326

HANOVER COURT HOUSE AND GAINES’S MILL.

west of Mechanicsville to Meadow Bridge, were instructed, if attacked orthreatened by superior forces, to fall back by side approaches to the rearof Reynolds, at the upper crossing, thus leaving the main approaches open tothe fire of their artillery and infantry defenders.

North from Meadow Bridge to the Pamunkey Federal cavalry pickets keptvigilant watch, and protected detachments who were felling timber in orderto obstruct the roads against the rapid march of any force upon the flankor rear of the right wing.

Cooke’s cavalry, near Cold Harbor, guarded the right rear and scoutedtoward Hanover Court House, while Morell’s and Sykes’s divisions were con-veniently camped so as to cover the bridge-crossings and to move quickly toany threatened point.

Such was the situation on the 24th of June, when, at midnight, GeneralMcClellan telegraphed me that a pretended deserter, whom I had that daysent him, had informed him that Jackson was in the immediate vicinity, readyto unite with Lee in an attack upon my command. Though we had reasonto suspect Jackson’s approach, this was the first intimation we had of hisarrival; and we could obtain from "Washington at that time no further con-firmation of our suspicions, nor any information of the fact that he had leftthe front of those directed to watch him in Northern Virginia .

Reynolds, who had special charge of the defenses of Beaver Dam Creek andof the forces at and above Mechanicsville, was at once informed of the situa-tion. He prepared to give our anticipated visitors a warm welcome. Theinfantry division and cavalry commanders were directed to break camp atthe first sound of battle, pack their wagons and send them to the rear, and,with their brigades, to take specified positions in support of troops alreadyposted, or to protect the right flank.

On the 25th the pickets of the left of the main army south of the Chicka-hominy were pushed forward under strong opposition, and, after sharp fight-ing, gained considerable ground, so as to enable the Second and Third Corps(Sumner’s and Heintzelman’s) to support the attack on Old Tavern which itwas intended to make next day with the Sixth Corps (Franklin’s). The resultof the fighting was to convince the corps commanders engaged that therehad been no reduction of forces in their front to take part in any movementupon our right flank.

Early on the 26th I was informed of a large increase of forces opposite Rey-nolds, and before noon the Confederates gave evidence of their intention tocross the river at Meadow Bridge and Mechanicsville, while from our cavalryscouts along the Virginia Central Railroad came reports of the approach fromthe north of large masses of troops.

Thus the attitude of the two armies toward each other was changed. Yes-terday, McClellan was rejoicing over the success of his advance toward Rich-mond , and he was confident of reenforcement by McDowell. To-day, all theunited available forces in Virginia were to be thrown against his right flank,which was not in a convenient position to be supported. The prizes now to becontended for were: on the part of McClellan , the safety of his right wing,