The New York Herald Newspaper, August 22, 1862, Page 2

2 BUl’s division, on the right, aud by Ripley's brigade oo the right in frout. General Pendor's brigade had boon thrown out in advaneo, in observation of she enemy's left, when Ripley's brigade coming up, Geyeral 0. H, Hil or- dered two of G al Ripley's reg imeuts—the Forty-fourth Georvia and the First North Caroliaa—to cperate on tue right with General P r, while sae Forty eighth Georgia and the Third North Carolina rematued in front. General Lee then ordared ino baitory to be charged, The attempt was made. yved forward to the attack together. They clearest ile pis and gained the c! , within one t f s of (ue battery: but there was sull the The fire of shot, sbeil, canis- uemny’S Works Was, Mean, fourth Georgia and Fire- North Carolina were heavily cut up and thrown into oon- fusion, owing to the heavy joss of oficers. General Pen- dor’s Drignde was likewise repulsed from the batteries wiih severe loss. At this juncture, while the troops were holding this position, Rhott’s battery of D. H. Hill's division, succeed. @d.iu erossing the broken bridge over the Chickahominy , and took posilion om the bigh ground immediately in front of the enemy's batteries, and opened a steady and iestructive fire over the heads of our troops, with telling ‘flect upon the enemy’s infantry, almost silencing their Bre, aud drawing the dire of their batteries from our own anfaniry upon themseives, with the loss of a number of men aud horses. Reinforced then by Bondurant’s battery ‘and one of General A. P. Hill's batteries a steacy fire was continued, while our infantry held their position about three hundred yards from @nemy’s batieries, until ball-past nine o'clock P. M., when the enemy's batteries eased firing. At ten o’clock P. M., our batteries ceased felso. During the night, at about twelve o'clock, the eno- rf abandoned some of his batteries, burning platforms, creek aud abatis lo cross. ter and musketry from (he while, murdero The F YX, JUNE TWENTY SEVENTH—STORMING OF GAINRS’ MILL. ‘ly the next morning, being Friday, Generals Grecg and Pryor, of Longstreet's corps, turned the enemy's leit @ank, and carried, with the bayonet, what guus still femained in their batteries, in the front and to the right ef Mechanicaville. It is said by many that this was the pfoper movement to have been made on the ovening Previous. And blame is attached to the order given to — the work im front with an entirely inadequate Im the meantime the grand advance en echelon again . ‘The troops of D. H. Hill, having all joined their divisions, marched by the Mechapiesville road to Jackson. The juuction was made at Bethesda church— fackscn coming from Ashland. Both corps then proceed- @d to Cold Harbor—Hill in front. Longstreet proceeded fey the right of Ellyson’s Mills toward Dr. Gaines’ farm, end A. P. Hill in the same direction, om the left of Loug- street. At this point tuey came upon the pee sirong- ty posied on high and advantageous ground. The line of Battie formed was as Lollows:—Longstreet on the right, resting on the Chickaheminy swamp; A. P. Hill on bis Joft; then Whiting, tnen Ewell, then Jackson (the two comand), then D. H. Hillon the xtending in the form of a cres ber, south toward Paker’s Mills. At about twelve o'clock M., the battertes of ). H. Hill, Consisting of Hardaway’s, Carter's, Bondurant’s, Rhett’s, Peyton's and Clarke's, under command of Majo.s Pierson fod Joues, were missed on our left, Captain Bon durant advanced to the front, and took position powerful batteries’ of the enemy's artillery. But ic was soon found impossible to hold the position. He was overpowered and silenced. Otner bat- Weries soon, however, camo forward success! to the front of the infantry, about three hundred yards in rear of Bondurant’s position. Hardaway took up the fight with rifled g: The object was 1o draw the attection of the evemy from Longsireci’s contemplated attack. At about hali-past three o'clock P. M. Longstreet com. moaced firing and driving the enemy down ithe Chickaho. mivy. Hardaway then ceased tiring and the other divisions on the left of Longstreet successively took up the fight— the enemy retreating and being driven back toward D. ‘H. Hul’s artillery, on our left. The artillery being - forced by a section of a Baltimore battery from Jackson’s division, with English Blakely guns, opened a furious fire On the enemy at about tive o'clock P. M. At four o’ctock B. M. of Friday the enemy had reached Gaines’ Mill, one of their strongest de ences; and here, an hour later, the bloodiest contest occurred that had been witnessed dur- ing the campaign. Men who had gone through Manassas, Williamsburg and the Seven Pines, declared that they had never seem wur before. Without a knowledge of the ground but littie conception can be formed of the diffi- Gulties of the attack upon Gaines’ Mill. Emerging from the woods the road leads to the left and then to the right round Gaines’ howse, when the whole country, for the Grea of some two miles, is an open, unbroken succession [ ~Bhearg rome bids, Btauding at the north door of ines’ house the whole country to the right, for the dis- ance of one wile, is a gradual slope toward a creek, through which the main road runs up an open hill and. ‘shen winds to the right. In front, to the left, are orchards and gulleys running gradually to a deep creek. Directly in front, for the distance of a mile, the ground ‘is almost table iand, suddenly dipping to the deep creek mentioned above, being faced by a timber-covered bill fronting all the tabie land. Beyoud this timber-covered Bill the country is again opea, and a perfect plateau, ‘@farm house and outhouses occupying the centre, the main road meutioned winding to the right and through all the federal camps. To the left and rear of the second Wentioued farm a road comes in upou the flat lands join ing the main road meationed. Thus, to recapitulate, ex- cept the dee, creck and timber-covered bili beyond it, the whole country, as seer. from the north door of Gaines’ Rouge, is unbroken, open, undulating and tabie land, the right forming a descent’ to the wood-covered creek,’ the Yeft being dips and gullies, with dense timber still farther to the left; the front being, for the most part, table land. But to the eoutheast of Gaines’ house is a large tract of timber commanding al! advances upon the main road, ‘and in this McCielian and MeCall had posted a strong budy of skirmishers, with artillery, to auney our dank and tear when advancing on cheir catups on the high grounds, ae road or over the table lands to nor It now being three o'clock P. M.,and the head of eur im view of the federal camps, General Pryor was ent forward with his brigade to drive away the heavy mass of skirmishers posted to our rear to aupey the ad. vance. This being accomplished with great success and rith little loss to us, Pryor returned and awaited orders. while tbe feierals, from their camps and several p ayooms on the high grounds, swept the whole face of e country with their numerous artillery, which would bave annihilated our entire force if not screened in the dips of the land and in gullies to our left. Advancing Cautiously but rapidly in the skirt ot the woods and in the dips to the left, Wiicox and Pryor deployed their men Ante line of battie—Featherstone being in the rear—and, suddenly appearing on the plateau facing the timber- Covered hill, rushed down into the wide gully, crossed it, Dlambered over al! the felled timber, stormed the timber breastworks beyond it, aud began the ascent of the hill under a terrific fire of sharpshooters and an incessant dis- ‘of grape and canister {rom pieces posted on the brow | | of the hill and from batteries in their camps to the right | On the high flat lands. Such a position was never stormed before. In desceuding into the deep creek the infautry aad artillery tire that assailed tue three brigades was most terrific. Tweuty six pieces were thuuderiug at them, and a perfect hailstorm of lead fell thick and fast nd them. One of Wiicox’s regiments wavered. Down eral rashed furiously, sword in hand, and threat- to behead the first man that hesitated. Pryor steadi- ly advanced, but slowly; and by the time that the three br had stormed the f eagmens passed up the hill through timber and over felled trees, Featherstone was far in advance. Quickly the federals withdrew their pieces and took up afresh position to assail the three brigades advancing in perfect linc-of-battle from the woods and upon the plateau. Officers had no horses—ail wore shet; brigadiers marched on foot, sword in haad; regiments were commanded by captains and companies ey Sorgeants, yet onward they rushed, with yeils, and dolore flying—and backward, still backward feil the fede- vals, their men tumbling every moment in scores. But hat @ sight inet the eyes of these three gallant brigades! {n front stood federal camps, stretening to the northeast for miles} Drawn up in line-of-battie were more than three full divisions, commanded by MeCall, Porter, Seag- wick, &c. Banners darkened the air, artillery yomitea forth incessant volleys of grape, canister and shell; heavy masses were moving on vur left through the woods to flank us. Yet onward came Wilcox to the right, Pryor to the left, and Featherstone in the centre— = I matchiess —lino-of-battie—almost con- sum by expioita of the day—yet onwara they advanced to the heart of the federal position, and when the enemy had fairly succeeded in almost flanking us on the left, great commotion is heard in the woods; volleys upon volleys are heard in rapid succession, which are recognized and cheered by our men. ‘It is Jackson,’’ they Fae | ‘on their right and rear.’ Yes: wo or three brigades of Jackson's army have flanksd the enemy, and are getting in the rear. Now the ti d territic. Werked up madness, iherstone and Pryor dash forward at @ run, and drive the enemy with irresistible fury; to our left’ emerge Hood’s‘Texan brigade, Whitiag’s comesaftor, and Pender follows. The Iino is now complete, aud ‘forward’’ rings from one end of the line to the other, and the Yankees, over thirty thouaand strong, begin to retreat. Wheeling their artil ‘ont, the federals tarn part of it to break their retreat. The very earth shakes at ‘ot one piece of ours hos yet opened; all has with the bullet and Bayonet, and onward press pur troops through camps ‘camps, capturing guns, stores, arms, cloth’ ‘et, like bloodhounde on the trail, the six brigades sweep everything before them, presenting an unbroken, solid front, and, closing in upon the enemy, keep up an ‘incessant succession volleys Qpon their confused masses, and unerringly rag ny | ‘bem by bundreds and thousands. There was but one “charge,” and from the moment the word of command ras givoo—{ix bayonets, forward!'"—our advance was a3 stopped, despite the awful reception which met it. t is true that one or two regimeuts became confused in | a over tbe deep ditch, abattis and timber earth. ork; it is also true that several alipped from the ranks tnd ran to the rear, but in many cases these were weunded mon—bot tho total number of ‘stragglers’? would net amount to more than ove hundred. Tus ie fone true, and red « \o our immortai honor. The: ts are true of Wilwx's, Pryor's and Featherstone’s drigades, who formed our right, and we are positive that, from the composition of Whiting’s, Hood’s and Pender’s been dor cs ? gades, who flanked the cneiny und formed our left, y nover could be made to falter, for Whiting had the jeventh, Sixteenth and Second Mississippi, and two dthor regiments. Hood had four Texan and one Georgia fegiment, and the material of Pender marmand wae ually ab goud ae any, and greatly disting ished itself, hese wore the troops mostly engaged aud that suffered oat, But “where is Jackson” ask all. Ho has travetis fast, and is heading he retreating foe, and as night closes Wallis anxioty for intelligence from him. it is now Wout seven o'clock I’ aud my ae the rout of tho pony is co piet tae the last volleys are sounding the enemy's fear, the distant and rapid discharges of on til that Jacksoo lag falien upon the retreating iufay. Far in the night biy troops hang Da the enemy, jpd for miles upen miles Are dead, wounded, prisoners, , Cannon, &e., scattered in inextricable confusion np thwroad, Thus, for four hours, did our inferior roo, unalevd by a single pigco of artillery, withstand er thirty tuoueand of the éuemy, assisted by twouty- ee nets vory er ie sorviee wag woll represented in al lind; caveiry were there in Toree, and wh My oe froth the woods, to of but ihree rigades on the right, and Jaekson’s thfed bri- @ tho left, closed up ranks and poured auch doadly upon the horsemen =] ‘hoy left the ground ip wir infantry to dogide tho i and eny ‘ely for Call's, agwick's “orack?! divi tere abd meitvd away before Our pdyance, MoClollan, Dri. soners say, repeatedly was presént, and directed move- ments, but, wheu the three brigades to our left emerged “from the woods, such confusion and havoc eugued that he gave orders to retreat, and 4 ag best he could. ‘The canuon and arms captui im this battic were Bu merous aud of very superior workwanshiy. The twenty six pieces Wore most beatiful, while tuimense piles of guns could be seen on every Band, many scarcely having tue manufacturer's “dnish” even taruished. ‘Tho ouemy seemed quite willing to throw them away on the slighvest pretext—dozens being found with loads still undischarged, The nawber of small arms d was not less thin fir teen thousand, of every calibre and every make. The fieldpiecos taken were principally Napoleon, Parrott and Blakeiy (English) guns. We have captured large quaatt ties of army wagons, teats, equipments, shoes. Clothing iu abuadauce was scaitercd about, and immense piles o new uniforms were found untousbed. Every couceivable article of clothing was found in these divisional camps, and came quite a ropos tw our weedy soldiery, scores o: whom took a coo! bath and changed old for new under clothing, ‘many articles being of costly material and quite unique. The Amount of ammunition found was considerable, and proved of very superior quality and manufacture. While the stor: of Gaines’ Mill was in progress @ fight was raging at Cold Harbor, short distance to the leit, in which the enemy were driven off with groat car- nage. At this point the gay, dashing, intrepid General Wheat was instantly killed by a ball through the brain. Ata later hour of the evening one of his compatriots, General Hood, of the Texas brigade, dashed into a Yankee camp and took a thousand prisoners. And 80, with Jack- gon and Stuart pushing on toward the Pamunkey to inter- cept the enemy’s retreat to West Point, should it be at- tempted, and McClellan with his main body retiring to- ward the south (or Richmond) gide of the Chickahominy betore wg victorious troops, the second day was brought to an end. All of tho enemy’s dead and wounded on the previous day, with few exceptions, had been carried off; aud they managed also to remove a large number from the field in this running engagement. As they retired they se fire to immense quantities of their commissary stores, sviked destroyed tents and smashed up ail of ‘the wagons they could not run off. Our forces captured several fine batteries, consisting in all of eighteen rifled cannon and several minor pieces of artillery. The enemy now occupied a singular position: one por- tion of his army og the south side of the Jhickahominy, fronted Ri \d, and was confronted by Geaeral Magru- der: the other portion on the north side had turned their backs on Richmond and fronted destruction in the persons of Lee, Longstreet, Jackson and the Hills. These last were, therefore, advancing on Richmond with their backs to the city: such was the position into which General Lee had forced McClellan. ‘The position which the latter here oscu- pied, however, was one of great strength. THR FIGHTING ON SATURDAY, JUNE TWRYTY-BIGHTH. The right wing of McCleilaa’s army, after crossing the Chickahominy on Friday night at the Grapevine bridge, foll back down the Williamsburg road, toward the White Oak swamp. ‘On saturday, the 28th, General Toombs attacked a por- tiou of the euemy’s left wing, strongly posted ov a hill, and supported with artillery, near te Chickahominy, about a mile east of the New Bridge road. About eleven k Moody’s battery opened fire upoa the intrench- of the enemy iocated just beyond Garnott’s farm. Tho battery tired some ten or’ fifieed minutes, and mean- while a body of infantry, consisting of the Seventh and Eighth Georgia regiments, moved up under cover of the fire from the fleid pieces. The Eighth, in advance, charged across a ravine and up a hill, beyond which the Yankee tutrenchments lay. They gaiued the first line of works and took possession of them; but, it is proper to state, this was unoccupied at the time by tho Yankees, The fire of the enemy was murderous, aud a$ 800n as Our meu reached the brow of the hill rapid volleys of grape, canister and musketry were poured into them. It was fouud almost impossible to proceed farther, but the at tempt would have been mude had not orders been received to fall back, which was dove in good order, still under fire. The loss in the Seventh is reported at seventy odd men ktlied, wounded and missing; in the Fighth, up- ward of eighty. Coionel Lamar, of the Eighth, was se- verely wounded in the groin, and fell into the hands of he enemy. Lieutenant Colonel Towers was captured, but uninjured. The Yaukees were completely hidden behind their works, and did not euiler much apparently. We took a captain, lieutenant and some five or six privates— the Yunkee picket (urce at the point. Later a tlag of truce was granted to take away our dead aud wounded. The remaind r of Saturday was marked by the capture. of the Fourth New Jersey (-tockton's) regiment, the Ele- venib Peunsylvania aud the famous ‘Bucktails,” with their regimental standards, by rapid and wholly succeas- ful movements of Jackson aad Stuart, between the Chicka- hominy and the Pamupkey, taking the York River Rail- Toad, au¢ cutting off McCieiian’s communication with his transports and destroying his line of telegraph At this time high hopes were entertained of speedily destroying or capturing the entive army of McClellan. York River Railroad, it will be remembered, runs in an easterly direction, intersecting the Chickahominy about tea mics from tho city, South of the railroad is the Williamsburg road, connecting with the Nine Miiv road at Seven lines. ‘The jorimer road connec 8 with the New Bridge road, whieb turns off and crosses the (hick.hominy. Frow Seven Pines, where the Nine Mile road joins the upper one, the road is known as the old Williamsburg road, and crosses the Chickabomimy at Bottom’s Bridge. With the bearing of localities in his mind the reader will readily understand how it was that the enemy was driven from his original strongholds on the north side of the Chickahominy, and how, at the time of Friday’s Duttie, he haa been compelled to surieader the posseasiva of the Fredericksburg and Central Ruitroads, and had bean pressed to @ position where he was cut off from the prin- cipal avenues of supply and escape. The disposition of Our forces was such a8 to cut off all communication be- tween MoCicllan’s army ana the White House, on the Pa- muukey river; be had been driven completely from his uorthern lines of defences; and it was supposed that he would be unable to extricate himself from his jon without a victery or @ capitulation. In front of him, wih the Chickahomiuy, which ne had crossed, in his rear, were the divisions of Generals Longstreet, Magruder and Huger, and, in the situatioa as it oxistea Saturday night, opes of his escape were thought to be impussibie. THE BATTLE OF SAVAGE STATION, SUNDAY, JUNE TWENTY-NivE Six miles from Richmond, on the York River road) the enemy were in foree on Saturday night. During the night our pickets heard them busily at work hammering, sawing, &c. The rumble of cannon carriages was also constantly audibie. Sunday about noon our troops advanced in the direction of the works, which wore found deserted. Their intrenchments were found to be formidable and elaborate. That imme- diately across the ratiroad, at the six mile post, which had been Supposed to be a light earthwork, designed to woe) the railroad, turned out to bean immense embrasured fortification, extending for hundreds of yards on either side of the track, aud capable of protecting tev thousand men. Within this work were found great quautities of fixed amunition, which had apparentiy b’ex prepared for removal, and thon deserted. All the cannon, as at other iutrenchments, had been carried off. ‘After passing this battery, our forces cautiously pushed their way down the raiiroad and to the right, in the di- rection of the Seveu Pines. At three o'clock a dense column of smoke wag seen to issue from the woods, two miles in advance of the battery and half a mile to the right of the raiiroad. The smoke was fouud to proceed from a perfect mountain of the enemy’s commissary stores, which they had fired and deserted. The pile was at least thirty feet high, with a base sixty feet in breadth, consisting of sugar, coffee and bacon, pe eens meat, vegetabl.#, &c. The fire bat so far emyeloved the heap a8 to destroy the value of its contents. The field and woods around this spot were covered with every de- scription of clothing and camp equipage. a great eoats lned the earth like leaves in Valarnbrosa. No indication was wanting that the enemy had left this encampment in haste and disorder. About one o’olock Sunday morning our pickets down the Nine Mile road were flercely attacked by the enemy, and a severe and lively fight eusued. The enemy was easily driven back with loss—many prisoners falling in our bands. Many of the federals threw down their arms and surrendered voluntarily. Sunday morning, about six of seven o'clock, auother fierce picket fight ocourred. Later in the day the euemy were again encountered upon the York River Railroad, near a place called Savage's Station; the troops engaged on our side being the division of General McLaws, cousisting of Generals Kershaw and Sommes’ brigades, supported by General Griffith’s brigade from Magruder’s division. ‘The federais were found to be strongly intrenched, and as soon as our skirmishers came in view they were opened upon with a farious cannonade from a park of fivid pieces. Kemper’s battery now went to the front, and for three hours the battie raged hotly, when the discomfltted Yankees again resumed their back track. It was during this fighy that General Grittith, of Missiasippi, one of the heroes of Leesburg (where he com- mauded the Eighteenth Mississippi on the fall of Colonel Burt), was killed by the fragment of a shell, which mangled one of his legs. He was the only general officer killed on our side during the whole of that bloody week. Owing to a most unfortunate accident, much of our euc- cess was marred. Our own troops, being mistaken for the cuemy, were fired into by the Twenty-first Mississippi regiment, as was Jenkins’ South Carolina regiment at Mavassas, by reinforcements in the rear. Daring the pur- sult the railroad Merrimac was far in advance of our at and was vigorously shelling the enemy at every urn. About sundown, Sunday, General Magruder’s division came up with the rear of the enemy, and © @ por. tion of bis forces for about an hour anda half. After passing the enemy's camp on the York River Ratiroad our oops Pushed after the enemy, and came up with him on the Williamsburg road a mile east of the Seven Pines, op posite Mr. William Sedgwick’s farm. The enemy were posted in 8 thick plece of pines nerth of the W iliamaburg road, behind intrenchments of great strength and elabo- rate flaish. The Richmond Howitzer battalion began the fight by shelling the wooas. From the direction of the railroad Kershaw’s brigade and other troops marched down the Williamsburg road and dashed into the woods by @ flank movement to the left. Here the fight raged furiously until darkness put an end to the consost. Our men laid on their arms with the design of reagwing the battle with the return of daylight. While Magruder was thus successfully ‘pushing the ‘enemy to the wall” onthe south side of the Chickabominy, the redoubtable Stuart was not less successful on the north side, Dashing down to the White House on the Pa- munkey, he succeeded in eapturing aa immense quantity of supplies, fixed ammunition, rifled orduance, railway machinery ind locomotives, wagon trains, balloon and its apparatus of inflation, quartermaster’s stores, &c., with ono thougand five Lundred prisoners, Yesides burn: ing seventeen large transports at the wharves. During Sunday the mortifying fact beeame known to our generals that McCielian had im @ measure succeeded in eluding us, and that, having maesed his entire force on the Richmond side of the Chickabominy, be was retreat. ‘og toward the James rivor—baving stolen a march of twelve hours on General Hager, who had been placed in a Position on his flank to watch bis movemouts. THE BATTLE OF MONDAY, J0N® 30. By daybreak on Monday morning the pursuit was ac Uyely rgsumed. D, H. fill, Wy | and Ewell, under command of Jackson, croesed the Chickahominy by the Grapevine bridge ang followed the enomy on their frack by the Williamsburg road and Savage Station. Long- sireot, A. P. Hill, Huger aud Magruder pursued the enemy by the Charice City ros with the intention of cutting them off At the While Oak Swamy Gar left wing camé upon the Yankoe forces at aboot sleven ovclogk A. » M. But they bad crossed the stream, and 1) the bridge bebind thom. Their artilj¢ry was also aied in immonse numbers, oomreantitg “both the Bodge and road, General Jackson, with Major chief of his artillery, and cho several cap. Futohdeld faing of D, Ht, Hil’'s artillery, baying reccuno.cored the por NEW YORK HERALD, FRIDAY, AUGUST 22, 1862. sition of the onemy, ordered forward the whole of D. H. Uul’s artillery, under Colonel Craighfeld. Under epver of the hill on the loft, or north bank of the White Oak Swamp, our artillery was bronght forward, thrown rapidly upon the crest of the Rull, and suddenly opened fire upon the enemy's batteries, with twenty-six eld pieces in seven ba'teries. ‘This was at about twelve o'clock M.A fr FO was kept up from the bat- m both side © enemy tag in position near fifty picees. During Uhis time one or more of the enemy's caissons was exploded, whild they suffered with a heavy mea and horses. The cngmy then fell back some cace behind @ skirt of woods, abandoning thoir gus on the leit, and there, hidden from sigh newed the fight at long range, which, with thelr Parrott guns, gave thom great advantage, Tho fight of artillery, beyer theless, coutimued with great spirit aud deterima tion, until night closed the scene. The casualties on be fight were very heavy. Lndoed, this is said to hive been probably the heaviest fight of fiold artiliory which bas taxen place during the war. ‘About four o'clock Mouday afternoon, General Long- street having been called away, the command of his divi- sion was assumed by General A. P. Hill, who, with both divisions—that of Longstreet and his own—engaged the enemy at @ late nour in the evening. Tho batile was thus fought under the immodiate and sole command of General A. P, Hill, in charge of both divisions, The posi- tion of the enemy was about five miles northeast of Darbytown, on the New Market road, immediate scene of the batile was a plain of sedge piues, in the cover of which the enemy's forces were skifully dis] \. In advancing upon the enemy, batteries of sixteen heavy guns were opened upo" the advance coluinus of General Hill. - Our troops, pressing forward, Tad no soouer got within musket range, than the enemy, forming several lines of battle, poured upon them from his heavy ma-ses a devouring fire of musk " con- flict became terrible , the air being filled with missiles of death; every moment having its peouliar sound of te- or, and every spot its sight of ghastly destruction and hor- ror. Never was & more glorious victory plucked from more desperate aud threatening ¢' While exposed to the double fire of the enemy’s batteries and bis musketry, we were unable to contend with him with artillery. t, although thus unmatched, the heroic command of General Hill on with un juailing r aud @ resistless courage, driving the prea porte them. This was accomplished without ar- tillery, there being but one battery in General Hill's com- mand on ‘the spot, that belonged to Longstreet's division, and could not be got into position. Thus the fight continued with an ardor and devotion that few battle fields have ever illustrated. Step by step the exemy back, his guns taken, and the ground he abandoned strewn with his dead. ’By half-past eight o'clock we bad taken ali his cannon, and, continuing to advance, had driven him a mile and a half from his ‘ound of battle, Our fyrces wore still advancing upon the retreating lines of the enemy. It was now abvut half-past nine o'clock, and very dark, Suddenly, as if it had burst from the hoavens, a sheet of fire enveloped the front of Our advance. The enemy had made another stand to reveive us, and, from the black masses of his forces, it was evident that it had been heavily reinforced, and that another whole corps d’armee had beon brought up to contest the fortunes oi the night. Line afver line of battle was formed. It was eviieut that his heaviest columns were now being thrown against Hill's smail commund, and it might have been supposed that he would only be satistled with its annihilition. The loss here on our side was terrible. The situation being evidently hopeless for any further pursuit of the fugitive enemy, who had now brought up stich oOverwholining forces, General Hill retired siowly, At this moment, seoing thoir adversary retire, the most vociferous cheers urose along the whole Yankee line. They were taken up iy the dist-nce by the misses which for miles and miies heyoud were supporting Mcviellau’s front. It was 4 moment when the heart of the stoutest commander might have beea appalled. General Hill's situation was Low ag desporate a3 it well could be, and required a vourage and proseuce of mind to retriove 1 which the ciccumst«uces which surrounded him wore well calculated to wspire. His command had fought for five or six hours without reinforcements. All his re serves had been brought up in the action. Wilcox’s brigade, which had been almost ann.h'lated, was reform ing in the rear, Riding rapidiy to the position of this brigade, General Hill brought them, by grout exertions, up ta ihe front to check the advance of this now coutident, cheering enemy. Catching the spirit of their commander, the brave but jaded mon moved up to the front, replying to the enemy’s cheors with shouts and yells. At this demonstration, which the enemy, no doubt, srpposed Big- nitied heavy reinforcements, he stopped his advance. It was ‘now about haif-yast ton o'clock inthe night. The eacmy had been irrested; aad the fight—one of the most remarkuble, long contested and gallant ones that hay yet cceurred on our lines—was cuncluded with the achievement of the field under the most trying circumsiances, which the en my, with the most over- powering numbers brougit up to reiuforce him, bad uot Succeeded in re ing. ‘Tho battle of Monday night was fought exclusively by General 4. P. Hill the forces unter his command. General Magruder’s did uot come up until eleven o'clock at night, after the figut bad been coucluded. By orders from General Lee, vagrader moved upon and dccapied the bettie ground; General Hui’s command being ia a condition of pro-tratioa from their long and wilsoms fight, and suffering in Killed and wounded, that if ww proper they shouid be relieved by the occupation of the battle ground by afresh corps d’ arme. In the long ané bitter contlict wiien General Hill bad sustained with the enemy, he had driven him about # mile and « bali; and, at the couclusion of tho battlo, altnoush he had retires somewhat, he scill held ths grousd from which, in the early part of the action, he bad driven the enemy. President Davis was on the field during the day, aud made a narrow cseape from injury, wich might possibly have proven fa! He had taken position in a hous uear scene, word was sent by General tw leave it at once, as it was ti with daugoré He had scarcely complied with the advice before the’ use was literally riddled witn shell {rom the enemy’s Datteries. Prisoners state that on M evening MoClollan ad- dressed his troops in an ani strain, conjuring them ‘for God’s sake, and the sake of their count:y, aud tho old flag around which 80 many fond recollections cluster, tw join in one more last struggle to reach our gunboais on the James river. Ihave beva frustrated in ail my plaus against Richmond) We must cut our way to the river, aud then J shail await reinforcements. 1 do not give up the hope of yet capturing Richmond.” Their tighiing subsequently showed that his words were not without effect. During tho night the enemy retreated again down the Quaker road toward Malvern hill, about @ half mile within the intersection of ihe New or River road, and the Quaker road, Here he took strung position on this bill, about two miles and a half from his gunboats ou the James river. This closed the scene of Monday, ‘THE BAITLE OF TUKSDAY, JULY MiIRsT. ‘The army of Mc‘ ‘lellan was now meting lato the triangle forme by the three roads already aliuded to, and fa who it was boped that he would be eutrapped. {t was in this aurea that the great battle of Tuesuay took place. All of our frees, however, failed to be in position im th right time, and those in the rear, who were to cut him off and hem him in, allowed the game to slipfrom their hands and quictly’ make his ese pe, which he subsequently did by roads easily traceable oa the map. McCieilan, in making bis way tn all haste, but in good order. tothe waters of Jumes river, had reached on Tuesday, July 1, a point about sixteen miles below Rich- mvnd, andtwo mies above Lurkey Islaud, where it was determined to make a stand, with the purpose ot effectu- ally covering the retreat of the main body to their gun- beats. The ground was aimirably cRosen. An civvated plateau of twoive hundred yards in length and three hun- dred and fifty yards width, lay between a skirt of woods, dark aud dense, and a plantation dwelling, which will bs known in the official reports as “Crow's house,” with its surrounding buildings. Upon the crest of a — pe in front of this country seat the Yankees planied tour heayy batteries, commandi Plateau, and every square yard of it, to the On cage ae D. H. Hiil’s division, on the right of Jacksou, iting, Ewolt and Jackson's Own division on the left (Jackson commanding the three latter di- visions), crossed the White Uak bridge, and took up their positivn iu this order on the left of our line, at about three o'clock in the afternoon. D. H. Hill’s artillery was sunt to the rear to rest. Longstreet, A. P. Hill, Magru- der and Huger, on our right wing, down the Long Bridge road in pursuit, and position on the left and jront of the euemy, under fire of all his artillery on land and water. About four o'clock in the afternoon, the skirmishers of our pursuing column, on emerging from the wood, were met by the fire of the enemy, abd fell back to repors to the Commanding Geuerel, Magruder, whose division, em- bracing the brigades of Howell Cobb, Toombs, Wright aud Armistead, was in the advance. Two batteries of light artillery, Grimes’ and the Second Richmond Howit- zers, were immediately ordered to take position in the cleared feld, sume Atty yards from the edge of the forest, aud to open fire upon the enemy's batyeries, while the ta- fautry were drawn up under cover the woods, to be pustiod across th€ekd at the proper moment, Grimes’ very was thrown into hopeless disorder by the killing of Uhree of its horses and the wounding of several‘ethers in the act of taking its ground, and never did get into pesition; whereupon the Purcell battery, Capt. Pogram, was ord to replace it. The Howitzers and Capt. Pegram’s veterans at once opened a furious cannonade ou the Yankees, ons we Stoadiness and offect, but 80 desolating waa the of shot, shed and spherical case showered upon them by the enemy’s guns, which had obtained the exact range, that they were greatly cut up im a short time and ‘te be withdrawn. the same moment, a column of not more than six handred Confederate troops, which had moved with wonderful precision and celerity across the pl 10.9 polnt with. fa one bundred and fifty yards of batte- ries, were compelied to retire with heavy in some disorder. The Letcher artillery, of six pieces, under command of Captain Davidson, waa now ordered to ee ihe = \qeiaaiy in vines diapite the Kharing ‘ ig their guns quic A wi tem of flame and eek, commatoal ty sorve Cased Wh the utmost eificiency, fring twelve or fifteen discharges to the minute, while s second column of infantry ad- vanced thi the cleared space at donbie quick to storm the terrible batteries of the foe. The fire was now ‘appalling, and to add to the horrors of the scene, the gun- boats of the enemy in the river began to throw the most tremendous projectiles into the field, column moved on nearer and yet nearer, its ranks thinned at every mo- meut, and lost vo sight ip the thiok curtain of smoke which overspread the crimsomed battle ground. Bat once again the whirlwind of death threw the advanojng mass of gale Jant men into inextricable disorder, they retired, ‘Still the Letcher artillery hold its ground. A brave lieu. tenant and two of the meg had beon killed at their bec 4 1g nineteen others had fallen tvounded by their side bad exploded, yet their fire was kept up as steadily as if the; the aha horses were piled around them in hoapa, @ Chi had been'firing a holiday salute, An hour apd a oon my Ca passed tess the ihe of and a third columa u ne oe i ward to the Yankee guns. Tho dark ma Tit oon in the cloud which enyeloped all objects, and though it lost strength and solidity at every step, in the bravé fellows who fell struck by the hurtling mideiles that strewed the air, it still gajned the slope Where stood the enemy's bat. twrles, but only to be driven back, as had been their com: rades bofore them, Méanwhile the indomitable Jackson had assailed the enemy with great energy on the right of their position, and soon drove them from the field, The dusk of evening, dospening into darkness, favored the re- treat of the Yankoos, whe snoceeded In carr; jog off their pieces, though with & lost in killed and wouhded equal to if not greater than our own. ‘Thus closed the terrible pattle of th battic Geld and the region round about, ‘at of July. Tho mod as If the lightnings of heaven had seathed and blasted ft. The foreas ahows in the ‘splintered branches of @ thousand trees, the fearful havoc of the artillery, the houses are vi , the fences utterly demolished, the earth itself ploughed up in m+ny places for yards ; hore stands @ dis mantiod caisson, there a brokes gun cu'riage; thick and many are the graves, the sods over which yet bear the marks of the bivod of their occupants; on the plateau, acroas Whose surface for houra the utinost fury of the bactie raged, the tender corn that had grownup as high as tho kuee betrays no gu of having ever “laughed and sing’? ia the D¥evze of early sum mer, everything, im short, but the blue heaven above, speaks of the carnival of death which was there so frightfully celebrated, About 4 quarter of @ mile trom the fleid stauds oa the roadside the house occupied by General Lee as his headquarters during tue battle, The ‘ber boarding and the shingled roof exhibit abundant es of tue Lerrible uature of the cauuonade. Tho wed shells Lhrowa by Uae gunboats wore most fear- ful projectiles , measuring twenty-two inches in length by eight in diameter, itis remarkable that, as far as know, the only damage done by them was to the -ene! Not baving the proper ravge, tho gunuera so elevated their pieces as to let these messengers of death fall mostiy among the ranks of their owu men. The effect of one which burst near Crew's house was indescribably fatal. It strack @ gun of ove of the batteries, shattering it into fragments, and by the expiosioa, wuich followed instaata- neously, seven men standing near the piece were killed in lap pan of an eye, They fell without the move- ment of a muscle the very attidudes they occupied the moment before, stilfeuing at once into the stony fixedacas of death, | One, indeed, was almost biown into annibila- tion; but another wus seen still grasping the lanyard of the gun; yet auotber, belonging to an iniantry rogimont, held in his hand the ramrod with which he was driving home the load in bis Beigian rifle; while a fourth, with clenched lips, retained in his mouth tho little portfon of tho cartridge he hud just bitten off, The faces of the tims oven still expressed the emotions which animated them in battle—indiiference, hope, terror, triumph, rage, were there depicted, but no traces of the suffering which should be caused by the death » They had passed i.garebE unconscious of the shaft that sent thom re! ¥, JULY 2, The severo le of Tuesday bad given the main body of McClellan's army ample time to reach the much coveted positions in the neighborhood of Berkeley and Westover, on the James river, where, availing themselves: of the strong natural defences of the pluce, and under cover of their gunboats, they were rejieved from the ap- prebension of an immediate attack. lu this situation aifairs, a description of tho locality and topographical fea- tures of the enemy's selected place of retuge, will be a matter of interest. Berkeley, now the residenve of Dr. Starke, lies on the north side of James river, fly@ miles below City Point, and by the course of the river sixty-five wiles, but by the Charies City road pot more than Lwenty-tive miles from Richmond. The building, an old fashioned brick edifice, stands upon an eminence afew hundred yards from the river,iu a groveot Lombardy poplars and other trees. President Harrison was bora here iu 1773 ‘The Westover plantation, long the seat of the aistin- guished family of Byrds,and at present owned by Mr. Juhu Seiden, adjoins Berkeley on the east, the dwelling houses being sume two miles apart. Charles City Couct ‘House is between eight and tea miles east of thé latter place.- It 1s not to be supporgi,.the enemy selected these plantations as the scone of his last great stand without good :easons. - The first and most apparont of these is, tuat the Westover landing 18, perhaps, the very best on James river; and the aiream, tor miles up and down, be- ing broad aud deep, affords both excellent sea room and aucuorage for bie gunboats and transports. But this is by nu mowas the ouly advantage of the position. On the west of Berkeley are 1anumerable impassable ravines, runuin, from near tho Charles City road, on the north, to James river, makiug @ successtul attack’ from that quar: ter next to impossible. Within a quarter of a mile of where these raviues begin, Herring Kun creek crossva tho Chavis ity road, and running in @ southeasterly direc- tivn, skiri#,on the north and east, the plantations of Berkeley and Westover, aud empties tato James river at the excreme eastern boundary of the latter. The whole course of this creck is oue impassable morass, while along tts northern aud eastern bauks extend the Leigits of Evo huwn—a long range of bitls that overlook the Westover and Berkeley estates, and which offer eligible positions for heavy guns. Lt will bo sven Lane protenent owthe south by the river and his guubvats, on tho west by iimpassabie ravines, and ou the north aad east by Herring creek and the boi,hts of Eveunton, the e..emy's position presents but 04@ proguavie poiat—the piece oi level country northwest or Westover, from # quarter to a bali mile tn width, lying between the head of the ravines and the polut where Her sing Cre. crusses tue Charles City road. But it required oniy « very vrief period for the enomy, with his immense regources of men and inachinery, to obsiruct by art this only watural eutrance to bis strongn ld. Already it was within range of his gunboats, aug oi bis sioge guns plant- ed vn the ryeliuton bis. Anvther day saw it strewn with felied timber and hristiing with fied batteris Tuo James river was soon covered with the tri ‘orts aud gunboats of the enemy,aid Movtoilan, seoure in bis “new base of operativas,’’ Vigurously began une work of imiusing courage sad confidence among his beaten aud aemy: alized troops. Oa the 4th of July he issued the fol- lowiag address, which, considering the events immedi- ately preceding, ts certainly a rather remarkable docu. mout:— ‘Huapquanrars, ARMY oF THE PoToMAc, Camry Ngan tliunwon's Lanviva, July 4, 1862. Soupigas oy tak aRuY OF Tus PoToMAc—Yonr achieve- ments of the past tuu days have illustrated the valor and veadurance of the American suidier, Attacked by supo- rior forces, and without hopes of reinforcements, you ave succeeded in cuanging your base of operations by a Hank movement, Siways regarded as the most hazardous oO military operations. You uave saved all your guns ex- cops @ fow iat in battle, taking in return guns and colors {rout tue eaemy. Upon your march you have been led, day after day, with desperate fury, by men of same race and nation, skilfully massed and led. Under every disadvan- tage Ot vumbor, aud uecessarily of position alge, you have tu every cuntlict beaten back your foes with Saormous sinuguter, Your conduct ranks you among the celebrated armies of history. None wiil now question what cash of you may always, with pride, say:—'‘1 belonged to the Army of the Potonac. ‘ou have reached this new base complete in organization and unimpaired in spirit. The enemy may ab aay time attack you—we ure prepared to mest them. I have persoually established your lines. Let — and we will convert their repulse into a final fest. Your government is strengthening you with the re- Sources Of a great people. On tuis, our nation’s birth. day, we deciare t our foes, who are rebels against the best interests of mankind, that this army shall enter the capital of the so-calied conlederacy; that our national constitution shall prevail, and that the Union, which can alone insure internal peace and external security to each ‘State, must and shall bo preserved, cust what it may in time, treasure and blood. GEO. B. McCLELLAN, Major General Commanding. This narrative cannot bo better concluded than by the reproduction of the following general orders of Gon. Lee in refereuce to tho battle. "Fnose orders givo an official aad probably the m st trustworthy summary of the re- sults that can now be had, and afford.a str: Contrast to the address of Gea. McCiollan:— GENERAL ORDEAS—NO. 75. HeapQuarturs, iv THe Frecp, July 7, 1862. Tho General commaudiug, profoundly gratefil to the only Giver of all victory for the signal success with which he has blessed oor arms, tenders his warmest thanks and congratulations to the army by whose valor sych splen- did results have been achieved. On Thursday, June 26, the powerful and thoroughly equipped army Of the enemy was intronched in works vast in extent and most formidable in character, within Bight of our capital. To-day the rewains of that confident and threatening host lie upon the banks of James river, thirty miles from Richmond, seeking to recover, under tho protection of his gunboats, from the effects of a series of disastrous de- r feats. The battie beginning on the afternoon of the 26th June, above Mechanicsville, continued until the night of July 1 with only such intervais as were neceasary to pursue ‘and Overtake tue dying foe. His strong inirenchmenta and obstinate resistance were overcome, and our army swept resistlessiy down the north side of the Chickahominy, until it reached the rear of the enemy, and broke his communication with the York, capturing or causing the destruction of many valuable stores, and, by the decisive battle of Friday, forcing the enemy from nis line ef owerful fortiications on the south side of the Chicka- iny, and driving him to precipitate retreat. This victorivus army pursued, as rapidly as the obstructions by the enemy in his rear would permit, three times overtaking his flying column, and as often driving him with slaughter from the field, leaviug his numerous dead and wounded io our bands in every conflict. The immediate fruits of our success are the relief of Richmond from a@ state of siege, the rout of the great army that so long menaced its safety, many thousand prisonors, including officers of high rank, the ure or destruction of stores to the value of miilions, the ac- quisition of thousands of arms and fifty-oue pieces of bg ty? artillery. service rendered to the country in this short but eventful period can scarcely be estimated, and the gene- ral commanding cannot adequately express his admiration of the courage, endurance and goldierly conduct of the officers and men engaged. ‘These brilliant results have cost us many brave men; but whiie we mourn the loss of our gallant dead, let us not forget that they died nobly in nce of their coun- try’s freedom, and have their memory with an — that will live for ever inthe hearts of a grateful people. Soldiers} Your country will thank you for the heroic conduct you have displayed—conduct worthy of men en- gaged in cause 80 just and sacred, and deserving a na- tion's gratitude and praise. By command of General LEE. BR. H. CHILTON, A. A. General. A REVIEW OF THE BATTLE AND ITS RESULTS, The Led el aud impartial review of the conduct ‘and results of the battles is taken from the columns of the Richmond Ezaminer of Tuesday, July 8:— ‘We have now reached period at which we may caleu- late the value of the result of the great battle of Rich- mond, and make a summary review of the grand diorama of events that have so recently passed re our eyes, We propose to do this in & historical spirit, without refe- rence to the mean objects of personal compliment or per- sonal detraction, anxious only to interpret with justice and {utelligence the events of the past week, and to deflue the result of one of the gravest incidents that has yet oo- curred in the history of the ‘The general ostimation of battle of Richmond, ex- in a spirit of candor, would be that it was a most excellegt plan, indiffereutly executed in the fold. The work of the closet was good. The design was compre- hensive and sagacious, and calculations upon which it was based were nicely arranged; but its execution, unfor- tunately, was full of flaws, which, to some degree, have marred the results of our victory or reduced them be- low public expectation. Reviowing the situation of tho two armies at the commencement of the action, the ad vantage was entirély our own, the fact being that tho lag of McClellan was ag defective as our own Was excel Tent. He had divided his army on the two sides of tho Chickahominy, and operating apparently with the deeign of half eiroutavallating Richtmond—which wag exceoding- ly [golish, cousider ing the #jze and situation of this city he had spread out his forces toan extent that impaired tho fadulty Of Concentration, and had made a weak aud dangerous extension of his lines It will bo obgerved that the attack was made on our side by & rear and fi movement at the same time, in tending to crash the ji the whole exvnt of his lines, from eoictcavallo one battertes on the south side of’ the Chigkehominy, and on tuat side of the river to fallupon him with the whole weight of oy forces, with the expect: of pucting Bim to @ gene- ral rout ‘A most remarkable feature Of ati ihe baftles which tended the general line of movement we have described 8, (hat at no time were more than tweuty thousand con- iederates actusliy eagaged with theenemy, After the first demonstration in force on the euemy’s ex right, he retired from Mechanicsville and we pursued Whou, by this retiring movement, be had coucontrated, 4s he sapposed, sulticient troovs ly contest a decisive field with us, we fell upon him with oue division at atime. ‘The consequence of in ot attacks was that the anem was never crashed, though he w: not unreasonable to suppose, in view of What was accom. plished by piccemeal, that if, at any critical tima, several divisions had been throwa upon the enemy, he would lave been routed, demoralization would haye ensued, and the result of our victory been fully aad summarily ac- complished, By the desperate valor of our troops and the conspicu- ous exertions of General Ambrose P. Hill, whgge division was in the extreme advance, aud was edgaged Successive- ly at Ellyson’s Mills, Cold Harbor, and Frazior’s ‘aria, each of the fields was sigualized by the success of our arms, But, with the remarkabie and bard fought eld at Frazier’s farm, our congratulations must stop. The bril Mant chain of victories is broken here, After all thal had been achieved, and all that had been expended in the toil and blood of three days’ fighting, we hat failed to cut off the enemy’s retreat to tho river, aad to accomplish the most important condition for the completion of oor victory. The whole army of McClellan had passed along our right wing and had been permitted, as it were, to slip through our lagers. There is nothing {a the subsequent operations of our forces to repair the effects of this fatal blunder, At Maivern Hill the result to us was deplorable in the amount of our loss, and negative as to any advan- be gained over the enemy. ‘9 are unwilling, however, to dwell with any pertina- city upon errors which have diminished the fruits of our victory, or even upon such staring aud enormous blunders ag gave to a defeated onemy open egress to the strongest places of refuge he could have desired, as long as we may col ourselves that the result of the battic of Richmond as a whole, is a success to the confederacy, and a most gat reliof to the long pent ap anxicties of the people of theBouth. We have raised, at least for @ time, the siege of Richmond; we have the moral effect of, a& least, three distinct victories; aud we have taken from the defeated enemy a rich and splendid prize, in stores, artillery and prisoners. So far, the result of the battle of Richmond 19 pjoasing and grateful to the coun- try. Tho mixture of disappointment is in the undeniable fact that McClellan and his army still exist, when we might easily have destroyed boi, The Northern newspapers ciaim that the movements of McClellan from the Chickahominy river were purely sic. Up tothe first decisive stage in the series of nts—Coll Harbor—there were certainly plain strategic designs iu bis backward movement. His retire- ment trom Mechanicsville was probably voluntary, and intended to concentrate his troops lower down, where ho might fight with the advantages of numbers and his own selection of p sition. At Kilyson’s Mills he bad a strong position, which was contested with desperate obstinacy and taken by desperate valor, Continuing his retreat, however, he fixed the decisive field at Cold Harbor, where ho had massed his troops and brought up to ac- tion his trusted regiments of oid United States reguiars, He was attacked by General Hill’s division in atvance, andat this critical juncture is to be found the most doubtful predicament in which tho fortunes of the long aad elaborate contest around Richnond ever stood. Had MeUlellan won the day here, his right wing would have been in advance upon Richmond, and his strategy would nidve been briiliantiy successful. ‘The turning point of the battle was when Ewell’s division appeared among the trees back of the fork of the roads and the house whi constitute the locality of Cold Harbor. The rest of Jack- son’s army, anda part, we botiove, of General Long- street's division, appeared on tho feld some time after this, and the battle was gained. ‘Having been pushed irom his. strongholds north of the Chiokahomiay, the enemy made a strong attempt to re- trieve his disasters by renewing a concentration of his troopa at Frazior’s farm. Here, however, the result was jess doubtful than at Cold Harbor, for hore tt was that General Ambrose P. Hill, commanding his own division and that of Longstroet, achieved the most remarkable victory over the onemy thai had yet been won—captur- ing ali the artillory that he had engaged, and breaking the last hope of a change of fortune which had attended him on his retreat. 1 the fight at Frazier’s farm we de tect the samo error that seems to have iniperiiled our fortunes in every stage of the contest, and to have de- tracted from all the results gained by us—to wit: the plin of attacking the enemy in imperfect forco, and putting him off by defeating him with oue or two divisions, when he might have been crushed by a fearie-a and decisivé concentration of many divisions. At Frazter’s farm two divisions were thrown agaiust the whole Yankee army; and, indeed, the error migut have been fatal bad the commander on the spot been less enorgetic, the troopa in bis small command less devoted, or had the darkness of night not obsoured thé.r numbers. From the time of the two principal battles—that of Cold Harbor and that at Frazier’s farm—all pretensions of the enemy's resort to sirategy must couse. His re- treat was now unmistakeable; it was no longer a falling Dack to concentrate troops for action; it is,in fact, im- possible Lo disguise that it was the retreat of ao euemy who was discomiited and whipped, although not routed. He had abaudoned the railroads; he had given up the strongholds which he had provided to secur him in case of a check; he had destroyed from eight to ten million dollars worth of stores; he had deserted his hospitals, his sick and wounded, and he had left in our hands thou- sands of prisonors and ianumerable stragglers, ling all tmat had been accomplished in these bat- tles; the displays of the valor and devotion of our troops; the expenditure of blood, and the heipiess and fugittve condition to which the enemy had at last beon reduced, history will record |t as a burning shame that an enemy in this conditiun was permitted to secure his retreat. Tho result of the fight at Malvern Hill was to secure to the enem} Protection for a retreat, which should have made a rout before he ever reached there, The enemy had m nocffort for a victory there; it wasa stand, not battle. If he had been let alone he would have gone away the next or his own acoord. The two wings of our army were in a position to cut off his retreat to the river, 1 nothing was done but to make an attack, in which we tained a logs, in which the enomy was not driven, and by which, in fact, he effected exactly what he desired—a cover for his retreat. All that has boon said of the ‘masterly retreat’ of McClellan and his displays of gencralship sound very well; but the compliments, we believe, are but little doserved, and can scarcely ‘strve .as excuses to be made to iblic disappointment over the result of the battie of Richmond, when we came to examine the circumstances in which they have been displayed. His “(masterly retreat’ cousists in our own blunders. He was permitted to get through our fingers when everybody thought we had only to close the haud to crush him. He has secured & strong position on James river, whore he hopes to establish a new base of operations. But the position he now holds was notorious in the military his- tory of the country. It was twice occupied by the British when they invaded Virginia, and was pointed out as @ commanding position for a power that was strong on | ied long antorior to the date of McClollan’s Pp. We repeat that we are not inclined to diminish the ac- tual results because they have fallen below expectation; and it has been unwillingly that we have referred to that part of the history of the battle of Richmond which casts a dark shadow over tho track of our victories. ‘the resutt of the conilict is sufliciently fortunate to excite oy, and grave cnough to engage the most serious specu- ations as tothe future. In the North and in Europe its inoral effects must be immense. It is absolutely certain that Richmond cannot be taken this year, or by this army of McClellan, The mouth of the Yankeo govern- ment is shut from a, more promises of a speedy termi- nation of the war. The Powers of Europe see that the Southern confederacy isjnot yet ,orlikely to be crushed by its insolent foe; and we have again chal- rT the confidence of the world in the elasticity of our fortunes and the invincible destiny of our independence. ‘The results of the battle of Richmond are worthy of congratulation, although attended with unavailing re- grets \hat the valor of our troops and the ta’ents of some of our generals in the field wero not rewarded with greater prizes. Although the painfw! fact exists that McCiellam has secured a position where he can receive reinforcements, and where he cannot be well attacked, there are yet abundant reasons for congratulating tho country and the army on the events which have gone 80 far to secure the safety of our capital and to illuminate the fortunes of the confederacy, INCIDENTS. ‘The farmers resjding in the neighborhood of tho bat- te flelds, with great bee yng, Sin Patriotic devotion, pm poor to the demand for pital accommodations, opened their dwellings aud outhouses for the use and occupation of the wounded. Throughout the whole country the houses are shatter- ed, and nearly shot into pieces by the cannon balls of the opposing armies. At Mechanicsville the explosion of a shell knocked a large house into fragments and killed six men who were resting there. Three Texans came upon body of two hundred Yankee stragglers and took them ail prisoners by frightoning them with the atory that Jackson, with a ‘black or had cut off thoir retreat, and that if they would submit their captors would take them into Richmond without the risk ot losing their heads. ‘The Pennsylvania Eleventh (reserve) andthe Fourth New Jorsey were taken entire, every commissioned of. feer—colonels, majors, }, lieutenants, surgeons Gnd assistant surgeous—falling into our hands. Boyond these two regiments the prisoners were mostly United " es with a slight spprinkling of Connecticut Major Goneral McCall, of Pennsylvania, was ured in Friday’s fight by a private in Goneral Hill’s “aaton of the name of Raw! at The General insisted upon re- ceiving the prisoner from the hands of his captor, who had modestly retired, and was doing bis duty {a the ranks when the distinguished prisoner was escorted to the presence of General Hii] by an oflicer, In the possession of a great many of the prisoners brought to Richmond were found bogus Confederate bills of small denominations, which they attompted to palm — boys on the streets for bread, confectionery, &c. Tho notés were ovideutly propared ii the North and cir enlated in MoCiellan’s army, with a view to putting them in circulation when the Np invo the city of Richmond, and thus injure the Confedorate currency. federal flag made by tho Yankees to float over pitol was captured e the federal camps, and was exhibited, with great ge to our troops. It is an immense piece work, fully tweuty foot long@Jhaving — thirteon Ly, 3 Rog thirty-- two stars thereon. We understand McCte! received it ag @ present from the ladics of tho city of Boston, and promised to plapt It on the veritable “last ditch” to which the rebols should be run, and afterward would cigvate it, with all military honors, on our Capitol at Richmond. An interesting incidest occurred in the Pamunl Thursday, A raft battery, protected with iron si ansoying our heey bw that direction, when a regiment of sharpshooters was detailed to capture it. They proceeded to the brow of a hill immodiate] commanding battery, and opened firg down into it, About a dozen Yankees wore killed and wednded by the volley—a spock which took them so much by surpris® that thoy copdluded to give up; 80, hoisting ® Shirt out upom a polo, the survivote sing oat, We surrender |’? Our sharpshooters immediately woat down, took pogegagion, aud sens the craft to the bol- tom of the river, ee . This brings the work down to the thirty-first pags The remaiader of the pamphlet is devoted to a Northera ‘account of the seven days’ contests, tue compiler taking care to select the ne most likely to agree with the rebel view of the ¢aso. He even states that to be “tinged throughout with misrepresentation, but gives & brief aud comprehensive review of the whole terrible conflict” FINANCIAL AND..COMMERCIAL. Tuurspay, August 21—6 P. M, It is impossible to discover anything new to. re port in the money market. A few lenders took advantage of the uneasy fecling which has pre- vailed for a day or two to call in their loans, but others are only too happy to lend at 4 per cent. Certificates of indebtedness are steady at 34 dis- count. Mercantile paper sells at 4 a5 per cent, Mr. Cisco received about $300,000 to-day on de- posit at 4 per cent. Mr. Chase declines to self any more 7.30 notes at 104, He has about $20,000,000 more on hand, but will not need to age them before Congress meets. Exchange and gold were irregular to-day, with- out much business. Bankers are willing to sell at 127%, and some of them even lewer; but there'ia no inquiry, Gold was put up at one time to-day te 116, but it could not be maintained at the price; it closed 115% bid. Notwithstanding the rule of the board prohibiting time operations in gold, there is still a great deal of speculation in it, both for the rise and for the fall. The stock market was better to-day on the whole, but was still feverish and variable. Rumors ofan unfavorable character were afloat all day, and, though in no case were they traced to any good source, while many of them were obviously inconsistent with the facts, they had the effeot of checking purchases of stocks and frightening timid holders into selling. A market like the one we have at present, in which there is no short inte- rest, is more quickly and more seriously affected by bad news or mysterious rumors than a market in which the bears are fairly represented. Yous terday and to-day a good many shorts have been made, and the bull interest has been considerably reduced. The change is to the advantage of the market in every point of view. At the first board the market was generally better than at the close yesterday. Coupon sixes of '81 rose }/, 7.30 notes ¥%, Central 44, Erie 14, Erie preferred }4,Southerm old 34, Cleveland and Pittsburg %, Galena 14. The exceptions to the market were Missouris, which declined 1 per cent; Illinois Central, which decline ed %{, and Toledo 34. After the first board the bears came out in full force, and stocks declined % a %&% per cent all round. Central was done as low as 92% and Erie at 37%. Jast before. the second board some fresk orders came in, and, the amount of real stocks on the market being small, prices ral- lied again. The rally lasted throughout the second board, and the market closed at about the prices of the morning, with the exception of Central and one or two of the Western shares, which did not recover the entire decline. Thecheapness of me- ney and the earnings of the railroads encourage holders to retain their stocks. The following were the closing quotations of the day:— US 6's,reg,’81 100% a 100% Harlem pref. 39% a 39. US6's,cou,’81 100%; a 100% Reading..... 58a 60 U85's, 1874. 8934 9 895 Michigan Con 6655. 66! 13-10 Troasn 108% 9104 Mich So&NIn 207% a, 30 Tennessee 6's 5038 51 MiSONNI,gua 60% a 6% we a ig a Ga ona & Chi Bx a | Bar Mil &PrduChi 3236 : Gold 115% The business of the Sub-Treasury was aa follows to-day:— Roceipts.......+ + +++ + -$3,827,684 83 —For customs . ‘294.000 08 Payments = Balance .. The exchanges at the Bank Clearing House this morning were $26,310,143 60, and the balances $1,319,806 09. We learn by telegraph from Washington that the Treasury Department is about prepared te issue half g million dollars per day of the smalf Treasury notes. It is not probable thet the posteF currenoy will be ready for delivery in any quan- tity before Monday next, if then. The lease of the Chicago, Iowa and Nebraska Railroad to the Galena and Chicago Union Rail- road Company took effect the lat instant, and the entire line through from Chicago to Otter creek ig now under the control and management of the latter company. The lease is to be perpetual: The machine shops, &c., are to remain at Clintep. The statements of the banks of the three pi pal cities of the Union for the last week compare with the previous one and the corresponding time of 1861 as follows:— Fours. Departs. ., Specte, N. York, Aug, 16.9152,823,731 142,034,051 88,301,778 9, Boston, Aug. 18., 68,234,781 26,872, O18 ABT ‘ Phila.,” Aug. 18,. 33,516,089 24,047,814 5,662,000 6; ‘S77 A tases Sera haa 93,626,628 125,617,207 63,166,029 The statement of the Boston banks for the last week compares with the previous week and for the corresponding week of 1861 as follows:— Aug. 11, 1862. Aug. 18, 1862. Aug. 19, 1861. $07,508, ug. ug. 19, 27 68. “Miser, “tore ie + 26,516,109 26,572,677 18. Circulation. 6,768,173 6,778,260 6 366,46 The statement of the present week, as compared with the week preceding, shows an increase of $776,454 in the items of loans and discounts, $7,666 in specie, $10,082 in circulation, and a de- crease of $243,432 in deposits. ‘The stock of flour and grain in store at Chicage at the commencement of the present we pared with last year, were as follows Aug. 16,162, Aug. 9, 62. Aug. 16, "61: Flour, bbls.....0. 101 “719000 oe ae Wheat, bush. 294,807 455,593 341,400 Corn, bush 1,227,858 2,548,133 1,923,210 Cats, bush - - 301,340 The earnings of the Norwich and Worcester Railroad for July were:— 1861. 1868, seve $9,678 12,853 see 16,287 19,688 925,666 32,400 Keren | Annexed are some of the items of the state 9 of the New Orleans banks made on the 4th nst.:— . Cirauilation, 085 2,408,980 Prine 513,468 646,037 216,600 382,306 889,500 566,200 2,451,090 9,217,534 8,081,648 2,675,473 1,630,108 21007679 2 2s oe soso ivo,ose 23,740 Sonn 030 211,401 ~ _ en Total... 9,542,405 9,467,066 In the specie list the following amounts are in- eluded, sent away from the city by the banks named:— Canal Bank.. + $500,000 Mechs, & Traders’ $250,000 Louisiana State ., 62,720 Merchants’ 100,600 Bank of Louisiaua 2,647,409 Orescout City 168,640 Total....... toes sere cen Gb B50 459 Tho following description of the new United States legal tender notes now being prepared by the National Bank Note Company for the govern: ment may be useful to the public. Several diffe- rent plans of protection against fraud are com- bined in their construction: — ‘Tho one dollar notes have on the right end a single bar of lathe work, the Register of tho Treasury signing above, and the Treasurer ef the United States below the bar. Im the centre of the note is a amall dio containing the figures 1,2 and 3, with lines radiating from the fguro oxpressing the denomination, and crossing the other figures. On the left end is a portrait of Secretary Chas ‘he green backt {s a solid piece of lathe work, with a large white figure J, and worda ‘‘one” cross their face, In the centre is - glo large ring, inside of which ts engraved tho 1 vender clause, ‘The two dollar notes have on the right end, betweon the signatures, two strips of lathe work. The die, with radial line@, is near the centro. Between it and the tiet dic, in right corner, is a portrait of Aloxander Hamiltetis The back is composed of strips of lathe work, in the cond