The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1862-07-01
BY TELEG u i p n.
.A5les-seOOss Reposg.
TWO DAYS fight AT RICHMOND !
r u l. l. A &C CUNT.
DESPERATE VAlOR!
Great Loss Of Officers and Men!-
Heavy CannOnadinS.
Meagher's Irish to the Rescue
and Drive the Enemy Back.
JAcKs0M'S ARMY ALL At RICHMOND.
The Enemy Repulsed!
DESPERATE vALOR!
Great Loss Of Officers and Men!
The Enemy Repulsed!
Especial to the Tribune.
Washington. June %.

washington, June 20.
On Thursday, about noon, the enemy
made an attack upon Gen. Stoneman's
forces, in the vicinity of Hanover Court
House, probably for the purpose Of ac-
complishing an o1tAanking movement on
the right to engage our attention in that
direction. Shortly afterwards they COM
menced vigorous cannonading from their
works on an eminence opposite Mechan-
icsville, about one and half miles dis
tant; also, from two batteries, one above
and the other below. They were replied
to by CampbePs Pennsylvania batteries
on picket duty, one on the MechsnicsyilIe
road and another from behind earthworks
at the right of grove.
About p. m. the ensmy's infantry
and squadrons of cavalry crossed the
Chickahominy in immense force, short
distance above the Virginia Central Rail-
road, making rapid advance towards
Gen. McCall's division, who we're en-
trenchec on . billy woodland across a
swamp ravine, about mile in the rear Of
Mechanicsvillc. The first Pennsylvania
rifles, bucktails, and Campbell's Penn
sylvania battery were on picket duty, all
Of whom, except one company. fell back
behind the breastworks and rifle pits,
where line of battle was drawn up
Co. K, of the Bucktails, who were ON
picket duty beyond the railroad, were
surrounded by the enemy, and the last
| that was known of them they were trying
to cut their way through. It is presumed
the greater portion were taken prisoners.
The enemy advanced down to the rear of
Mechanicsville on low marshy ground
| where our forces were drawn up behind
| rife pits and earthworks on an eminence
on the northern side of the ravine, when
the conflict became most terrible. The
rebels, with the most determined courage,
attempted to press forward over marshv
ground, but the bullets and grape shot fell
among them like hail, moving them down.
This continued till dark. when they with
\ drew. The cannonading was kept up on
both sides until about Q O'Clock D. m,
when the battle ceased Our forces were
covered by earthworks, and suffered but
slightly.
4 Late in the p. m. the enemy made
charge with cavalry. About 100 of them
came rushing down and attempted to cross
the ravine when the horses became wild.
A squadron of our cavalry seeing their
position made a charge down the hull,
when the cavalry men abandoned their
horses and fed. The infantry fight was
then renewed, and according to the state
ment Of my informant. Surgeon Humph-
reg, of the Bucktails regiment, continued
until about Z .. m, when retreat was
ordered very much against the will of the
Pennsylvania boys, who begged to be al
lowed to hold their position. The other
forces then began to fall back. Porter's
corps were some distance below DR..
Gaines residence.
OF the next days. battle the corres-
pendent says, the cannonsding and mus
kerry were terrific. Duryea's gallant Zou-
AYES we're lying upon the ground for two
hours while our batteries were Smelling the
woods over them. Finally, towards night.
the enemy attempted to break the centre
line IN front Of Duryea's Zouaves when the
musketry firing became terrific, lasting
20 or 30 minutes. Shortly afterwards an
attempt was made TO break through the
right, which was repulsed, and half an
hour later another attempt was made on
the left with the same result. The battle
had then been raging for some hours with
out any apparent change or advantage on
either side. Reinforcements OF artillery
and infantry then came steadily along the
bridge to the field Of battle. The enemy
then seemed to make their most desperate
End determined effort and came firing our
men back into the low ground between
the hills and the bridge. where they could
have been slaughtered by tens of thousands
before they could have crossed that long,
narrow bridge. Wagons, artillery, am
balances and men were hurrying towards
the bridge and panic was almost inevita-
bic, when : strong guard was placed
across the bridge. At the time when the
enemy had almost reached the main hos
pital, half mile from the river, Thomas
Francis Mesgher's- Irish men came over
the hill, stripped 70 the bare arms, and
we're ordered to 60 in. They gave = veil
and went to work. and the result va that
the enemy fell back to the woods. and
thus masters stood up to ii O clock yes
terday evening.
At dark An attack was made along the
front Of the entire line, and was reaswed
Ct 2 IN. in front Of Gems. Hooker.
ksarney and Sumner without material re-
suit.
Another correspondent says Of Fridays
battle: Twice all along the front did the
rebels attack our lines. Our rife pits
and redoubts opsDsd with City cannon,
and summers, Hooker's and Ayers guns
moved them with death harvest. Their
loss in killed and wounded was horrible.
UAdsr date Of Friday. midnight, the