CFIICKAHOMINY, a river in Virginia, rising n.w. of Richmond and running e. between the James and the Pamunkey to the w. line of James City co., where it turns abruptly s., and after a course of about 10 m., joins the James. The surrounding country e. of Richmond is level, and in one section there is a large swamp. On and near the C. in the early years of the civil war occurred many of the most important military movements, skirmishes, and battles—here mentioned in the order of time. In 1862, the peninsular campaign on the part of the union army began with the siege of Yorktown, the objective point being Richmond, to reach which it was necessary that the C. should be crossed. McClellan, on the union side, had 118,000 men when the siege was begun, April 5. On the other side, the confederates had 15,000 men in Yorktown, and about 50,000 more scattered over n. Virginia, all under gen. Joseph E. Johnston. The 6th of May was the day for opening fire upon Yorktown, but on the 4th Johnston left the place, taking guns, baggage, etc., and retreated towards Richmond. On the 5th lie was assailed by Hooker Longstreet, who commanded the rear of the confederates, turned on the defensive just as he had passed Williamsburg. He was met by Hancock's divis ion, and was compelled to abandon his works after 'a sharp fight; but Longstreet held his position long enough to secure the confederate trains from pursuit. This was the battle of Williamsburg. The union loss was 1856 killed and wounded, and 372 missing. The confederate loss was about the same. On the 27th of May occurred the battle of Hanover Court-House, in which the union loss was 53 killed and 344 wounded and missing. The confederate loss must have been much greater, for McClellan's report says there were about 200 of their dead buried by our troops, and 730 prisoners were sent to the rear. The confederates had now concentrated in and around Richmond, where they had 67,000 men. The next fight on the C. was the battle of the Seven Pines, or of Fair Oaks, which took place on the 31st of May, and resulted in a substantial union victory. The confederate leader, gen. Johnston, was severely wounded, and their losses were very heavy, but, as in most cases. no trustworthy report was made of the numbers. The union army lost 890 killed, 3,627 wounded, and 1222 missing. It is well known that the confederates felt this to be a disastrous defeat, and in common with the people of the northern states, they expected that the next move would be the capture of Richmond; but, for reasons concerning which it is to be said only that they were never explained to the general satisfaction of the people in the northern states, McClellan made no demonstration, and soon the almost defenseless city was powerfully fortified under the direction of gen. Robert E. Lee, who had superseded Johnston in the confed
erate command. The fourth of the contests of the C. was the battle of Mechanicsville, .June 26, and was not important in results. The confederates made several attacks upon two union brigades, but filially abandoned the work after losing about 1500 men federal loss, 300. A more important action which occurred ,June 27, is known as the battle of Cold Harbor, or Gaines' Mill; the confederates call it the battle of the Chicks• hominy. Their loss was about 9,500; the union loss, 4,000 killed and wounded, and 2,000 prisoners. The sixth conflict in the neighborhood of the C. is known as the battle of Savage's Station, June 30, and was not an impdrtant affair. The losses were. union, 600; confederate reported at 400. The next was the battle of Frazier's Farm, also June 20, in which there was some sharp fighting, resulting in a union loss of 300 killed and 1500 wounded; and on the other side, 325 killed and 1700wounded. The battle of vern Hill occurred July 1, and involved a union loss of 375 killed and 1800 wounded; and of confederates, 900 killed and 3,500 wounded. All these engagements from June 26 to July 1 cost the federals 1582 killed and 7,709 wounded; and the confederates 3,150 killed and 15,233 wounded. Including prisoners and trussing, the totals of loss were union, 1::::,429; confederate, 19,405. The object, on the part of the confederates, was to relieve Richmond from the threatened siege and capture; and they- succeeded. Near the end of the summer the union armies were withdrawn and combined to form the army of the Potomac. But nearly two years litter there occurred one more (the second) battle of Cold Harbor, when Grant had command. The fight took place June 3, 1864, and was substantially a check of the union advance. The federal losses were about 7,000 in all; the losses on the other side were said to be only half as many. It was at this time that Grant sent to Washington the historical dispatch: " I propose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer."