The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1862-07-04
WAR NEWS.
WAR DEPARTMENT, Washington June27

gina, because, as ne says, 'ue posIHoH hs-
signed him by the appo ntment OF Maj. Gen.
Pope us commandorn chlot OF tho army OF
Virginia is subordinate and inferior to those
berotoforo held by him, and TO remain in
! the subordinate command now assigned
would. as he SAYS, largely reduce his rank
and cons liberation in the service, it is or
dered that Mai Gen. John G. Fremont be
relieved IRON command.
Second. that Brig Gen. Rufus King be
and is hereby assigned to the command of
the first army corps of the army OF Virginia
in place of Gen. Fremont, relieved by order
of the President.
(SgncdD EDWIN NJ. STANTON.
New YORK, June 3U.-Thursday about
noon the enemy made an attack upon Gen.
Stoneman's forces in the vicinity Of HaE-
over Court House, probably for the pur.
pose of accomplishing an outflanking
movement on the right,a to engage our
attention in that direction, and shortly
afterwards they commenced vigorous
cannonading from their works on an emf
nence opposite Mechancsvlle, about one
and hall miles distant Also from two
batteries, one above and the other below.
They were replied TO by Campbelps
Pennsylvania Batteries on picket duty,
one on the Mechanicsville road, another
from behind earthworks at the right Of
grove. About Q p. m. the enemy's in.
Iantry and squadrons Of cavalry crossed
the Chickshominy in immense force a
short distance above the Virginia Central
r r. making rapid advance toward Gel.
McCall's Division who were en;rencbed
on billy woodland across a swamp ra-
vine about a mile in The rear Of Mechan.
/ icsvile.
The First Pennsylvania Rifles, Buck
tails, and Campbell's Pennsylvania Bat
terry were on picket duty, all Of whom ,ex-
cept one company, fell back behind the
breastworks and rifle pits, where line of
battle was drawn up. Company X Of the
/ Bucktails, who were on picket beyond
the railroad, were surrounded by the en-.
emy ,anG the last that was known Of them
they were trying to cut their way through.
1t is presumed the greater portion were
taken prisoners.
The enemy advanced down at the rear
OF Mechanlcsville on a low ,marshy ground
to where our forces were drawn up behind
rifle pits and earthworks on an eminence
on the norlherIy side Of the ravine, where
the conflict became most terrible.
The rebels, with the most determined
courage, attempted to press forward over
miry ground, but the bullets and grape
shot feIi among them like hail, moving
them down. This continued till dark,
when they Withdrew. The cannonadng
lap hpt e, oh
o'clock, p. m, when the battle ceased.
Our forces were covered with earth e
works, and suffered but slightly. Late in
the u. M. the enemy made charge with
cavalry. Abou: 100 Of them came rush
ing down and attempted to cross the ra-
vine, when the horses b, came mired. A
squadron OF our cavalry. seeing their po-
siuon, made a charge down the hill. when
the cavalry men abandoned their horses
and fled.
The infantry fight was then rene wed
and, according to the statement Of my in
formant, Surgeon Humphrey Of the Penn.
sylvania Bucktal Regiment, continued
until about A. NJ, when retreat was or
dcred, very much against the will of the
Pennsylvania boys, who begged to be al
lowed to hold their position. The outer
forces then began to fall back.
Porter's corps was some distance be.
low DR.. Gaines residence.
OF next days battle the correspondent
says: The cannonading and musketry
was terrific. Duryea's gallant Zouaves
, We're lying upon the ground fol two hours
while our Batteries were shelling the
woods over them.
Finally towards night the enemy at.
tempted to break the center line in front oI
, Duryea's Zouaves, and the muskelry firing
became terrific lasting twenty or thirty
minutes.
Shortly afterwards an attempt was
made to break through the right, which
was repulscd, and half ar hour later an.
other attempt was made on the left wing
with the same result. The battle had
then been raging for some hours without
any apparent change or advantage on
, either side.
Reinlorcemenis OF artillery and infantry
then came steadily along over the bridg,
o to the field Of battle.
y The enemy then seemed determined tc
? make their las, desperate, determined ef
n fort, and came forcing our men back int
y the low ground between the hill and tn,
, bridge, where they could have beer
J. slaughtered by tens o! thousands befor
they could have crossed that long marrow
bridge. Wagons, artillery, ambulance
and men were hurryIng towards lh
bridge, and panic was almost inevitable
II when n strong guard was placed acros
c, the bridge.
J. AT the time when the enemy had aImos
:, reached the main hospital, half a mil
~ from the river, Thos. Francis Meagher'
q lrishmen came over tho hill, stripped Il
) the bare arms, and were ordered TO "go in.
IS They gave yell and went TO work, an
:, J., the result was that the enemy fell back t
10 the woods, and thus matters stood up T.
a / O'Clock yesterday Sunday morning
"A At dark an attack was made along tn
,t front of the entire line, and was renewe,
10 at Q A. NJ, in front Of Gems. Hooker
y, kearney and Sumner, without matera
10 results.
~ Another correspondent says OF Friday