The New York Herald Newspaper, July 1, 1862, Page 2

HIGHLY IMPORTANT EVENTS. Series of Battles Before Richmond. _ ~~ The Preliminary Skirmish Beyond Fair Oaks. The Consummate Stra- tegy of McClellan. Our Special Accounts from the Scene of Operations, SEVERE’ LOSSES ON BOTH SIDES. me Names of Some of the Killed and Wounded. Important Strategical Points Gained the Union Army. Military Skill Displayed on the Battle Field. Indomitable Courage of the Union Troops. The 13th, 14th, 25th, 36th and 44th New York Regiments in the Fight. STAMPEDE OF THE CIVILIANS AND SUTLERS. INCIDENTS OF THE STRUGGLE, &o., &eo., &eo. THE LATE FIGHT BEYOND FAIR OAKS, Additional Accounts of the Affair—Advance of Cur Troops Towards Richmond—Brilliant with the Bayonet—Gallantry of Hooker's and Kearney’s Divisions—Twe Horses Shot Under Gen. Sickles— Difficulties Between North Ca- rolina and Virginia Troops, ke, Kee A ue Camp Lizeety, Naar Ricuwoxn, June 25, 1862. ‘The rebels scem to be fully satisfied that they-can @in nothing, but must lose everything, by collisions with the Army of the Potomac. Besides, they have a whole- some terror of General MoClelian, and say jhey cannot comprehend his method of conducting war. oe, for the past few days, the enomy’s attacks on our lines have almost entirely ceased, and, until this morning, open hostilities have beon lately conflaed, even in this depart meant, to the usual aflairs between pickets and the occa- sional dropping of a shell among the enemy. Ina violent thunder storm which raged yesterday the ecene presented was one of awful grandeur. One of our batteries was busy shelling the enomy. Tho guns were Jarge and the explosions loud. They were fully rivalled by the artillery of nature, however, which was the loud- est I ever heard, and the flashes from our large guns, reflected on the dark clouds, were far surpassed by the fiashes of lightning which darted through the heavens. ‘There were also sharp cracks of musketry and sharp crashing thunder simultaneously with it, so that i, ‘was sometimes difficult to digcern which was thunder and which was musketry. Our troops have been engaged in clearing fhe woods in our front, and considerable pro- grees towards Richmond has lately been made in this way. In one direction, after a handsome skir- mish, in which the rebels in foree were driven before us qrom rifle pits and abatis. General Hooker’s column advanced this morning three-quarters of a mile towards Richmond, aud have since majutained their ground. A new line of intrenchments may be established on this new ground, and by means of them we can outflank “the hill im front of the old tavern,’’ upon which the enemy have erected «fort, and which is thought to be the key to the doomed city. To-morrow will, perbaps, decide how soon the advantageous position will be ours. Our loss in the skirmish of to-day, which I have mentioned, was quitéserfus—roport puts it as high as two hundred killed and wounded; but that of the enemy was heavier. Your correspondence from that corps will doubtless far- nish an account of the affair, however. As I write the rebels have made a dash at the pickets in front of Genoral Sumner’s corps, and the retreat of the moment compels me to discontinue writing for the pre- sont. ‘Wirre Hoven, Va., June 20, 1862. ‘The battle of yesterday was not so sanguinary in its character as was first supposed. Our lost in killed and wounded will not number over three hundred men. Compared with the important result achieved it was cheaply bought, and was # complete triumph of our arms. Our army has made a general advance on the enemy one or two miles beyond the place where they were for the past two weeks. The “coils of the sor- pent” are closely environing the enemy's position, and the spires of the church steeples of Richmond are in sight of a portion of our lines. General McClellan is now {n hig second line of seige parallels, in an impreguable position to any force the rebele may bring against him. One railroad train load of wounded from yesterday's pattle wore brought down hore late last night. They were immediately placed on board the hospital steam- boat Knickerbocker, and left for Fortress Monroe at faylight this morning. The Louisiana is now taking on ‘eoard another detachthent of the wounded, Captain Spencer, of the United States Army, lately doing duty with the Army of the Potomac, was arrested, Mt is allegod, by order of Gen. McClellan, and placed in ‘lose 01 ment. He was brought to this port and put on board the gunboat Marblehead. The alleged charge ‘against the accused is disloyalty to the Union. It ap pears that tho uncle of the prisoner is a Judge in the State Of Maryland, and was recently arrested for some (regularity in his official conduct tending to disloyaity. Capt. Spenoer, who was educated under the ‘oatering care of his uncle, upon learning of the arrest of bis benefactor, laid down his sword and refused duty. The prisoner will be sent to Fort Lafayot ‘The White House, the property of Fitz Hugh Lee, about which so much fuss bas been made by afew meddle. tome fault finding Congressmen, is now occupiea by the tisters of Charity, who have come hore as hospital curses. The building wae unsuitab!e for hospital pur. yooss, it being entirely too small, Hence ite dispoeal, @ | have alroady stated. In Front or Ricanomp, June 26, 1862. On Tuesday night the regimente composing Hooke! division received orders to fold their buankets at sarly hour the following morning, provide one day's ra. \ion# fn their baversacks, and move to the front at seven Wolock. Kach order was promptly attended to, and at shat bour the whole division was drawn up im tine of bat- We. About cieht o'clock the otto aommenged. The Niiw YORK HERALD, TOSSDAY, JULY 1, 1862.—TRIPLE SHEET. Ine, composed of the First Maesachusetts regiment, Col. or ened as skirmishers, advanced geross: ° in front of the woods which the rebels pied. Firing betweek the pickets ‘Rew.commenced, and the First Mas#achusgtis still advancing, the rebels fell back upon thelr ‘Teserve. Our reserves, com- posed of the Excelsior and New Jersey brigades, assisted by a portion of General Grover's brigades, the First, Eleventh and Sixteenth Massachusetts, Second Hampsbire and the Twenty-sixth Pennsylvania» now came up, driving the rebels out of the woods which they oceupied into m peach orchard beyond. Our men then advanced to the woods and held them, though the rebels continued their musketry fre. It was now ubout eleven o'clock, and all firing had ceased, except a few Stray shots between the pickets, At this time there was bus very little loag.on each side, when two Napoleon guns, used for throwing grape, cunister and shrapuel, Were moved into the woods, opening fire upon the exemy and doing great execution. Between twelve and one o’clock an order to advance was received, and the whole advanced in line of battle aud moved forward to take the rebol rifle pits. They advanced in good order, and were received with a volley of musketry, which was Promptly returned by our men. Thetnusketry fring was continued on both sides for nearly three-quarters of an hour, volley following volley in rapid succession by regiments and brigades, when the rebels mado @ bayonet charge, fixing their gurg in position and starting towards our men in doublequick. Qur men— the First and Eleventh Massachusetts, and the Twenty- sixth Pennsylvania regiments—stood ready to receive them. On came the rebels, yelling like » pack of devils, towards our brave boys, who were in line of battle. ‘When the enemy arrived in front, and were in the act of Crossing bayonets, they wore alarmed at the firm front and courage of our soldiers, breaking line and retreating in great disorder. On their heels were the Union troops, who drove them more than half a mile at tho point of the bayonet, forcing them into their own rifle pits, aud, continuing the charge, compelled them to evacuate the riffle pits and take shelter in the woods beyond. Our men then took possession of the rifle pits and held them, continuing to do so until reinforced, andat alate hour Tast night they were stillheld by our men. The enemy fell im heaps in this glorious charge, the ground being covered with tho fallen rebels. They managed, however, to remove most of their killed and wounded in their ro~ treat, so that their actual loss is not known; but from 75 to 100 killed and wounded were picked up by our men. The wounded wore sent to the various hospitals, and received the same care as our men. It is thought that more fell in this charge shan the splendid one at the battle of Fair Oaks. Artillery now poured its deadly fre upon them from every direction; shot and shell flying thick and fast in the woods where the rebels had retreated to, who replied by repeated volleys of musketry, with but little heavy firing. About haif-past four o’clock the exes my undertook a flank movement on the left to captur® one of our batteries, but were repulsed by General Kearney’s division, with a very heavy losa on their side. An account of one of the first of our wounded says:— After we wore drawn up in line of battle, firing com- menced. The whole of Hooker's division were drawn up in line, except # brigade which was holding a redoubt, and which wore bold in reserve. They wore afterwards brought into action. Lieutenant Sched, of Company F, Seventh regiment New Jersey Volunteers, was one of the first killed. The First Massachusetts took the ad- vance, and Company B of the Second New Hampshire regiment (sharpshooter) wore ordered to the front with them. When I was carried off we had taken one of the rebel redoubts. Another of the wounded, James McCarthy, of company D, Second regiment, Excelsior Brigade, says that the Eleventh Massachusetts made a bayonet charge, and drove the rebels out of some woods which they occupied, the rebels retreating panic stricken. He also said that General Sickles had two horses shot under him, and that the last he saw of him he was in the woods, sword in hand, without a horse, and encouraging his men forward. A rebel, named Roberts, belonging to the Fourth Geor- cia regiment, wascaptured. He was badly wounded in the left arm, near the shoulder, so that amputation was necessary. He was one of the first shot on the other side, He says that whon our men eommenced the attack the Fourth Georgia regiment were on picket, and that our firing was returned by the rebels. He adds that previous to the attack there was some firing between the pickets, th@ rebels commencing. They were answered by firing from our pickets. One of the Nineteonth Massachusetts, which suffered very severely in killed and wounded, says:—Between eight and nine o'clock the regiment, under command of Colonel Edward W. Hinks, was drawn up in line Of battle, and soon after entered the woods directly infront, near the centre; Company K, the right flank company, were thrown out as skirmishers. Two or three advances were made by the regiment, in all aa- vancing about two hundred feet, obliquely ‘to the right, and finally forming on the right of Sickles’ brigade, where they shortly after recetved the fire of the enemy. They fought until elevem o’clock, and lost, in killed, wounded and missing, nearly sixty men. Company K, who acted asskirmishers on the right, drew the fire of the whole brigade of the enemy, and received severa! volleys from entire regiments. The enemy had sharp- shooters in the trees, who fired upon us with deadly aim, killing and wounding several. First Lieutenant James H. Rice, of Company F, was one of the first wouna- ed in this Way, receiving @ severe flesh wound in the thigh.” Colone: A. G. Morrison volunteered his services on General Palm‘ tai. © He was wounded in the left arm, and had two fiagers amputated. His horse was also shot under him.’ He wag formerly a resident of Rich. mond, was familiar with the roads, and was attempting to keep the right flank from ambuscade when be was shot in the hand. T learn that on Tuesday night last a skirmish ocourred between the pickets of the enemy and those under com- mand of Captain Clark, of company A, Twenty-ninth Massachusetts, Our pickets were attacked, and aman wounded and taken prisofier. The fire gras promptly re- turned by our men, who fell back on their reserves. It is reported that nine of the enemy were killed. The day previous the pickets under command of Cap. tain Leach Company C of the same regiment, wére also attacked by the pickets of theememy. One of our men, pamed Geerge Brown, was killed, and another, named Klenbam Charles, wounded in the hip, shattering the Done slightly. Brown was shot in the neck, the ball coming out on the opposite side, killing him almost in- stantly. His equipments, gun, watch,and about forty dollars in money, were stolen from him by the rebels. ‘A report has been in eirculation here for the last two or three days that there was # fight in Rishmond on Monday night last between some Norta Carolina amd Vir- ginia troops, and that they used both grape and canister. Several wore killed. Camp Victory, Near Ricaxoyp, June 26, 1862. There has been some lively skirmishing’in front of our iines within the past twenty-four hours. In addition to the skirmish which occurred in General Hooker's di- vision yesterday morning, we had two brisk ones yos- terday afternoon about four o'clock, and this morning about one o'clock. While the rebels were assailing and driving in the pickets of Hooker's division the Sixty- third regiment New York Volunteers, Colonel John Burke, bad orders to push forward yesterday afternoon as far as they could, and to hold the ground that they sh ould gain. They did push forward, and drove the enemy before them gallantiy,and gained half a mile which they have since held. By appearing suddenly on the left flank of the enemy they also took him by sur- prise, and checked considerably the impetuosity of his assault upon General Hooker's pickets. The loa of the Sixty-third in this affair was only five men wounded. More or less skirmishing took piace now in all direc- tions, and batteries were brought into play on both sides. Therebels soon discontinued the fight, and re. tired, however, and several of our batteries bombarded their camp for upwards of an hour without eliciting a response, The loss of the rebels was severe, and I un- derstand that the loss in Hooker's division was also con- siderable. Tili ten o'clock P. M. all was now compara. tively quiet. At that hour the rebels made a dash at our working parties, who were detailed to clear away the woods im our frout; bat were re. pulsed by our pickets. The click of the axes against the stately sons of the forrest, or the erash of fallit timber, mingled now with the crack of a distant rife im the advanced pickets through the stillness ofa lonely night. There was no moonlight, aud little light of any kind till one o'clock this morning, when the camp was startied by what seemed to me at first a close crash of thow but when it was repeated again and again, and the sleep was fairly shaken from my eyes, I perceived it was heavy volleys of musketry. Tho enemy bad attacked Hooker's divi- sion In force to regain the ground they had lost yester_ day, and to try and capture or disperse our working | works and the rifle pits in which they ( parties, So close were the volleys that I feared for @ | ors) had efigconsed themselves. The moment the enemy had succeoded in reaching the camp of the Seventy-first regiment, in which I was sleeping. A desperate battle occurred in Hooker’s column. Colo- nel Burke was protecting the working parties in our front, with three companies of bis regiment deployed as skirmishers, and the balance hold about furty paces in re- serve. The rebels adopted anew and masterly plan for wiping them out this time. They advanced in column by megimeuts,fouror five in number. The advanced regiment fired and threw themselves on’the ground, and. the second in advance did the same, and so’on till (heir last regiment bad fired, This was all the work of a quar- terofa minute, They then rose, thinking, doubtless, our pickets were’ annihilated; but our men, by Burke's orders, threw themselves on the ground, behind logs, at the euemy’s first discharge, and remained thore till his Jast regiment had fired, when, to the astonishment of their foes, they raised, themselves suddenly and opeved a dreadfully accurate fire upon the enemy by companies, which was maintained with so much spirit that the whole force of the enemy were soon com- pelied to give way before it and dy in hot haste, leaving the ground strewn with their dead and dying. The ene- my’s u.asses were 80 dense that our fire told upon him at ths point with frightful effect, and the ground was 80 swampy and uneven that he could not escape till num- bersof his men had fallen, The effect of our fring on this cceasion may be judged from the fact that from the iustant it commenced the rebels never attempted any- thing but panic stricken flight. The battle commenced with a rebel yell and ended with @ Unioncheer. The stillness of carly morning again succeeded this stormy scene, and the working continued their labors without further interruption, while to the former sounds were now added the moans of the wounded soldiers. So far this morning all has been quiet, except the occasional throwing of a bomb on the mass, or a rifle in the hands of @ picket. The following are the names of some of the wounded jn the Sixty-third regiment, Their total loss was fifteen men wounded iu the affair of this morviag:— Robert N. Sawen, Bernard Foiey, Charles McCarty, Ser. geant Hart, John Humploy, Thos. Connory, Luke Kava- nagh, Jobn Madden and Michael McCarthy. Our lines have been advanced considerably since yos- terday, and every day brings fresh evidence that the doom of the besieged capital of the rebellion is close at hand. THE LAST SANGUINARY FIGHTS The Battles of Thursday, Fri- day and Saturday, &., &., &. THE FIRST DAY. Barrie Fistp yeas MecHamicevitie, June 26, 1862. The right wing of the Potomac army has been the scene of a battle to-day of more than common duration and fiercencss. The result bas only been the carrying out to fuller confirmaticn the remark of General McClel- lan—that the Army of the Potomac has never yet sus- tained a check. We have beaten the enomy, and a glorious victory is ours. Our oss, consider- ing the time we were engaged, is small. about two hundred killed, wounded and missing being the present estimate. There is every reason to believe that the loss of the evemy is more than double ours, and that notwithstanding they had noarly twice as many men in the action. y The enemy made the attack. A demonstration bad been looked for from them for several days, and hence our men wore in readiness—and when are they otherwise— to ropel the attack. About two o’clock this afternoon the rebels wore seen advancing in large force across the Chickahominy, near the railroad, close by echanics- ville, where General McCall has been encamped since occupying a position on our front lines. Planting their batteries in good position on our roar, they opened fire. Quietly the batteries of this division were wheeled into place, and a vigorous re- sponse began. The roar of artillery was deafening, but soon the crack of volloys of musketry united in swelling the tumultuous roar of the battle. GENERAL M'CALL’S* BOLDNESS. Our men were drawn up in line of battle directly facing the enemy. It was a bold piece of work, secing that the enemy were manifestly largely superior to us in numbers. It was no determination or wish of the regiments constituting the Pennsylvania reserves to seek the protecting cover of woods or marshes, either of which they might have selected, but come out in square, open fight. The work soon waxed warm, as the enemy showed a disposition to accept the challenge to open combat—an acceptance, doubtless, ‘based, however, on full confidence in their capacity to come out first best in the fight. THE BUCKTAILS SURROUNDED. The First Pennsylvania Rifles (Bucktails) were on picket duty as the enemy first marched on us, making @ rapid advance. through tho intervening lowlands and” forests. The first thing tho Bucktails knew they were almost completely surrounded, Seeing the position they were in, and having no disposition to goto Richmond in ad- vance of the grand army, they set themselves at work vigorously to get out of the difficulty. It was-no easy job, but they did more toward accomplishing their pur. posethan ten rebel regiments similarly situated could have done. They cut their way fairly out, but mostot company K, who bappened to be the first qurroundod, were taken prisoners. The rest wore soon in rifle pits, and they peppered the enemy with a sauciness carrying with it a fooling of revenge, And they had their revenge. The rebeis left as many dead on the field shot by Bucktail rifles as members of the regiment they bore away cap- tive with them. HEAT OF TAS BATTLE. About six o’elock the battle raged with fiercest fury Advancing dowa at the rear of Mechanicsville, on a Jow, swampy pice of ground, where our men were drawn up bebind earthworks and rifle pits; the conflict became indescribably terrific. With des perate courage, the rebels attempted to spring forward over the mrching ground, but thoy ‘were mowed down without mercy in their wallowings in the mire. Acharge of cavalry was attempted about this time, Dut the horses, like the men, became mired. Some of our oavalry seoing their condition charged down the bill; the rebel equestrians loft their horses and took to their heels. Disappointed in these attempts to win the day, the enemy attempted a flank movement. Now came tho time of closest contest. Our men would not yield arod from their position. GENERAL MORELL'S DIVISION TO THR RESCUR. During the beight of the cannonading General Morell’s division arrived on the ground. They reached the scene of the engagement about six o'clock in the even” ing. With bold front the reinforcing division marehed up in fase of the flying she! Goneral Morell and his staff leading the advancing columo. Only one brigade was called into action—the Second brigade—nander com, mand of General Griffin, who only three hours before bad assumed the command by right of seniority over Colone! McQuade, The brigade came up on double quick, rendy and eager to lend a helping hand in securing to our side the fortunes of the day. ‘Tho brigade was ordered to relieve the centre of Gene” fal MeCall's column, The Fourth Michigan, Colonel Woodbury, and Fourteenth New York Volunteers, Col. McQuade, formed in line of battle in front, taking the place of two of General McCall's regiments, while behind them, likewise drawn up in line of battle, wero the Sixty-second Pennsylvania, Colonel Black, and Ninth Massachusetts regiment ; Colonel Casa, Meantime @ battalion of Colonel Berdan’s Sharp- shooters, who had alse beon ordered to reinforce General MoCall’s forces, arrived on the fleld under command of Lieutenant Colonel Ripley, and were formed in line of battle, Two companies—C, Captain Giroux, and G, Captain Drew, were on detached vervice with General MoCall's division, aud had previously out as pickets and skirinisbers. These companies bad been stationed by Colonel Berden two days previous in anticipation of the enemy crossing at tho point where they did actually do 80. Their orders were not to fire until the enemy ac tually crossed in force, and thon to retroat firing, in order to draw them on uotii they reached the rife pits and tn, gronchments which bad beoa previously placed for the purpose of giving the enomy awarm reception. These orders were carried out to the lottor. On tho rebois appearing and crossing in force thoy wore ied on by the retreating sharpshooters, who fired fired rapidly and fell back, until the rodoin Pee a | aurea ct aera th, sharp shoot. ehooters in ‘exeouting this mancuvre only had two mon wounded. Company G was subsequently detached to work with the artillery. From the time of the arrival of the reinforcements the firing continued without intermission until balf-past nine o’elock. Such vollies of musketry,so sharp, quick and inesssant, have never been surpassed in any battle of the present war. And the roar of artillery was tremen- dous, constant and deafening. General Griffins regi- ments each fired about twenty thousand rounds. General Griffin, in the hottest of the fire, rode along the lines frequently, unmindful of the shower of shot and shell. Ho was so pleased with the coolness and valor of the regiments of his brigade that he remarked to Captain Anchmety, of General Morell’s staff, who also rode back and forth with him, equally heedless of the storm of tron rain and leaden hail, “Good God! what have I ever done tohave auch a fortunate inheritance?” And the men did fight well. They drove back the enemy in front of them, The position of eagh regiment was on the brow of a hill, happily secured their comparative safety from tho musketry of the enemy, while our fire did great execution in the rebel ranks. This, accounts for the small list of casualties sustained by this brigdae. During the progress of the engagemont General Merrill was actively moving here and there, superintend- ing the disposition of the bri of his division temect apy contingency that might require their united services. Of course it will be understood that General Fitz John Porter, who is never #0 much at home as whea super. vising an exci ing battle, was ommipresent, GENBRAL M’CLBLLAN ON 2HE FIELD. During the most part of the firing General MeClollan was on the feild. His presence did much to inspirit the “men, and they doubtless fought with more determined resistance than, perhaps, they would have done other- wise, considering the odds agaiust them. Gen. McClellan expressed himself perfectly patisfied with the day's work, and complimented Generals McCall and Morel! in person for the handsome manner im which they had managed their men. The boys bad won the day and the praise of their commanders, and were satisfea. REBEL FORORS, According to the statements of prisoners, the bulk of tho enemy comprised Gen, Hill's division, mostly Geor- giaand South Carolina regiments. Thoy had twenty thousand men in the action. It was the same party who annoyed Gen. Stoneman ia the morning in the direction of Hapover Court House. ‘THR QOBNE TO-NIGET. All our men are sleeping on their arms to-night. It is expected that the engagement will bo renewed in the " morning. Meantime those who are not sleeping are at- tendiag to the wounded and dying who aurvive the day's slaughter. THE SECOND DAY. Intum Fist Near Tar Caicxanominy, June 27—10 P. M. The Potomac army is seeing active service enough Row to make up for the masterly inactivity of months past. At every call to duty in the field, and face to face contending with the enemy, most nobly do the men rally to the work. To-day another battle has been fought by our gallant Union troops—another glorious victory to be added to the brilliant records of Wednesday and Thurs- day. Each new day's ‘fight only shows more strikingly the stern and patriotic stuff our soldiers are made of; that they are gradually fulfilling the brightest expecta tions entertained of them, and that they must be in- vincible against any force the enemy can send against ug. Icallto-day’s battle a victory, for go it is set down by those claiming to understand the putpose of the movement. It is possible we got moré than we bar- gained for;and there is ground for the detractors of General McCleiian, who—in the depths of their hatred of him, would, doubtless, many of them, rathor see our army lose a battle thai that‘he should win it—to allege defeat as'the result of theday’s struggle. Giving up ground thatwohad held, and burning commissary andammuni tion stores while fleeing from s pursuing enemy, looks like defeat. But it was not defeat—it was part and parcel of a strategis pian. We gave up ground that it was deemed inexpedient, with the force at command, te hold any longer. Our retrograding column fell back to a specified point, made a stand there—fought to hold the point as thoy had been told to do— fought firmly, bravely, furiously, as it was knowu they would—held the position against greatly superior numbers, and hold it now. The enemy fought despe- rately. It was evident they appreciated the importance of the contest. But their desperate valor and keen ap- preciation of the value of victory were not a sufficient match for the steady, unfliuching coolness and courage of our men. Their lighting was the wild lashings of the tiger whose power of fury is nearly expended. Our fight- ing was the slow, determined, crushing hug of the ana. conda upon the victim writhing within its fulds. Our loss in to-day’s fighting is estimated at twelve hundred—killed, wounded and missing; that of the enemy is deemed much greater. There is no trusting estimates now, however. Of to-day’s contest no de- finite results can be given. Sbouldall the floating rumors be cfedited, whole regiments would be recorded as no more, and entire brigaies be swept out of being. It is certain that to-day’s battle has beon one of the flercest fought im fromt of tho rebel capital. Many officers he cold in clay to-night, baving heroically fallen at the head of their commands. Soldiers unambitious of shoulder straps and chevrong, have reaped the richest reward of the ambitious patriov—death in defence of their country. In the state of confusion ard excitement prevailing to- night, I ean only attempt to give a general outline of the cay’s work. \ Noone gould do more than this, and the result of the attempt even must, of necessity, be un- satisfactorily vague and indefinite. It willtake twoor three days before anything like accurate details can be given, and througa such details proper credit accorded to the different divisions, og and regiments en- gaged in the action It is universally yielded that every ragiment taking part in the fight conducted itself valor- ously, #0 that there ia this consolation, that in this re- gard there dg no danger of detracting from the credit duo the men either now or in subsequent fuller accounts. OMRCT OF THR BATTLE. How this battle occurred, and the particular object of it, should oe distincly stated in the outset’ It was a part of the grand march on Richmond. for somo time past, asis well known, General Fits John Porter's corps, comprising Generals McCall's, Morell’s and Sykes’ divi- sions and the reserve batieries, have been stationed this side of the Chickahominy—that is, on the opposite side from Richmond, while the other divisions of the army have been across the river, close upon the rebel capital. This disposition of our forces has compelied us to keep ups lengthy line of defence from Mechanicsville for several miles thisside of the river to Cold Arbor, Old Church and beymd. Although held in reserve, this corps, experience has shown, in case of an engagement across the river, :ould not be brought into action without jeopardizing move than the advantage to be gained from their sudden withdrawal in an emergeney. For in- staves, in the great battle at Fair Oaks, our men were submitted to thefearful ordeal of listening to the can- ponading and rost of musketry without the ability to go to the relief ef the closely pressed troeps so near us. Our tents, ammunition and stores could not be left be- hind without # mcrifice too great to be thought of. It was seen that al our troeps must bé pushed across the river, and the line of defence this side abandoned. In the ‘meantime {it was deemed desirable to open an ergagement with the rebel forces facing our right, draw them ia pursuit, and if impossible to bag them through their coming upon us in too strong foree—prees vith our left wing with corresponding and perhaps overwhelming vigor upon Richmond itself, the gréat citadel of the enemy's strength. It ic certain that the enemy hive followed in larger force than was «atici- pated ; but & is equally certain that they have not been allowed to follow farther that it was designed to allow them. The atter part of the programme—the pressure upon Richmond with our centre and left—it is said, will be entered pon to-morrow. There is another part of the programme which I am not at liberty to unfold—a change in the baseof our army’s operations. If the fight thus far has notdeveloped the utility of the new plan, a fow days moreat farthest, and possibly asingle day, will ro- vou! it. Our troops once across the Chickahominy,and the rebel army cannot follow after us. Like the bridge of Lodi, a small force can resist the passage of the bridges aguinst vastly superiot numbers, This accomplished, and tho enemy shut of from molesting us io tho rear, } all that romains for our army to do is to pross with united and invincible strength upon Richmond, and make her ours, as she sooner or later must be—a result Lcannot fordet “ating, in this comnection, that must have been accon.plished long before this bad not General McClellan's army been crippled of its strength through Congreseional intormeddling. COMMENCRMENT OF THR DAY'S WORK. Shortly after the close of Tharsdag’s fight came an order. rom Goneral Movlellan to Ganerat Fite Joba Por- tor, tho withdrawal of his corps two miles this side of Gaiaes! mill, the Ccoupy, Ab three o'dlock A. M. the moving ‘baak corps, whe had been sleeping on their arms all aight, Dogan. General McCall, in accordance with instructions, opened with his artillery upon the enemy. The latter thought this the renewal of the preceding day’s fight, ‘and returned a vigorous response from their guns. Shot and shell flew in antagonistic directions with dangerous Hveliness. Gradually Gen. McCall's troops withdrew, which, the enemy naturally mistaking for a victory on their side, caused them to follow on in hot haste. OF course our rear column yielded the ground slowly, the ‘more to make the enemy believe that thoy were being Deaten, Meantime Gen. Sykes’ division led theretreat- ing column, followed by Gen, Morell’s division. Along the advance there were but little indications of a retreat. ‘The men moved slowly, and all, ignorant of this back- ‘Ward movement, were anxious to know the cause of it. “(We aro not beaten, are we?” eagerly asked @ Fourth Michigan boy. . “Faith, a0! Don’t ntver b’lave you are whipt till you are whipt yourself,’ responded a gallant son of Tippora- ry and Oghting ‘“‘mimber” of the Ninth Massachusetts regiment. ‘An’ gure weare afther only drawing the ribels on.” ~ And so it was; andthe rebels continued to come on, @ mutual eannonading being continually kept up. The re- treat was decidedly the will and wishes of the bulk of our troops. feel fully gonfident of their abi- lity to maintain the popition ‘bad gained the previ- ous evening. There was no orders, and so off came betteries, regiments in marching order, «cortege of ambulances, stragglers; convalescents, contrabands, and a miscellaneous coterie of outsiders, who always manage to be in close proximity to a moving army. BURNING COMMISSARY STORRS ANB AMMUNITION. / Ido not know whether it happened from an unaccount- able blunder, and Ihave mot yet found apy one able or willing to oxplain it, but soon a huge column of smoke arose from near the late headquarters of General Sykes, and on the ground occupied by the Second brigade of General Morell’s division. At tho former placo a large quantity of commisary storos wore set on fire, and at the latter place commisary stores and ammunition. The rolling up of the huge smokey wreaths increased no doubt the belief of the onemy that our retreat was a necessitous one ; it certainly added to the eagerness of their pursuit. Ishould here stato that Goneral McCicl- land had previously ordered the romoval of all tents and commissary and quartermaster’s stores across the Chick- ahominy. This order was given on Thursday, bofore the first attack on the cuemy by General McCall, and shows the object to have been a concentration of all our troops on the other side of the river, in accordance with the programme alluded to above. WHISKse TURNED TO GOOD ACCOUNT. ‘The recent ordor, cutting off the whiskey rations, le‘ quite an accumulation of varrels of this precious fluid at the Sedond brigade commissary headquarters. Lieut. Broadhead, Acting Brigade Commissary, turned the fluid to good account. After emptying some of tt on his stores to insuro their speedy burning, his attention was called to the large chapel tent of the Ninth Massachusetts regi- ment, still standing. This tent is about the size of a cir- cus tent. The enemy were in sight. Its removal was a work of hazard. Father Skully askod him, if possible, to get it removyod. - “‘Do you see that chapel tent?’’ Lieutenant Breadhead asked a dozen or more soldiers, who were looking on wistfully at his waste of whiskey. “We do,” was the unanimous response. “Here, give me your canteens, and I'll Gil them with whiskey, and you go and remove that temt across the bridge.” Of came the canteens, and off went the men. Tho chapel tent was safely removed. DESTROYING THK BRIDGE AT GAINWS!’ MILLS, Hardly had the chapel tent bearors crossed the bridge at Gaines’ Mills when ® squad of axemen appeared to cut itdown, The bridge is sbout twenty feet wide and some fifteen feet above the water. The blows came down rapid and bard; one side of it soon lay angular-wise in the wator. ‘There was only one other way for tho ‘enemy to cross here, a narrow footpath leading over the dam adjacent. Of course he could not move his artillery over this narrow viaduct, and the only thing he could do wus to plant his pieces on the opposite bank, and send his skeils over in our direction. This he at once proceeded to do, at the same time waiting for the construction of a means of transit for his canuon. The latter picce of work was prosecuted with some difficulty, as the Ninth Massachusetts regiment blazed away at thew from their muskets with destructive offect. Our cannon, too, were not backward in responding to tue rebel grape and cau- nister. i a we bow ADVANCE TO OUR FINAL POSITION. From this point our retreating column started on in the same order as heretofore, but soon branching off jnto divergent roads. General McCall’s division, and the troops under General Sykes, wont by way of old Arbor, while General Morell’s men and the batteries took @ @agonal road leading to Kidd’s mill. Soon the designated place for hulting was reached. During the latter part of the march there wail less disturbance from rebel cannon and muskets, although they kept within respectable distance, till our mon passed into the woods skirting the corn folds and fallow Jand extending back from the ravine through which runs the creek and pond furnishing the water power to Dr. Gaines’ Mill. Boyond these woods the rebels did not show themselves for some time afterwards. It was about ten o'clock when, what afterwards proved to be, the field of the diy’s con- test was reached. It willbe seen from this that over six hours were consumed in the backward imarch from the scene of the preceding day's contest—a distance al together of less.shan six miles. The time occupied shows the judicious slowness of our retreat. ‘TUR FIELD OF BATTLE. ‘The fleld of battle is a large one. Like Virginia land of similar area in this vicinity, it is made up diversely of level meadows, undulating grain fields, woods, thick with underbrush and clear of it, and marshes and ravines, There are three large farm houses, each in sight of the other, each on @ shaded hill, and ¢ach got up in the inevitable Virginia style of huge outdoor chim- neys at either end. These were first used as head quarters by Generals Porter, McCall and Morell, but after. wards converted into hospitals. The open country, lon- gitudinal in shape, is enveloped with woods. This open space is nearly two miles in length, and a little over a mile in width. Two-thirds are bigh rolling land and the remainder bottom Jand and marsh. I enclose a dia- gram, from which a very intelligible idea of the ground may be obtained, and the position of the oppos- ing forces during the most of the fight. It will be seen, however, from what ensues that our troops and those of the rebels exchanged pésitions two or three times during the day, aceording as the tide wavered for or against the contending belligerents, OUR ORDERS. From Gen. McClelan the order to Gen. Porter was to draw up his men in line of battle in this field, plant his batteries in the most eligible positions, and not yield the ground on any condition. Gen. Porter essayed to carry out this command, and he did it, in the end, most suc. cessfully. APPEARANCE SRFORE THR f1GHT. By eleven A. M. cash division and brigado, and regi- ment and gun was in its place. Some were in the broad, oper field, and some under cover of the woods and hill- sides. The whole presented an animated spectacie—the glorious Stars and Stripes floating in every direction; Dright howitzers and bayonets glistening in the sun- light; batteries in readiness for action; cavalry compa- nies eager for dashing charges; generals and their staffs in ‘ull upiform on their capari- soned horses, unmindful of the dangerous tar. gets for the enemy's rifles their showy uniforms and equine decorations made them, and regiments of infan- try with their arms stacked to bo grasped and used at a moment's notice, It was intensely hot, If men suffered then, what must thoy have suffered when the contest for life and victory waxed hot and hotter » short time af- terwards, and when to the discomfits of heat were added those of dust and smoke? THE ENEMY OPEN FIRE--OUR OPRNING RESPONSE. It was known if the enemy continued their pursuit it must bo from the direction of Gaines? Mill, According: ly, a line of pickets was formed in the wood in our rear. Everything remained very tranquil for over an hour, The arbor texts, two days before vacated by Generel Buttertield’s brigade, wore Oiled with soldiers smoking, talking and catching forty winks of sleep, a& compensa tion for their early morning rising. Every shode had its reclining coterie of soldiers, also laying in a stock of comfort and rest, An occasional cragk of musketry in the woods told of the enemy being still near. Protty goon they become more frequont. At length thore came fa volley and the roar of artillery, Beth proceeded from the enemy. They had opened fre upon us. Threo shelis, in quick succession, cama whizzing through the tress tn front of the house uged ag Goneral Morroi’s hondquar- tors, The Virginia proprietor nearly lost his wits from intonsity of fright, anda bomighted kuight of the fortunes of the oontest. about his own regiment, much less a private, and lessed still a reportorial looker on, whose memory of the order, jacent marsh nd quill, who was actively at ‘events with the rapidity of thstr occurrence, lost hie jai and his inclination for this sot of thing. It is tobe hoped he may not lose bis situa'ion in consequences ‘The shells seattered themselves about with indierimi- nate partiality elsewhere—a shower of leaden hail, more pleasant to read about than to be the subject of its pitl- Jose pelting. ‘The first artillery Grigg came Crom the woods wees Geueral Morel’s headquarters. This pee meaty eG ed by cannonading from the roads on the right. Our Datterics blazed away in return. This thing was kep& up for some time, with no apparant effect on either side, It wasa sort of mutual feeling on each side—nos that feeling that makes us wondrous kind; but from which wondrous wisdom ts attempted to be eliminated: It was evident the enemy was gathered in strong force im these woods, and were determined to hold them, Boldly and steadily, like veterans of the battle field, our men pushed up to these woods and fired into them. Vol- ley after volley was fired, and yet no seeming impres- sion was made and no yielding of the enemy. Our fring brought down the rebels, it is true, by scores; the shel- ter of the trocs was even no protection for them; but as fastas one foll another fillod the vacancy. And s0 is wason our side. woods and then into them. For nearly an hour aa in- coasant firing was k our mign withdrew, fm hopes to draw the enemy out. The withdrawal tooif place, as if compulsory, on accout of the vigor of the enemy’s firing, In these woods. were sounded the kp@il Our boys gradually went up to the 1p at these two points. At lengtls of many a departed soul... 1 | BEGINNING OF THE GRNARAL BNGAGRANNT, Between throe-and.four o’clock the general ongages, ment began. .The taking no note of time, except from it loss, ts ordinarily true, There is no taking note of time, however, in the excitement of battip. I was neved 30 astonisned ag when I looked at my watch and saw it was goven o'clock. There had been three hours and more ef fierce and determined battle; it seemod less thay one hour. The ear was full of tho roar of cannon and musketry, and shouts of the mon; moving artillery; an@ regiments, and smoke had filled the eye, What had been Gane in these three hours? Noone cantell. The Commanding General, could you catch his ear, might tell his orders, but he could tell no moro, He who notes the sparrow’as tt falls to tho ground alone know the events of those three hours, the names of those. whom bullot of shell or bayonot had called to their finalsaccount—those who lay gasping and dying from mortal wounds, those whohad been taken prisoners; in short, the fluctuating A.colonel cannot tell you eve directing a civilian, be he newspaper correspondent on any other man to keep in the rear, is surein the heat of battle to be miraculously koen. The firing on both sides wag terrific, Attempts were made to break through both our right and left, but both were successfully repulsed, 4 RESPITE, Ajrespite comes. And now the result of the short ens gagement is partially revealod. Bodies of the slain ing about in every direction. Borne on stretchers and prow trate in moving ambulances and om the ground are meq covered with blood and every wound incident to the battle field. Dwellings and barns and sheds are convert- od into temporary hospitals. We hear of offieers who have been killed and privates who have bravely met thoir death in the face of the wnomy. We hear recounte od the valorous exploits of this and that regiment and his and that officer; wo are told of dozens of regiments that have been cut to pieces, of cross firings and treache! rons slaughter through false displays of the Union fig. Who shall be disbelieved? What shall be believed, and whatnot? AsI have said above, all these details cas only bo gathered within a day or twe after tho fight, an@ even then can only be reliably recounted after the off cial reports are made. RENEWAL OF THE FIGED. ‘The fight was shortly renowod again. It was evidem the enemy had been reinforced. They were bolder im thelr demonstrations, and now came rushing from the woods. Our men. were ready to meet them, and agai there was desperate fighting—this time more dosperay than before. The mutual yells of the men as they a@ vatiged to fire upon one another could be heard above the roar of the artillery. This was the most exciting and earnest fight of the day. The cannon let fly grape, shell and ganister; the volleys of musketry were incessant, ond‘@ashing charges and counter charges were made with bold impetuosity. No battle wasever moro carncstly fought. Officers and men acquitted themselves with great gallantry. At one time our columns pushed the enemy from theis positlon, and then the latter came back with overwhelm ing force on our troops. Our mon gave way but for = moment. With a yell and a bound thoy would dash again at the enemy. I am satisfied from the recitals of every one that, for deods of personal daring, no battle of the present war can present more numerous or notable examples, I only regret my inability at prosent to maxe thoir heroism and names known to tho public. ARRIVAL OF REINFORCEMENTS. As mentioned above it, was evidont that the enemy had been reinforced. The freshness and vigor of thott iting showed it, and the statements of prisoners con- firmed it. They greatly outnumbered“ns. Only one course remained to prevent defeat, and that was aski for reinforcements. They were asked for auf given. I donot know the exact order of theis coming, but before the day’s work endod there had come acrosg the Chickahominy to our aid General Slocum’s division, and Generals Palmer, French and Meagher’s brigades, besides two or three deputations of cavalry, The fresh arrivals gave new impetus to the struggle. The new men, like those they aided and relieved, fought with the courage and desperation of old and well trained troopg. General Meaghor’s mon went into the fight with Goats off and sloeves rolled up, and fought with the fiercebess of tigers. Allof Genoral Palmor’s men wore strawjhats. They made these hats visible in the thickest of thefight. Thoir utility as a mark as night advanced, and tije air grew darker, am afraid lost more than ons poor fellow his life. Imake signal mention of this brik fight, but because of their conspicuousness on tho field. Dury@a’s Zouaves, too, were alike conspicuous on account of their uniforms. They fought, as did all the regulars under Gen. Sykes—to whose brigade they are now at" tached-—with undaunted courage. CLOSE OF THY DAY'S WORK. The sun went down in brightness and beauty. Its de. parting rays shed their twilight hues upon the contest of carnage still going on. It was half-past nine o’cloek when the firing ceased and tho day’s work of battle was over. We compelled the enomy to rotreat, and hold the ground we were told to hold. The closing fring was Dotween the enemy and Gen. Smith’s division, on our left. STAMPEDES. Some of our soldiers, the wearied, relieved and strag glers, noar the house occupied as General McCall’s head- quarters, took occasion to get panic stricken twice in the afternoon, thinking that the enemy were pressing toe close upon them for personal safety. They went ske- daddling down the hill leading to the Woodbury bridge with a rapidity bighly complimontary to their power of locomotion, Fora time, in the mad rush of teamaters and civilians there was promise of @ second edition of Bullrun. In the latter stampede they met with a mas- © keted and bayonetted guard, who gave the soldiers among the fugitives the alternative of revurn to their regiments or a bayonet thrust. They accepted the former aiternative, It will be understood that this panic wae confined to @ few. Had not vigorous measures bees taken, however, to nip it in the bud, disastrous results might porsibly bave eusued. At the time of this panic the enemy were making, seomingly, thelr final desperate effort. They repeatedly attempted to force our men into the low ground bet: ‘They caw what was to bo gain~ hject. Before our retreating the hill and the bridge. ed by accomplishing this column could have crossed that long, narrow bridge, mpassible, aud to hava’ it would only bave been te moet another, kind of dea, ‘The enemy, Indeed, almost reached the brow of thebill’ Mad pursult and destruction of our men seemed tmmi- nent. It was at this time Goneral Moaghor’s, brigade came to the rescue. This addition to our forors aaused the enemy to fail back, ‘The thle in the affair ef the day was changed, ‘The day was ours thenceforth. ‘THR STRENGTE OF OCR FORC! In the fore part of the day only General Fitz Jona Por. tor's corps was engaged oa our side. Ais troops, with the reinforcements coming over after ward, must have swelled our summbers to abont forty-fv@ thaasand mea, ‘That our troops fought well and glor (ously, I am obliged wo in this otter, Im general terms. I am unable to enumorate all the regiments and battories engaged, and give them in this letter, hurriedly and necessarily im. porfectly written, the praise they deserve. I know thie mueh, that we had fifty-four regiments in the action. ft will be understood, of course, thas they wore not ali ful) re Disease and engagements in formar vations pting to desoribe passing ~