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-enemy opposite our left and center, and with the design of attacking OldTavern on the 26th, if Jackson’s advance was so much delayed that Porter’s■corps would not be endangered.
Late in the afternoon of the 25th, Jackson’s advance was confirmed, and itwas rendered probable that he would attack next day. All hope of the ad-vance of McDowell’s corps in season to be of any service had disappeared;the dangerous position of the army had been faithfully held to the lastmoment. After deducting the garrisons in rear, the railroad guards, non-combatants, and extra-duty men, there were not more than 75,000 men forbattle. The enemy, with a force larger than this, the strong defenses ofRichmond close at hand in his rear, was free to strike on either flank. Idecided then to carry into effect the long-considered plan of abandoningthe Pamunkey and taking up the line of the James.
The necessary orders were given for the defense of the depots at the WhiteHouse to the last moment and its final destruction and abandonment; it wasalso ordered that all possible stores should be pushed to the front while com-munications were open.
The ground to the James had already been reconnoitered with reference tothis movement.
During the night of the 26th Porter’s siege-guns and wagon-trains werebrought over to the south side of the Chickahominy. During the afternoonof that day his corps had been attacked in its position on Beaver Dam Creek,near Mechanicsville, and the enemy repulsed with heavy losses on their part.It was now clear that Jackson’s corps had taken little or no part in this attack,and that his blow would fall farther to the rear. I therefore ordered the FifthCorps to fall back and take position nearer the bridges, where the flankswould be more secure. This was skillfully effected early on the 27th, and itwas decided that this corps should hold its position until night. All the corpscommanders on the south side were on the 26th directed to be prepared tosend as many troops as they could spare in support of Porter on the next day.All of them thought the enemy so strong in their respective fronts as torequire all their force to hold their positions. ☆
Soon after the appearance of General Mc-Clellan 's article the following letter was receivedfrom the daughter of General Heintzelman :
“In ‘The Century’for May, 1885, General Mc-■Clellan has an article, ‘ The Peninsular Campaign,’in which there are one or two misstatements inregards to the Third Corps, commanded by Gen-eral Heintzelman. Fortunately my father’s papers,which are in my possession, contain replies toboth allegations,— one in the handwriting ofGeneral Heintzelman’s adjutant-general, and theother the rough draft of a letter addressed to Gen-eral Lorenzo Thomas , then Adjutant-General of thearmy. General McClellan says [see above] :
“ ‘ All the corps commanders on the south side were■on the 26th directed to he prepared to send as manytroops as they could spare in support of Porter on thenext day. All of them thought the enemy so strong intheir respective fronts as to require all their force to■hold their positions.’
“ Upon the demand for troops General Heintzel-man replied as follows:
“ ‘ Headquarters Third Corps, 4 r. m„ June 26, 1862.General Marcy, Chief of Staff: I think I can hold theintrenchments with four brigades for twenty-four hours;that would leave two (2) brigades available for serviceon the other side of the river, but the men are so tiredand worn out that I fear they would not be in a condi-tion to fight after making a march of any distance. . . .S. P. Heintzelman, Brigadier-General.’
“ This is far from being a statement that allhis forces were required to hold his own lines.
“General McClellan says [see p. 183] :
“‘Meanwhile, through a misunderstanding of hisorders, and being convinced that the troops of Sumnerand Franklin at Savage’s Station were ample for thepurpose in view, Heintzelman withdrew his troops dur-ing the afternoon, crossed the swamp at Brackett’sFord, and reached the Charles City road with the rearof his column at 10 p. m.’
“When the same statement was first made in