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divisions on the spot； and he was too enterprising a general to
await the attack。 Consequently he crossed the Chickahominy； fell
upon one of the Federal divisions and almost destroyed it； and
drove back the whole of their left wing。 The next morning the
battle was renewed； and lasted for five hours。
It was fortunate indeed for the Confederates that the right wing of
the Northern army did not； while the action was going on； cross the
river and march straight upon Richmond； but communication was
difficult from one part of the army to another； owing to the thick
forests and the swampy state of the ground； and being without
orders they remained inactive all day。 The loss on their side had
been 7；000 men； while the Confederates had lost 4；500； and
General Johnston being seriously wounded； the chief command
was given to General Lee； by far the ablest soldier the war
produced。 Satisfied with the success they had gained； the
Confederates fell back across the river again。
On the 4th of June； General Stuart…for he had now been promoted…
started with 1；200 cavalry and two guns； and in forty…eight hours
made one of the most adventurous reconnaissances ever
undertaken。 First the force rode out to Hanover Courthouse； where
they encountered and defeated； first； a small body of cavalry； and
afterward a whole regiment。 Then； after destroying the stores
there they rode round to the Pamunky； burned two vessels and a
large quantity of stores； captured a train of forty wagons； and
burned a railway bridge。
Then they passed right round the Federal rear； crossed the river；
and re…entered the city with 165 prisoners and 200 horses； having
effected the destruction of vast quantities of stores； besides
breaking up the railways and burning bridges。
Toward the end of June McClellan learned that Stonewall Jackson；
having struck heavy blows at the two greatly superior armies
which were operating against him in the valley of the Shenandoah；
had succeeded in evading them； and was marching toward
Richmond。
He had just completed several bridges across the river； and was
ahout to move forward to fight a great battle when the news
reached him。 Believing that he should he opposed by an army of
200；000 men； although； in fact； the Confederate army； after
Jackson and all the available reinforcements came up； was still
somewhat inferior in strength to his own； he determined to
abandon for the present the attempt upon Richmond； and to fall
back upon the James River。
Here his ships had already landed stores for his supply； for the
river was now open as far as the Confederate defenses at Fort
Darling。 Norfolk Navy Yard had been captured by the 10；000 men
who formed the garrison of Fortress Monroe。 No resistance had
been offered； as all the Confederate troops had been concentrated
for the defense of Richmond。 When Norfolk was captured the
Merrimac steamed out to make her way out of the river； but the
water was low； and the pilot declared that she could not be taken
up。 Consequently she was set on fire and burned to the water's
edge； and thus the main obstacle to the advance of the Federal fleet
was removed。
They had advanced as far as Fort Darling and the ironclad
gunboats had engaged the batteries there。 Their shot； however； did
little damage to the defenders upon the lofty bluffs； while the shot
from the batteries so injured the gunboats that the attempt to force
the passage was abandoned。 While falling back to a place called
Harrison's Landing on the James River； the Federals were attacked
by the Confederates； but after desperate fighting on both sides；
lasting for five days； they succeeded in drawing off from the
Chickahominy with a loss of fifty guns； thousands of small arms；
and the loss of the greater part of their stores。
All idea of a further advance against Richmond was for the present
abandoned。 President Lincoln had always been opposed to the
plan； and a considerable portion of the army was moved round to
join the force under General Pope； which was now to march upon
Richmond from the north。
From the commencement of the Federal advance to the time when；
beaten and dispirited； they regained the James River； Vincent
Wingfield had seen little of his family。 The Federal lines had at
one time been withina mile of the Orangery。 The slaves had some
days before been all sent into the interior； and Mrs。 Wingfield and
her daughters had moved into Richmond； where they joined in the
work； to which the whole of the ladies of the town and
neighborhood devoted themselves； of attending to the wounded； of
whom； while the fighting was going on； long trains arrived every
day at the city。
Vincent himself had taken no active part in the fighting。
Magruder's division had not been engaged in the first attack upon
McClellan's force； and although it had taken a share in the
subsequent severe fighting； Vincent had been occupied in carrying
messages from the general to the leaders of the other divisions； and
had only once or twice come under the storm of fire to which the
Confederates were exposed as they plunged through the morasses
to attack the enemy。 As soon as it was certain that the attack was
finally abandoned； and that McClellan's troops were being
withdrawn to strengthen Pope's army； Vincent resigned his
appointment as aide…de…camp； and was appointed to the 7th
Virginian Cavalry； stationed at Orange； where it was facing the
Federal cavalry。 Major Ashley had fallen while protecting the
passage of Jackson's division when hard pressed by one of the
Federal armies in Western Virginia。
No action in the war had been more brilliant than the manner in
which Stonewall Jackson had baffled the two armies…each greatly
superior in force to his own…that had been specially appointed to
destroy him if possible； or at any rate to prevent his withdrawing
from the Shenandoah Valley and marching to aid in the defense of
the Confederate capital。 His troops had marched almost day and
night； without food； and depending entirely upon such supplies as
they could obtain from the scattered farmhouses they passed。
Although Richmond was for the present safe； the prospect of the
Confederates was by no means bright。 New Orleans had been
captured； the blockade of the other ports was now so strict that it
was difficult in the extreme for a vessel to make her way in or out；
and the Northerners had placed flotillas of gunboats on the rivers；
and by the aid of these were gradually making their way into the
heart of several of the States。
〃Are you thinking of going out to the Orangery again soon；
mother？〃 Vincent asked on the evening before setting out on the
march north。
〃I think not； Vincent。 There is so much to do in the hospitals here
that I cannot leave。 I should be ashamed to be living in luxury at
the Orangery with the girls while other women are giving up their
whole time nursing the wounded。 Besid