d repulse their assailants. Sudden attacks and attempts at surprise
were naturally expected by the rear-guard at any moment; and against
these usual and unusual precautions had been taken, which would have
satisfied old Frederick himself--that hard-headed old soldier who
dreaded nothing in war but an attack by surprise.

The nature of the country in the neighborhood as well as indeed along
the whole line from the Chickahominy to the James, abounding as it did
in woods and swamps, made it impossible to form extended lines of battle
even at the spot where successful defence and the holding of a certain
position appeared to be the most necessary. Many regiments had not even
room to deploy more than half the length of their proper fronts; and the
full strength of the command could not possibly be brought to bear
against an attacking foe, distributed as it was in knots for miles
across the country.

These natural obstacles, meanwhile, were not disadvantageous to the
rebels. Their superior knowledge of the section, with its numerous minor
swamp-roads, forest-paths and approaches necessarily unknown to the
Union forces, gave them immense advantages, such as they had not been
slow to improve, in corresponding circumstances, during the whole of the
preceding campaign. Aware of these facts, a night attack on Monday might
have been expected by the Federal officers, and the men had slept on
their arms in anticipation of it. But White Oak Swamp had been too
severe a trial of courage and energy; they were not disposed to attack
again before receiving more of the reinforcements steadily pouring
onward from Richmond; and as a consequence the wearied troops had been
allowed to pass the night without disturbance, and they had even
overhauled the remains of rations remaining in their haversacks and made
their scanty and unsavory breakfasts, long before the expected hostile
cloud burst upon them.

It was nearly nine o'clock in the morning when some of the scouts of
Smith's brigade came in and announced the enemy advancing in force. In a
moment after, the rattling rolls of drums and the brazen notes of bugles
resounded among the bivouacs; and with the regimental and national
colors planted at prominent points before arranged, the regiments
formed upon them and took up the positions assigned. Some of the
brigades were hidden in the cornfields adjoining the encampment; some
were drawn up along the lines of fences, affording little protectio