Woodbury's Bridge on the Chickahominy. Little did General D. F. Woodbury's
engineers suspect, when they built this bridge, early in June, 1862, as a
means of communication between the divided wings of McClellan's army on
the Chickahominy that it would be of incalculable service during battle.
When the right wing, under General Fitz John Porter, was engaged on the
field of Gaines' Mill against almost the entire army of Lee, across this
bridge the division of General Slocum marched from its position in the
trenches in front of Richmond on the south bank of the river to the
support of Porter's men. The battle lasted until nightfall and then the
Federal troops moved across this bridge and rejoined the main forces of
the Federal army. Woodbury's engineers built several bridges across the
Chickahominy, but among them all the bridge named for their commander
proved to be, perhaps, the most serviceable.
[Illustration: A VAIN RIDE TO SAFETY]
During the retreat after Gaines' Mill, McClellan's army was straining
every nerve to extricate itself and present a strong front to Lee before
he could strike a telling blow at its untenable position. Wagon trains
were struggling across the almost impassable White Oak Swamp, while the
troops were striving to hold Savage's Station to protect the movement.
Thither on flat cars were sent the wounded as we see them in the picture.
The rear guard of the Army of the Potomac had hastily provided such field
hospital facilities as they could. We see the camp near the railroad with
the passing wagon trains in the lower picture. But attention to these
wounded men was, perforce, secondary to the necessity of holding the
position. Their hopes of relief from their suffering were to be blighted.
Lee was about to fall upon the Federal rear guard at Savage's Station.
Instead of to a haven of refuge, these men were being railroaded toward
the field of carnage, where they must of necessity be left by their
retreating companions.
[Illustration: THE STAND AT SAVAGE'S STATION