207
FORT MAGRUDER AND OTHER CONFEDERATEEARTH -WORKS IN FRONT OF WILLIAMSBURG.FROM SKETCHES MADE MAY 6, 1862.
our last interview, seems to me torequire no modification.” This isthe interview called “ inconclu-sive.” Mr. Davis says:
“ After the repulse of the enemy’s gun-boats at Drewry’s Bluff [May 15th, 1862],I wrote to General Johnston a letter to be handed to him by my aide, Colonel G. W. C. Lee.. . . I soon thereafter rode out to visit General Johnston at his headquarters, and was
surprised, in the suburbs of Richmond , ... to meet a portion of the light artillery, andto learn that the whole army had crossed the Chickahominy ” [II., 103].
The army crossed the Chickahominy immediately after the affair ofDrewry’s Bluff. So that if Colonel Lee delivered a letter to me then, he ofcourse reported to the President that I had crossed the river. And as thearmy’s nearest approach to Richmond was on the 17th, his meeting with thelight artillery must have occurred that day.. So one cannot understand hissurprise.
He says on the same page:
“ General Johnston’s explanation of this (to me) unexpected movement was, that he thoughtthe water of the Chickahominy unhealthy. . . . He also adverted to the advantage of hav-
ing the river in front rather than in the rear of him.”
The army crossed the Chickahominy because the possession of JamesRiver by the enemy suggested the probability of a change of base to thatriver. And it was necessary that we should be so placed as to be able tomeet the United States army approaching either from York River or along theJames. Water was not considered, for we did not use that of the Chicka-