was sent to assail the retreating column in the rear; but the bridgeless Chickahominy, guarded by artil­lery, held the pursuers at bay. Lee threw other portions of his army against McClel­lan's right, at Savage's Station on the 29th, at Frazier's Farm on the day following; but the Union troops each time stood their ground till ready and then continued their march.

July 1st found the retreating host concen­trated on Malvern Hill, a plateau a mile and a half long and half as broad, with ravines toward the advancing enemy. Here McClellan planted seventy cannon, rising tier upon tier up the slope, seven heavy siege guns crowning the crest.

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The position was impregnable, but Lee deter­mined to attack. Shortly before sunset his men advanced boldly to the charge, but were mowed down by the terrible concentrated fire of the batteries. The hill swarmed with infantry as well, sheltered by fences and ravines, while shells from the gunboats in James River could reach every part of the Confederate line. Yet not till nine in the evening did Lee let the useless carnage cease. Badly demoralized as the opposing army was, McClellan at midnight withdrew to Harrison's Landing, farther down the James.

General J. E. B. Stuart's Raid upon Pope's Headquarters, August 22, 1862,