HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF
THE POTOMAC,
June 7, 1862
- 4.40 p.m.
In reply to your dispatch of 2 p.m. to-day I have the honor
to state that the Chickahominy River has risen so as to flood the entire
bottoms to the depth of 3 or 4 feet. I am pushing forward the bridges in spite
of this, and the men are working night and day up to their waists in water to
complete them. The whole face of the country is a perfect bog, entirely
impassable for artillery, or even cavalry, except directly in the narrow roads,
which renders any general movement either of this or the rebel army entirely
out of the question until we have more favorable weather.
I am glad to learn that you are pressing forward
re-enforcements so vigorously. I shall be in perfect readiness to move forward
and take Richmond the moment McCall reaches here and the ground will admit the
passage of artillery. I have advanced my pickets about a mile to-day, driving
off the rebel pickets and securing a very advantageous position.
The rebels have several batteries established commanding the
débouchés from two of our bridges and fire upon our working parties
continually, but as yet they have killed but very few of our men.
GEO. B. McCLELLAN,
Major-General,
Commanding.
Hon. E. M. STANTON,
Secretary of War.
SOURCES: The War of the Rebellion: A Compilation of
the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies, Series I, Volume
11, Part 1 (Serial No. 12), p. 46
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