THE PENINSULAR CAMPAIGN.

‘79

WHITE HOUSE , THE HOME OE GENERAL W. H,P. LEE, MCCLELLAN'S BASE OP SUPPLIESON THE PAMUNKEV.

FROM SKETCHES MADE AT THE TIME.

On the 19th Franklin’s corpswas transferred to the south sideof the Ohickahominy, Porter’s

corps, I'eenforced

McCall’s

RUINS OF THE WHITE HOUSE , WHICH WAS BURNED JUNE28, DURING THE “ CHANGE OF BASE.”

division (which, with a few ad-ditional regiments, had arrived on the 12th and 13th), being left alone onthe north side.

This dangerous distribution was necessary in order to concentrate sufficientforce on the south side to attack Richmond with any hope of success; and,as I was still told that McDowell would arrive by the overland route, I couldnot yet change the base to the James.

It was not until the 25th that the condition of the ground and the comple-tion of the bridges and intrenchments left me free to attack. On that daythe first step was taken, in throwing forward the left of our picket-line, inface of a strong opposition, to gain ground enough to enable Sumner andHeintzelman to support the attack to be made next day by Franklin onthe rear of Old Tavern. The successful issue of this attack would, it wassupposed, drive the enemy from his positions on the heights overlookingMechanicsville, and probably enable us to force him back into his main lineof works. We would then be in position to reconnoiter the lines carefully,determine the points of attack, and take up a new base and line of supply ifexpedient.

During the night of the 24th information arrived confirming the anticipa-tion that Jackson was moving to attack our right and rear, but I persisted inthe operation intended for the 25th, partly to develop the strength of the