Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1862-07-04
From General McClellan's Army.
TWO DAYS FIGHTING.
HIS FORCES WITHDRAW TO JAMES RIVER
NBw BAsE OF OPERATIONS ESTABLISHED.

NkW bASb OF OPERATIONS ESTABLISHED,
The West Point (Va.) correspondent Of
the Post states that 1t was reported there that
our piokets we're driven in on the afternoon
OF the Goth. at White House, and that the
shipping had all been sent to West Point
from White House.
The Philadelphia Inquirer states that the
soldiers by the steamer State Of Maine report
that when they left White House, on Thurs
day, it was believed the advanced guard Of
Jackson had driven in our pickets 5 miles off,
while his main body was ten miles in the
rear Union regiment and all the sick at
White House able TO bear arms were at once
ordered out. Word was sent TO Casey's di-
vision, and all the trees on the Pamunkey
river cut down to give play TO the batteries
and gunboats. All stores and munitions
were sent on board the transports. which
were anchored out in the stream under the
protection Of the gunboats.
NEW YORK, June 800 A NJ.
The Tribune has just issued an extra with
dispatches from the battle field Sunday morn
ing "On Thursday noon the enemy made an
attack on Gen. Stoneman's forces in the vicini-
~ of Hanover Court House. Shortly they
commenced a vigorous cannonading from
the woods on an eminence opposite Mechan-
icsvile also from two batteries-one above
and the other below. They we're replied to
by Col. Campbell's Pennsylvania batteries
one on the Mechanicsville road, and the 9TH
or from behind earthworks at the right of
the grove. At about two p. M the enemy's
infantry and squadrons Of cavalry crossed the
Chckamahominy in immense force, short
distance above the Virginia Central Railroad
making a rapid advance towards McCalls
division, entrenched on billy woodland, a
cross swampy ravine, about mile in the
rear Of Mechancsville. The LIST Pennsylvania
rifles (Bucktails) and Campbelrs Pennsylvania
batteries were on duty, all Of whom, except
one company, fell back behind the breast
works and rifle pits, where tue line Of the bat
tie was drawn. Co. X, of the Bucktails, on
duty beyond the Railroad, was surrounded
and the last known Of them they were try
ing to cut their way through an immense force.
Their fate is not known, but it is presumed
that the greater number are prisoners. The
enemy advanced down in the rear of Mechan-
icsville, on low, msrshy ground, where our
forces were drawn up behind rhe-pits and
earihworks on an emnence on the north side OF
the ravine where the conflict became most ter
ribe The rebels with most determined
courage attempted to push forward over the
miry ground, but bullets and grape fell among
them like hail, until, in the words of an off
Ger, they lay like flies on bowl Of sugar
and withdrew. Cannonading was kept up on
both sides till about p. NJ, when the bat
tie ceased. Our forces were covered by earth
works and suffered but slightly. Late in the /
j. M. the enemy made a charge with cavalry. /
About 100 of them came rushing down, and 1
attempted to cross the ravine. when the hors-
es mred. A squadron of our cavalry seeing
the position in which the enemy were plac-
ed, made a charge down the hill, when
the rebel cavalrymen abandoned their horses
and fed The infantry fight was then renew
ed and continued until about 7 Z. NJ, when
retreat was ordered, very much against the
will of the Pennsylvania boys, who begged to
be allowed to defend their position, which
they felt confident they could hold. The
outer forces then commenced to fall back
:" OF the fight next day he states that the
cannonading was terrific, and the musketry
can only be understood by those who have
heard the crash of immense trees in quick
succession. Duryea's Zouaves were lying on
the ground hours while our batteries were
Smelling the woods over them Finally, to-
wards night, the enemy attempted to break the
center line in front of Duryea's Zouaves, and
the musketry firing became most terrific, last
ing 20 or 80 minutes, after which there was
lull. Shortly afterwards an attempt was made
to break through our right wing, which was
repulsed. Half an hour later, another
attempt made on the left, with the
same result. The battle had then been raging
for some four hours, without any apparent
change or advantage on either side Rein
forcements Of artillery and infantry then
came steadily along over the bridge, marching
81 Al ffst
enemy then seemed to make their last desper- /
ate effort, and came, forcing our men back to
the low ground between the hill and bridge, /
where they could have been slaughtered by |.
tens of thousands before they could have
crossed the long narrow bridge. Wagons,
artillery, ambulances and men we're hurrying
towards the bridge. A panic was almost in
eyitable, when guard was placed across the
bridge at the time when the enemy had al
most reached the main hospital, one-half mile |
from the river. Meagher's Irish brigade came
over the hill, stripped to bear arms, and were
ordered to go TO work. They gave yell and
went to work, and the enemy fell back to
the woods, and thus the matter stood up to
/ o'clock Sunday morning. At dark an at
tack was made along the front ofthe entire line,
and renewed at A. M, in front Of Generals
Hooker, Kearney and Summers divisions,
without material results
1t was the strategic movement into which
the enemy have UNIV ttingly been drawn and
which will soon result in the capture of Rich
mond and the entire rebel army. The attack
was made by the enemy in immense force who
crossed the Chickahominy near the railroad
above Mechanicsville. On Thursday after
noon they fought desperately but were unable
to drive our men single rod, though the
enemy were ten to our one. The only force
engaged that day was McCall's division The
battle lasted from two iii nine p. M, when |
the division was ordered back. Gen McClel- |
Ian was on the field and expressed himself
satisfied with the result.
New York, July l.
The Tribune makes tho following statement
from unquestionAble sources There is reas-
on to believe the statement as in the main /
correct, as information from other sources,
deemed reliable, corroborate il:
--latest sdvioes from Gen. Mcclellan, re-
ceived at Washington yesterday noon. were
up to O'Clock Saturday afternoon. Up 20
that time he had successfully carried out the |.
plan he pointed ont some time ago which |