Major-General George G. Meade to Margaretta Sergeant Mead, May 29, 1864 – 10 a.m.

South Side of Pamunkey River, Hanovertown,

Headquarters Army Of The Potomac, 10 A. M., May 29, 1864.

We have crossed the Pamunkey, and are now within eighteen miles of Richmond. Lee has fallen back from the North Anna, and is somewhere between us and Richmond. We shall move forward to-day to feel for him. We are getting on very well, and I am in hopes will continue to manoeuvre till we compel Lee to retire into the defense of Richmond, when the grand decisive fight will come off, which I trust will bring the war to a close, and that it will be victory for us.

SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George Gordon Meade, Vol. 2, p. 199

Abraham Lincoln to Major General George B. McClellan, May 24, 1862

MAY 24, 1862 – (From Washington, 24th.)

I left General McDowell's camp at dark last evening. Shields' command is there, but it is so worn that he cannot move before Monday morning, the 26th. We have so thinned our line to get troops for other places that it was broken yesterday at Front Royal, with a probable loss to us of one regiment infantry, two companies cavalry, putting General Banks in some peril.

The enemy's forces under General Anderson now opposing General McDowell's advance have as their line of supply and retreat the road to Richmond.

If, in conjunction with McDowell's movement against Anderson, you could send a force from your right to cut off the enemy's supplies from Richmond, preserve the railroad bridges across the two forks of the Pamunkey, and intercept the enemy's retreat, you will prevent the army now opposed to you from receiving an accession of numbers of nearly 15,000 men, and if you succeed in saving the bridges you will secure a line of railroad for supplies in addition to the one you now have. Can you not do this almost as well as not while you are building the Chickahominy bridges? McDowell and Shields both say they can, and positively will, move Monday morning. I wish you to move cautiously and safely.

You will have command of McDowell, after he joins you, precisely as you indicated in your long dispatch to us of the 21st.

A. LINCOLN,

President.

Maj. Gen. GEORGE B. McCLELLAN.

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. 30

From Gen. McClellan’s Army

WHITE HOUSE, Va., [May] 17.

To Edward M. Stanton, Sec’y of war:

The combined army and naval expedition went some 25 miles up Pamunkey river to-day, and forced the rebels to destroy two steamers and some 20 schooners.  The expedition was admirably managed.  We have advanced considerably to-day.  The roads are improving.

(Signed)

G. B. McCLELLAN.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Tuesday Morning, May 20, 1862, p. 2

From McClellan’s Army

CUMBERLAND, VA., May 4.

Gen. McClellan’s head-quarters were established here yesterday, and are now pleasantly located on the banks of the Pamunkey river.  The main body of the army is rapidly concentrating at the point designated by the Commanding General.

A contraband who arrived from Richmond, states that between that city and Chickahominy river, a distance of 17 miles, the enemy are encamped in large force, awaiting the arrival of the army of the Potomac.

As the rebels fall back they drive before them most of the cattle, sheep and hogs, leaving only such things as they cannot move.

Explosions were heard yesterday in the direction of the Chickahominy, which are supposed to have been caused by the blowing up of the railroad bridge.

– Published in The Davenport Daily Gazette, Davenport, Iowa, Friday Morning, May 16, 1862, p. 1

Head Quarters, Army of the Potomac, May 29 [1862]

A bridge 500 feet long over the South Anna Creek, a tributary of Pamunky River, on the line of the Richmond, Fredericksburg and Potomac R. R. was burned to-day by the 6^th Cavalry.  This cuts off all communication by railroad between Richmond and Jackson’s command.

The 5^th cavalry went to Ashland, 18 miles from Richmond on the same road and burned all the enemy’s Commissary and Quartermasters supplies stored there.  This is a serious loss to the Rebels.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 31, 1862, p. 3

McClellan’s Army Still Advancing

WHITE HOUSE, Va., May 17 – To Hon. E. M. Stanton, Secretary of War – The combined army and naval expedition went some 25 miles up Pamunky [sic] River to-day, and forced the rebels to destroy two steamers and some twenty schooners.  The expedition was admirably managed.  We have advanced considerably to-day.  The roads are improving.

(Signed)  GEO B McCLELLAN

WHITE HOUSE, Va., May 18 – From the correspondence of the Associated Press, we learn that the advance guard of our forces on the main road to Richmond, via Bottom Bridge, drove the enemy across Chickahominy River yesterday.  Our troops on arriving at the bridge which is fifteen miles from Richmond, found it on fire and were opened upon by a rebel battery.  No one injured.  We expect considerable difficulty in crossing here, as the country is low and swampy.  Our advance from this point must be necessarily slow, there being no river transportation, and every available obstruction placed in our way by the rebels.

The Richmond Dispatch of the 12th, in an article on the evacuation of Norfolk and Yorktown, and the conduct of the War, says, “by abandoning detached points which it is impossible to defend, we concentrate powerful forces and are enabled to baffle the enemy in every attack of vital importance.”  This paper mentions a terrible panic in Richmond on Friday on the approach of our gunboats.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 4

McClellan’s Advance – Erroneous Reports – A Grand Review

White House Cor. (14^th) N. Y. World.

There is grave reason to complain of some of the statements of the Associated Press, which cause incorrect and prejudicial opinions to be formed in regard to the doings and advance of the army.  For instance, the dispatch published on the 12^th, dated New Kent Court House, May 10, leads the public to believe that our army was then within twenty-two miles of Richmond, whereas, even now, the 14^th, the advance guard is still twenty-seven miles distant form that city, and the main body five or six miles farther – New Kent Court House is likewise thirty miles from Richmond, instead of twenty-seven; and the reconnaissance alluded to as having taken place on Saturday by the Eighth Illinois cavalry did not occur until Sunday afternoon, and was in a direction Southeast, toward the Chickahominy, distant at that point eight miles, and resulted in finding Jones’ Bridge destroyed, and the enemy on the opposite side in considerable force.  Stoneman pushes the advance with great vigor, but the Associated Press, in reporting progress more rapidly than is actually the case, does great injury; for people set it down that the army was then and there at such a time, and wonder and grumble at what they conceive to be a delay, when the army is actually performing the work they have been informed was long ago accomplished.

Correspondence same, Cumberland 15^th.

A ride down here (to Cumberland Landing) through the rain yesterday afternoon, brought me in just at the close of a grand review of the “Reserve,” under command of Gen. Fitz John Porter, in presence of Secretary Seward and Gen. McClellan.  The honorable Secretary rode with Gen. Porter along the solid and unwavering columns, and was greeted with terrific cheers.  He expressed his admiration of the high discipline and excellent spirits of the men, and paid a marked compliment to this corps, which holds the issue of the coming contest in its hands. – They and their commander are worthy of their trust.

This place is now made a depot of supplies, and will probably be the main point on the Pamunky [sic] for this purpose.  There is a good landing and plenty of room in the channel, with ample water.  The river bears fourteen feet of water at White House, but the channel is narrow and crooked.  The Quartermaster’s depot will be established here, the express office arrived to-night, and the Old Point boats leave daily at seven A.M., Stopping at West Point and Yorktown.  Ship Point and Cheeseman’s are once more sunk in their original obscurity.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 2

Contrasts & etc.

Contrasts --- Gen. McClellan --- Somebody Blundered at Williamsburg – Our Advance – Military Jealousies – The Commander, The President, and the Secretary of War – Battle of York River – Obstruction of the Pamunkey – Maps.

CAMP AT ELTHAM, NEW KENT CO., VA,

SUNDAY, May 11^th, 1862.

Last Sunday the army was convulsed with excitement. Thousands of armed men were plunging onward in pursuit of a flying enemy.  Away off in the distance there was a sound of angry tumult, arising from the swamps and forests.  To-day, how serene and placid the scene!  Beautiful fields arrayed in living green, a calm, blue May sky, fragrant breezes from the Sunny South cooling the heated atmosphere, and the voice of praise and of prayer rising from the midst of embattled hosts.  But all this is the calm which presages the dreadful storm. * * *  The word comes that Gen. McClellan is coming into camp, and there is a grand rush to see him.

GEN. M’CLELLAN HERE.

The General paid this army a flying visit, halting temporarily at Gen. Sedgwick’s headquarters.  The troops greeted him with the heartiest enthusiasm.  I believe I commit no impropriety in stating that I am satisfied that the great battle is almost at hand.  It may take place before this is printed.  The enemy have evacuated every point connecting with Richmond, for the purpose of giving battle on the Chickahominy.  Their central point is at Bottom Bridge and the Chickahominy, on the perimeter of a semicircle formed by the meandering of the stream.  They are supposed to be protected from blank attacks by the creeks and deep swamps.  General McClellan did not express an opinion respecting the numbers of the enemy, but remarked “they are on the Chickahominy in force.”  The lowest estimate of their numbers, by careful commanders, is one hundred and twenty five thousand, but there are sound reasons for placing the number at one hundred and fifty thousand – of whom, perhaps, fifty thousand are new conscripts.  Our videttes are already in close juxtaposition with their outposts.

Yesterday afternoon two of our gunboats ascended the Pamunkey to White House, some seventeen miles above this camp, and about seven above and to the right of New Kent Court House, at the point, I am informed, where the Richmond and York River Railway crosses the Pamunkey.

OUR ADVANCE.

Gen. Stoneman also advanced to that point last night, meeting and driving before him a considerable force of rebels, killing five, wounding a number, and taking some prisoners, two of his men being killed and three wounded. – Our troops have gone forward to-day, and the whole army is disposed within supporting distance of the front.  This general fact would be presupposed.  I state it to calm any apprehensive inquiry that might be made.  I may say, likewise, that the General seems cheerful and confident, and since the battle of Williamsburg, he relies upon his volunteers to obey orders and emulate their leaders.

CABALS.

In infer from certain mysterious expressions among military men, that somebody blundered at Williamsburg, but the utterances are so cabalistic that I doubt the propriety of venturing an opinion.  Decision of character and consistency of purpose seem to have been the deficiencies of which compliant is made.  I am not competent to decide whether such insinuations are justifiable or whether they are the utterances of military cabals.  I sometimes fear that Old West Point and Young West Point do not agree.  As Young West Point has done so well, generally, in this war, my predictions are rather favorable to them.  Yet, I would rather not know so much about military collisions among our own officers.  While I dwell upon this point the reader will pardon me for submitting that the Secretary of War does not appear to be sustaining Gen. McClellan as he ought, otherwise he would not send exhausted or incompetent Brigadiers to the Commander, when he deserves a more vigorous and better qualified class of officers.  Just here, I would also remark that the special friends of Gen. McClellan are striving to widen the breach between the Secretary of War and himself, by representing that it was the former who subdivided the army into corps, for the purpose of crippling the latter.  Now, I think that my authority for saying that this was President Lincoln’s work is indisputable.  You will have observed, probably, that the N. Y. Herald is prone to couple the President and General McClellan as fides achate, and to mention the latter and the War Secretary as bitterly antagonistic.  Here are wheels within wheels.  I shall not be accused of an attempt to widen any breach or of puffing anybody who does not merit praise, but I shall be as just as I can to all concerned, no matter who is hurt.

BATTLE OF WILLIAMSBURG.

I do not know whether the casualty list at Williamsburg will be published or not, but I know that our loss was about 2,500.  The rebel loss was greater.  They captured some of our pieces, and we recaptured all but four of them, and some of theirs, leaving a handsome balance in our favor.  This bloody victory ought to satisfy the public that the evacuation of Yorktown was a fortunate event for us, and that the rebels are not irretrievably demoralized.  The truth is not always agreeable but in the long run it is the best principle.

THE BATTLE OF YORK RIVER.

There are further developments about the affair of Wednesday last.  It appears that Gen. Gustavus Smith was in command of the rebels and that Gen. Whiting led his own brigade. – Gen. Joe Johnston was also on the field and had a powerful force in reserve.  We were not fast enough to accomplish all we desired and intended, and our troops made a lucky escape.  Had the rebels pushed us, they might have destroyed an entire division.  The risk was too great, however, and they could not know how far to venture.  Readers who have followed my sketch of the siege of Yorktown will have observed that it has cost our army at least 3,000 brave men to clear the peninsula.  It has cost the rebels more, if that is any satisfaction, besides stores and a hundred pieces of artillery, large and small.

OBSTRUCTION OF THE PAMUNKEY.

Officers of the gunboats report that thirty five schooners were sunk in Pamunkey by the rebels to obstruct the transit of our flotilla, but they proved inefficient, our boats passing them as easily as if no obstructions had been planted.  If James river is blockaded in a similar manner the city of Richmond may be approached in a similar manner, the city of Richmond may be approached by boats drawing eight feet of water.

MAPS.

The popular war maps, including Lloyd’s railway map, mislead all who refer to them for geographical information.  In the latter the Richmond and York River Railroad is laid south of the Pamunkey, running through the town of New Kent Court House.  The road really runs north of the river from West Point to White House, seven miles beyond Kent C. H., where it crosses the river.  The turnpike runs almost due west from West Point to Richmond, but whether the army will march on that line is a question which I cannot determine.   W. D. B.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 24, 1862, p. 2

From McClellan’s Division

CUMBERLAND, Va., May 14. – Gen. McClellan’s Headquarters were established here yesterday, and we are now pleasantly located on the banks of the [Pamunkey] river.

The main body of the army is rapidly concentrating at the point designated by the Commanding General.

A contraband who arrived from Richmond, states that between that city and the Chickahominy river, a distance of some eleven miles, [the] enemy are encamped in large force, where they expect to await the arrival of the Potomac army.  As the rebels fall back they drive before them most of the cattle, sheep, and hogs, leaving only such things as they cannot move.

Explosions were heard yesterday in the direction of the [Chickahominy], which are supposed to have been caused by blowing up the Railroad bridge.

– Published in The Burlington Weekly Hawk-Eye, Burlington, Iowa, Saturday, May 17, 1862, p. 3