The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1862-07-11
The Movements of Saturday and Sunday

Inc MOEemehtS Ol saturday anu SUNDAY.
The accounts heretofore published regard
ing the great struggle that has taken place.
and is now going on near Richmond, between
the Union and Confederate armies. have prln-
cipally related to the gallant operations of
the right wing of our army, and have been
confined to the battles of Thursday and Fri
day last. The following. from the CORES
pondence of the y. y. Times, furnishes a de-
scription of the movements of the left wing
on Saturday and Sunday last:
"Early in the morning of Saturday our en-
tire force which had been engaged the day
before, left the east side of the Chickahominy
and crossed over to the opposite side. The
bridges. four in number, were then blown up,
and batteries were planted on Trent Hill, to
command the river below.
At 10 o'clock a. VI. it was discovered that
the rebels were crossing the river at New
Bridge, from the Est side, and were ascend
ing Gaines Hill in large numbers. From
this it was inferred that they intended to
move round toward Bottoms Bridge and cut
off our railroad and telcgraphic communica
ton. That they had not done this before
was surprising, tor they certainly had free ac-
cess to that portion of the Peninsula.
No attack was made during the day. The
enemy was probably busily engaged in bury
ing the dead and attending to the wounded.
They had not only their own. but ours to at
tend to. Wewere obliged to leave our killed
on the field of battle, also those Of our wound
ed who were not able to walk away.
Gen Mcclellan had removed his headquar-
L.. Il
has located in field near Savage station.
On Friday afternoon, at ) o'clock, 4 train
of cars left Savage station for the White
House. The cars, nine or ten in number,
were filled with wounded soldiers, and got
safely through, although much apprehension
was felt for them. The train returned during
the night and early in the morning proceeded
again to the White House with another lot
/ of wounded. 1t then came back to Savage's
and was preparing to make one more trip
down when the telegraph wire was found to
be cut and Dispatch station to be in posses
: sion of the rebels.
2 We Immediately sent down force to de-
+ stroy the railroad bridge, which was done by
pouring turpentine on the timbers and ther
igniting it.
In the afternoon Morell's division left Tren
Hill, where they had been since Friday night
t and marched to Savage station, around tn.
railroad and the Williamsburg road, and pro
ceeded over road running between Whit,
Oak Swamp and Bottoms Bridge. The,
: halted at point near Charles City until tn,
t next day, when they were joined by othe
portions of the army.
On Saturday night orders were given Gen
+ Franklin, Sumner and keyes, whose force
$ held the centre and right of our line on th
+ west side of the Chickahominy, to destroy ev
. erything in the way of camps, commissar
stores, ammunition and hospital supplies tina
IS transportation could not be furnished for, AM
1, to gradually withdra,c their forces touarcl
= Sardges. Word was also sent to the wound
ed at Savage's, for those who are able to wal
to move Immediately toward Carters static
on James river. All the ambulances belong
? ing to the army were brought down to tn
F. station and filled with the severely wounded
p But transportation could not be provided fo
all, and about three hundred were left to ia
e. into the hands of the enemy.
le Four carloads of ammunition sent up frol
III the White House on Thursday, for the Us
of of the siege train, was replaced in tie car
and the entire train, including the locom'
tive, was let loose, to run down the railroa
ID and so off the burnt railroad bridge into II
ne Chickahominy. The whole train moved dow
to the track, increasing in speed at every var
and when it reached the bridge went tur
bling into the river with terrible crash.
p A small amount of commissary stores az
ne camp equipage was destroyed at Savage