The Grand Haven news. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1858-18??, 1862-07-23
ARMY CORRESPONDENCE.
From Rec. Joseph anderson, Chaplain
Third Michigan Infantry.

ON JAMES RIVER, July Z, 1862
DEAR BRo. BARNS: l sit down to give
you q brief summary of events in the
army of the Potomac, for the past ten
days. | find the papers are conflicting in
their statements. What write you may
depend upon. And, first, l would say n
few words of the position of our army be-
fore Richmond.
If you look at any good map OF Vir-
ginia you will perceive the Chickahomlny
River running into the James River, a
considerable distance below Richmond, on
the left, but having its source much near
err the right. This river flows through a
swampy country, partly impossible when
it is swollen by rains. On the left our
army had crossed the river in its approach
es to Richmond, but not so on the right
At the battle of Fair Oaks tho river was
in our rear, and swollen by the long rains
the country was flooded behind us and
there was not a single loopholc for retreat
Some days before the battle l men
toned this fact to several officers, but was
met with "pooh! GEO. B. MCCLELLAN
mover retreats" Now, however bravo a
General may be, and however victorious
an army, yet one of his first and chiefest
works is to provide against disaster by Sc
curing means of retreat. There had
been small bridge placed across this
stream, at low water mark, but in the
flood it was swept away. The rebels,
therefore, showed great tact in attacking us
just at the crisis when retreat was entire
ly cut off from us, and nothing saved our
whole army from disaster and ruin but
the intrepid bravery of our troops, tho
uuoqually matched against superior foe.
Again, any one who looks at The position
of our army before Richmond will sec
that at any time we were liable to be
flanked, both on our right and left, whom
ever the enemy had sufficient force TO ac-
complish it. This is proven by the fact
oc the raid of fifteen hundred horsemen,
who, leaving Richmond, passed our left
wing, around at White House Landing, in
our rear, and gave such fright TO the
host of suffers there, and had they been
of sufficient force could have done us real
damage. They returned to Richmond on
the right, having travelled round our
whole army. You see from this the pre-
carious nature of the position of our ar
my before Richmond; and that it only re-
quired sufficient force to enable the enemy
TO flank us, and TO cut off our communi-
cations. Thus, while the people at home
were looking for and rejoicing in the
speedy prospect of the fall of Richmond,
and while most of our army vauntingly
uttered their belief that we would be
there in week, the real fact was that
we held our ground before Richmond on
sufferance, and just because the enemy had
not all the force necessary to accomplish
what they meditated, and which, so soon
as they obtained, they did accomplish.
On Tuesday, tho oath ult., Mcclellan,
wishing to advance bis lines, ordered
strong reinforcoments to drive back the
encmy's pickots, which was met with
strong resistance. So that, although par
italy successful, at first, yet our pickets
were driven back again, and we on We'd
ncsday occupied the same position as be-
fore. On Thursday our right wing, I'M
der Mccall, Porter and Reyes, wished to
make an advance, SO as to get possession
of hill, in front, which occupied a COM
handing position. The contest was dead
ly, and at first with some advantage on
our side, but in tho evening we were driv-
en- back with loss. The next day, Friday,
the rebels determined To follow up their
advantage, and attacked our right with
an overwhelming force, and, lest reinforce
nents should be sent from any other part
Of our line, they attacked our whole
line and kept it engaged while they
threw an overwhelming force upon our
right, which was thereby driven back, and
large force thrown upon our flank, and,
to add to our disaster, it was ascertaned,
also, that large force of the enemy had
possession of the railroad in our rear, that
White House Landing had been deserted
and our communications completely cut
of. The peril of our position was immi-