The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1862-07-10
THT BITTrsE OF GAINES HILL.

Front gava wav to Mechanicsyille or Thursday
after making successful stand, and fell back
towards Gaines Hill, seems to have suggested
to them that general retrograde movement
was contemplated and it became their policy
to follow and fight US on the retreat With
the Chickahominy in our rear, it was, of course,
impossible for our army to cross, successfully,
under the enemy's fire and there is no doubt
but that they expected 20 overtake and compel
US to fight or be cut to pieces at the bridg-
eS.
On thursday nearly all the wagons were sent
across to have them out of the way. This
movement was going on all day and nights
if known to the enemy, mVst have revealed the
fact that our array was either about to retreat
or to change its position. This was too valu-
able an opportunity to be lost,and was improV
ed to the best advantage Our troops had been
engaged in al exhausting contest at Mechan-
icsville the day before She enemy had plenty
of fresh soldiers, and were near t&eir base OF
operations, from which whole masses could be
drawn at an hours notice. We were separated
from our centre by the bridges of the Chicka-
hominy. from which we could obtain reinforce
ments only by comparatively tardy and IN
certain process That they brought nearly
their whole force against us on that side OF the
river shows that determined effort was to be
made to compel US to cross the river, and then
to pass to the rear and turn our right.
Foreseeng this plan, and without the neces-
sary force to guard against the movement, the
only expedient left was adopted by the COM
mander of the Union forces. The enemy were
to be held in check as long as possible, to eNa-
BILE him to safely withdraw his whole force to
the James River, and take up new position.
Another day and night would, no doubt, have
found our entire right abandoned, and the
commands of Porter, Mccall and Stoneman
withdrawn safely to the left Of the ChickahoHl-
my, and the bridges destroyed without bat
tie. That this was not permitted was owing
to the watchfulness of the enemy, Or to the
treason of some one within our lines Who pos
sessed knowledge of our plans
) AFTER THE BATTLE.
The shrieks and groans of the rebels when the
; battle was ended indicated that, their loss was
heavy. The air was filled with the walls of the
t wounded and dying, and all night long tina rum
5 bling of ambulance trains and the suppressed
voices of those engaged in bury<ng the dead anG
caring for the wounded could be distinctly heard
The silence of the night was frequently broker
> by the discharge of pocket gun, and every one
was on the alert for the enemy save the weariet
Y soldier, who had become exhausted from the
y nights effort, and was INDUCING in short bu
T sweet repose.
l. THE NEXT BEST THING.
At daybIeak, finding the enemy was rapidly
y closing on our right flank, Gen. Porter issued or
!. ders for the whole force to slowly fall back to
/. ward Gaines Hill
This movement was conducted in the most or
derby and satisfactory manner, and had no
: known the nature of the movement, it would have
:; been impossible for TO decide whether the ar
- nay was advancing toward or retreating from tn,
:. enemy.
The enemy followed slowly and cautic usly, u.
/, if he feared being decoyed into some trap. The
S firing not rapid, and we lost but few men =
y Good order prevailed.
. AS the couXnn moved forward toward thu
% Cfickahominy, the regiments in the advanc,
wheeled into position, forming the left of the line
!. and the regiments following took positions at thu
. centre and right The ground selected was vel
d adapted to the purpose, it being range of hill
5, extending from point near the Chickahomny Il
Of Coal Harbw.
y CoMMENCEMENT OF THE BATTLE u
> at about one o'clock our guns began to re
Z spond to those of the asemy. The skirmisher
! were already engaged in front of the centre, ant
/ soon after they got to work along the whole ex
k tent of the lines. The firing became more fire.
1N>r-N ~ ''N SNAJ PiNHCho oufnuOcu' L
l, skirmshers were at length called in, and tool
l. their position in the line.
\ Byfar The Aeaviest battle az Vhich the arn,y o
~ tic Potomac has get been engaged tcas nor pro
J. crossing. Little did we think as we stood tw,
N days previous in the midst of the army that i
N was SO soon to meet with reverse. The rebel
T" came down from Richmond in tremendous force
! and they fought with the desperation of ma,
~ men,
rs We had taken the precautioa the preceediA
y night to remove all the siege guns the right
y the other side of the river. and then destroyed al
v the bridges above the which crossed Just q
the rear of Smiths division.
10 | have no idea that it was originally desiene
by Gen. Mcclellan to make stand on the RICH
side of the Chickahoininy, but to quietly will
!; dSaw the force on that to the other side. We ha
,s thrown up but few earthworks, only two c
ell which were mounted. Five thirty pound Parrot
n were mounted all earthwork near Gaiue.
ID house, and five more 80 pound Rodnans wer
10 placed in position behind an earthwork nea
Is hogans house.
+ On Wednesday he opened these guns on tn
1r enemy, keeping up the fire from ten a. M. til
late III the afternoon. The fire was directed t
he the rebel batteries on the bluff across the rive
i'd opposite Gaines house. The bluff was lined wit
10 open and masked batteries, and believe that t
!, have taken possession of the bluffs would hav
n required the united force of the whole army Thi
le was the strongest point of the enemy, and b
could have held it against terrible odds Durin
u the fire of Wednesday we succ eeded in dismoun
&c &c ing one of the enemy's heavy guns,
At two q cock n m O,, Thurrdav tba ortiIIar
n on both sides were holly engaged. The infantr
in force had not yet gone in the fight, but nc
r many minutes elapsed before they were also Ell
r gagged.
le AT one time we could not have bad less tAa
10 sixty gunsf in practice, and the enemy had q
,e many, if not more. The roar of cannon was trul
re awful. Shells were bursting in every direction
and dense cloud of smoke covered the entir
field. ---
The enemy now advanced in columns towar
n our centre. Martindale's brigade stood firmly t
ID receive the charge also did the 5h New Yorl
g zouaves, who were on the right of martindale.-
i The rebels were repulsed but at the loss ofnum
q bers of our brave Hundreds of the rebel
were seen to fall, but their places were quckl,
,, filed by others.
d Failing to break our line at the first attempt
IS the rebels sent large force to the right TO
q the purpose of turning our flank, We immedi
u ately strengthened that end of the column by
!, change OF position.
d When the eremy had advanced to within three
o hundred yards of eur batteries, our guns opened
It with canister and grape The slaughter was ter
}, tic, and the rebels were compelled to withdraw
a Notony did the artillery DO good execution OF
u t,ic bu+o ~, irfo
. a constant fire.
If 1t was near three O'Clock, and during the houi
Z following there seemed to be ull in the terrible
b conflict. The enemy was apparently bringing
down reinforcements from Richmond, notwith.