The New York Herald Newspaper, June 4, 1862, Page 2

@ gun to a drumstick or a mu-ket ball, is carried North ‘A few days since I met a fine look~ ing old goutieman who was collecting buitans from our soldiers, who had taken them from rebel uniforms. He mmformed methat already he had obtained over forty varieties. Pieces of the Merrimac are held here in great value, and I have already seen embryo cames made from Thave in my possession a piece on sheathing, which has been grooved to re- ceive the iron straps previous to the pans, It is truly & valuable curiosity. ry Wirific explosion on the morning from the surface of these waters. Now she is gone, the Minnesota has sailed trivmphantly up to the city folk, and her bristling sides now bear upon the yet un- tamed rebels or rebel sympathisers. having been captured two days since off Newbern, N.C., ‘by the United hates steamer State of Georsia alirge quantity of ar on board, and quite a pass as a valuable prize, wader, Sait, collee, soap, &e., ager list—among the number ‘two ladies. As the steamer bes in the outer roads I Bave not been able to get on board; but I learn from one ‘of her crew that she comes here for coal and is bound to He says that the rebels are hourly expect- $ng the arrival ot the Nashville off the coast, but that he js confident that if she does she wil! fall a prize to our All the smuggler’s crew are on board, and will De taken with the yess! to New York. This capture adds another discomiiture to the rebels, and a valuable gum of prize meney to our gallant payal officers and men. T doubt if the British-Souherners will try this game of ‘eing captured much longer. the First Lieutenant of the State of Georgia, Mr. Huxon. The supply steamer Massachusetts arrived here to- en route for the South Atlantic blockading sq took the mails on board (his morning, and will probably Bail during the day. The gunboat Valley City is here. ‘Vhe gunboat Sebago and the transport Ariel arrived with six hundred and seventy-five prisonors orktown, most of whom are from theStates: of South Carolina, Georgia and North Carolina. ‘Were transferred to the It bears the marks ‘The Gordon is in charge of MWCLELLAN’S ARMY. eee IMPORTANT OPERATIONS ON THE PENINSULA. ip Raps, and from thence they ‘will be transferred to the Star of the South, which wili probably start for New York to-night. will be under the guard of Compan: Guard. The following is a list of Captain, W. J. Mcintyre; First Lieutenant, ©.C. Young; Bocond Licutenant, cn oe It is rumored a large Lumber of the prisoners are very Bpxious to take the oath of allegiance but, under exist- ng circumstances, it cannot be done. Between tweaty-live and thirty rebel bridge burners and deserters were brought m this morning from White ‘House, having been captured in the woods by the advance guard of our army. They were men of all ages and ranks, and it was their d place all manner of obstruc- tions in tho way of the reWl army. They lived in the ‘woods, and when an opportunity presented itself they made use of their time and talents in injuring the rebel @ause. They say there is great discord in the rebel rly demoralized. Their here to take go north to work. They are in a starving condition. intelligent fellow told us that he had deserted seven times. The last time he deserted he came from Rich- , With bis regiment, put on outpost duty, "and now rejoices to be free and where Bo can seo a prospect of getting a living in a literal sense. This party were very bard looking, and well t! amight be. Thoy say there are thousands of the fe 4ngs as themselves, and they would not be surprised to sce whole regiments lay down their arms when the fight ‘takes place, if ever it dees. Jeff. Davia says the streets of Richmond ‘‘shall run with blood.’ with “bloody running. heartened, and have no faith in their leaders. Beauregard is said to be in Richmond, endeavoring to Mmspire courage; but it is a romarkable fact the appear- ‘ance of that Geveral indicates the close proximity of an evacuation. This has become a saying of the diseon- tented rebels, at least; and many suppose be’ ours without a fight. Tam writing Madam Rumor brings in the intelligence that the work of evacuation is vow going ou at that Place. The King Phillip arrived here this morning, bringit the members of Lhe Committee on Naval Affairs, mont of ‘whom are accompanied by their families and a retinue of friends. The party is quite large, and very exclusive. Sevoral members visited the ‘Wool, and,after making known their desire to visit the places of interest in the vicinity, the General accompa- Ried them to the boat, where they em! started on her voyage D, Union Coast company’s offl- The Enemy’s Northern Railroad Communication Destroyed. Another Account of the Battle Near Hanover Court House. ‘business to burn bridges Splendid Conduct of the Union and that it is uti SIGNAL DEFEAT OF THE ENEMY. tmond, and bein; he ‘‘skedaddled” Nearly Seven Hundred Rebel Prisoners and One Cannon Captured. How the Bridges and Railroads I he Fe torribly dist were Destroyed. ‘Tho people are torribly dis- THH LAST GRBAT BATILE. Tebel capital’ will SUCCESS OF GEN. IPCLELLAN’S GPERATTONS. THE KILLED AND WOUNDED. headquarters of General , OUR SPECIAL DESPATCHES, ‘of pleasure. “Norfolk tions om roude were visited, and the battle ground of the “‘Chessebox” and “Scarecrow” definitely pointed out to wonder seckers. Tales nd bloody days were told, and the Cumberland’ ‘half sunken form ‘and towering spars wore pointed to ® monument to the prowess of “naval ‘was everything that could be desired, aud the party en- ed themseives highly. I suppose a fort or something to-day to show the powerful efvct of powder. - There is a rumor here this afternoon that Johnson's Harper's Ferry has been overpowered, and That is not bad news, if true. ‘The steamer Eastern Oity leaves here to-day for Hat- feras Inlet. Col. Hawkins returned, with orders from ‘the department to General Lurnside. He returns via the by which be came, weather has cleared up hot and sultry, and the ‘storm bound vessels have put to sea, ‘The Fulton acd Philadel; be hare. no reason to Ww they arrive from headquarters. ae with fmapquarTers, Amy ov THR PoToMAc, Sx Mitgs rom Ricumonp, May 29,1862. ‘The bloodahed in the action of Tuesday, the 27th inst. some particulars of which you have received already’ was incident to the execution of certain most important preliminary operations of the Army of the Potomac on the peninsula, Those proliminary operations have been successfully and splendidly completed to-day. It gives me pleasure to observe that the object which the General commanding had in view in this particular has boon achieved without a further effusion of blood on either side. The movement having been completed, I will now proceed to give a concise but comprehensive statement of the object intended to be attained, and the particulars of its accomplishment. OnJECT OF THE MOVEMENT. Is bas been apparent that the enemy has been gaining considerable advantage from the use of the Tajiroads in Virginia north of Richmond. These were the Virginia Central Railroad, which leads to Gordonsville, where it connocts @ith the Orange and Alexandria road to Washington, and the Fredericksburg and Potomac Rajlroad, which, before the beginning of the rebellion, was the popular route of travel between the national seat of government and the so called Confederate capi- tal. By meansof these railroads the enemy could not only conveniently transport supphes to his troops in dif- ferent sections of Virginia, but coula convey troops themselves from Richmond to points where they could operate against Gomeral McDowell, near Fredericksburg; General Banks, on the Upper Potomac; Genoral Fremont among the mountains, or from those points to where they could operate against General McClellan on tho peninsula in front of Richmond. It was deemed a <desideratum devoutly to be wished for’ to destroy this railroad communication, a8 well for the reasons I have just enumerated as for the freer movements of the right wing of the Union army, independent of other con- rams.” The day ‘army near Johnaon killed. ia are still bere, for the pur- bt, Dut to carry prisoners uarters. ‘Wyman’s flag, has just Forrars Mownoz, June 1, 1862. Richmond—How Much it Costs to Bribe a Revel Sentry—Inieresting Items from the James River—Sharpshooters on the River Banks—‘‘ Lost and Found” —4 Confederate Sutler’s Vessel Loaded with Stora—An important Arrest of @ Rebel Recruiting Party tm North Carolina—Rumors from the Seat of War— More Batteries Being Blown Up, éc. Late yesterday afternoon 1 had @ conversation with a des srter who came dircet from Richmond. His state. ment is substantially as follows:—Ho is an Ohioan by birth, but bas lived in the South for several years. ‘About twelvejmonths ago he came from Texas, with a view te attempt to get through ihe and thus escape to the North. picked up by the guard and put in prison. vored to force him into the rebel army; but this he Stoutly refused, although several offers were made to him. On Tharsday night he, in concert with five othors. By bribing a rebel sentry, escaped. gave the sentinel fifty dollars in Confederate notes. So this good guardian of Union mea received two hundred ‘end fifty dollars (such as it is) by tho violation of his I guess the troth is that the 44 not much care, f so many obligations to provide food for. getting clear of tho jail erly and casterly direotiou till Danks of the James river, which ho followed downward, @arefully concealing himself through the day and trayel- In due time he arrived near where our picket gumboais lie,and then, stealing a skiff, he put off in ene of them and delivered himself up. man says ho has heard that the rebel @r Patrick Henry mond, and that ors there beside her 4 Rebel Deserter from In this he failed, and was Each of the party COMMENCEMENT OF THE WORK. + General Stoneman, Chief of Cayalry in the Army of the Potemac, who has been in the extreme advance with his command all along the march up the peninsnla, has for geveral days past been operating on the right of our nt @ squadron of the Fighth Diinois cavalry and one piece of Captain Tidball’s flying horse artillery, in all about one hundred and forty mon under command of Major Webb, an experienced artillery officer, to destroy a part of the railroad cemmunication I In accordance with i ceived from General Stoneman ;the party proceeded from Mechanicsville, by the Ashland road; to a point on the Virginia Central Rajiroad, about a dozen miles from Rich~ mond, When scarcely five miles from camp our advance dragoons encountered the enomy’s cavairy pickets, drove ther a distance of between two and three miles from the main road northward, and parsed akng behind them, between the maim body of the enemy in that vicinity and his concentrated forcos at Richmond ‘The extreme advance of the party went to the railroad near Mr. Leech’s residence, about seven miles from the Chickahominy tore up @ portion of the track apd burned’ the ties, so as to render those seven miles of the road practically uscless to the rebels. The enemy’s videttos had dashed in, shouting “the Yankees aro coming; the Yankets are coming!’ And during the half hour which our men were at work on the railroad the long roll of the Branch’s command was heard in the rebel camps, summoning bis North Carolina regimonts to arms. The geod people who were geing to the country church opened their eyes in amazement to see Union soldicrs in that immediate locality. It is proper to presume that the robel#®were astonished and chagrined when they ound that our little party bad been among them, damaged the railroad, and retired safely amd hand- somely. Afterreconnoitering the country in that neigh borhood the party returned w camp on Monday evening DMR EXPEDINON AND THE DREARY MARCH. ‘When Genoral MoGlelian had boon informed of the suc- cess of this movement, he resolved to immediately im- prove the opportunity offered to cut off all the enemy's road communication. Accordingly that night 1t was arranged that General Fitz John Porter should proceed in the morning, with General Morell's division—the one whieh was under Gonorai Porter before he was appointed to the command of a provisional corps— When the troops were rouged from their slembers before monping dawned the rain was Provisions were prepared for the march amid the darkness and the rai however, suilicient commissary stores were net in camp, and the men were compeiled to start with @ small sup- ply. The column subsequently joined, and, preceded by a large cavalry command under Genoral Emory, commenced its lengthy and fatiguing march. For some time after leaving the rain continued to descend in torrents, This made the mud quite ankle deep in some places, and deep. it was equally difficult for infantry, ca volry and artillery to proceed speedily under these dis advantageous circumstances. would bave appeared picturesque and the march been pleasent enough, but as amid a rain storm the most beau tiful scenery does not seem partioularly atiractive, sneb woe the cage with that along the line of march, while ihe march itself Tcan only call @ tedious tramp. Between {Welve and one o'clock in the afternoon, as the column was proceeding on the Hanover road, the cavalry fled off and the Iwenty-Afth New York infantry regiment, Col _ Marching in column until it reached the rising ground, aboyt a mile from the subss quent scene of action, skirmishers were thrown out in | the left of this section of the battery. Word was sont | [ have done ao because, where all bebayd 0 handsomely fromt—two companies on the right and four on the left, | forward to General Porter, and he jmfaeaiat@ly Ordered | with p pursued a south he came to the Ling only at night. have mentioned. but lies at Rich- are several small TT also says that the rebel’ ‘Rave an iron battery at Ficknumd, which ts placed ina ‘commanding position and mounts one one hundred pound fhe same story about suffering for the want of food Wife. He has not seen it, but thinks it is so. , He tolls ‘and the domoralization of the army that all other de 6 do, He was takon over to the flagship at Norfolk to be interrogated by the Flag Uillcer and to { Alarge capture of grain—several thousand busheis— ‘was made a day or two since at Sandy Point, on tho James river. One of our gunboats learning the fact that {dt was stored there, informed the Flag Officer of the dlo- ‘Cilla, who sent & squadron of cavairy, who were landed Qt tho spot and took possession of it, and it was shipped $0 vessels sont there for the purpose. The enemy continually annoy our guptoats from thetr wife pita; but we give them as good as they send, throwing shell tn among them. Although we cannot Jearn of avy deaths among them, we know there are Bone among our peaple. The Galena fired quite briekly yestorday at them, and as yet they have erected no bat- (feries, trusting rather to the guerilla style of warfare, as St is more consonant with their degenerated feelings. Yosterday an old schooner was found near Craney tained quite @ lot of stores, the property the isiand, but who probably took to his ege with bis regiment when they left ev quickly, and he Bas not had an opportunity te return for them. They Bre in good hands now. From ali that I can learn Tam inclined to think that the Fedel troops seen along the James river came down for the purpose of foraging, and that they have no intention ‘Of attacking vs in force at that distance from Richmond. Jas Bere from Norfolk. As tat an Ghe party consisted of a Colonel Williams an regiment somewhere in North Caro- Aina, an| that while sleeping soundly im thetr headq bays surrounded the house and made them pri- Atter being examined thore they were treated to jon to the Rip Raps in good health but in poor apiri to execute the work. of rebel oificers arrived ave been able to learn, ‘were raising & reb B® midnight oxc |, where this murk, nye jor Southfield arrived here this morning from JS caval route, | She brings uo ne Brazilian Minister has lef , OF, at least, | Jide so from the fact tbat hie break 's not flying to-day on board of the Paraouse y he may be an invited guest of the ploasure vval Committeomen on board of the King ip. omiitoe visit Yorktown today, and will returs tere direct Peaeteree noon we were startied by terrific explosic fc =: the toads and in the direction Seatarien, 3 anions} or still in others. In ine weather the road of the James river; the in the heavy ¢ Pig Point were in flames. Another Cm ok plage, and it revealed the fact that the bat pposite shore was sharing the samo fatc ten it was Sunday, or perhaps ity for the rapid’ progress of ition, and that accounts for the work breeze is blowing now, the weather a iery.saliey caaer the lee ef the oe ES writing , while, soarcely twelve hours ago, an ercoat was & lixury.” in. but we wore favar ie ii night previous. register this morning I found the name ing. There are here ow a large number whom stay with usa ‘ile others pass right up to White House or to country wherein to see sights and go hom on Inte battle flelds, Williamat for ths kind of memenives Jobnson, took the lead. thin day of regt, where the enomy was suppored to be nearest, back the whole of the command to moet this loft Haul armvglt 4 Cag inien Ib is presumed by everybody | towards the Blue Ridge Rolenous mare Savvet arse rey begat fir dalrmaeg ery shi on shoe Kel From information which we had y nnn rolled their names on the lists of fighting their » oer, Ypepeseltnrdendboall tore ame ag aegtems toy thon ordered tho resorve picket guard forward, at ¢ ib rained heavily ‘ored by elecirio exhibitions, ag | posed thay the enomy bad six or seven thousand men RAEML ATTACK ON 4 thosryrat. the Ufion armies, have « high, Datriwng PUP in view near the pleco the party Wont on Sunday, with a largor At the same time ® mossenger came from the rear, | not sordid selfish ends, and that on ail mped wear the forks of the r Laech’s bouse towards Ashland peony iene the enemy was somewhat on the alort, | gate of which was fying y and a larger force than was m first believed to be i tinguished the place ag a hospital, It was here that Dr. tin the Potomac Army. The gallant conduct 6 the vicinity wae close at hand Al ftom “4 - r. | highes 7 « fortably, Wé F¥eitned Sur march the next eyeing wetua Hear tho clearings cated Winston's folds. where |<jug to some of those who had heretofore fal visitors, some of urg has been a vervthing, from NEW YORK HERALD, WEDNESDAY, JUNE 4, 1862—TRIPLE SHEET. they intended to give us battle. Winston’s fields consti- | in the faction, Lieutenant Perkins, one of Gene- tate aportion of the ground embraced within the scene | ral Butterfleld’s aids, was Also in the house, Peninsula, proves how ardently our noble volunteers are devoted to the Union cause, and how important is the ain comment mornii ‘about of operations. whither he had = been brovgbt sick in am | discipline they have had on the Potomac. I need not three ee feria oat he bc sapagnise ambulance. Severalgfcavalry men §were also on | state that, in action, a necessary movement to escape * | back, which we accordingly did, and murebe! back te the place whore wo first excamped, tus marching about volley from the opposing line is for ‘the men to full in® stantaneously at the click of a trigger, of the first flash from & gun. On Tuesday somo of our regiments executed this nrovement im splendid style. “(UP GUARDS AND 2T THEM.’ Tt was thus that the Second Maine, when engaged in the opea field, must have saved a number of its men, Whoa General Butierfleld’s brigade emerge4 from the woods, at the time that his regiments were first Drought into action, and after they had laid down fiat in the cornfield before advancing om the enemy, it was a splendid sight to see, as they arose, the Stars and Stripes rise in beauty with them from the | cornfield in which the mem and their colors had been hidden, The Stars and Stripes were seen to riso as if in obedience to the touch or the flourish of some ma- gician’s wand. THE BATTLE. the premises. The rebcls came forward fring. at the house, There was no need of waiting for the command APPEARANCE OF THE ENEMY AND DISPoarTiON OF OUR ForcES, | “To horse,’’ for the gallant caval with precipitate Within about three miles of Hanover Court House, as | haste, sought their swift footed animals, and eae jump- will be seen by the accompanying sketches, the road | ing on the first steed he met dashed off at & speed which turns to the right, and to the left there branches offano- } W48 never surpassed by the most terrific charge. The ther road which leads to Ashland. It was at this point | Teappearance of the rebels hero was altogethor anex- that the enemy was first discovered in the wooda, appa- | Pected. Dr. Bentley had just time enough to mount hia rently im force, near the Hanover road, while at the | horse and escape with the others into the woods. same time he was found to be in position near the Ash- Dr. Waters was in effect taken prisoner, but he was land road to the left. General Porter immediately made | Permitied to remain with the wounded. Lioutonant Per- ‘& proper disposition of his forces—infantry, artillery and | kins, however, was taken prisoner, and the rebela made cavalry wore speedily placed in fposition to meet the | him take Dr. Waters’ horse, on which ho was borne away enemy. Merdan’s Sharpshooters went in front, deployed | ® Sick and unwilling captive. in open order, and shots were exchanged between the op- (AN EXCITED CAVALIER, Posing forces. At the forks of the road Gen. Martindale was | The attack of tho rebels on the hospital, which, in ordered to proceed to the left, drive the enemy from hi® | War, like the flag of truce, is always considered sacred, position, cut the telograph wires, and pull up a portion | was highly reprehensible if thoy intonded to fire ont of tho Virginia Central Railroad track at Peak’s station, | Knowing it to be used as a hospital, while at the same less than half a mile distant, while the Twonty-fifth New | timethe effect produced upon our men by the attack York went in front. General Martindale proceeded with | must have been oxtremely ludicrous. I saw on the road the Twonty-second Massachusetts, Colonel Gove, and the | 000 of thogo belonging to the Sixth regular cavalry who Second Maine, Colonel Roberts, to execute the order, | escaped from that hospital. Ho was flying down the The Twenty-second Massachusetts being directed to sup. | r0@d at a furious rate, not in the most knightly style I porta secticn of Benson's battery, the Captain com- | Must eonfess, the horse and himsolf almost out of manding the artillery in person, skirmishers were thrown | breath, his chapeau mon est, his eyes full of fire, his out in front and on either flank, the remainder of the | Countenance flushed with excitement till it was ag red as regiment advancing in line of battle behind the battory. | the hair on his uncovered head, He said the rebela had ‘Tho skirmishers soon reported the enemy coming out of | Come outand fired on the hospital, slain his horee, killed railroad cars to the loft, therofore the whole of the | ®very one of our men who were noar the building, and ‘Twenty-second Massachusetts was orderod to the left of | that he, out of at least s dozen, was the only lucky indi, ‘ho battery, which opened with sholl in the direction in | Vidual left to tell the doleful tale. Presently, however, which the evemy was soen, at the same time the | bis comrades came along all safo and sound, only a little Second Maine being @hrown to the right, diagonally across | ®nimated, and they said they had successfully effected the railroad. their escape, like him, by appropriating the nearest ani- In the meatime the soction of battery was relieved by | ™al, and dashing through the woods. Griffins’, which advanced between the regiments and ADVANGE OF THN ENEMY IN FORCE. opened a vigorous fire on the onemy, while the latter But after this episodal digression I must return to the had also brought Corward some fleld pieces, and there | 2arration of what transpired during the remainder of goon ensued quite an artillery engagement. It was sub- | the afternoon, and the operations subsequent to the ac- sequently seen that a shell from our battery exploded | tion. A portion of the Forty-fourth New York one of the enemy’s caissons. The piopoers of the | Wa® sent dowm the road to repel this attack on Second Maine went forward, cut the telegraph wire, | the hospital, when they were immediately recall- pulled up over thirty rails from the railroad track, and, | od erie rapes agent es es Wg in conjunction with the Twenty-second Massachusetts, | 0p feld in gallant line Itis ta 1 rence. acoomplished what bad been directed. ‘The enemy had | Febel regiment appears in an open eld to moet in wfair | f*isnsful and beartronding. role bacon ergs oe heater eres ortaleperereeait. npioate been driven back, and the two regiments wore with- | Sight # Union regiment. Tho moment the rebel rogi- an olthenpite, were Sg pe tive or friend at hand to kiss the noble looking brow or | by these men in action, though the rumor through the @rawn and directed to jom the remainder of our com- | mental Xne was seen, with its markers on either flank, | 09 tear of sorrow over the form from which the spirit | ranks was that he had dismounted and wee making fur- mand, which was advancing om Hanover Court House. | the Second Maino, as if were instinctively, burst out Mt | boa denarted. Older persons lay dead im various | tive efforts to avoid the: Union bullets, He was one of — one tremendous cheer. Then the eneray movod by the . the last Congressmen to aubseribe to the tenets of right flank on our loft where tbe Forty-fourth New York | Pisces on the fold," and im different, postures. Some ° of seces- THE FIRST EMGAGEMENT. had heen posted. A.shanp. engountar .« the mus | Scemed as though they were asloep, while the appearanos sion, and! stood side by: side with Millson, of Virgtuia, Pe ipa arpa Fyn opposed | of others, thelr faces and uniforms covered with blood, | when the rebellion waa incipient. | BERDAN'S SHARPAUOOTERS AND THW TWANEX-FUTH NEW YORK | 4, ourg rotired into the “anode, 20. {ia lelks. At. the bien instantly impressed upon: the observer the fast that a ety ed officers igeagirary placed upon parole—thas Bofore these operations had transpired on the left the | istant, however, a line of glistening bayonets was seen tie eee (samnstag cet al Bae By pee jv destlen been ome | twenty-afth Now York, in General Martindale's brigade, Boring nes }Agniat aarp begs eee wore conveyed to them as speedily as possible, and the | them the courtesies of the pice by inviting them to din, had proceeded, with Eerdan’s Sharpshooters, along the pee i surgeons-wore busy rendering all the assistance: profi- | ner. Their first request on entering camp*was to iy Hanover road. When debouching from the woods, skir- . ciency in their profession enabled them to render. The | p-ovided with whiskey, and’ tite xnown appetite of the mishers being thrown out in front,.the ememy opened « mortally wounded were still lingering, no eofy hand or | section they represent was cbmracterized by the fervor vigorous fire of musketry from the: woods to the left, sweet, familiar voice of wife, mother, sister deat, or and depth of’ their potations;. Their officerswere hand. about three hundred yards distant. This wasthe first friend, to soothe their sufferings. Some of those whose | somely attired’ in gray uniforms, trimmed with black | fire of the day. At this fire Lieutenant Colone} Savage wounds were not 80 serious were receiving what pleasure | and yellow. Seme of them wore smart, inteMigent and was wounded in the arm and Lieutenant Fiske was they could derive from the possession of flowers plucked | resportful, submitting to thetr fate with propor spirity Pe ot fe RED, oe advanced rage the from the gardens surrounding some of tho Virginia bat their Mayor—Lowe—a man'from geod county, lelda, right along the fence, near Dr. Kenny's mansions. J. C.y was dogged, nervous amd’ blatant. of the | houze, on the left of the road, while-thoge on the other officers flinched, However; and, while deploring the war sido’ also came around, and yolleys wore exchanged. stated that they-.did not regret having engaged in it, aw Lieutenant Thompson and four or five men were killed their hearts were with the Soutt for which they had by this fire. Advancing in three detachments, the ene- perilled life, liberty and property. my succeeded in cutting off and capturing nearly two The men were in part uncouth and irregular, but many companios of the Twenty-fifth regiment. Berdan’s of them full limbed, great chested and full of brawn, Sharpshooters were meanwhile engaged. Colonel John- Thor was observable in them a:dedclency of mind and son,.of the 25th, then withdrew his small command to ssufficienoy of bedy. Grouped together at the Provost's give-the enemy battle near his reserve, under Major Gil- quarters, in a reped enclosure or pen, the four hundred bert, about twenty rods in the rear, when: other szvepe odd Carolinians looked like as many-lawless pirates, fail arrived om so ground at this auspicious moment. of Just, raggedness and treachery. As they had eaten OPERATIONS OF GENERAL BUTTERFIELD *S- BRIGADB.. nothing ‘since Tuesday morning, notwithstanding the ‘These troops consisted of a portion of General Bestter- hardships of battle and march, they were pretty well field’ brigade. The Forty-fourth New ‘York rogiment, worn out, and wore compelled to cook: their. own sup- Colonel Stryker, with a sdction of Martin’s: battery, Bad pors, cut their ewn fuel and fetch it fromthe weods om been detached to guard the forks of the-road where tho their shoulders. As they moved awkwardly upoa these first disposition of the forces was mado, while the re- errands they contrasted very .unfayorably: with our mainder of General Portor’s command was procoediag on straight, cloanly.and daintily uniformed’regulars. to: Hanover. Goneral Butterfigld himself, during th° I inquired inte the alleged ill-will between North Caro- three days previous, had been confined Dy sicknose ie his lima and the Confederate government, and: +4 prisoners tent, but/oame on with his brigade on this, the first ocea- verified the reports, They complain that seaboard sion on which it has been brought inte action. Having of the State was loft unprotected, white they were obliged received'information from the Commanding Generad that to muster to the defence of Virginia; thas theyhave beem his trope were required in front, Gen. Butterfloldpushed troated with marked discourtesy and scowsed of State thom forward and formed them in two lines. The first line cowardice; theConfederate officers have discriminated consisted of the Seventeenth New York, Colonel Lansing, towards Ashland, driving in the enomy’s pickets and against North Carolina in transportation and,other mat- ob 2 eta 2 ie ite ang dea ascertaining the position of 2b least four rebel regiments. | ters, and thas, because of certain Union spaapathy in York, Cilonel Works, on the right, and the Sizteenth en nigidbe Sarde eng A gg vony eo— y-wo arora parapets Michigam, Colonel Stockton,on the loft, the two latter barsieery Mgrs seiger inte he: vr = ‘The prisoners eis Shion the. digposttien of Gen. f i able col . a feconielectanies ie Cua bat fs ateiaen inthis muukey, which had jest bein destroyed by |, Andrew Poster, but the a, of providing.for them, se- S our forees, ‘The Sixth cavalry went out, underrcemmand | curing and onamiijing them, devalved. upon. Major Wil- ordor the regimonts wont through the woods, at the of Major Lawrence Willlama, for the purpose of burning | lard, of the Eighth infantry. They: will be probably Sap ies ey Mere Dies SN eee pe the. Wirginia Central Ratiroad bridge across the South | Placed form,while upon a prison ship at the White House fectly formed and the position of the enemy aseortained. Anneriver. ‘The commacd halted within abeut a mile of | Dl afterwards forwarded to the North. alltthe North In this order the command emerged from the woods, the locality, when Lieutenants Keim and Coats peocoed. | Carolina regiments broke in action, and some turned and the skirmishers firing in front. The spiendid ap. odvwnith a platoon of twonty men, who cartied.combusti- | “od at the.drst fre. They describe our troops as coming pearsace of the brigade as it came into the wheat ceceaalaaahineiinanaaain, biomaterials, and sot fire-to tbe bridge. The turpentine | "P gallantly and delivering most effective volleys;but ficids, and the vigorous fire of the skirmishers, | General Parter’s wholo command was. now hastening | used in burning it caused the flames to,spread with great | “OY, Of course, tha wo were overwhelming in numbere had the effect of putting thé —enomy to | yack to support. the troops under Genoral Martindale | rapidity, and the bridge Diazod until the Durning timbers | *d supported by a strong reserve. flight, The rebels immediately foll back, and the Seven: | wiich wore 80 severely pressed. The: tevope returned | tumbled into the river. ‘That night the: samo two lien- | Ouroavalry is still scouting. the couatry for fugitive teenth vow York, in fronton the right, took onoof the | in inverse order, the regiments which were in advance | tenants, after coming into camp with the re- rebels, and upwards of one-hundred and fifty were enemy’s guns, a brags twotve-pounder, whieh is regard: | going out being im rear on the return. The colors | mauder of the regiment, ‘returned with: & small com. | Urought in this ie eee ae se fi as the most precious trophy from the battle feld. | ‘eich the exhausted soldiers under General Martindale's | snand and burned the county bridge across tho | Haul: that they dropped by: Uke roadside and Lieutonart Colonel Morris, of the Seventeenth New York, | command bad seen approaching wore:those of the Four. f samo South Anna, aud within a few hundred yards of the f hat. to be carried slong in the teams, General who has just boen appointed Colonel of the Ninety-third, | teenth New York, under Lieatenaas Colopel Skillen. | railrond briage which they had dostroged thatimorning. | Stoneman is still in the: advance, moving zealously eing sick, was requested by the doctor to remain In | his rogiment bad deen sent to the-support of tho Farty. | Colonel Gove with his Twonty-second Massachusetts rog. | forward. There hiss beeano firing to-day, although oat charge of some prisoners who had been taken near Dr. | rourih and ‘Twenty-fitth New York and tho Socond | ment, mado a recounoissance by anovher route towards | WHolearmy lies within sholting distance of the enemy— Touny’s house. When the enemy was advarcing om that } yaing, whose ammunition was almost entirely expended, | asbland, aud sawe, but did not engage, rebel regiment. | 8% 00 place more thaa.s mile from the Chickahoming: position Colonel Morris made the rebel prisoners haul arriving just in time to render nesessary-aasistance, GRNRRAL M’CLELLAN AP THR SCENE. ‘We now oecupy the umbroken bridge at Mechanicsville In tho afternoon General McCletina visived the scene of f 284 seme firing has takon place between the pickets. away thecaptured cannon, which, for the time being, |, jg - : r! proper “hore to state that two re was given in charge of Captain Martin’s company, and giments of General Martindele’s own brigade wore jons, and was loudly cheered by the troops as he A rebel lieutenant and nine men came aown to New botween twenty-two and tweuty-three miles. Ou the 20th we again were ordered to march the next merning, the Ziat, and took @ nine mile heat, which brought us le, where wo took the cars for this place. Thero we arrived day before yesterday im good spwils, ready to meet the Yaskee imvaders at any tite. ‘TRY SUTTON, Co. I, Fighteenth regiment Noni Caslina Vols over Court Housx, Hanover, Va., May 24, 1862. On the epposite page, written this morning just befor oar cavairy charged througt the town, there appeared she following brief announcemené:— re and the of her disappearing jor- AsuLamD, May 29, 1862. Good bye; the’ Yankees are More. We are off for thé country and whipped like h——. ‘The objects of the movemen# having been accom- plished the conahand returned to camp, the troeps cheering General Porter as he passed along, and resuna® ite position on the right of the Union line: ‘THE PRISONERS CAPTURED, In the engagement with the onemy almost every reg i- ment captured a number of prisoners, while others still continued to be brought in during yostergay and this morning. Nearly all of them belong to North Carolina regiments. They are the most miscellaneous looking set of fellows one would wish . Their unform is— if their clothing could be call uniform—home made, and lacks that beauty and comfort which was seen and feit in ours. The only comfortably clad nidividual in the crowd was Major Lowe, of the Twenty-eighth North Carolina regi- ment. We have taken altogether about soven hundred prisoners, The large majority of them, who have ex- prossed their sentiments, say they entered the robe! army because they were compelled to do so, either by force of circumstances or by actual impressmont; that they are heartily sick of the rebellion, and wish they were home again, themselves and their State once more under the peaceful protection of the Union. ‘THE KILLED AND WOUNDED ON UE BATTLE FIELD AND IN THE HOSPITATS. During the day of the engagement and the following morning the scene of action presented a cad and sug- gestive spectacle, she dead and the wounded of either army were lying together on the battle field. Many of tho wounds have since been proven to be mortal. The rebels were mostly shot in the head, and tho appearance of the poor fellows om the field and in the hospitals was Camp Nowe New Buivar, Mhy 29, 1862, The Effect of Porter's Movement—The Rebel General Branch—The PrisonersmNorth Caroling amd the Rebel Government—Rebel Spies; dc. Tho late briNiant achievement of Generals Stoneman and Porter, routing six North Carolina regiments, near Hanover Court House, was reveived by the entife' army with applause and gratitude. R took away thesting of Banks’ misfortunes, and gave the troops confidence thes they were soon to be victoriou® on the plains of Rick- mond. We kuew of the battle imsperfectly, though the | firing was rapid, distinct and regular, and plainly Hear@ at Bottom Bridge. The glorious intelligence wae re- ceived at headquarters the next morning, and on Wed- nesday tho rebel prisoners were marched under guar® to the Provost Marshal To-day we had the more die» tressing spectaclo of the wounded—Usionists and rebolsa— brought to our camp in-wagons, and’ laid away in an ont bafn, to be hereafter sent to tho-vear and tenderly treated. My speculations im @ former letter as to the flank: movement on the right, whereby half the army seemed marching to the north of Richmond, are determined by the tdings from Hanover. The rebe# prisoners with whom I have talked appreciate the wisdim of our move- mouts in 80 cleverly approaching and’ routing thom, &e. THR ENEY DRIVAN PACK WITH LARGE D088. ‘The Second Maine, to meet this movement, went to the right and secured a position behind the fence, made of posts interlaced with branches, which swept round the corner of the woods immediately in front-of them, and into which the rebels were moving. At thie same time no other forcs-was noar t& support the battery, ex- cept a fragment of. the Twonty-fifth New Yor’, whose Colonel and other field officers had been already wound- ed. This fragment was postediin the centre, boliad the battery, the Second Maine on the right and the-Forty- fourth New York onthe left. No sooner had this dispo- sition been effected than s vapid and destructive fire opened all along tho-rebel lize, from the road:on the right round to the woods on the left. Tie fire was feturned by our men in the most effective style. Those regiments, especially the Second Maine, which was bebind a natural covering, held their ground, and for one fearful hour did tremendous exsoution among the enemy. I useno exaggerated language whon Isay that almost every treein those woods fora dis- tance of several hundred yards is marked by bullets. Larger trees bear the improse-of a dozen, more bx less, while I saw several saplings severed. The dead and dy- ing of the enemy wore found in great numbers in these woods, as well as along the whole line round to the left. And of owe owm many fell killed and wounded on the opem field. The Forty-fourth and Twenty-fifth suffered more severely, than the Second Maine for the reason that the latter had the advantage of position bebind the fence I have spoken of, interlacea with branches, which formed the naturakbreast work. After that hour of hard fighting, sevoral, horses in the battery having bean killet, the fragment of the Twenty-fifth New York, whose Colonel, Lieutenantolonel, Adjutant and Several osner officers nad previously been wounded, having dwindled down to less than, two bun- dred, the right wing of the Forty-fourth began to waver, and the battery was-ovidently in danger. Atilength the promise of coming reinforcemonts, and the sight of the Stars and Stripes borne by another regiment: coming to their relief along the road to the right, inspired the mon with renewed confidence, and they bravely heldtho encmy in check until relieved by the approaching reinforce ments. . ‘THE REBEL FORCE. From tho best information we-have it ia believed: that the roBeis had ten regiments on the ground, only some of which'were in action. The rebel General Branch: had commaadom the occasion. Among the regiments: aré the Seventh, Fighteenth, Twonty-sighth, Thirty-third, Thirty-seventh and Thirty-sighth North Carolina infantry regiments and Colonel Robertson's Virginia regimens of cavalry: The prisoners concurréd in saying that: the Twenty-cighth regiment bad at least fourteen hundred men andthe Thirty-seventh thirteen hundred. OPERATIONS SUBSEQUENT TO-THE ACTION. BRARCHING FOR IZED: AND ‘WOUNDED, Early omthe morning of thor day subsequent to: the battle (yosterday) detachmento-~wero sent out from the different regiments to soaroh for the killed and wounded which bad not yet been brought in. Little was ac complished during the day oxsept the burying of the dead andithe ministering to the comforts of the wounded. BURNING BRIDGES. =. In themorning Genoral Eaory went out on aireson- noissance with his cavalry command and Capt.‘Bonsoh’s artillerg: He pushed forwardtwo squadrons of cawalry tructions re- turned upon the rebels. hot near the scene of action, the Eighteosth | passed on tothe headquarters of General Fitz-Johu Por- |' Britge this afternoon, bearing a fag of truce, for the.pro) My Sauapeeen e Massachusetts having been oa picket the previous night, | tor Having beon fully informed of the position of af. jf feseet pifrpose of recovering the bodies of two of thely Generals Porter and Morell were now on the ground, | ang the'Thirtconth New Yoe, Colonel Marshall, having | fairs, he arranged with Genoral Portor to complete tho f 49s, slain in a recout skirmish. Thoy really meditated however, a view of our pontoons and other impliment for bridging the creck, in which they wero successful, a: the same lay close by, where they had boon socrotly hauled by our men during the past fow nights. Gonera Marcy refused to. allow them to come ovor, and they re turned to their ambush in the woods. The fsld office wishod to take them prisoners as spies in e@ot and pur pose. Animprobable rumor pervades campa that Genera Hancock, of Pennsylvania, is to be madee Major General and ordors wero given for the brigade to follow, as well nadie fn pursuit of tho retiring enemy as to take the Hanover has elecores* “pera na ae eae Ratroad station, and participate im the expected action | rnirtoonth having goneoma road so the left, near Gene. in the vicinity of Hanover Court House. Those reg!- | »a1 stone's command, captured quite a number of prison. ments preserving their first formation etili steadily al- | srg, Doth regimonts joined the brigade in the evening vonced, at shoulder arms, across the extensive flelds, | srrop the operations of the day were ended. over a rough ravine and through the adjacent woods. While the Fourteenth New York were relioving the re. The command cccupied the railroad station to the left, | ising troops, the Sixty.econd Pennsylvania, Colouel whore cars of the Baltimore and Onio Railroad wero '| igck, and the Ninth Massachusetts, Colone) Cuas, had found adandoned on the track, number of the enemy's | procceded further to the right on the return, and had tents and other articles, and was in posession of Hano- | Come out in front of our battery, which was still throw- ver Court House when inteliigeuce was received that the | ing shot and she into the enemy. The Sixty-second on enemy had re-appeared in our rear, and orders were | ine right and the Ninth on the left, advanced given to return. ity -censbaitiaciat across the railroad near Peak’s station, and, Hanover Court House is situated on an eminence, from sigs aa tenia tees oa prsheey Wouibetg iat . 5 which @ delightful viow of the surrounding country is followed the Fourteenth, but the Colonel did not have an tained. The vill consists of the t le * peomogpts scenarios Court House build- | vortunity to bring his soldiers into action, ,® tavern on the opposite side of the road, jail ad. "6 nts cage Seg ‘THR END OF THR AFFAIR. nt to the Court House, and a few private dwellings. Tos coors tives was built 1a 1196, of brik edaght from Then General Butterfield’s brigade, which had also England. marched inversely on the return, arrived on the itame. Giate fighting ground in time to p: pate in the closing scene. The Seventeenth and Twelfth New York came by the Hanover road, while the General, guided by the sound of the distant musketry, led the Righty third Penn. sylvania and the Sixteenth Michigan further t) the right, between the belt of woods and the railroa|, linving ap- parently in view the double object of rendoriay assistance THE SECOND ENGAGEMENT. to the troops already engeged and flanking she enemy Re on the right, It was a tedious and tiresome time, that REAPPEARAN’ B OP THR ENEMY. march through the swamp and woods on return. These In the meantime General Martindale had taken the | Pegiments came out In front ofthe battery, and with the Twenty-seoond Massachusetts, following the line of the | ther troops successfully engaged the enemy, drove him railroad, and the Second Maine, on the regular road, be. | from the field, occupied all the ground traversed during hind the artillery, both intending to converge near Hano. | the day, and, as is the custom with victooiuus troppe ver Court House, Presently, however, information came | *¢pt on the fold their superior intrepedity had won. to the effect that the enemy had reappeared on the ground CRORE RUMH'S LANCERS, from which he had been driven at first, The Second | During the day Colonel Rush's regiment of lancers won; Maino was immediately formed in line of battle, face to | *ong road to the right ef Hanover Court House for the rear, and thrown forward into the open field, their | ‘Be purpose of burning a bridge across the Pamunkey right covered by the woods, to re-engage the enemy. | fiver. The regiment having boon speedily recalled bo, Grifie’s battery bad gone on with the rest of our | fore the work was accomplished, # detatchment of the forees; but just at that moment the Forty-fourth | Sixth cavairy, under Captain, Cram proceoded next day, New York, which had been ordered up by | 40d completed the destruction of the bridge, General Morell, with the section of Martin’s bat CONDUCT OF OUR SOLDIERS. tow, came along the road. Those pisces of artil- I have designedly refrained from individaalizing tho pieced 8 battery to the Jef} of the Second | conduct of officers, or of speaking specially of any r hd the Forty-fourth New York was stationed to } rents which participated in the operations of th day, object of the movement, which was accomplished this morning, and in the following manner: SUCCESSFUL RVENTUATION OF THE MOVEMENT. The reconnoissances of yesterday having found the enemy in force, it was anticipated that if he offered re. sistamce a sharp engagement would be begun this morn ing. Accordingly, other, troops were ordered to be within supporting distance. ‘Targe separate demonstrations were to be made in the attompt to cut the Frodoricks. barg and Potomac Railroad, in the vicinity o¢ Ashland. ‘THR PLAN OF ADVANCE. Goneral Stoneman was to make a demoastration near where the railroad had been cut on Sunday; Colonel War, rem another, near Mr. Hughes’ house, to the southwest; while @ portion of General Emory’s command was to make an attack on Ashland, The main body of General Porter's troops remained under arma, ready to render aa- sistance to either party. THe stant. About Sire o'clock in the moroiag Major Williams left Hanover Court House with squadrons of the Fifth and Sixt walry , four companies of the Seventeenth New York infantry, Colonel Langing, aud Benson's battery of artillery, The command proceeded to the cross roads leading to Ashland, Taylorsville and the bridge on the Frodericksburg Railroad, @no squadron of the Sixth, under command of Captain Abott, was sent to burn the railroad bridge, and another of the Fifth, under Captain ‘Chamb} iss, was despatched to Asbland. THE RERELS HAD “SKEDADDLED."? Neither met with any opposition, the rebels having withdrawn during the night. Captain Abott’s command burned the bridge across the South Anna, It was a flue trestle bridge, about a hundred foet long, and rested on stone plers. In its destruction the objects of the operations in that section of the country were successfully accom- plished, In the meantime Captain Chambliss charged through the town of Ashland, which is @ pleasant little town of about a hundred and fifty inhabitants. A rebel hospital, in which wore several sick soldiers, was there. In tho railroad depot were found about two car loads of camp and garrison eqaipage and stores, among which wore about sixty barrels of flour and about @ hundrod and Afty of corn, Then the Gommana returned to enmp. The last of the rebols had evidently left Ashland with with precipitate haste this morning. Among the docu ments found was @ book in which # North Carelinian had fiade the following brief record of what bo calls OUR TRAMP er. ACCOUNT), We left Lapham td on the 17th of May, 1862; marched Wurreuouss, May 30, 1862. The Caphwed Arms—The Body of Majye Kelly—How H Met his Death—A Reported Caphise of Rebel Prison ors, de. ‘The muskets captured im the affair im front of our line by the forcos undor General Porter a few days ago, a rived at this point this morning. Thoy were of th Springfield smooth boro pattern, of the fabrio of 1832-2 Among them were a few altered to rifle muskets. Th amniunition used by the rebels in these arms wero th ordinary spherical balls aud buck shot, hree of the lat ter with-one half ounce ball being in one charge. ‘The body of Major John E. Kelly, of the Ninoty-sixt New York Volunteers, who was killed in a skirmish o our left wing yestorday, arrived here to-day in charg of Captain Sweeny of that regiment. The body was em ‘balmed at this place by Dr. Thomas Holmes, of Williame burg, N.¥. It was subsequently placed in a ueat rose wood coffin, and will warded to-morrow via For ress Monroe to Platisbtrg, N.Y , the late residence « the deceased. Tho deceased leaves a wife and ono chil to mourn his loss, ‘The circumstances under which Major Kelly mot b death are those:—He was brigade affiver of the day. TE night previous to his death he visited the line of picke ‘and made such disposition of his men as he thougl would insure the safoty of the camp @againe any attempts of the enemy. Ho then took up his qua terg at a hovse immediately ‘in the rear of his comman: where ho remained until the following moruing. « daybreak he went forward again to visit his picket tnd while with them, the enemy lying in ambush ‘rc upom our troops, A considerable force of the enor thon appeared, and our outlying pickets being numer cally small, they were driven in towards the cainp, Ov force numbered at this time not moro thar: sixty-f: mon, tho rebel force about three hundred. Of our fore a portion of them soattered in tho woods, but about fife five of them stood their ground, and fired thros sor COLONEL M'QUADR'S BRIGADR. ‘The brigade commanded by Colonel McQuade, having the rear tm march, had not yet confronted the enemy, but kept on its course following the whole eommand towards Hanover Court House. To a few instanc rhaps ene or two exogptlons, it is exceeding|y that night in the open air on the damp assembly was boaton early the next morn- ig, which the 18th, but we received instructions to'wait further orders, but got marching ordors about One o'clock, and marched ybout sevea miles further on, nd within three miles of Madison Court Houke, Wo on: ho little rod flag, which dis- | expected of all, from the lowest to the aNiapod on A large ill vhis ight ani rosted very corn. ‘eamo time adding, by way of stratagom, Forwar Ninoty-sixth; forward, 103d’’—meaning tho Now Yo Ninoty-sixth and the Pennsylvania 108d—nlthough | whole command, when massed, was lows than one hy dred mon. Tho stratagem worked well, our mon doliv «ing thoir fire against th» «-emy with good mffect. Juat the AMaip wes closing, the borae of tha Wiking @ag wom lon8 they 4 running trom | stating that tho rebels had already appenred, and, de- | will perform their duty. That they” will do their Tt was subsequentiy as- beuching from the woods, had fred on the house atthe | duty in the most splendid style is eapeci thoir precise position | Bentley and Dr. Waters, brigade surgeons, wore attend. | of our troops, im every instance when they have beon | about four o’olock, and marobed bout six niles ‘ wouaded | browghs into action on the Potomac or hete on the band @ balf, and ebout one helt of in