A paper printed in double leads on its first page a remarkable account
of the stampede:
"For fear of accident on the railroad, the stampeded Congress left
in a number of the strongest and swiftest of our new canal-boats.
The boats were drawn by mules of established sweetness of temper.
To protect our law-makers from snakes and bullfrogs that infest the
line of the canal, General Winder detailed a regiment of ladies to
march in advance of the mules, and clear the tow-path of these
troublesome pirates. The ladies are ordered to accompany the
Confederate Congress to a secluded cave in the mountains of Hepsidan,
and leave them there in charge of the children of that vicinity until
McClellan thinks proper to let them come forth. The ladies will at
once return to the defense of their country."
The President for a brief time was free of his critics.
On May thirty-first, Johnston's army, under the direct eye of Davis and
Lee on the field, gave battle to McClellan's left wing--comprising the
two grand divisions that had been pushed across the Chickahominy to the
environs of Richmond.
The opening attack was delayed by the failure of General Holmes to
strike McClellan's rear as planned.
Pages:
394
395
396
397
398
399
400
401
402
403
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418