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− | <html><p>Early after Gen. McClellans arrival | + | <html><p>Early after Gen. McClellans arrival upon the</p> |
− | <p>Peninsula, Gen. Jos. E. | + | <p>Peninsula, Gen. Jos. E. Johnston commanding</p> |
<p>the forces in defence of the Confederate Capital,</p> | <p>the forces in defence of the Confederate Capital,</p> | ||
<p>assisted by Gen. Robt E. Lee, then Presdt. Davis'</p> | <p>assisted by Gen. Robt E. Lee, then Presdt. Davis'</p> | ||
− | <p>Chief of Staff, made a | + | <p>Chief of Staff, made a tour of inspection of the</p> |
<p>defences of Richmond, and both Generals decided</p> | <p>defences of Richmond, and both Generals decided</p> | ||
<p>it unwise to make any serious opposition to the</p> | <p>it unwise to make any serious opposition to the</p> | ||
Line 15: | Line 15: | ||
<p>day could suggest and the lavish wealth of a great</p> | <p>day could suggest and the lavish wealth of a great</p> | ||
<p>and patriotic people bestow, But Gen Magruders</p> | <p>and patriotic people bestow, But Gen Magruders</p> | ||
− | <p> | + | <p>blustering display of his meagre force of scarcely 3000</p> |
<p>men had met with such success and the Union</p> | <p>men had met with such success and the Union</p> | ||
<p>Commander had exhibited such timed caution in</p> | <p>Commander had exhibited such timed caution in</p> | ||
<p>consequence that it was afterwards determined to</p> | <p>consequence that it was afterwards determined to</p> | ||
− | <p>reinforce Gen. Magruder to a large extent, and | + | <p>reinforce Gen. Magruder to a large extent, and move</p> |
<p>the main body down the Peninsula within supporting</p> | <p>the main body down the Peninsula within supporting</p> | ||
<p>distance, Towards Yorktown, and about two miles</p> | <p>distance, Towards Yorktown, and about two miles</p> | ||
<p>in advance of Williamsburg, the Peninsula afforded</p> | <p>in advance of Williamsburg, the Peninsula afforded</p> | ||
<p>favorable opportunities of defence, and across this Neck</p> | <p>favorable opportunities of defence, and across this Neck</p> | ||
− | <p>their | + | <p>their left resting on Queen's Creek, a tributary of the</p> |
− | <p>York river, and | + | <p>York river, and their right, on the James, Gen. Magruder</p> |
<p>had Constructed a series of Earth works, thirteen in Number.</p> | <p>had Constructed a series of Earth works, thirteen in Number.</p> | ||
<p>the most formidable of which was known as Fort Magruder</p> | <p>the most formidable of which was known as Fort Magruder</p> | ||
<p>which was surrounded by a ditch and heavily armed</p> | <p>which was surrounded by a ditch and heavily armed</p> | ||
− | <p>while to the right and left stretched a series of | + | <p>while to the right and left stretched a series of twelve redoubts.</p> |
<p>In front of those works the ground sloped gradually away</p> | <p>In front of those works the ground sloped gradually away</p> | ||
<p>terminating at a distance of some thousand yards in woodland</p> | <p>terminating at a distance of some thousand yards in woodland</p> | ||
− | <p>which for some hundreds of | + | <p>which for some hundreds of yards back had been felled</p> |
<p>so as to form an almost impassible, barrier of trunks and</p> | <p>so as to form an almost impassible, barrier of trunks and</p> | ||
<p>branches, termed in military parlance a slashing</p> | <p>branches, termed in military parlance a slashing</p> | ||
<p>The danger of these formidable works of being flanked</p> | <p>The danger of these formidable works of being flanked</p> | ||
<p>from the York river, had decided Gen. Johnston to occupy them</p> | <p>from the York river, had decided Gen. Johnston to occupy them</p> | ||
− | <p>with a force only | + | <p>with a force only sufficient to hold McClellans advance</p> |
<p>in check until he could more fully secure the safety of his</p></html> | <p>in check until he could more fully secure the safety of his</p></html> |
Latest revision as of 10:36, 1 April 2020
<html>Early after Gen. McClellans arrival upon the
Peninsula, Gen. Jos. E. Johnston commanding
the forces in defence of the Confederate Capital,
assisted by Gen. Robt E. Lee, then Presdt. Davis'
Chief of Staff, made a tour of inspection of the
defences of Richmond, and both Generals decided
it unwise to make any serious opposition to the
advance of the Union Army -- outside of the defences of
Richmond [proper?], Neither of these Generals expected at
that time that the Yorktown defences would present any
serious obstacle to McClellans progress, with his army
of 112 000 men, composed of the [flo...a] and freshness
of the Youth and Manhood of the North and provided
with every equipment which the Military Science of that
day could suggest and the lavish wealth of a great
and patriotic people bestow, But Gen Magruders
blustering display of his meagre force of scarcely 3000
men had met with such success and the Union
Commander had exhibited such timed caution in
consequence that it was afterwards determined to
reinforce Gen. Magruder to a large extent, and move
the main body down the Peninsula within supporting
distance, Towards Yorktown, and about two miles
in advance of Williamsburg, the Peninsula afforded
favorable opportunities of defence, and across this Neck
their left resting on Queen's Creek, a tributary of the
York river, and their right, on the James, Gen. Magruder
had Constructed a series of Earth works, thirteen in Number.
the most formidable of which was known as Fort Magruder
which was surrounded by a ditch and heavily armed
while to the right and left stretched a series of twelve redoubts.
In front of those works the ground sloped gradually away
terminating at a distance of some thousand yards in woodland
which for some hundreds of yards back had been felled
so as to form an almost impassible, barrier of trunks and
branches, termed in military parlance a slashing
The danger of these formidable works of being flanked
from the York river, had decided Gen. Johnston to occupy them
with a force only sufficient to hold McClellans advance
in check until he could more fully secure the safety of his
</html>