To day the army continued its retreat. A
great quantity of all kinds of military
stores are being destroyed, so that our
progress shall not be retarded. At six
P. M. we halted, and encamped for the
night. Gen Sumners Corps engaged the rebs
at Allens farm and after a severe struggle
forced the John Henry’s to retire. Smith’s
div. of the 6th Corps, engaged a portion of
the Rebel Army at Savage Station, and
although they repulsed the rebs. still owing
to a misunderstanding between Gen’s
Sumner and Heintzelman, they barely
escaped capture. Pleasant and very warm.
Battle of Savage's Station and Allen's Farm. Johnson notes the "misunderstanding" between Union General Samuel Peter Heintzelman, 1805-1880, a Mexican War veteran in command of the III Corps who was supposed to block the Williamsburg Road but instead withdrew without notifying General Edward Vose Sumner who had command of the II Corps. William Farrar "Baldy" Smith, 1824-1903, commanded a division of VI Corps in the Peninsula campaign, was probably most noted for constant criticism his superior officers. The Federals safely withdrew but left 2500 sick and wounded behind.
MSS 8493
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