Here are the portraits of the two military leaders who were conspicuous in
the Confederate attack upon McClellan's camp at Fair Oaks. General D. H.
Hill did most of the fierce fighting which drove back the Federals on the
first day, and only the timely arrival of Sumner's troops enabled the
Federals to hold their ground. Had they failed they would have been driven
into the morasses of the Chickahominy, retreat across which would have
been difficult as the bridges were partly submerged by the swollen stream.
After General Johnston was wounded, General G. W. Smith was in command
during the second day's fighting.
[Illustration: GENERAL G. W. SMITH, C. S. A.]
[Illustration: GENERAL D. H. HILL, C. S. A.]
[Illustration: THE ADVANCE THAT BECAME A RETREAT]
Here, almost within sight of the goal (Richmond), we see McClellan's
soldiers preparing the way for the passage of the army and its supplies.
The soil along the Chickahominy was so marshy that in order to move the
supply trains and artillery from the base at White House and across the
river to the army, corduroy approaches to the bridges had to be built. It
was well that the men got this early practice in road-building. Thanks to
the work kept up, McClellan was able to unite the divided wings of the
army almost at will.
[Illustration: "REGULARS" NEAR FAIR OAKS--OFFICERS OF McCLELLAN'S HORSE
ARTILLERY BRIGADE
_Copyright by Patriot Pub. Co._]
These trained soldiers lived up to the promise in their firm-set features.
Major Hays and five of his Lieutenants and Captains here--Pennington,
Tidball, Hains, Robertson and Barlow had, by '65, become general officers.
From left to right (standing) are Edw. Pendleton, A. C. M. Pennington,
Henry Benson, H. M. Gibson, J. M. Wilson, J. C. Tidball, W. N. Dennison;
(sitting) P. C. Hains, H. C. Gibson, Wm. Hays, J. M. Robertson, J. W.
Barlow; (on ground) R. H. Chapin, Robert Clarke, A. C. Vincent.
[Illustration: CUSTER AND HIS CLASSMATE NOW A CONFEDERATE PRISONER