THE SECOND BATTLE OF BULL RUN.

453

FROM A PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN SINCE THE WAR.

§§f§i|

mu.

NmAmf.

/y/.A'y;

Wm

»* ' |

mm

that would be likely to result from it; I urged upon him that he send ordersto General McClellan , if he were unable to maintain his position on the Chick-ahominy, and were pushed by superior forces of the enemy, to mass his wholeforce on the north side of that stream, even at the risk of losing some of hismaterial of war, and endeavor to retire in the direction of Hanover CourtHouse, but in no event to retreat farther south than the White House on thePamunkey River. I told the President that by the movement to the JamesRiver the whole army of the enemy would be interposed between General Mc-Clellan and myself, and that they would then be able to strike in either direc-tion as might seem most advantageous to them; that this movement wouldleave entirely unprotected, except so far as the small force under my commandcould protect it, the whole region in front of Washington, and that it would