THE ADVANCE AGAINST RICHMOND: A Successful Expedition Up the Pamunkey River; Gen. McClellan Only Fifteen Miles from the Rebel Capital (5/19/1862)

New York Times - Times Machine ^ | 5/19/1862

[Homer_J_Simpson]

HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE POTOMAC,

WHITE HOUSE, May 17 -- 10 30 P.M.

Hon. E.M. Stanton, Secretary of War:

A combined naval and army expedition, under Capt. MURRAY, U.S.N., with troops and artillery under Major WILLIARD and Capt. AYRES, of the army, went some twenty-five miles up the Pamunkey River to-day, and forced the rebels to destroy two steamers and some twenty schooners. The expedition was admirably managed, and all concerned deserve great credit.

We have advanced considerably to-day.

The roads are now improving.

GEO. B. MCCLELLAN, Major-General.

WHITE HOUSE, Va., Sunday, May 18.

The advance guard of our forces on the main road to Richmond by way of Bottom's Bridge, drove the enemy across the Chickahominy River at that point, yesterday morning.

When our troops arrived within half a mile of the bridge, which is burned, they were opened upon by a brisk fire of artillery from the opposite side of the river. No one was injured.

This bridge is fifteen miles from Richmond. At this point our troops will experience considerable difficulty in crossing, as the country is low and swampy.

A reconnoissance was made yesterday by one of the gunboats with two companies of infantry under Major WILLIARD, and one section of AYRES' Battery, up the Pamunkey River, a distance of 25 miles from here. At a point known as Russell's Landing, they found the steamer Logan, one propeller and fifteen schooners in flames. They were laden mostly with corn, which was being unloaded.

Some contrabands on shore stated that when the rebels heard our gunboats coming they commenced putting the corn on board again, so as to insure its destruction. A few shell soon dispersed the remaining rebels in that locality, when the gunboats returned to the White House.

[Homer_J_Simpson]

Free Republic University, Department of History presents U.S. History, 1861-1865: Seminar and Discussion Forum
The American Civil War, as seen through news reports of the time and later historical accounts

First session: November 21, 2015. Last date to add: May 2025.
Reading: Self-assigned. Recommendations made and welcomed.

Posting history, in reverse order

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Link to previous New York Times thread

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

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[Homer_J_Simpson]

The Advance Against Richmond: A Successful Expedition Up the Pamunkey River – 2-3
Evacuation of Pensacola: The Occupation by the National Forces – 4
Department of the Rappahannock: The Railroad Bridge at Fredericksburgh Completed – 4
The Mountain Department: A Fight at Princetown, in Mercer County, Va. – 4
News from Washington: The New Military Movement in Kentucky – 4-5
The War in the Southwest: Gen. Curtis Rapidly Marching on Little Rock, Ark. – 5
From the Mississippi Flotilla: Rebel Gunboats on a Reconnoisance – 5-6
Southwestern Missouri: Affairs in the Neighborhood of Springfield – 6
A Colored Brigade – 6
Department of the Shenandoah: A Skirmish at Lyndon, on the Manassas Gap Railroad – 6
The Saturday Review on Mr. Russell’s Congé – 6
Editorial: The Reported Naval Repulse near Richmond-Beauties of Official Dispatches – 6-7
Rebel Evacuation of Pensacola – 7
Editorial: The Business of the Week – 7-8

[rbg81]

It was actually a brilliant and daring plan. Too bad that McClellan did not have the stomach to actually execute it aggressively.