, 1862-07-07
M}S;an IDcih1f&xen
MONDAY, JULY :, 1862.


THE BATTLE OF GAINES, HILL.
The hardest fought bsttlc in which the
Potomac army has been engaged, was on
last Friday, at Gaines Hill. The contest |
was between 10000 Of our right wing, |
under Gen, Porter and $1,000 rebels. After
the desperate fight Of Thursday, Porter fell
back to Gaines Hill, on lis way to the
Jamcs River. His purpose WAS to check
the advance Of the reb: Is before attempting
the rcrilous task Of crossing to the opposite
side Of the Chickahominy marsh, which
is three miles wide at that point,
It was known to every officer that if the
column was driven from Gaines Hill be-
fore night the--rebels might destroy or cap
ture the whole division while it was floun-
dcring through the mud and defling over
the fra1 wooden bridges
The onset Of the rebels for the possession
Of this key point, was desperate in the ex-
trcme. Sixty pieces Of artillery dealt death
on tktir serTied ranks as they advanced
again and sgain to the assault Thcrcbels
were supported By an equal number Of
pieces which hurled continual showers Of
shell and solid shot among our troops.
Towards sundoTn the rebels collected
al thcir aysllable strength tor a final and
decisive assault They advanced sit co.,
atmns DEEP, and in compact order right into
The teeth Of OUT guns which moved great
gaps in their ranks at every round. But
on they came maddened with whisky and
Regardless Of death.
They 5ic~hargcd vo1ley after yolley into
our thin and exhausted ranks. Our men
replied as vigorously as twas in the pow
CT ef brave men to do; but they we're
crushed by the avalanche Of fnumbers, and
al last when further resistance WAS in
win. when half cur artillery had been
captured, and the cannoniers bay
oueted fighting at their pieces. the
order WAS reluctantly given to fall back.
and the whole line began to retreat towards
the river. The enemy seized upon the
auspicious moment, and, with furious yells
rushed forward upon our broken ranks.
Says an rye wines:
s'Teamsters md ambulance drivers began tC
whip ur their horses. and try to get up another
Fuu Kun. Some portions OF cavalry were sallop
1gEtter skeltcr, ard confusion among the infan
t,y ywou1d have taken place, had not the officer;
lcSc.td their pistols, md threatened to shoot tht
first nan that rEu.
Bu. to contend longer was useless. We had los
Gu. position, and Ell attempts to rally the men 10
the time were yair. Tie command f0r Tue troop
q Ttfire across The Ch;cFacnsiny IN o,Gt7 gis
a, AID HE regiments tt17'2tt1cEd 7aorfEg in tho
6i1tc':oa. II Was nearly dark. The fight had besl
desperate, and thu cEeny did not seem inclined +
press lard,
Antihe- line Of battle WIG formed abo1t half
mile in the rear Of the first position. The object
loHeyer, YVES more for tie purpose Of covering IL
.vt1eat than for renewing the ce1tezt. The ba
i!c vas ended
Easton's Pennsylvania battery If four piece
vas lost: Aliens Massachusetts, battery lost four
Nceden's Rhode Island battery, three; Edward
Pennsylvania battery. two; Weeds United State
battery, two, ard kcens Pennsylvania batter.
tA1ce Ticcce Of artillery.
During the night, this sorely pressed d
vision crossed the Chickahomiay marshe
and next day continued Its retreat toward
James TiYcr