CHAPTER IX.
Williamsburg.—Condition of the Roads.—Pamunkey River.—Contrabands.—Arrival of General Franklin.
The retreat of the enemy left Williamsburg in our possession. No place in the Old Dominion is fraught with more historic interest than this city, it having been the first incorporated town in the State; the Capital until 1769, and the seat of the Royal Government prior to the revolution of 1776. It is now the Capital of James City County, situated midway between the James and York Rivers, sixty miles east of Richmond and sixty-eight north-west of Norfolk. Among other public buildings is the Insane Retreat, which in years past has been one of the most popular institutions of the kind in the country. The College of William and Mary, founded here in the time of King William, is, next to Harvard, the oldest literary institution in the United States, having been projected during the year 1693. King William gave it an endowment of twenty thousand dollars and twenty thousand acres of land, together with a revenue of a penny a pound on tobacco exported from Virginia and Maryland. Other endowments were afterwards added. The College buildings, churches, and many private dwellings were used as hospitals for the confederate wounded.
WILLIAMSBURG, V.
Insane Asylum. William and Mary College.
After a delay of three or four days, in order to bring up supplies, the army resumed the march Friday May 9th, for the Chickahominy. The Thirty-third broke camp early in the morning, and proceeding through Williamsburg, bivouacked for the night, at “Burnt Ordinary,” a small hamlet some fifteen miles beyond. The next day it moved on again, encamping near New Kent Court House.
It was near this point that Gen. Stoneman had overtaken the rear guard of the fleeing enemy, who were drawn up in line of battle with a section of artillery to receive him. Evidences of the conflict were seen on every hand, and many of our own and the rebel wounded were scattered about in the neighboring farm-houses. While tarrying here, the roar of Gen. Franklin’s artillery at West Point, seven miles away, could be distinctly heard, and the result of the battle, which was made known the next day, increased the buoyancy and confidence of our troops.
Owing to the rains, passage of trains, and steady tramp of men, the roads had now become reduced to a terrible condition. Scattered all along the route, were gun-carriages, caissons, ambulances and supply wagons, stuck fast in the mud or lying disabled by the road-side. Horses and mules, either dead or dying from exhaustion, were seen every few rods, and the ground was strewn with guns, cartridge-boxes, knapsacks and clothing, which the fleeing enemy had cast aside. Nearly two weeks time were occupied in reaching the Chickahominy, between forty and fifty miles distant from Williamsburg. Smith’s division resumed the march again on the 10th, reaching “Cumberland Court House” the same day, and remained there until the 13th, when it proceeded towards “Cumberland Landing,” on the Pamunkey River.
A beautiful—and after the long and tedious march exhilarating—sight here met the eye. Stretching far away to the left and front was a vast plain, variegated with green pastures, and field after field of cereals yellowing into maturity. To the right the tortuous Pamunkey appeared, skirted with dense forests and rich pasture lands, and bearing upon its sluggish waters Federal transports of every description. For the first time in a twelvemonth, vessels flying the stars and stripes were pursuing its serpentine course. No sooner had the order been given to halt and stack arms, than the soldiers began to scatter in every direction, some to bathe in the river, others to enjoy a siesta under the shade trees, or indulge in a pipe of the royal weed, that never failing solace for a soldier’s griefs.
Reports of every description concerning operations elsewhere were served up to the troops here; one to the effect that Gen. Brooks with his whole brigade had been captured, another that we had made prisoners of Gen. Magruder and most of his force. The further we advanced the more filled the air became with these
“Flying rumors gathering as they rolled.”
Moving five miles up the river, Col. Taylor’s command encamped in a large clover-field, on the old Custis estate, at present in the possession of Gen. Fitzhugh Lee, of the rebel cavalry service. On every side were magnificent fields of grain, into which the jaded horses and lank cattle were turned loose.
Ruin of R. R. Bridge at White House, over the Pamunkey.
Here for the first time the men began to find negroes scattered around on the plantations, whom, owing to their rapid flight, the rebels had not driven before them. Several of these contrabands were appropriated by the officers, and remaining with the regiment through its various campaigns, came home with their new “Masters.” Among this number was a comical specimen of the race, who, on being approached as he stood huddled together with a squad of fifty or more, and asked by Sergeant Windchip if he “would not like to see the north,” replied, “God bless you, massa, don’t care if I do.” Then turning to his fellow contrabands, he took a most affectionate as well as droll adieu—the tears coursing down his ancient cheeks—broke away from the sobbing “brothers and sisters” and “fell into line.”
Upon reaching the White House, which was merely a landing on the river, the left wing of the Regiment was detailed for picket duty, along with a detachment under command of the Lieut.-Col. of the Seventy-seventh New York. The orders were to proceed as far as a certain Court House, and connect with Gen. Brooks’ pickets on the left. After marching some two miles and a half, on what was supposed to be the right road, they were suddenly brought to a halt by rebel cavalrymen, who fled rapidly on being fired at. A few moments reconnoitring served to convince the Lieutenant-Colonel that the picket lines did not extend in that locality. So deploying his men in a wheat-field, he returned to head quarters to ascertain its whereabouts. They remained here until near dark, when an Aid came out and ordered them into camp. The laugh over this fruitless search of eight hours after our picket line became intensified, when it was afterwards ascertained that the force had proceeded full a mile beyond our outer or cavalry pickets.
The band serenaded Gen. McClellan one evening, when he sent an Aid to extend his compliments to the regiment. There was a perfect forest of masts here; government transports constantly arriving and departing, and on every side was seen the ceaseless activity which marks an active campaign.
Gen. Franklin soon reached this point and assumed charge of the 6th corps, to which Gen. Smith’s Division was assigned. Prior to that time it had been in Gen. Keyes’ corps and comprised a portion of the left wing of the army. But this change brought the Division on the extreme right. Monday, 19th, the Brigade moved up the river six miles, and halted on the farm of an Æsculapian rebel, whom his contrabands described as suddenly seized with the gout on our approach. The boys designated this place as “Camp Onion,” owing to the quantities of this odoriferous vegetable which were hawked through the encampment. Saturday, May 21st, the march was resumed, the division proceeding to within eleven miles of Richmond.
CHAPTER X.
BATTLE OF MECHANICSVILLE.
Two days later Gen. Stoneman pushed forward with cavalry and artillery, on a bold reconnoissance toward the rebel capital. Gen. Davidson’s Brigade followed, as a support, the rest of the Division remaining behind. About four o’clock in the afternoon, the General fell in with the enemy—“Howell Cobb’s Brigade”—who retreated after a few shots had been exchanged. Stoneman again moved forward, halting for the night just east of Beaver Dam Creek, and the Brigade, crossing over, took up position on an elevated spot, and slept on their arms. This creek is a narrow, muddy stream, emptying into the Chickahominy.
A part of the Thirty-third were employed on picket duty until the next morning, being stationed in close proximity to the rebels. At daybreak the infantry pushed on towards Mechanicsville; General Stoneman with the cavalry proceeding further to the right. Three companies of the Thirty-third acted as the advance guard, and were deployed as skirmishers. When within two hundred yards of Mechanicsville, the rebels, who had fallen back during the night, were discovered drawn up in the principal street, and in a neighboring grove. The skirmishers immediately opened upon them, when taking refuge in buildings and behind walls, they returned the fire.
The whole Brigade now moved up on both sides of the road, and two sections of Wheeler’s battery were got into position, and commenced tossing shell into the village. This placed the skirmishers between two fires, and for a time, they were nearly as much exposed to our own as the rebels. One had his canteen perforated by a piece of shell thrown from the Union battery, another had a part of his shoe taken away. The firing of the rebel cannoniers, at first slow, became very rapid and accurate as the battle progressed. One solid shot passed between Major Platner and Captain Guion, as they stood conversing together. A second whizzed close by the head of Colonel Taylor’s horse, and a third striking the roll of blankets strapped on behind a horseman, threw them high into the air. Every one held their breath for a moment, supposing that it was the rider himself, but he escaped unharmed.
The guns were afterwards removed to the right of the skirmishers, and a section of flying artillery posted on the left. A heavy fire was now concentrated on the buildings in which the confederates had concealed themselves, soon causing an exodus on their part, and the whole force commenced falling back in the direction of Richmond. Seeing this, Gen. Davidson ordered a charge, when the Thirty-third and Seventy-seventh gallantly charged down upon the place, driving everything before them.
MECHANICSVILLE, VA.
Large numbers of knapsacks and blankets which the rebels had thrown away in their flight were picked up in the streets. They were most of them marked “Rome (Ga.) Light Guards.” Guns, equipments, blankets, and other materials of war, were likewise found in large quantities. Nearly all the houses were more or less pockmarked with shot and shell. The Mayor’s residence, an elegant mansion, had been struck seventeen different times. Those of the inhabitants who had not fled, were found packed away like sardines, in cellars and other places of refuge. They were very much frightened, and not until repeatedly assured that we would not harm them, could they be prevailed upon to come out.
After taking possession of the village, a line of skirmishers was thrown out half a mile on the Richmond road. Detachments of the Thirty-third, Seventh Maine, and five companies of cavalry were left in charge of the town. They were relieved upon the following day, and rejoined their regiments on the Beaver Dam, to which the Brigade had returned after the engagement. Some members of Company E discovered a grist mill here, and spent most of the night in grinding corn, and making hoe-cake.
Gen. Stoneman had in the meantime proceeded several miles to the right, and accomplished the object of the expedition by destroying the Richmond and Fredericksburg railroad bridge over the Chickahominy.
With one exception this was the nearest point attained to Richmond during the entire Peninsular campaign. Gen. Hooker, after the battle of Fair Oaks, followed the fleeing enemy to within less than four miles of their capital.
That it could then have been taken had General Davidson’s brigade been reinforced and permitted to proceed, is a truth which admits of no denial. There were no rebel forces between Mechanicsville and the city, with the exception of those driven from the former place, they being concentrated on the left of our lines. There were no fortifications of any extent on that side of the capital, as the attack was expected to be made from the other direction. The approaches were all left open, and the appearance of this single brigade of “Yankees” struck terror to the rebels, who inferred that all was lost.