HANOVER COURT HOUSE AND GAINES’S MILL

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protection behind his intrenchments with the possibility of being able toremain there, and the gain of sufficient time to enable him to effect a changeof base to the James; on the part of Lee, the destruction of McClellan ’s rightwing, and, by drawing him from his intrenchments and attacking him infront, the raising of the siege of Richmond.

The morning of Thursday, June 26th, dawned clear and bright, givingpromise that the day would be a brilliant one. The formation of the groundsouth of the Chickahominy opposite Mechanicsville, and west to MeadowBridge, largely concealed from view the forces gathered to execute an evidentlywell-planned and well-prepared attack upon my command. For some hours,on our side of the river, all was quiet, except at Mechanicsville and at thetwo bridge-crossings. At these points our small outposts were conspicuouslydisplayed for the purpose of creating an impression of numbers and of anintention to maintain an obstinate resistance. We aimed to invite a heavyattack, and then, by rapid withdrawal, to incite such confidence in the enemyas to induce incautious pursuit.

In the northern and western horizon vast clouds of dust arose, indicatingthe movements of Jackson’s advancing forces. They were far distant, and wehad reason to believe that the obstacles to their rapid advance, placed in theirway by detachments sent for that purpose, would prevent them from makingan attack that day. As before stated, we did not fear Lee alone; we did fearhis attack, combined with one by Jackson on our flank; but our fears wereallayed for a day.

General McClellan ’s desire to make the earliest and quickest movements atthat time possible, and his plans for the accomplishment of that desire, as