The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-07-02
sitllIltnld pispattb.
WEDNESDAY, MORNING ........IunYs !. iess
The BA.,,es ana tho r.ecali,.c>

WEDNESDAY, MORNING. .......JubY 2, Iesa
The BAss,es and Tho Localities.
The readers Of this paper have beca posted fsom
day 10 day, well ~ Il was possible 10 do So upon
the rsaxrvss OF tho mcaiensoas struggle .,olng on
near shis city, and which has she'd such lassre upon
The Confederate rm& Vel. for better under.
etsnding Of II TO those not familiar with the ground,
~ deem il proper TO group together tho main
poaats Of the narrative continued ieoal day 10 day.
Tho Chick shaminy Is a stream rather above The
dignity Of creek. and not fally up to that OF a
river, which, p,,anless through tho iaewater dis.
srtct Of Janes river IN line generally parallel to
tho James. AT a mean distance Of ten or twelve
miles frcn, TIA: river until II CHE ChckahomIny)
reaches thc lower end oil Charles City county when
u abruptly tnas scahwardiy aud cinpsi.s into the
James II is tho northern boundary Of both Hen.
rico and Charles City. It Is ski,ted generally by
wide low hands. and in parts considerable
swampS Mcc'e.iaa's army had, par, II IT, crossed
10 the South side of the Calckahcminy. and were
fortified on The Williamsburg road. and adjacent to
II. TO within seven miles Of Rcaiaoas-the point
where the battle OF Seven Pines ocearreio The
cneny was also strongly posted for many miles on
the North bank The heights Of which were fortified
with great energy and skill from Meadow Bridge,
his extreme right to SOME two miles below Bot
tom's Bridge, distance Of about twenty miles.
Mcaaew Rsidse IL "a iailes from and North Of the
CITY, end al that point the Central Railroad crosses
the Chickahc,siay. The enemy were posted on the
heights beyond Tho York River Railroad crosses
tho Chickahominy about ten miles from Richmond.
and about :i,st distance below Meadow Bridge
Neehanicsyh IL mile beyond the Cbickahomny,
six miles from Richmond, aud some two or three
miles below Meadow Dfiise. Other points which
have become famous in the battles in this ORDER
Eiiysons Mill, Beaver Dam, Po,vbie, or Hogaa's
farm, and Coal i!aibor-ail on The North bank and
covering n distance Of some twelve niles
On the Sosaii syi, and South Of the York River
Railroad are the following roads, often referred
TO in the narratives given Row. well az Ia the bat
tie Of the Seven Pines. The williamsburg road,
which come Cts with the New Bridge and Nine Mile
roads at and Seven Pines, crosses t,le Chick
ahominy at Bottoms B.i,Igc. The New Bridge road
the Chick ahon,iuy about eight HI les from
The city, Meadow Bridge is Noi;bgni IT,, rcute g,
our Victories being from thence down Che southei
line pursued on Che Chickahonlny is brought up n:
bottoms Bridge, Cue East Of The city.
We find in the Eagui-eT. Of yesterday, SO brief
snd clear review Of orr operations asains. tie
enemy in there localities. sa, mako i. part Il
this article:
'sOn Thursday nj three O'Clock Major General
jackson took up lis Nae Of march from Ashland
and proceeding down .iia country between The
ChickatOmipy aud Puaankey rivers, tic uncovered
the front Of Brig. t;en. Branch by driving OFF the
enemy collected OH the north bank of the Chicka-
homny river, M the point where il is crossed by the
Brook Turnpike; General Branch, who was on the
south bank then crossed the river aud wheeled to
the right, down its nar'tern tauk. Proceeding IN
that direction, General Branch III like manner I'M
covered an Meadow Bridge, the front Of MAJ; Gen
"A p. Hill who immediately crossed The three col
nmrs now pTceet icd ecAcfea--ti,n Jackson in al
vance. and Ola The cXtref" lett, i,rig Cen Branch
(wh0 was now merged with Gen A. T. iIiii) in the
centre. and Gen A. +. I'LL Oh Che right immediately
On the river Jackson, bearing away from the Chick
e'fomHy in this part Of the march so as to gain
ground towards the Panankey, marched TO the
l.it Of MechaI:iesviiie,. while Gen. Ill., keeping
well 10 the Chickahonuy, approached that viliag.
aud engaged the sn.Iny there. The military taien;
exhibited by tien. I'LL in this approach aud assault
rs worthy of great Communications, and has won i'm
perishabIe honors for shat saan. young officer,
while the courage, ardcr, aal iirnnesS Of his Off
and in the assault III the enrmy's earth
works Ut Ellyssn's hf,ii have rejected the great
est glory upon the Confederate army. Deiven
from the Immediate locality of Mech anicBy;lie the
enemy rc,reatrd during the night down the river
To Powi,ite swamp, all nigh: closed The operations
os Thursday.
AS General II Il cleared the road at Ne
chaEicsville, General LoBgstrcets corps 1a,Mec con-
sitting o! his veteran division If he Old Guard Of
the Army of the Potomac, and General l.. i'll Hills
division, debouehcd from the woods tho South
Ede Of til. Chick ahon.iny. AMI crossed tat river at
Mechaniesyiile. The position of orr army on Fri
day night n!ly be described forming. with tue
Chick ahonitny, an acute angie our left still in nd
vance under General jackson. lying over towards
the Pamunkey: General Hin occupying Meclnn
icsviiie and the centre and General Longstreet with
Genera! d. H. Hill, composing right, lying i'm
mediately along the Chekaholniny.
FRIDAY morning lie general advance ocLelon
again began; Gen j icaeH advance and far IN
the left, gradually converging 10 the Chichahe,ny
again; General A P. Hill in the centre. and bearing
towards Coal iIsr5or; Gen. Longstye-t aud
Gen. ID. II. Hill coming down the Chckailon,iny to
New Bridge. Arrived AT Hogan's house. near New
Bridge, Gen. Ice awaited the consummation OF his
magnificent sirasegy-conrier after courier arrived
Informing him OF the approach of each division.
As soon as jail arrival at Coal Harbor was
announced. Gsn Lee and Gen. Longstreet, accom-
panied by their respective stais. rode by Guinness
Mil and halted at New Goa! IIarbOr here they
joined Gen. A. p. Hill. Soon the welcome sound Of
Jaeksous guns announced his arrival and that the
battle had begun.
The enemy now occupied a singular position;
one portion OF his army the Soutl, side of the
Chickafnmiuy, frnned Richmond, and waa con
fronted by Gen Magrudef--the other portion on
the north side, had turned their backs Richmond.
and fr0nted destruction in the persons of Lee LoHg
street. Jackson. and the Hills.
"These last were therefore advancing on Rich
mond with their backs to tho city; such the po-
sifion into which General Les had forced Mcclellan
The position which the latter here occupied how
ever, was one OF great strength
jackson having begun the contest il was taken
up by General A. r. Hill in the centre, and by d.
il. Hill on the eftl Lougstree. in reserve, support
ed Immediately the centre uiir General A. T. HILL |
From the beginning OF the conflict, Jackson pressed
up aud ID. H. Hill down the Chirkahominy Our |
wings were thus approaching each other. while orr |
centre driving the enemy back upon the rive
From four O'Clock until eight tho battle ragged 9th |
display OF the utmost during and intTcpidity OH |
the part Of the Confederate army. The enemy's |
tiv
oil carried aud night covered the retreat OF McCie
lans broken and routed columns to the South side |
OF the Cickahoniiny. This retreat to the Richmond
side Oi the river was continued through Friday !
night, and the morning of Saturday. Closely |
watched and pressed by army, lie held Ills for
titled camp the South side OF the Chick ahomny
during Saturday, but evacuated it during the |
night and resumed his retreat, taking direction TO-
wards James river.
s"rhe operations OF army since Sunday |
morning have been principally the Richmond
side Of the Chick aio,uny; on Sunday, however,
jackson commanded Bottoms Bridge aui though |
unable TO cross il becaure it under range OF
the guns Of the enemy. prevented its by tbs enc
my while he built himself another - md above
where I've crossed bis army TO the South s:e on
Sunday evening leaving General Siuart's cavalry
on the North side.
THE retreat which began from the North side
on Friday night, on yesterday changed into flight
and tho foot races df the rnieB of the Potomac are
now being ruin down towards the james River
through Charles City. The position OF tho armies
at the tfpae OF writing this, owing to McClellans
rapid movamen's and brilliant strategy may be
designated as decidedly shifting; indeed disselving
views ara tbs principal parts OF the flying Federal
panorama
''Ths result of'tlic conflict thus far is splendid
tribute TO the capacity of our Commanding Gener-
al. Robert Il Lee lIenccf0rth his name is ~ inn
mortal g history can make The facts when
anAlyzed ~ we hope 10 hs better uble to do,
win display combination q. l'rategy prudence.
vigoP and sagaeity IN planning the attack tba. have
II he Sto NJ ffarv