The Sun.
London, England, 1862-08-01 00:00:00

We knev, that the forces under the command of
General Porter, situated on the left bank of the
Chickahominy, were being attacked from an early
hour in the morning. The action commenced about
one o'clock. Paris was immediately despatched, and
remained under the orders of Porter. The affair
becoming more and more warm, the balloon announc-
ing that strong reinforcements had been sent from
Richmond, and everything being comparatively
tranquil upon the right bank, the general gave
orders for five brigades to join Porter. Robert was
sent at that moment to the front, and our two ne
phews thus finding themselves both in the " trough"
(petrin), I also went to the front, in order to see
what would become of them. I galloped over the
bridge on the Chickahominv, and mounting the
opposite hills found our troops in an undulating
country, composed of vast fields and woods, upon a
line of battle measuring about a mile and a half. I
then passed a battery very warmly employed, and
rejoined our nephews, who were in the first line
with General Porter. Neither they nor he appeared
to perceive that balls rained thick and fast around
them. After a moment's conversation, orders to be
transmitted sent our nephews in all directions. We
separated, and I took up a position on a hill in the
rear, whence I had a pretty general view of the field
of battle, and from which I could distinguish our
nephews, especially Paris, who wore a peculiar
kind of hat.

I was admiring the grandeur of the scene spread
out before me—we had about 35,000 men engaged ;
a numerous artillery, the reserve of cavalry, the
lancers with their floating pennons—all in the midst
of a most picturesque country and the whole
illuminated by the blood-red rays of the
setting sun—when all of a sudden, at the
place where Porter was, the fusillade be-
came intensely hot. The reserves are excited by
hurrahs, and sent by degrees into the woods. The
fusillade becomes more and more fierce, and extends
to our left. There is no longer any doubt that the
enemy is making a last effort on that side. Our
reserve is engaged, and we no longer have anybody
under our hand. The sun is rapidly sinking. If
we are able to hold out another hour we shall have
gained the day, for everywhere else we have re-
pulsed the enemy, and the efforts of Jackson, Lee,
Witt, and Longstreet, whose troops are before us,
are vain. But our men are harassed with fatigue ;
they have been fighting since the morning, and
have scarcely any ammunition left. The enemy
brings forward reserves which he has been collect-
ing since twelve o'clock. Those fresh troops rush
in good order upon our left, which falters, flies, and
passing through the artillery draws on in disorder
the troops of our centre. The enemy advances
rapidly. The staff, our nephews at its head, draw
their swords and throw themselves into the melee to
arrest the fugitives. The standards are planted in
the ground, and around them the bravest make a
stand by rallying themselves in little groups. The
fusillade and cannonade are so violent that the pro-
jectiles striking the ground raise a permanent cloud
of dust. At that moment General Cook charged at
the head of his cavalry, but that move does not
succeed, and his horsemen, on their return, only in-
crease
the disorder. He makes every effort, aided
by all who felt a little courage, to stop the panic, but
in vain. I joined a few officers who attempted to
check the artillery, and wesucceeded by absolutely
barring the way and seizing the horses by the
bridles. By that means we were enabled to put
two or three pieces in position on the slope of a hill,
and with them we harassed the enemy by the last
rays of day.
At that conjuncture Meagher's Irish Brigade
arrived, which, uttering a few savage cries, ranged
itself in order of battle, and the enemy was checked.
At that moment also I was joined by our nephews,
who, each on his side, and acting on his sole inspi-
ration, like men of courage and intelligence, had
done all they could to stay the confusion, and, God
be praised, withont accident. We warmly shook
hands. Each had had his adventures. Robert,
sent to carry an order, and returning at dusk, was
fortunate enough to escape being taken by
a regi-
ment of the enemy, which he mistook for One of
ours. He was only undeceived by that regiment
firing on him.

Paris directed up to the last moment the fire of
a German battery. Our loss is considerable. Sykes'
brigade has lost one half of its men. Bat the enemy
must be sadly cut up. From twelve to six all theiro
efforts have miscarried, and the only advantt
they have gained arose from a deplorable Pa"