The Sun.
London, England, 1862-07-15 00:00:00

THE CIVIL WAR IN AMERICA.

NEW YORK, JULY 2.

The New 1 ork Times of the 2d says :—" The
following details will be found of special interest,
as enfolding the plans of the rebels in their attack
upon our right and rear, while the concentration of
$.3 u r troops between the Chickahominy and the
James was being effected. There is no doubt what-
ever that the movement in the rear was conducted
by Stonewall Jackson, as important information
was received from deserters from his command,
brought into our lines by General Stoneman's vi-
dettes. It appears also that the rebel programme
involved an attack next day on our lett, and on the
following day on our centre, in order that our
troops might be wearied by continua,. watchfulness,
when general attack upon our lines would be
more likely to be successful. This programme was
of course defeated by the strategic movements of
our army, and ere this the enemy may have found
cause to regret the scattered condition of his force."

An example of the rigour with which the prohi-
bition of the publication of news is enforced is
afforded in the following correspondence relative to
the arrest of Mr. Fulton, the proprietor and corre-
spondent of the Baltimore American. It is taken
from his own paper :
" The arrest of Mr. C. C. Fulton, one of the proprietors
and editors of the American, and his committal to Fort
M'llenry by order of the Secretary of War, having been
made public, the publication of the following correspond-
ence in reference thereto becomes necessary. Previous to
leaving the city for the fort, Mr. Fulton addressed the fol-
lowing despatch to President Lincoln :

" ' To the President of the "United States.

" ' Sir,—l find myself under arrest, and on my way to
Fort M'Henry. I appeal to you for a hearing and prompt
release in behalf of my family, who will be in great distress
at the execution of this inexplicable order. The Secretary
of War authorised me to publish my statement.—Respect-
fully, " C. C. FULTON:
" To this the following reply was received :
" To C. C. Fulton, Fort M'Henry.

" ' Washington, June 30, 1862.

" lam authorised to say to you that your arrest was
not made for publishing the statement, but upon your state-
ment that you were preparing a detailed account, including
facts obtained from Washington, having been sent by spe-
cial train to communicate with the President. This is re-
garded by the Pi esident and the War Department as a
flagrant and outrageous violation of the confidence with
which you were treated. The publication of facts obtained
from Washington under such circumstances is a high mili-
tary crime.—Respectfully,
4t E. S. SA:NDFORD, Military Superintendent.'

"The' statement' or despatch to which exception was
taken is the following, published in the extra editions of the
New York papers
"Baltimore American office, Baltimore,
Sunday, June 29, 9 p.m.
" lam writing for the American a detailed account of
events at White House, before Richmond, and on the
peninsula, during the last four days, including facts ob-
tained from Washington, having been sent for by special
train to communicate with the President.
"' If you desire it, I will send it to you. It will make
4,000 or 5,000 words.
" 'We have the grandest military triumph over the
enemy, and Richmond must fall.

g 4 , C. C. FULTON.'

" After waiting patiently for the news, as promised above,
until midnight, we were surprised at the reception of the
following despatch
Baltimore, Sunday, June 29, 11 p.m.
4‘ g The Secretary of War decides that nothing can be
telegraphed relative to affairs on the peninsula.
" ' Have tried our best to get it off.
" C. C. FULTON, Agent Associated Press.'
" To the despatch from Col. Sandford, Mr. Fulton replied
as follows :--
"' Colonel Sandford,—

Sir,—The despatch I sent to New York was a private
one, addressed to Mr. Craig for his information as to
whether he desired to receive the report I was preparing for
the press. It was not intended for publication, and would
not have been published if my report had been permitted
to ge through by telegraph. I never dreamt of its being
published.
" ' To find myself in Fort M'Henry, the depot for trai-
tors, is a mortification I cannot express. Having risked
both life and property in defending the Union cause when
our city was in the possession of traitors, and rendered ser-
vices, as editor and proprietor of the Baltimore American,
to the Government in sustaining the laws which no one has
excelled, I ask, in common justice, that I should at least
be released on my parole.
'" Respectfully yours,

" CHARLES C. FULTON.' "

The particulars which Mr. Fulton had been able
to furnish previous to his arrest are dated from the
White House, June the 28th, and are intended to
show a great strategical success on the part of
M'Clellan

" The events transpiring at this point, and in the
army before Richmond during the past four days,
have been of such varied character and thrilling in-
terest that I scarcely know where to commence or
end the record in order to make it at all understand-
able to the general reader. Many who were eye-
witnesses to those movements have fled off panic-
stricken, fully convinced that the whole army before
Richmond has been destroyed, and that General
M'Clellan has been out-witted, out-generaled, out-
flanked, and driven to the wall,' where he pro-
mised to place the enemy. The evacuation of White
House was to them an inexplicable mystery under
any other condition of facts ; but had. they have kept
their eyes open early in the week they would have
discovered that the work of evacuation was silently
and surely progressing before any of the fight-
ing on the right wing, as early as Tuesday, and that
large numbers of vessels had left the York and Pa-
munkey Rivers, and were moving rapidly around
to a new basis of operations on the James River.
They might also have observed that all civilians
were forbidden to approach the front as
early as Tuesday, under any pretence whatever,
and that the immense stores of supplies at Dis-
patch Station had been steadily reduced for a week,
until the last box of crackers, barrel of beef, and
bale of hay had disappeared, before the great con-
test on Friday, which left the way open for the
enemy to approach that point, which I have every
reason to believe was designedly intended by Gene-
ral )01`Clellan to be the mouth of the empty trap ;
into Which they were being led, and, as I hope and
believe, to their entire rout discomfiture.
" Before proceeding to the narrative of events as
they have occurred in the vicinity of White House
during the past few days, I will briefly state
.that
the whole movement of General M'Clellan, so far
as the changing of his lines are concerned, and in
reality the making of his left wing his right wing,
and withdrawing his right wing to rest near Sa-
vage
Station, at the railroad bridge across the '
Chickahominy, has been
accomplished, throwing
the way open for the enemy to rush. to his coveted
where he f o --mu nodv e nmoeetnnhetirnai gls
White House,
feast at the
Whether this
by Generals
than
bat an empty platter.
may be intended b
good or bad, or what
M'Clellan to be accomplished by it fur
throwing his left on to James River, and support-
ing a land attack on Fort Darling, it is impossible
at present to say. A day or an hour may decide
this point. I will merely proceed to a narrative of \
events as they occurred at White House up to
Saturday at noon, embracing such statements as
reached us from the battle-field on Wednesday,
Thursday, Friday, and Saturday.
"At White House on Wednesday matters were
progressing as usual, with the exception that there
has been a check in the landing of stores of all de-
scriptions, while those on the landings were being
rapidly re-loaded in waggons and moved off to-
wards the left flank. Several steamers with large
strings of vessels laden with forage and subsistence
had also been started down the river with orders
to proceed to City Point on the James River. The
reversal in the course of transportation occasioned
considerable comment and speculatien, but was
ascertained to be the fulfilment of an order
direct from General 11‘Clellan. Some supposed
it to be intended for the supply of a portion of
General Burnside's army, which rumour said had
reached the James River to co-operate with him. An
order was also •
received from headquarters early on
Wednesday to prohibit any one from coming for-
ward to the lines on any consideration whatever,
unless the parties belonged to the army. This
order was so peremptory that even those connected
with the press, some of whorl had
come down to
forward their report by the mail boats, were pre-
wanted from returning, and others who had smug- 1
gled themselves through were promptly sent back.
" pn the same day General Casey came down
and tookcommand of the small land force, not
o__ 1
in the evening
ceeding 600 men, and notified
to pnepsere at any moment for the entire evacuation

of the post, and the preservation, as far as practi-
cable, of the public property. Similar orders were I
also sent to Colonel Ingalls. He immediately com-
municated with the Beet, and a division of men,
armed with axes, proceeded during the night to cut
down the trees around White-house, and subse-
quently all the way along, above and below the
Pumunkey bridge, so as to give them free play for
the use of their guns. On the same evening we
had report from head-quarters that a division of the
rebels, the forces of Stonewall Jackson and General
Ewell, were approaching and threatening to open
the way by the right flank for a raid on the White-
house. In the meantime the trains on the railroad
were kept running night and day, carrying forward
nothing but ammunition and munitions of war, with
siege and rocket trains and field-pieces.
" The down train of cars due at seven o'clock on
Wednesday evening had not arrived, which added
to the excitement among the sutlers and camp fol-
lowers. At half-past ten o'clock in the evening,
however, the train arrived, bringing down about 90
wounded men, it having been delayed for their ac-
commodation. They were nearly all of General
Hooker's division, and had participated in the gal-
lant advance on the left of the centre on Wednes-
day morning, driving the enemy from their rifle
pits, and reporting that they had secured and held
what is_ known as Tavern Hill, an important
position, commanding the city of Richmond. This
is the important point alluded to in the despatches
of General M'Clellan detailing the affair. The
entire loss on our side was reported to be about
260 wounded, and 60 killed. A large number of
those wounded were, however, very slight, most of
them being able to walk from the cars to the hos-
pital boat. Thus ended the events of Wednesday.
"The fact that the gunboats had taken position
in front of the landing with their
guns out and
shotted, and the sweeping away of the trees, which
was still progressing, gave renewed activity to the
rush of the camp followers for passes by the mail
boat to Fortress Monroe, and our population com-
menced to be rapidly depleted.
" The down train from the front reported all
quiet, with the exception of certain mysterious
movements within our lines that were not under-
standable to civilians. The immense stock of stores,
and forage at Despatch station, 11 miles from
White-house, were being carried off with great
rapidity, and subsequently we learnt that an im-
mense train of waggons had been running from that
point all day with forage and stores, and that the
greatest activity in their removal was being ob-
served. In the evening it was announced that not
a bale of hay, a bushel of oats, a barrel of beef, or a
box of crackers was left.
"Throughout the day at White-house the great-
est vigilance was observed in and around the head-
quarters of General Casey, who had pitched his
tents on the beautiful lawn in front of the White-
house, the building itself being occupied as the
private quarters of the Sisters of Charity ; and here
let me add that it is quite a small building, having
not more than six small rooms in it, the outbuild-
ings and servants' quarters being separate from the
residence. General Washington himself could not
complain of the use of it by these ministering
angels of the sick and wounded soldier. An im-
mense train of waggons was also moving forward
from the subsistence and commissary departments
throughout the day, and the immense stocks on
shore were being rapidly diminished. The trains
on the railroad were still steadily moving forward
with ammunition, and continued throughout the
night. Cavalry scouts had also been sent out in
various directions during the day, and preparations
were made for obstructing the roads.
" At dusk a new panic was occasioned by the dis-
covery that bales of hay had been piled over and
about all the large masses of subsistence stores on

the landings, indicating the probability that it
might become necessary during the night to apply
the torch to them to prevent their falling into the
hands of the enemy.

" While all these preparations were going on,
indicating the probable intention of evacuating the
landing on shore, the numerous steamers and tugs,
probably 50 in number, had been busy towing
down the river to West Point, a distance of 50
miles, through its tortuous windings, long lines of
brigs and barques laden with stores. The vessels
that were•scattered about in the vicinity were also
collected together in separate groups and anchored
in the stream, where they could be easily and
rapidly taken in tow by the steamers when the time
for their removal arrived; and in order that the
reader may imagine the scene here presented it may
be proper for him to understand that not less than
700 sail of vessels were two days previous at anchor
at the White-house and landing and stream along
for eight or ten miles down the river.
"In the meantime the work of the construction
of the railroad bridge over the Pamunkey, just
above the landing, was steadily progressing, a large
force of workmen being constantly at work. This
fact, in conjunction with the evident movements
towards a speedy evacuation, bewildered the specu-
lations of the uninitiated ; but Colonel Ingalls,
under whose directions the evacuation was progress-
ing, moved about as coolly as a summer's morning.
" The morning train brought down the gratify-
ing news that the forward movements General
Hooker had been entirely successful, and that he
held the enemy's camp and rifle pits. About one
hundred more of the wounded arrived, and were
removed, with the others, to the hospital steamers,
where the Sanitary Committee, with their large
corps of surgeons, and the many Sisters of Charity
in attendance, did all in their power to render the
poor fellows comfortable. There are also a large
number of volunteer female nurses in attendance,
who are unremitting in their attention and kind-
ness to the sick and wounded.

"The reports from the front on Thursday even-
ing continued favourable, heavy skirmishing hav-
ing taken place on the right, resulting in the repulse
of the enemy, and a few more of the wounded
arrived, who reported everything progressing most
satisfactorily, while all the indications were that
a general battle along the whole line would take
place the next day (Friday). The trains were kept
in motion all night, carrying forward munitions or
war, while the waggon trains were still lining the
roads with commissary stores.
" On Friday morning the first item of news re-
ceived by telegraph was a gratifying announcement
that Stonewall Jackson and Ewell, in attempting to
turn the right flank, were repulsed by General
M`Call with his Pennsylvania Reserves, and driven
back with great slaughter. This attempt of Jack-
son was made at three o'clock in the morning, and
had closed at six o'clock, with a signal victory.
This repulse is said to have been one of the most
decisive and destructive of the war, the enemy
i being put to a complete rout, with very light loss
1 to our forces. Although at night, and intended for
a surprise the gallant Pennsylvanians were found
to be
dicatin wide awake. There was, however, every in-
eaf. 31
a general battle along the whole line,
and Gen
lellan, in order to be ready for all
emergencies, gI:,C,
directions to General Casey and
Colonel Ingalls i
instant removal oor -
White House, make every preparation for the
Bhoudiastthruction of all the supplies at
a coue
rse
of the impending
to
render the
his force
battle render such
being deemed too small
were the successful de-
eertaienrt
st such a
de-
fence of his position a
~movementhesteoafmt heerseennedm
all in early requi-
sition, and were moving down the river smith long
trains of transports in tow. The ve,stis n
full of earest
the landing were also stowed
commissary
stores and munitions, and moved out in the stream
ytuagsemigjenagain
The immense piles of boxes of crackers, barrels of
pork, and other stores along the landing were again
covered over with bales of hay, so as to be ready at
moment's notice to apply the torch for their destruc-
tion, if it should become necessary-
" There was also great commotion among the
crowds of contrabands, who have been found most
efficient labourers, and who have been used to great
advantage in the commissary and munition depart-
ments. They soon understood that danger was ap-
prehended, . ,
and, on being assured by Col. Ingalls
that they would not be left behind to meet the ven-
geance of their masters, went to work with re-
newed energy. Stores and munition's everywhere
disappeared from the landings with great rapidity,
and were being packed on the wharf boats and ves-

sels contiguous. The wives and children of the con-
trabands also soon made their appearance, and with
bundles and babies took position on the canal boats
as they were floated out in the stream.
" The mail steamer, which should have left for
Fortress Monroe at 7 o'clock in the morning, was
ordered to be retained, and at 9 o'clock a despatch
was received that a general battle was progressing
along the whole line, the enemy having renewed
the attempt to flank General Porter's position on
the right wing. At 1 o'clock a second despatch
announced that General Porter had driven the
enemy before him and repulsed them three times
with terrific slaughter, and was then ordered by
General M'Clellan to fallback. This despatch was
a signal for renewed energy in the work of evacua-
tion, and all the quartermaster's papers and valu-
ables, and the chests of the paymasters were brought
on board the mail boat. The family of Quaxtermas-
ter Engle was also brought on board,with his horses
and carriage, and the horses of Assistant-Quarter-
mastee*Sawtell. The household furniture and the
servants of these officials also soon followed, which
increased the excitement among the sutlers and
army followers. Some of the sutlers became so
panic-stricken as to sell out their stocks at half-
price, and hastened on board the boat, while some
determined to hold on and take the chances. That
there was an intention on the part of Gen.M'Clellan
to evacuate the White House as soon as his move-
ments in front should be perfected there was no
doubt, but whether as a necessity or a strategic
movement could not at that time be foreseen.
cc During the afternoon the panic increased until
half-past 3 o'clock, and the steamers and tugs were
substancevfollowsn
, w
busily engaged in towing down the transports.
At 3 o'clock a despatch was received from head-
quarters,,,eh
in
ae
been driving
v g
theenemy before us
on the left wing for the past half-hour. Cheers are
heard all along the lines.'
" This was the signal for a new change in the
programme. All the Government valuables and
the property of the officers were taken off the
mail boat and placed on board the steamer Camonico,
and the order given for the departure of the mail
boat, which left at 3 o'clock for Fortress Monroe,
taking with her in tow two heavily-laden steamers,
with directions for them to be dropped at West
Point.

q Two of the large hospital steamers filled with
sick and wounded also left about the same time,
and moved majestically down the river. The
steamer Commodore was still left at the wharf
to receive any new arrivals from the battle field,
and the Daniel Webster and the Elm City, de-
voted to the same service, soon after arrived. It
was also announced that General Stoneman with
6,000 cavalry and artillery was within six miles of
the White House to protect the work of evacuation,
if a dash should be made by the enemy in that di-
rection.
" The scene presented on the river was a most
interesting one. Ten miles below the White House
about 200 brigs, barques, and schooners were at
anchor, with any quantity of canal boats loaded

with implements of war, commissary and subsistence
stores. On the whole route down steamers and tugs
were passed, having large numbers of vessels in
tow, and at West Point, 40 miles below the White
House, not less than 300 vessels were at anchor,
while the numerous steamers and tugs which had
brought them down were preparing to start up for
the several hundred still up the river.
" About 7 o'clock on Friday evening numbers of

the wounded commenced to arrive from the front
of the lines, with a few of the most intelligent of
whom I had an opportunity of conversing. Those
engaged in the repulse of Stonewall Jackson repre-
sented his rout to be most quick and disastrous.
He came down on them expecting a surprise, but
found them all momentarily expecting his approach,
having been informed by General M'Clellan two
days previous that he was coming upon them.
Instead of a surprise, the enemy received the first
shot, and after two hours' fight, retreated in con-
fusion.

" The wounded from the flight which immediately
ensued represented it to have been a most terrific
encounter, the enemy coming out from Richmond
upon them in such dense masses that the shell and
grape poured into them as they advanced made great
gaps in their lines, which were immediately filled
up, and they moved forward most determinedly.
Their artillery was so poorly served that the damage
to our ranks was light in proportion. They still
moved on and exchanged showers of Minie balls,
which were destructive on both sides, but when
General Porter ordered a bayonet charge they re-
treated in double quick, though General Porter
pursued them but a short distance.
" The enemy again rallied and approached our

lines a second time, when the same terrible
slaughter ensued ; this time their artillery, being
better served, was more effective in the ranks of our
men. On coming to close quarters they were again
repulsed and, driven back greater distance,
this twice fought over battle ground being literally
strewn with the dead and dying. General Porter
then a second time fell back to his position, and
waited nearly an hour for the enemy to renew the
assault. They, however, finally came on in in-
creased numbers, having been largely reinforced,
and were again received with shell and grape,
causing great chasms in their ranks, and one poor
fellow, who had lost his arm, assured me that he
saw the loose arms and portions of the bodies of the
enemy making gyrations through the air. A
third time the enemy bore down most bravely and
determinedly on our lines, and this conflict was the
most severely contested of the whole, but when the
bayonet was brought to bear he fell back, and was
pressed towards Richmond, fully a mile beyond our
original lines.
" Again, for the fourth time, General Porter fell
back to his first position, when an order was re-

ceived from General M'Clellan to continue his re-
trograde movement slowly and in order. So soon
as it became apparent to the enemy that it was the
purpose of General Porter to retire, they again
pushed forward most :boldly and bravely, when
their advance was checked by the entire reserve
force, consisting of the New York sth, Lieutenant-
Colonel Duryea; the New York 10th, Colonel Bene-
dix, and two other regiments, under command of
Colonel Warren, acting Brigadier-General, and the
entire force of regulars under Major-Gen. Sykes.
This fresh force held the enemy in check, while the
force which had previously borne the brunt of the
battle moved steadily back and in good order, car-
rying with them their wounded and their dead_
"The enemy made a fierce attack on the reserve,
but cannon were posted at various parts of the
route by which they were retiring towards the
Chickahominy, which occasionally poured in shot

and shell upon them, and checked-their movements
and enabled the troops to move back in the most

admirable order. At one time in this retrograde
movement the reserve force of General Sykes
charged on the e►iemy with the bayonet, and drove
him back nearly a mile. In this charge the gal-

lant New York sth and Colonel Benedix's New

York 10th drew forth the plaudits of the army by

their steadiness and bravery, in which they, how-

ever, lost about 100 of their numbers, whose bodies
it was necessary to leave on the field. Cheers went

up along our lines at this gallant repulse, which
was at 3 o'clock in the afternoon, and the enemy

did not again renew the attack during the balance

of the evening, but turned his columns down

towards the White House, which seemed to be the

haven of all his hopes. The division of the enemy
despatched in this direction was estimated at from

20,000 to 30,000 cavalry, artillery, and infantry.
They started down at 3 o'clock on a Friday after-
noon.

NzittnhttieGnee
4, In
. 1 conversation with a paymaster who was
statement
being anxious
of treasure
reiderall Porter's division when the battle
on the Richratoon;
and was told
of have a very full confirmation of the
thisfor gallant soldier. He says that
in
his
the safety of the large amount
company with the Nvae
drpooesseisededssion he asked instructions,
on towards Savage station,
of the Chickahominy, in
that direction with the": train then moving in
He joined the train
various
of the men and
itoirdeamps of the di-
all the valuables from the
described the artillery reserves stationed
on, and
I:oned along the
road to protect the retiring of the
tight wing of the
vision.