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THE TANGLED RETREAT
Through this well-nigh impassable morass of White Oaks Swamp, across a single long bridge, McClella's wagon trains were being hurried the last days of June, 1862. On the morning of the 20th, the rear-guard of the army was hastily tramping after them, and by ten o'clock gad safely crossed and destroyed the bridge. They had escaped in the nick of time, for at noon "Stonewall" Jackson opened fire upon Richardson's division and a terrific artillery battle ensued for the possession of this, the single crossing by which it was possible to attack McClellan's rear. The Federal batteries were compelled to retire but Jackson's crossing was prevented on that day by the infantry.
