7'2 THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC. favorable to any dashing enterprise. “ If we could but be attacked and have a defensive battle,” I often heard it said, “ the day would be half Avon.” This wish was granted. The enemy was the first to attack'. On the olst of May he put an end to all uncertainties and speculations as to the best way ot gutting at him In- throwing himself boldly, with all his forces, upon the army of the Potomac. The bloody conflict Avhich raged on that day and the next lias received the name of the battle of Fair Oaks. At the time when this attack was made, the federal army occupied a position in the form of a letter V. The base of the V rests upon Bottom Bridge, where the railway crosses the Chickahominy. The left arm follows tins railway and the Williamsburg road towards Biclunond. Here lay the left wing, formed of four divisions, echelmmed one behind the other, between Savage’s Station and Fair Oaks, and encamped in the Avoods on either sielc of the raihvay. The right arm of the V folloAvs the left bank of the river. Here lay the right wing, consisting of live divisions and the reserves. To pass from one end to the other of these tAvo wings, one must have crossed the river at Bottom Bridge, and the distance would ha\le been something like 15 miles. As the ci'Oav flies, the distance, on the contrary, was small, but the Chickahominy floAved betAveen the two arms of the \ . It Avas to miite those tAvo arms that three or four bridges across the river Averc commenced, one alone of which avus lit for use on May 31st. It had been built by general Sumner, about half way between Bottom Bridge and the most advanced point of the federal lines. It saved that day the whole federal army from destruction. The other bridges were ready, but could not be thrOAvn across the stream. This fact saved the Confederate army. The strength of the enemy was thrOAvn against the left wing The advance of this Aving lay at Fair Oaks, a station on the York river road, and nt Seven Pines, a point on the
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