58 THE ARMY OF THE FC TOMAC. through the narrow country roads ; and notwithstanding the rain which had educed these roads to a deplorable condition, lie readied the upper York river two days after the battle of Williamsburg, in time to engage the troops of Franklin, then just disembarked, and so complete the protection of his retreat. We were next to meet him before Richmond. The federal tinny passed three clays at Williamsburg looking up tlie wounded who were scattered through the woods, and burying the dead. The wounded were sent off by water to the North on board of those large steamboats which are so famous for their comfort and their elegance. Thanks to the creeks which cut up the whole country, these boats, came up and took the wounded almost from the battle Held. As to the dead they were buried where they lay. On the side of the enemy they were numerous; we counted sixty-three in a single rille-pit. General McClellan sent a few squadrons in pursuit of the enemy, and these horsemen had several passages at arms with the rear guard. The first day many prisoners were taken and eight cannon ; but after the second day the retreat became orderly and the pursuit almost purposeless. Moreover, if the enemy lost some of his gnus, he carried off an almost equal number, captured from Hooker’s division, which were used as trophies to kindle a zeal already somewhat cooled by his long and continued retreats. The mass of the federal troops was detained by the necessity of waiting for provisions from Y'orktown, the arrival of which was retarded by the state of the roads. They came at last, and as the line weather dried the roads np very fast, a two days’ march brought us up with the corps which had disembarked and e abli.-hed a depot at the head of York river. The whole army was collected around this Rint and then resumed its march to Richmond along the Pamunkey, a navigable afllu- ent of the York'. Nothing cotdd be more picturesque than this military march along the banks of a fine stream through
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