18. McClellan now formed the design of retiring to a point on the James
below Richmond. Before the movement fairly began, General Lee, on the
25th of June, struck the right wing of the Union army at Oak Grove,
and a hard-fought battle ensued. On the next day another engagement
occurred at Mechanicsville, and the Federals won the field. On the
following morning Lee renewed the struggle at Gaines's Mill, and came
out victorious. On the 29th McClellan's army was attacked at Savage's
Station and again in the White Oak Swamp--but the Confederates were
kept at bay. On the 30th was fought the desperate battle of Glendale,
or Frazier's Farm. On that night the Federal army reached Malvern Hill,
twelve miles below Richmond. General Lee determined to carry the place
by storm. On the morning of the 1st of July the whole Confederate
army rushed forward to the assault. All day long the struggle for the
possession of the high grounds continued. Not until nine o'clock at
night did Lee's columns fall back exhausted. For seven days the roar
of battle had been heard almost without cessation.
19. On the 2d of July McClellan retired with his army to Harrison's
Landing, a few miles down the river; and the great campaign was at an
end. The Federal army had lost more than fifteen thousand men, and the
losses of the Confederates had been still greater.
[Sidenote: Cedar Mountain.]
20. General Lee now formed the design of capturing the Federal capital.
The Union troops between Richmond and Washington were under command of
General John Pope. Lee moved northward, and, on the 20th of August,
Pope retreated beyond the Rappahannock. Meanwhile, General Banks was
attacked by Stonewall Jackson at Cedar Mountain, where nothing but hard
fighting saved the Federals from a rout.
21. Jackson next dashed by with his division, on a flank movement to
Manassas Junction, where he made large captures. Pope then threw his
army between the two divisions of the Confederates. On August 28th and
29th, there was terrible fighting on the old Bull Run battle-ground.
At one time it seemed that Lee's army would be defeated; but Pope's
reinforcements were withheld by General Porter, and on the 31st the
Confederates struck the Union army at Chantilly, winning a complete
victory. Pope withdrew his broken columns as rapidly as possible, and
found safety within the defences of Washington.
[Sidenote: Lee in Maryland.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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