At  last  we  arrived  and  took  our  places  in  the  outer  line  of
defenses  of  Richmond,  McClellan  at  first  establishing  his
lines  behind  the  Chickahominy — his  base  of  supplies  being
White  House,  on  York  River; — but  he  soon  threw  across,
that  is  to  our  side,  the  Richmond  side,  of  the  Chickahominy
River  and  swamp,  a  considerable  force,  strongly  fortifying
its  position.  Still  it  was  manifest,  or  seemed  to  be,  that  this
force  on  the  Richmond  sjde  was  not  strong  enough,  without
drawing  aid  from  the  other  side,  to  repel  an  attack  by  the  en-
tire army  of  Johnston.  The  water  in  the  swamp  suddenly
rose  and  apparently  cut  off  communication  with  the  other
side.  Seven  Pines  was  an  attack  upon  the  Federal  force  on
the  Richmond  side  of  the  stream  and  swamp,  with  the  view


SEVEN  PINES  AND  THE  SEVEN  DAYS'  BATTLES  89

of  destroying  it  while  it  could  not  be  reinforced  from  the
main  body  beyond  the  stream,  and,  as  is  well  known,  Gen-
eral Johnston  was  struck  down  and  totally  disabled  just  at
the  crisis  of  the  action.
