The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-06-26

.,E rursnAY ma FTInAy a g. n Advance
r1prfAs WEEkLY DfSPATCH q iaaued every
rSiSAy, and mailed 70 sdbscvtbeEs q 09Per ann.
THURADAf MORNING. ........-.JuNE a6. 1862.
s-~-~--~~~~~~~~~~~-~~>S-
THE LINES. &c.
I. was generally expected that \ fierce and gene
raj engagement wouid have taken place at our
Lines yesterday, and nom every indication and
preparation the surmise seemed to be well founded;
bu, although all on the ptoe Of expectation,
Yesterday passed like many others without the
realisation Of the much looked for and desired event
Early In the day. cannonatins both from our and
The eaesys positions took plncS from the righ. left
and centre, but on the two latter points operations
were nothing more than fierce and artistic artil
,~vy duello, in which the enemy were decidedly
wcrstei. Their artillery bearing upon Gar
uett's and Christians farms were particularly
active, and seemed anxious for . response
This wsx net long in forthcoming. and they were
accordingly shelled nom their several positions
With snuch essc and with evident loss TheySrc-
pessed.y returned to the charge. however yet car
artillery received them with such accuracy a. to
drive them pe.i.meil into the woods, and cauxine
ii. abandonment Of camps to the right of Tho Ae.
ehanscsvic Bridge An artillery duel also teok
place upon the York River Railroad. between six
and scven miles from the city. at which place also
the enemy were endcavorng TO erect bfcas,works
IN the woods Being informed of this, some pieces
of tho First Virginia artillery proceeded within
seilinc distance. and by superior execution silenc
ed the enemy's guns and stopped their excavations
Flu, tie most serious and imporsant transaction at
our lines yesterday. took place the Williamsburg
road
The enemy advancing their lines. suddenly.
ted upon cur rickc.s, aud owing to superior
numbers drove them in upoA supports. The
advance Of the enemy was composed Of Sickles's
and another brigade. Informed of the state of
things the lst Louisiana was sent forward TO re-
connoi;re and find the enemy's force, position aud
initst:onsbut 10 do this their journey lay ACROSS
large open field. and while advancing the cow
arly enemy screened his forces in the thicket and
having caught the ealian, lst Louisiana in ambus-
caie delivered murdcrous fire. which struck
down doze.s of the valiant fellows. But not dis
maved at this reception and their heavy loss, the
brave men instantly dressed their line, dashed
n Sickles's hirelings with the bsyonet. aud rout
ed them. Still opposed to numbers greater than
their own. the ls' Louisiana quickly supported:
we are informed by the Sd, 4th and 22d Georgia
regiments of Wrishts brigade, who held large
force OF the foe at bay for two hours, before our
forces were got into position, aud appalled, the
my by their formidable front. Except in the LIST
Louiriana we hear of few casualties and this arose
from the fact that they wereA the victims of trap
laid by the Yankees. and were too heroic to fall
t~ek when discovering it; Col Shvers, Mai. nellie
gam and many men, were wounded-Leut. Gilmore
and some others being killed. This loss arose pure
IS from esprit da corps, which prompted them to
rs1nsn and stand fast, though opposed by vastly
superior numbers II is said however that when
the Iouisiauians closed their br oxen ranks, and
charged upon the enemys masses, that it was So
terrible that ,hek gave way in disorder. This con
,.nct is perhaps akin to that which extracted the
expression of Gen Hoeluet when witnessing the
brilliant and famous cavalry charge of the English
Light Brigade at Ba!aklava. viz: 90 This is magnif'.
cent, but il is not war" The conduct of the Loui-
sanians and Georgians is highly spoken of-noti-
ing can de,ract from their superior qualities sol
disrs and patriots. bu; an excess Of bravery cha
reeterixes their movements The loss Of the Louisia
n;ans is reported at II officers and 200 killed
and wounded, but this we believe is much Of
eyaggeration.
Suhse auent This brilliant but unfortunate trans
action All artillery force WIS moved to the front.
ard fierce fSh, ensued. completely silencpg the
Yankee batteries in the woods, which had advanced
10 occupy the disputed ground. Captain Huger's
battery we are informed, was conspicuous in the
affairs If the day ut the right aud retired from the
fray with much honor and little loss The best
evidence of their is in the fact that the
ry retired and did not reply.
Our pickets were particularly successful yester.
day in capturing intruders upon our Lines, and eff
f.cted important seizures. Among others, We may
mention the arrival in our midst Of two women,
who were discovered endeavo,ing to penetrate our
Lines evidently for no praiseworthy Intention
These women Of low caste and would pass very
well In time Of peace for mother and daughter; but
a. II proves, they perfect strangers to each other
as 20 relationship bu, evidently league toseth-
e. in some clandestine enterprise and neither can
give any satisfactory account of their avocations or
r.sidcnee Their mysterious appearance at our
oupos,s yesterday was more than sufficient TO war
rant arrest and their answers give good evidence
# treasonab.e intention.
ltis generally expected that operations of great
moment will take place to-day, but whether the
severe skirm:shes of yesterday will culmnate in
general action, is point impossible to determine
bu. should this be the case we are fully that
all our preparations will result in brilliant victory
despite the traps, ambuscades, and getty cunning OF
the enemy evinced on many occasions as on yester
day.
As General Mcclellan may claim the severe skir.
mish OF yesterday as another Federal victory" we
will simply say that the brave lst Louisianiaus were
oprosed to not less than seven Yankee regiments,
as the following prisoners captured by them testify;
for in addition to the seizure Of Captain James Nc
Herman, Of the 7th New Jersey, there are also the
following visitors to Libbys warehouse Sergeant.
Corporals, Musicians, privates-in all, II pris
oners par, of sicklcss Excelsior brigade, 7th n j.,
10Th Mass I'd n Y, and 9Th n. j.. taken at the old
battle ground of the "Seveu Pines" Three were
wounded.
FIRING ON THE RIVER.