The Athens post. [volume] (Athens, Tenn.) 1848-1917, 1862-07-04
IDR6REAg BATHS on AIM Man,


ped, ind IL not captnrcd rnnnihilated,
Is 50 cut up and deuioralized as soreQuire
another twelyemonlh TO repair damages
and lit II for.tl,c Geld RichnshJ IS safe
1.-The ConGederacs is safe-- while Wash
ingfon City tgembles, and consIcrnaiiou
and waiting pervaae The dcmlnions Of
the Despot. But while We areagnorant OF
the cost at which victory has been pur.
chased it becomes us to &c moderate in
our joy and exultation
We give thesfullest accounts Of the
opening and progress Of tho fight that
have reached us; and viii lay the leteils
before our readers as soon as they come
to hand. pa
fFron the Hichnond Dispatch, Of the 27th.l
OPENING Of THH GREAT BATTLE.
Our city was startled, late yesterday
evening, BY reports of heavy ordnance,
and by one consent II was universally
announced that the Great Battle bad at
last opened, and that the greatest and
most inomentous conflict Of the age was
fully inaugurated. AS far as we can as
certain, at late hour of night. it APP
pears that our forces attacked the enemy
with unparalleled fury at Mechanicsyille,
and from the suddeRness of the attack,
the enemy were totally non. plussod and
driven from three large redoubts in rap
id succession, selling the g0ns and turn
ing them with terrific effect upon the
foe. This accomplished, our forces adj
vanced and captured two lines OF en-
trenchments and ield-works, taking ev-
erything before them in gallant style
Co operating with the movement on the
extreme right and rear of the enemy,
our Generals crossed the Chickahominy
Mt two points, viz. by the Mechanicsville
bridge and Meadow bridge, attacking
the enemy with great dash and aldor,
4 driving IN their outpoets, and ascending
the opposite hills, seized the batteries
erected thereon, and fully commanding
! the future movements of our forces in
crossing the stream. In doing this, the
| rapidity of movement was such that the
enemy was uuprepared, and lost a mon
ster battery, which has long annoyed our
troops to the right and left Of the York
River Railroad. This achievement la it.
4 self is Of incalculable value, and is equiv
alent to the saving of five thousand lives
| OtIl. fsIltl1Cn. We leu Tue utl
vance down the Meadow Bridge road
with brigade Of North Carolinians, and
on crossing, were instantly reinforced by
other troops of Gen Hills division The
numerous field works and batteries OPP
posed to their advance were assailed by
our men in the coolest and most noncha
liant style imaginable and while diving
the heavy masses Of Federal infantry be-
for0 them, We're ably seconded by our
heavy guns, which laundering with ter
rife noise, threw large ehell5 thick and
fast upon the eneIny's chosen positions
and camps, thus preventing our first for
ces from being oVerpowered by the /
swarming bordes of MeClellans hire
lings While these brilliant movements
were progressing in the neigh horhood Of /
Meadow Bridge, our troops beyond the |
Bridge formed juno /
ton with them, thus forming perfect4
Gordon with others operating from the
village of Mechanicsville itself. Our line
5eing perfect, a general advance took
place, but the brave Confederates had not
far ere they We're encountered
by the Federals in great force, and ter.
rife fight ensued; but onward pressed
our infantry and artillery, until at P
NJ, when the heavy cannonading ceased,
IL WAS hnOMu ILldb Tue Gllttlll
had been driven fully three miles. hav-
ing experienced great loss in every shape,
but particularly in artillery. Purcel's
battery, we are informed, immortalized
itself and was the first corps that crossed
Mechanicsville bridge and opened FIRE
on the enemy. At Mechanicsyille the
heaviest fighting is said to have taken
place on Watts farm, but resulted mag
nifcently TO as All the heights beyond
the Chickahominy are in our possession,
thus ensuring the safe ard speedy trans
portation of troops and munitions TO the
other side.
From the late hour at which we write,
it is impossible TO obtain particulars of
the sanguinarg engagement of yesterday,
but the facts stated are substantially cor.
rect, while much more was effected by
the forces engaged than the most san.
guine could have expected or predicted
The enemy were totally routed whenev-
or they made a stand--batteries, en-
trenchments, feld,works, camps, aud
arms, were captured with gSeat rapidity,
and our loss is much less than could have
been imagined. In all Likelihood, the
engagement to day will prove general
one ut all points, and let us revereDtlv
hope that the God OF Battles will emile
upon our efforts, and crown
our forces with a complete and glorious
triumph over malignant aud relentless
[From the Richmond Exaininel Of the 2sthl \
The splendid contest OF Thursday All
.ernoon, which resulted in the wrestine. I
oy Gen. A. r. Hills division, Of Mechan- /
csville though without decisive results,
axceut the possessing of the place served \