July 5, 1862 (Saturday): Perhaps He Underates Gunboats

Harrison's Landing (Lower Left), Ridge (Top), Herring Creek (Upper L to R)

RICHMOND, July 5, 1862.
R. E. LEE, General, &c.:
    GENERAL: I have this moment received yours of yesterday, with sketch of the position occupied by the enemy near to the mouth of Herring Creek.*
    It is a hard necessity to be compelled to allow him time to recover from his discomfiture and to receive re-enforcements, but under the circumstances it must be regarded as necessary.
I fully concur with you as to the impropriety of exposing our brave and battle-thinned troops to the fire of the gunboats while attacking a force numerically superior and having the advantage of so strong a position as that held by the enemy.
    f further reconnaissance should show ground to the north of the Charles City road, which commands the ridge on which that road is located, we might send to you at least the two heavy guns which are on traveling carriages, so as to enable you to open fire on the enemy's batteries from a point beyond the effective range of his navy guns, or if a diversion, by engaging the gunboats from the south side of James River, would afford you an opportunity to attack the enemy in his present position, that might be done by sending some of Holmes' batteries to open fire on the first passing vessel at a point below Herring Creek, so as to draw the fleet in that direction. To do this effectually would require powerful batteries, with strong supports.
General Holmes, whom I saw last night at his headquarters below Drewry's, expressed a wish to go down on the south side of James River and open fire on the enemy's encampment. His experience on the Potomac has perhaps led him to underrate gunboats. He has ordered General Martin to join him with two regiments from Kinston, and spoke of drawing one regiment from Wilmington.
    The Secretary of War has called for men to fill up the vacancies in the ranks of your army, and every effort will be made to hasten them forward.
    The quartermaster-general assures me that all practicable means are employed to repair the railroads, especially the Virginia Central.
    My office work fell behind while I was in the field, but no public interest, I hope, was seriously affected.
    I will direct Colonel Gorgas to send to you some burning shells, with the hope that you can use them against the enemy's encampments and perhaps his boats, or in the event of night operations they may serve to guide as well as to conceal your advance.
     If there should be anything which you think would be more promptly or certainly executed by my personal attention you must not hesitate to ask for it.
     Before closing I will renew my caution to you against personal exposure either in battle or reconnaissance. It is a duty to the cause we serve for the sake of which I reiterate the warning. Colonel Custis Lee is much better.
    Very respectfully and truly, your friend,


JEFFERSON DAVIS.

*Not found.

Official Records, Series I., Vol. 11, Part 3, Page 632.

The relationship of Davis and Lee was the polar opposite of Lincoln and McClellan.  Lee was deferential to Davis and managed to express his opinions in such a way as to be forthright without causing Davis offense.  Here Davis speaks of the intense desire the Confederates had to attack McClellan in his camps along the James and also the realization the gunfire support of the Union fleet made direct assaults impractical. McClellan surely was in a bottle, with his massive army penned behind Herring Creek protected by gunboats (which apparently did not strike fear into T.H. Holmes).  The ridge spoken of commands Charles City Road somewhat, but not by a decisive amount.