Flăñk, side of an army or fleet. Rē′ĭn-fōrce′, to send more soldiers. Mys′tery, a great secret. Pētĭ′tion (pē-tish′-un), a request. Gēn′ius (jēn′-yus), a man of wonderful mind. Ăd′jutañt, a military officer who assists another.
Describe— The battle of Kernstown. The retreat to Swift Run Gap, McDowell, Front Royal, Winchester, Cross Keys, Port Republic. The march to Richmond.
CHAPTER VIII.
A Major-General.
(CONTINUED.)
General McClellan was now on the banks of the Chickahominy river, at one point only six miles from Richmond, with the largest and best equipped army that had ever been raised upon American soil.
His position was a strong one, having the Pāmun′key river on one side and the James on the other, with the marshes of the Chickahominy in front as natural barriers to the assaults of the Confederates. Besides, he had thoroughly fortified his line, which swept in a crescent shape from Meadow Bridge road on the right, across the Chickahominy, to the Williamsburg road on the left—a distance of about fifteen miles.
General Lee now determined to send General Jackson to the rear of the enemy to turn their flank, while General A. P. Hill and Longstreet assailed them in front.
On the evening of the 26th of June, General A. P. Hill advanced upon Mechanicsville and attacked the strong position of the Federals. The latter defended themselves bravely, but at last fell back to their works on Beaverdam creek. The victorious Confederates followed, and an artillery fire was kept up until nine o’clock at night. The attack was renewed at dawn the next morning and raged for hours, when, suddenly, the Federals retreated in haste from their strong position, leaving everything in flames.
Gen. A. P. Hill.
Jackson had come up, turned their flank, and caused them to retire. Generals Hill and Longstreet followed them until about noon, when they found the Federals again drawn up for battle behind Powhite creek, on a ridge whose slope was fortified by breastworks of trees, and whose crest was crowned with batteries of frowning guns.