The Express.
London, England, 1862-07-21 00:00:00

AMERICA.

(no' on owl

BOSTON, JOLT 7.

Gradually and slowly the record of the week's
fighting before Richmond reaches us, but even now
the narrative is confused, and it is almost impos-
sible to form au accurate estimate of the details.
The contest occurred on successive days and covered
many miles of ground, and eye-witnesses can only
speak of the fraction of the whole affair which each
of them saw. Besides this, the political feeling
of newspaper writers enters into their judgments
of military movements, and due allowance must be
made for this bias. Enough, hcwever, haa oome
to band to enable us to form a general idea of
events from the beginning of the rebel attack on'
the right wing. The first day, that is Thursday,
the 27th of June, the strife was carried on chiefly
by the artillery on both aides, and the fierce
onslaught was made the next day. At this time it
is estimated that the Federate composing the right
wing were a little short of 30,000, while the attacking
party brought into action over 50,000. After
many ineffectual attempts to break the Federal
line, the rebels, by hurling an immense body on
one point, succeeded, and then General Porter,'
who had the command, ordered his force to with-
draw. This was the critical moment. The dash of
the rebels ou the Federal batteries of the right and
centre was the most effective movement of the
whole fight. In this they took eighteen guns,
but the approaching darkness, and the determina-
tion of the Federals to dispute the ground inch by
inch, caused a cessation, and General Porter
ably conducted his troops across the Chicks-
hominy. On Saturday night and the following
day be marched slowly, with all his force and bag-
gage train, across a narrow place on White Oak
Swamp, and took the road towards Carter's
Station, on James River. By this movement,
General Porter outwitted his foe, and the latter
was compelled to repair the bridges before he could
cross the Chickahominy. In the meantime, if it
had been the design of General M'Clellan to make
a concentrated movement upon Richmond from the
south side, he was compelled to give it up, for such
was the position of forces that it was necessary for
him to fall back on the James River, and secure the
protection of the gunboats. It was in the attack
on this retreat that the severest fighting took place.
To protect the baggage train it was necessary for
the Federal' to hold a position in its rear. For
this purpose Sedgwick's and Smith's divisions fell'
back and took a stand in the woods, north and east
of a large field, where all their artillery, with the
exception of two field pieces, were masked. All
these pointed down the road which they took, and
by which the enemy must approach them. The
rebel skirmishers, seeing only the two glistening
field-pieces, reported: accordingly to the officers, who
ordered up a large body. As the rebels advanced,
there was a discharge of the two cannon, and then
all was silent. Encouraged by this they started at
double-quick to seize the prize. Ere they reached
the guns, twelve Federal cannon opened with
grape and canister, and 10,000 muskets
joined in. The rebels were surprised. After
a few frantic efforts they broke in confusion,
and fled in spite of the utmost efforts of their offi-
cers. Next came the movement on the rear under
charge of Beintzelnian. Whilst this brave and
skilful officer covered the rear, Keyes led the ad-
vance. This was on Monday. The enemy, after