MYTH-BUSTING IS JOB ONE !! Although the most pre-eminent American historians of the Civil War, such as Stephen W. Sears, have boldly asserted otherwise, it falls to the nondescript Editor of YANKEE SCOUT to speak the word of truth, that there really never were any actual “Gates of Richmond.” Indeed, a review of Sears’ recent book, To the Gates of Richmond: the Peninsular Campaign, (2014) does not actually identify any such gates anywhere, and so I think that the book’s title is considerably misleading on that particular point. I was looking for more gates. Furthermore, while on that topic, the Editor of YANKEE SCOUT deems Mr. Spears’ deployment of numerous dashes on the first page of the Introduction to his book – where he often and repeatedly references Richmond’s “gates” as if while panting -- to be misleading. I would refer Mr. Spears to no less an authority than Dr. G.P. Quackenbos, Ll.D., in his Advanced Course of Composition and Rhetoric; A Series of Practical Lessons (1875), and especially the master Quackenbos’ Lesson XXVI -- THE DASH -- (see p. 131) available here -- https://archive.org/details/advancedcoursec09quacgoog IN ACTUAL FACT, Richmond, of course, being an American municipality, and not one of those Old Country cities, had no “gates” to speak of … although there were a couple of toll-roads leading into town from the north, and these had makeshift wooden toll-booths. I speak of course of the tollgate there on the Brook Turnpike, just about a mile in front of Bow’s battery, and the tollgate near the old Jacob’s place, also about a mile out of town, in front of Talley’s battery on the Mechanicsville Pike!! Find them on John C. Babcock’s Map Exhibiting the Approaches to the City of Richmond. Those are the only real “Gates of Richmond”: https://www.loc.gov/item/99448488/

2. THE
GRAND ARMY OF THE
POTOMAC IS NOW BEFORE …
The Grand Army of the Potomac,
under the command of Gen. Geo B. McClellan
is now far advanced up the Middle Peninsula, yea – verily almost
without trying –
for so rapidly and so far did the entire Confederate Army flee the battlefield,
collapsed at the hands of two Yankee Regiments, the 5th
Wisconsin and the 6th
Maine,
whose fame will endure for ay,
[See the Last Issue of YANKEE SCOUT -- Williamsburg - Aftermath!! – Ed.]
that Gen, McClellan’s Army has arrived without incident at the place known as Seven Pines …
a scant seven miles outside of the “Gates” of Richmond….. or
“GATES OF HELL” is more like it.
For so is it called in Holy Writ, in the Book of Chronicles (Red Letter Edition)1
, to wit:
1. Now, there was great destitution in the land of Dixie, for many of the fields were laid waste, and
merchantmen brought no supplies from afar for fear of the ships that Abraham had sent upon the sea.
2. And there arose a famine in the land, and the famine was grievous to the people, so that they clamored
for bread,
3. Saying unto the Rulers and the rich men, give us to eat or we perish, both we and our little ones.
4. And they arose in many cities, and cried out mightily, saying, we will have whereof to eat.
5. Now Richmond was a proud city, and full of sin, even like unto Babylon of old, or like unto the cities
of the plain.
6. For in that city, Jefferson had his throne, and his wicked ministers dwelt there.
7. And some said, surely Richmond is the main gates of Hell, and the black entrance thereof; but others
said, nay, of truth, Charlestown is the main gate, but Richmond is the trap door that leadeth unto
darkness, and unto the place of brimstone.
8. And the famine prevailed in Richmond, and the poor arose, crying for bread, saying, give us meat this
day, or we perish …..
1
See, Allen M. Scott, Chronicles of the Great Rebellion, from the Beginning of the Same to the Siege of Vicksburg,
p. 260 (Cincinnati, 1864) https://archive.org/details/chroniclesofgrea00scotrich CAVEAT LECTOR: Do not
mistake Scott’s Chronicles of the Great Rebellion for the more secular chronicle of a very similar title, viz.,
Thompson Westcott’s Chronicles of the Great Rebellion against the United States of America … (Philadelphia.
1865)https://archive.org/details/chroniclesofgrea00inwest -- the finely detailed chronologically arranged compilation
which was referenced at length back in YANKEE SCOUT – Monitor vs. Merrimack!!

3. Although the most pre-eminent American
historians of the Civil War, such as
Stephen W. Sears, have boldly asserted
otherwise, it falls to the nondescript
Editor of YANKEE SCOUT to
speak the word of truth, that there
really never were any actual
“Gates of Richmond.” Indeed,
a review of Sears’ recent book,
To the Gates of Richmond:
the Peninsular Campaign,
(2014) does not actually
identify any such gates
anywhere, and so I think that
the book’s title is considerably
misleading on that particular
point. I was looking for more
gates. Furthermore, while on
that topic, the Editor of
YANKEE SCOUT deems Mr.
Spears’ deployment of numerous
dashes on the first page of the
Introduction to his book – where he
often and repeatedly references
Richmond’s “gates” as if while panting -- to
be misleading. I would refer Mr. Spears to no
less an authority than Dr. G.P. Quackenbos, Ll.D.,
in his Advanced Course of Composition and Rhetoric; A
Series of Practical Lessons (1875), and especially the master
Quackenbos’ Lesson XXVI -- THE DASH -- (see p. 131) available here --
https://archive.org/details/advancedcoursec09quacgoog
IN ACTUAL FACT, Richmond, of course, being an American municipality, and not one of those Old Country
cities, had no “gates” to speak of … although there were a couple of toll-roads leading into town from the north, and
these had makeshift wooden toll-booths. I speak of course of the tollgate there on the Brook Turnpike, just about
a mile in front of Bow’s battery, and the tollgate near the old Jacob’s place, also about a mile out of town, in front
of Talley’s battery on the Mechanicsville Pike!! Find them on John C. Babcock’s Map Exhibiting the Approaches
to the City of Richmond. Those are the only real “Gates of Richmond”: https://www.loc.gov/item/99448488/

4. For McClellan’s Army forces – a full complement of loyal volunteers under the best West Point-educated officers
corps, all fully equipped an admirably trained -- when they do indeed reach Richmond -- they can expect these
Richmond defensive works to be of far more serious construction than were, say, the Confederate defenses at
Yorktown !! for instance. There, the 6th
Maine Regiment assigned to reconnaissance duty under Col. Cyrus B.
Comstock had a clear view from Wynn’ Mill right over the rebel defensive works – and could even see their
abandoned camp behind the entrenchments – the troops were out in the field drilling !! It’s no wonder, that on
April 6, 1862, the 6th
Maine went “over the top” to take this Confederate camp !! Why wait?
Wynn’s Mill – view of fortifications and barracks as seen April 9th
1862,
from J.G. Barnards, Report of the Engineer and Artillery Ops…. (1863)
But this was not McClellan’s plan! McLellan’ plan rather, called for
the Union Army troops to NOT ATTACK and to do nothing
effective when the opportunity was available, although he was under
direct orders from President Lincoln to move immediately. See,
YANKEE SCOUT – Yorktown!! So, you will recall, that Lt. C.B.
Comstock had to order the 6th
Maine back after it began to engage the
foe. Thus, Comstock’s engineering reconnaissance does not even
qualify as a skirmish, by Civil War standards: it’s more like a
“sighting.” And it could readily be dismissed, as counting for nothing
whatever, in terms of military consequences. But when considered as
troop training with live ammunition, or as an intelligence gathering
operation with all the benefits associated with totally unnerving the
Confederate enemy in his own camp, maybe there’s something to it.
In other words, Pvt. Drew & the 6th Maine has just learned the
potential effectiveness of sudden surprise, for disorienting the enemy
by storming his fortifications, and making him scramble amongst his
own entrenchments! Rebs can skeer easy. That’s useful knowledge.