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[117] of the position; and during the night, Longstreet retired to join the body of Johnston's army, now rapidly marching towards the Chickahominy.1 While the action before Williamsburg was going on, General Franklin was embarking his division for the purpose of ascending the York River by water. This was accomplished on the following day, and on the morning of the 7th he had completed the disembarkation of his division opposite West Point, on the right bank of the Pamunkey, a short distance above where that river empties into the York. But on attempting to advance, Franklin was met by the Confederate division of Whiting, whose presence, and a spirited attack of Hood's Texas brigade, served to hold Franklin in check. The operations here described, constituting the pursuit of the Confederates (which really ended at Williamsburg), are open to criticism. The pursuit was made on two lines, by land and by water, and Johnston skilfully disposed his echelons to meet both advances. The move by water, which was the most promising, since it menaced the enemy's flank, was not made in sufficient force, and presented merely the character of a detachment on the Confederate rear,—a species of operation which is seldom successful. Besides, it started too late and arrived too late.2 It could be of no avail, unless supported by the whole army coming from Williamsburg.3 But there was no assurance that this could be, for the existence of the defences of Williamsburg, where the Confederates were sure, if need be, to make a stand, was known.4
1 ‘At half-past 3, A. M., of the 6th, the pickets reported that the enemy appeared to be evacuating the works in front. At sunrise, these strong works were in the possession of my division, and Heintzelman's corps subsequently moved out and occupied Williamsburg.’ Couch: Report of Williamsburg.
2 The Confederates evacuated Yorktown on the night of May 3-4. Franklin's division had just been disembarked from the transports, so that re-em barkation was necessary, and it did not start till the morning of the 6th, and did not make the landing near White House till the morning of the 7th.
3 Schalk: Campaigns of 1862-3, p. 169.
4 Barnard: Report of Engineer Operations, p. 63.
1866.
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